CHAPTER FIVE

A.J. had packed up his things and was ready to embark upon the camping trip. Now, all he had to do was wait for the Turner's station wagon to appear in the driveway. He came downstairs and his parents were in the living room. They both smiled upon seeing him.

"Got everything, bud?" asked Mr. Johnson.

A.J. nodded. Then his mother asks the question that every little boy dreads.

"Did you pack clean underwear?"

"Mom," said A.J., embarrassed, "You know I did." Then a pause. "But thank you for not asking that in front of Timmy and Chester.

Both his parents just grinned. They heard a car come up the driveway, and Mrs. Johnson looked at the window. "Here they come," she said.

A.J. picked up his stuff and his parents hugged him. "Thanks for everything you've done for me this week."

"You're welcome son," said Mr. Johnson, "and don't forget what we talked about. I'm sure that you'll feel much better when you talk to Timmy."

A.J. nodded and then scooted out the door.

He came up to the station wagon and Chester opened up the door.

"Dude," said Chester, "you ready to enjoy the great outdoors?"

A.J. nodded, "Yeah," he said, and then he looked at Timmy. "Hey Timmy."

"Hi A.J., "said Timmy, seemingly excited.

A.J. looked at his Timmy and got the sense that although his friend was looking forward to the trip there was something troubling him. Like, his mother, A.J. had a very good knack for reading people, especially when he looked in their eyes. Perhaps they could talk more about it when they got to their destination.

Mrs. Turner spoke up, "Don't forget to buckle up A.J. for safey"

"Yeah," said Mr. Turner, "studies show that unbuckled kids in the back of the car are unchecked deadly missiles that can kill parents before the kids are thrown out of the car, and have their tiny bodies and limbs smashed."

A.J. shuddered at Mr. Turner's rather colorful paraphrase of road safety, but he buckled his seatbelt. He looked over at Timmy who was playing a video game while Chester was reading a Crimson Chin comic book. Perhaps what was bothering Timmy was his very eccentric parents. It's a wonder that Timmy had turned out as normal as he did considering how odd his parents were.

"How long until we get there," asked Chester.

"About two hours," replied Mr. Turner, "it's a few miles outside of Dimmsdale Flatts used to be."

"I thought Doug Dimmadome tore Dimmsdale Flats down,"said A.J.

"He did," said Mr. Turner, "this is not exactly Dimmsdale Flats is, it's an old western settlement where the settlers used to mine. In fact there is an old gold mine there."

"Cool," said Chester, "Maybe we'll find gold."

"Maybe," said Mrs. Turner, "and maybe we can finally recoup the money we lost raising a son."

This didn't seem to bother Timmy too much, but it bothered A.J. Mrs. Turner, of course, didn't mean anything mean spirited about it, but the fact Timmy's parents would often say careless things about and in front of Timmy left a sour taste in A.J.'s mouth. A.J. decided to change the subject. He looked over at Timmy who was playing a green colored video game with pink handles.

"So Timmy," said A.J., "is that a new video game?"

"Yeah, it's Space Conquerors."

"Cool," said Chester, "that's a brand new video game. When did your parents get it."

"We didn't get it for him," said Mr. Turner, "he just had it one day."

Chester looked puzzled, "Timmy, how'd you get it then?"

"Uh," said Timmy, "internet."

"He gets a lot of stuff off of the internet," said Mrs. Turner, "and it must be bargain priced whatever website he's on for him to afford it on his allowance." She paused. "Because I've yet to see a bill for the stuff."

Suddenly, Timmy looked up and seemed to shudder. "Game over," said the video voice."

A.J. looked over at his friend, "Timmy is something wrong?"

"No," said Timmy, "I think I'm just imagining things, because I get the feeling I'm being watched."

"Well," said Mrs. Turner, "you are being watched by us, your parents."

All three of the boys knew that wasn't what Timmy meant. Chester spoke up. "It probably is your imagination, Timmy. I mean there's no one around."

"You're probably right," said Timmy resuming his video game.

Normally, A.J. would agree. However, A.J. also got the feeling that someone was watching them and he also got the feeling that who or what was watching them was targeting Timmy in particular.

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The shadowy figure kept his distance in his vehicle but kept his binoculars trained on the Turner's station wagon. The figure smiled and said, "Oh, yes, Turner, you are being watched. But that is the least of your worries.