Ch. 3: Chris and the London Explosion

Chris left his Sensei with glad remarks and hopes for finding Mike and I. However that never lasted long from what I heard from him. One day, he found himself eating ice cream from Baskin Robbins when he saw a dragon like figure come out of a building just downtown as it blew up. He told Chris to come with him. Confused, but not afraid, Chris went with the mysterious figure.

Chris then asked "Who are you supposed to be?" The figure responded saying, "I am one of the most dangerous arsonists and the most wanted in bombing buildings." He then said, "My name is Bowser. You've probably heard of me before haven't you?" (His name is Bowser because of the due fact that he looks like a dragon and also because he is Mario's rival in all of those Nintendo games.)

Only thing Chris knew then was he wasn't going to waste his time with a low life like him. It was just plain and simple: this guy is trouble. So then Bowser offered to train him as an arsonist. Chris at first disagreed but later on when he saw people make fun of the way he looked he got mad. He got thrown in jail but then had an attempt bail hearing arranged by Bowser. (No surprise there) Bowser again asked, "Will you come and help me blow up stuff with me? It'll be worth your while." Chris was disgusted by his pleading. "Go talk to someone who cares!!" Bowser slowly turned and walked away. He then turned to Chris and said, "Look, I may not be the answer you're looking for, but I do know you're serving at ten years for aggressive assault. Only thing I would have to do is pay the ransom for you and you're my responsibility." (Obviously I'm making this kind of law shtick up even with the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Canada, it wouldn't be that harsh, but it still is just a story so yeah.)

Bowser again turned and headed for the door. Chris thought of his chances doing well with the bunch of drunk and smelly hobos sitting next to him. He quickly asked, "When is the bail hearing?" Bowser smiled happily. "Glad you could see it my way." Together Bowser and Chris went on to London and spent their time in L.A. along the way where they met two detectives that were just beginning their adventures as well that would shake the world as we know it. Bowser shortly explained that he once worked at BBC two months ago and was fired for showing a taping of a cobra killing a baby. So Bowser wanted vengeance. "The trick is to act like you are one of them. Never show any inch of suspicion. It blows your cover every time." Chris then took the bomb from him and wrapped it in brown packaging paper. "If this involves both of us, why aren't you going in?" Bowser looked at Chris and shook his head. "Oh dear, naïve Chris. Haven't you learned anything at all? I used to work here and they have me on tight surveillance. If you go in they won't even know you exist, excluding the person you give the package to." So Chris went in. So far so good. He travelled up about four or five floors before he was told to get off and head to a door that was labeled 'Security Management'. Then a fat, bald Security guard patrolling the area caught him and asked where he was taking the package. Chris said to Mr. Robins. The Security guard kindly offered to take it to him and Bowser knew this was his chance to get Chris out of there. Chris knew there wouldn't be any time to just get back into the elevator and just jumped outside the window. Bowser caught him in a giant fireman's net and they hid behind a trash can as they awaited the results. In seconds the building was incinerated. Bowser laughed and said, "Hah. Who's laughing now?"

Bowser took Chris home to celebrate their first bombing together. Bowser scratched the boy's head as he said inside their new abandoned hangout in Old Strathcona of Edmonton's oldest parts of the city, "This could be the start of something special between us boy. I can see it now: Bowser and Chris, masters of all Arson and Disguise acts." I don't know how much money in damages those two had cost Edmonton, but I do know this. It would be a long three months before any of us would see ourselves again. It was already heading into June of 1997: summer would begin, but with some very interesting turn of events.

(Chris's story with Bowser is a very different kind of journey all on its own, but has a little more significance as you'll see with the chapter lengths and whatnot. The next chapter may even surprise you a little as well so stay tuned.)

(Next Time: Rush Hour.)

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