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Chapter Eleven

"Actually, it had a lot to do with the accident. See, after Rosemary died and we wen' through all that, I realized just how little I had. I didn't have a dad, or a mom, or a girlfriend, didn't have a home or a purpose, didn't even feel I really had friends. 'Cause you guys are more like comrades, you know? We got together to beat on Eggman and that was it. We didn't see each other. We didn't go out to lunch or play basketball or anything like that. We joined forces and that was it. Even you and me, Tails, in the end there. That was my fault, I know, because I dunno fuck-all about planes an' I couldn't be bothered to learn even though I kinda should've, but I didn't. So I started feeling trapped. I couldn't make myself do nothin' 'cause I didn't see the point. Knuckles and me'd never be friends, I could never go out with Amy, an' Tails had to go on without me or he'd never grow up like he should. So I decided to put it all behind me. I decided to forget everything and go somewhere they'd never know me, where no one would be able to find me, change my name and change myself so I could maybe get ahold of the things I didn't have.

"So what happened was I ended up at the bottom of the world, in Downunda. They didn't know who I was, I was just another wanderer in the desert. So I threw my shoes in the ocean and changed my name an' started a new life.

"It's a lot harder than it sounds. It's real hard to get a job when you ain't got an education or a place, but you can't get a place if you ain't got any money. I didn't realize I needed those things. Back here, everythin' was provided for me. I didn't have to worry about money or how I was going to get enough to eat. It just wasn't important.

"Luckily for me, this guy Mighty noticed I was havin' a real hard time of it, and he let me stay at his place. He let me stay above his garage. He even got me a job, down where he was workin'. It was a pretty dead-end job, doing a bit of landscaping and a bit of maintenance, but it was better than nothin'. After I made a bit I was able to stand up on my own and started payin' him rent. He didn't want me to, but after a while he stopped giving the money back.

"After a bit I got bored of landscaping. It's fucking boring, mowing lawns all day long. So I went to this automotive place and started hanging around there. After a while I started picking things up, and I found out that I really liked fixing cars. So I asked them if they would let me apprentice there. They didn't want to let me because I wasn't going to school, but I convinced them to give me a shot. After a couple of weeks they just stood back and let me do some of the easier work, like oil changes and stuff like that, just in case I made a mistake. Now they let me do a lot of the big stuff by myself. They were pretty pissed actually, me dipping like that, because I was in the middle of putting in a tranny for an '02 Escape, and that's a pretty big job, one I'd been pestering them for for a while. But hell, I'm not such an asshole that I would put replacing a tranny over my little brother."

"But Sonic…why didn't you stay in contact with us? Why didn't you at least call me now and again?

"I couldn't."

"Why not?"

Sonic looks sheepish and scuffs his foot on the floor.

"I left my phone at home and I couldn't remember your phone number."

Tails just stares at him like he's nuts.

"You left your phone at home?"

"Yeah."

"Well where is it?"

"I dunno. Under the bed probably, that's where it usually ends up."

"Man, Sonic…" says Tails, and Sonic is all but sinking into the floor now, "you surprise me sometimes, you really do."

"I thought I surprised you all the time."

"Not like this…"

Sonic laughs and puts his foot on the bedrail.

"Well I gotta stop being so predictable, you know."

"I never said you were! It's just predictable that you try to surprise me!"
"God, this is giving me a headache," says Sonic.

"Thinking gives you a headache," I sneer.

"Most of the time," says Sonic. "That's why I do my best not to."

One thing about Sonic I don't understand is his absolute willingness to admit he's dumb. I mean, most people try to hide it. Sonic, he just waves it around like it's something to be proud of.

"Sonic," says Amadeus, and Sonic is the only one not surprised when he speaks.

"Yeah man?"

"Will you do me a favour?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Will you repair my car, son?"

"No probs," says Sonic. "I'll get right on that soon's I can."

"Thank you," says Amadeus.

"But Sonic, you knew my address and my email. Why didn't you try to contact me that way?"

"I did. Sort of."

"How?"

"I started sending letters to Amy."

I stare at him. "No way."

"Yep."

"You're Amy's penpal?"

"That's right."

"Why Amy?"

"'Cause out of all the people I've been a jerk to, Amy got the worst of it."

"Why the hell did you tell her your name was Maurice."

"Because my name is Maurice."

I start laughing. "What?"

"His name's not Sonic," says Tails. It's Ogilvie Maurice."

"Oh my God! That's got to be the worst name on the planet!" I say, and I can't stop laughing. "Ogilvie Maurice! Were your parents high when they named you?"

"Shut up," says Sonic. "You can't say shit about my parents, you never met them."

"You don't use the name they gave you."

"Just because they gave me a lousy name doesn't mean they're lousy people. Now shut your face."

"I'll think about it," I snicker.

"I'm gonna clock you, I swear to God—"

"Get in line," I tell him. "I'm gonna clock you first."

"Shut up!" says Tails. "Why are you guys arguing over who's gonna clock who? Clock each other at the same time for all I care! Just stop arguing!"

"Sorry buddy," says Sonic. "Knucklehead here got me all worked over nothing."

"It's fine, just stop doing it," says Tails.

"Gotcha," says Sonic. "By the way, I've got something of yours I need to give back."

"You do?"

"Yep. Picked it up for dirt cheap too. Were you trying to insult me? 'Cause I was pretty insulted."

"Uh…I don't know what you're talking about."

"The Tornado, Tails. It's worth a hell of a lot more than $300."

Tails jerks around to look at him. "You bought the Tornado?"

"Sure did. And just so you know how bad I wanted it," he says, shifting on the table, "I actually borrowed the money to buy it."

"Wow," says Tails. "I…I didn't expect that."

"I know," says Sonic. "Do I owe anyone else any favours?"

Amadeus laughs and Sonic smirks at him. "Hey man, I don't even owe you one."
Amadeus coughs and says, "Mine's for Miles, Sonic. I don't want him to inherit a useless Cadillac."

"Oh that's right, it is a Caddy," says Sonic. "I might have to go back on that one."

"Why's that?"

"I ain't never fixed a Caddy, old man. I'd just as soon bust it than fix it."

"It's already in disrepair, I don't think it can get much worse."

"I guess that's true, huh?" says Sonic. "I guess I'm not getting out of it then?"

"Of course not. You owe me a favour."

"For what?"

"Don't ask silly questions."
"Uh…okay…I'll try not to…"

"Dad, I thought we agreed I'm not going to inherit anything just yet," says Tails quickly.

"We don't agree on that until tomorrow at two o'clock," says Amadeus. Sonic laughs and rubs a finger under his nose.

"Sorry Tails, that one's my fault," he says.

"Well at least it's guaranteed," says Tails. Amadeus groans and covers his face.

"Damn it," he says. "Now Ihave to show improvement by tomorrow."

"You sure do," says Sonic, "or I ain't fixin' your car."

"I thought you didn't know how to fix it."

"Hell, if I smack it enough times with a wrench it's bound to run alright."

"Only because it wants you to cease the abuse."

"Lol," says Sonic. Amadeus looks at him incredulously.

"People these days seriously say 'lol' instead of laughing?"

"Sure they do. It's faster."

"Oh my God," says Amadeus, covering his face again, "what has the world come to?"

Sonic yawns and stretches. "Hey Tails, let's leave this old guy alone for awhile and you can help me with his shitbox."

"Well…I don't know…" says Tails. "I don't like leaving him alone."

"He ain't alone. An' you c'n come back later. Does he have to tell ya or can ya make this decision on your own?"

"I have to tell him," says Amadeus.

"Then do it, man, don' wait all day!"

"Miles, go with Sonic."

"But dad—"

"Don't make me raise my voice again, Miles. Go. I promise to start working on that improvement."

"Okay…but you better be improved when I get back."

"I will. Now go with your brother."

Sonic gets up and looks at Amadeus, who is obviously going to sleep.

"In all seriousness, Amadeus…"

"I know," says Amadeus. "I promise."

Sonic starts strolling out of the room with Tails beside him. I'm not gonna hold down the fort, so I start leaving too. Tails waits for me and then closes the door quietly.

"Thanks Knuckles," says Tails. "I owe you one."

"No problem," I say, giving Sonic the stink-eye. He smirks at me.

"See ya later Knux," he says.

"I hope not," I say, and stalk off.