Blink and Mush were utterly disgusted with their living conditions. They were staying in an orphanage, one with a very low budget. They didn't mind most of the other kids, but the fact they all the children were at least three years younger than them was aggravating. Blink couldn't stand the kids; they were always shouting and trying to pick a fight with him to prove themselves. Mush, on the other hand, wasn't bothered as much as Blink, but all the kids sadly reminded him of better days.
Mush climbed into the pew while humming softly in harmony with the chorus surrounding him. He was dressed in fine clothes, his hair was combed, and his shoes were polished. It was a casual Sunday morning for Mush, but he never saw it as ordinary. He admired the stained glass windows and warm glow of the candles. What Mush really liked about church was attending Sunday school with Kid Blink.
Mush sat down with his parents as the room was hushed into a prayer. Mush opened one of his eyes and glanced at Blink, who was looking uninterested in praying. To tell the truth, Mush was as well. While people began murmuring their questions to God, Mush slipped out of his pew and over to Blink's. He jerked his head to the left, his non-verbal way of asking Blink if he wanted to leave. Blink nodded, and tiptoed over to Mush. They snuck down the aisle together, just barely gliding out the door before everyone opened their eyes.
"Ha! That was easy!" Mush giggled.
"Mm-hmm…Now what?"
"I dunno…Uh…"
The talking ceased, but the two started walking behind the church to avoid being caught.
"Oh!" Mush said suddenly.
"What?"
"My birthday is in two days! I'm gonna be eight!"
"Lucky! Mine is in February…"
"Two months?"
"Yep!"
When they finished talking, they found themselves at the cemetery. Both of them were never frightened by it, but simply depressed. Mush felt light headed and hollow as he and Blink approached a grave. Blink stared at it, and Mush put his arm around him.
"I can't believe he's gone…" Blink mumbled.
"Yeah…"Mush answered vacantly, unsure of how to respond to his friend's grief. Mush never appreciated how Blink would go to his dad's grave while they were having a happy conversation. It had only been five months earlier when Blink's dad was murdered. He'd been walking by a bar, when he was attacked by a drunk. He was beaten to death, and his body was found later that night, decorated by bruises and slashes. No one found out the identity of the murderer, but Blink swore that he'd find him someday.
Mush rubbed his forehead, in hopes of making the memory fade away. He remembered all too well when Blink had vowed to kill the man who attacked his dad. Mush, in fact, was often filled with loathing for whoever had put such a dent in Blink's life, and had promised to support Blink in searching for the murderer.
"Ya wanna relax a bit, Alex? You're makin' me tense…" Blink blurted out.
"What? Oh…Sorry. I guess I'm just nervous about this new job"
"Sure as hell, ya are. But look on the bright side, ya birthday's in two days…"
"Huh? It is?"
"Yeah, bonehead. You're gonna be thirteen"
"Oh…yeah…"
"Ya sure you're alright?"
"Um…Yeah…"
Blink cast a skeptical look at Mush, then rolled his eyes.
"Act two, Scene four, Jeremy and Alex attempt to get a new job…"
"I just hope the play of yours gets a good review…" Mush joked.
"It all depends on the two star performers…" Blink said seriously.