Hoody Boy: Otherworld Stories

The Adventures of Haley Brown

Say Uncle

Haley stepped off the bus and onto the sidewalk. The smell was very disgusting, polluted and the décor was about as inviting as a dreary dark alley with a psycho at the other end with a baseball bat and a cracked smile. Haley's first impression of Gotham City was not a very good one. He was here to see his Uncle; he'd never met him before. Usually he'd be in school but he got out 4 months ago. His Uncle James had called him a week ago asking if he'd drop by and such. Haley was unaware he had an uncle so he had to make sure. He said he was on his mom's side of the family and it made sense to Haley for obvious reasons, Mom never liked her family that much. He and Haley shared a conversation over the phone; his Uncle was Police Commissioner James Gordon of the Gotham City Police Department.

Haley reached into his pocket and fished out a small note pad with directions scribbled on it. He made his way through the crumby streets and the rank smell that seemed to choke Gotham where ever. Haley stopped in front of the building and looked through the glass doors into GCPD Headquarters. He went up the steps briskly, his bag over his shoulder. Haley looked around for an info desk or something but didn't see any so he walked up to a random pencil pusher; a Latino lady looked up at him.

"If you want to report a crime, lines behind you" she said in bored tone.

"Actually I'm looking for Commissioner James Gordon. You know where he is Miss…" Haley spotted her name plate, "Montoya?"

"Officer Montoya." She corrected

"What business do you have with the Commissioner?" She asked.

"I'm his Nephew, Haley." Haley answered

"Oh, third floor, end of the Hall." She said going back to her work.

Haley walked down the hallway towards the frosted door with the letters "Commissioner" written on the front of it. Haley knocked on the glass lightly and waited a second.

"Yeah who is it?" Said a grouchy voice.

"It's your Nephew Haley?" Haley spoke.

"Ah! Come in!" Uncle James said as Haley opened the door.

"Barbra I'd like you to meet your Aunt's Son…Haley Brown?" Uncle James said smiling with pride.

"Please to me you." Said the fiery red head as she shook Haley's hand.

Her grip was a vise he'd not forget anytime that's for sure; probably worked out. Haley sat down rubbing his right hand and got comfortable.

"Barbra, you mind giving us a minute together?" Uncle James asked.

Barbra walked out of Uncle James's office and closed the door behind her leaving Haley and Uncle James in silence.

"I know what's on your mind." Uncle James said looking Haley in the eyes, "Why'd I call?"

"Actually no, close but no. I'm wondering why Mom never told me about you." Haley said, "I've wanted to be a policeman for a long time now and so far I've been working a Wal-Mart doing nothing."

"Well My sister, your mother, she never got along with me or your grandparents much and pretty much severed all contact when she married your father. To be truthful I'd've called you earlier had I known you existed at the time."

"Well I know a couple of questions on your mind." Haley said sitting back with a grin.

"Oh?" Uncle James said waiting to be impressed.

"I'm 19 years old, and I'm glad to see you." Haley smiled, "I've had a run of bad luck at the moment and getting away from my house is probably for the best. Your call by chance was very welcome."

Uncle James shrugged in a way of say no problem without speaking, "So you going to give your uncle a hug or what?"

Haley and Uncle James hugged, Haley felt good about it. After sitting down he looked at the door.

"That's a nice girl you have there." Haley said.

"Yeah she's great. Pretty jittery when she found out she had a long lost cousin all this time." Uncle James said smiling.

"Eh." Haley answered, "I'm about as happy knowing I got an Uncle."

They went on talking for a few minutes (And I know you're getting tired of reading Dialogue) about all sorts of stuff including why Haley's mom never liked her family and such. They were interrupted when Barbra walked in.

"Dad, The DA's on the phone, said it was urgent."

"Barbra, can you drive Haley to the house and get him settled in please?" Uncle James asked.

"Sure pop." She said smiling, "Come on you lil devil."

Haley and Barbra got into the car after loading Haley's lone bag into the trunk of the frost blue Chevy Nova.

"So, where do you live? Dad never told me." She said pulling onto another street.

"Evan City, little nicer then this dreary burg." Haley said.

"Yeah the city really takes on a new light when it's in shadow." She said looking over at him.

"I'd have to see for myself. As for Evan City, I don't have much left there anymore." Haley said narrowing his eyes and furrowing his brow.

"How so?" Barbra said turning the corner.

"My friends and I had a falling out and my parents and I had a few choice words before I decided to come here alone." Haley answered.

"Ah, sorry I asked then." She said sincerely.

"No problem." Haley said looking out the window.

The pulled onto Paddington Ave. and 89th. Barbra stopped the car in front of a nice townhouse looking apartment. Haley and Her got out of the car and walked up the steps. Haley stepped into the Living room.

"Your room is on the third floor." She pointed to the stairs, "It's still being worked on but if you need something ask."

Haley trudged up the stairs with his bag over his back. He reached the third floor stairwell and made a very odd observation. It was like an attic door, so from what he could tell the whole third floor was flat. He went up the stairs and pushed the door up and over. It hit the floor with a slam. Just as Haley thought, the place was flatter then a pancake. The Bed looked inviting; a table was in the corner and coat rack on the far wall. He laid his bag down next to the bed and walked over to the two doors. He opened them up and found himself on the room of the Apartment; very Cool. Down below he could see the garden and tiny back yard that could only fit a garden in it.

"This might not be too bad after all" Haley thought smiling.