Too Equal For My Taste
Chapter 25: Under the Bush
Mike and Ken were a lot better than they started off as. The next day after Karate, Mike and Ken had to wait a bit longer for Jimmy to pick them up, as it was his turn. Mike took a sip from his water bottle, and Ken turned to him, "Can I have a sip?"
Mike passed it over to him, and Ken poured a bit into his mouth before giving it back.
Jimmy drove up, and they got in the car. Mike began to think that Ken had completely reformed. The question was; did Ken feel the same way? Did Ken feel Mike was cool? Did Ken really reform?
Mike's question was answered when they arrived home and Mark was waiting outside for Ken. Mike got out and walked slowly back inside. Mark and Ken retreated behind a tree. Before Mike walked inside, he remembered that Sarah and Jake took the console with them to Connor's house. So Mike walked back to where Ken was, thinking he'd hang out with Mark and Ken like he sometimes did.
On his way, he heard low voices, and not wanting to be heard, crouched behind a thick bush and crawled in. There, he heard Ken and Mark conversing, and obviously did not want to be heard.
"-just like the way you got the antiques," Ken said. "Just this one, and then we'll leave it there."
"We give up?" Mark asked incredulously. "That's it? I mean, after all this time? After all the work, you wanna stop?"
"Just look at it as- getting better," Ken said humbly. "Just this and we'll have enough money to get on. It's not like we're gonna live off doing this."
"Why so humble?" Mark asked. Of course he expected to live off something like this. It was easy and there was little danger of being caught. It wasn't like he was on the run or anything.
"I just- it doesn't feel right anymore," Ken said lowly. "Take them, and stay a bit humble, man."
"No," Mark smirked. "It's from Mike, isn't it?"
Maybe Ken's words came from Mike's small influence on him, but that was it. It proved that Ken was still no good. Mike now didn't feel right hanging out with Ken anymore. He had to do something. If Mike gave up on Ken, Ken would just get worse. He had to keep talking to him. But how could he talk to Ken anyway?
"It's not from Mike," Ken snapped. "I mean we keep cool for a bit. We did it once. Doing it repeatedly just makes us more open and exposed. Mike is just a gullible idiot. He seriously thinks I'm like him. Who'd want to be, huh? I just got him believing we're innocent."
"Or, if we got him on our side," Mark said lowly.
Ken chose not to answer. He disappeared behind a tree a bit further away. "When do we sell?" Mark asked loudly.
"Hmm, how about we give it two weeks, and then we'll finish this game? Wait till the cry to die down, sell them, and leave it."
"Right," Mark nodded. He disappeared after Ken, and they clapped hands on it, before parting, leaving a surprised, hidden Mike feeling betrayed. Ken made himself look so good to Mike, and instead, he plans to stab everyone in the back. What a guy? How could someone like him live with himself? Further, how could Mark even agree to it? Didn't he know what he was getting himself into?
Mike stayed under the bush, pondering over the issue for a long time. Mike's views on Ken changed, and he even trusted Ken when he swore he didn't take them. Well, it was the truth, so Ken's swear was half truth. It was the dishonest truth Ken told that pissed Mike off.
Sometimes, Mike even asked himself, 'What would an older Kenneth Murtaugh be like?'
Mike would then answer to himself, 'A thief.'
Mark and Ken were both twelve years old. Mike was nine, and he was already getting into stuff he liked and enjoyed doing. Mike thought to himself for a long time about this kind of thing. Even at such a young age of nine, he was absolutely sure of his likings. He liked sports, and he found himself a big fan of hockey and baseball.
After playing sports, Mike found himself in his element. Did Ken not have his own element? Was he really just another common young thief who would grow up to be a homeless guy, or a common gangster of New York? After thinking like that, Mike would then feel a bit sorry for Ken and Mark. He hated Ken with a passion, but someone becoming homeless? He wished he could do something about it.
Probably, if Mike fought him, Ken was give up and be a bit more humbled. That was one way, or Mike could seek help. Mike decided on the last one. If he could get a little help, namely from Jake, Ken would probably be forced down. It was no use telling an adult this time, because that never worked.