Too Equal For My Taste

Chapter 15: The Stab in the Back

With Elliot and Sarah back together, things were kind of peaceful. Elliot had Sarah back. Sarah had Elliot back. Elliot just had a few problems to take are of at school, and it wasn't that hard. As expected, some idiots tried poking fun at it, but almost nobody responded, and Elliot didn't even have to do anything. He just laughed with everyone else, and spent most of his time with Jake and his pals after school, and then moved over to hang out with Sarah a bit longer. Sarah was more fun to talk to, and she was more interesting. But that was probably because he had a meaningful relationship with her.

What was different was that Ken was kind of quiet since the encounters with Mike. The rest of the kids looked at the whole issue like some indirect warfare between them. Ken and Mike never fought face to face. They either yelled or pushed. Mike put himself away and retreated back to his room. He hated Ken. He could not explain why. All he knew was that he did not like Ken at all, and he had to fight him eventually.

At first sight, Ken seemed like a likable boy. He seemed like someone who'd make a good friend. However, appearances are deceiving. Ken turned out to be someone who took another, and pressured him or her into doing despicable acts. That was what had happened to Mark. Mark now followed every whim Ken had. He followed them with little question, and that was surprising to Jake. Jake knew Mark to be tough against something like peer pressure. It seemed the pressure finally won and took over Mark's mind completely. The only way to stop it was to confront both of them, and nobody, not even Mike, wanted to confront Mark.

"It's that easy," Ken said so happily.

"Isn't this going too far?" Mark asked tentatively.

"Humph, no," Ken said, folding his arms defiantly.

Mark shrugged, "It just seems… too big time. I mean, we were just playing around before."

"We're not playing around anymore," Ken said seriously, and growing firm. "You wanna make money, this is what we do. It's the only way, isn't it? Both of us are not getting the allowance raises we want, so why cooperate? Or do you want to stay out of it and get no share at all?"

"No, no, I'll do it," Mark said, giving up as usual. As always, he tried to fight it with the weakest resistance. Resistance fell, and he gave in with no more questions.

"Great, now, this is what you do…"

Later that week, the day before the football game that was scheduled the next weekend, Mark approached his dad. He gulped nervously. Should he tell him the truth? Or should he give up on Kenneth, and stop it before it was too late?

Deciding, he opened his mouth, and spoke to his dad in the living room, "Dad, I think Ken is up to something."

"Up to what?" Tom asked. Mark looked kind of tense and nervous.

"He- he's going too far," Mark said nervously. "He's asking me to do things I can't bring myself to- he's just going too far. Y-You didn't hear it from me dad."

"What's he done?"

"He- He wants to t-take his mom's j-jewelry, and is t-trying to get me t-t-to take m-mom's antiques," Mark stuttered.

Tom put aside the paper, and got up. "Ok, bring me to him. And don't worry. You did the right thing. Ken is gonna be in trouble. Now, where is this young boy?"

"He's waiting outside in the backyard," Mark said, striding beside his dad. "Waiting for me t-to come with the antiques."

"What does he want them for?"

"I dunno."

Tom opened the back door from the kitchen, and not walked down the steps to the grass, but jumped the short jump. Mark followed. "Ken!" Tom called.

Ken stepped back fearfully. "W-What?"

"Kenneth Murtaugh, look, I accept I have no authority over you," Tom began. "But according to my son here, you want antiques and jewelry? Both come from my wife. For what do you need them for?"

"If I t-tell, y-you won't t-tell m-m-my dad?" Ken stuttered fearfully. He was found out, and it seemed Mark had actually betrayed him.

"That's for you to wait and see," Tom said seriously. "Don't test my patience."

"How did you- Ma- Mark, you SQUEALED!" he yelled angrily.

Tom took Ken's hand, and walked him away. "By the way," Tom called after Mark. "Remind me to raise your allowance."

Ken disappeared around the corner of the house, and over to Jimmy's. Tom had told Jimmy what had happened and what Mark said. When Jimmy asked Ken if it was true, Ken nodded glumly, looking as if his morale was down.

"Tom, I am so sorry," Jimmy said, apologizing heartily. "This young man will be grounded and allowance taken from him for a month."

"Which means, he's not playing football tomorrow," Serina said from inside the house. She appeared at Jimmy's shoulder. Jimmy didn't say anything, and Tom nodded in agreement.

Mark had won big time here. He really did want an allowance, and what other reward would he get for turning Ken in? This was so his day. How he looked forward to next week to receive his first payment.

Ken was put away in his room for the weekend, and was to stay in and forbidden to play football with everyone else. Jimmy only agreed to this half-heartedly, because he so wanted to beat the Bakers at their own sport, and he needed all men on the field. Still, at least Charlie was not with them, so he might still have had a chance.

Ken sat in his room, folding his arms defiantly as Serina yelled at him and demanded to know where she and Jimmy went wrong with him. "That's for e to know! You're not even my real mom!" he yelled glumly.

Serina was taken-aback, and left the room for Jimmy to try an hour later.