Wal-Mart: Shelter for Bird Kids across America
Flying over I can't tell you where is pretty nice. I enjoy staring down at the little buildings and the people who look like ants from so far up. When the wind is blowing my hair back and I've only got the sky in front of me with my entire family flying beside me, I can almost forget that I'm once again on the run.
"Max?" Nudge voice called out, "Where are we going?" I peered over my shoulder to see her trying to push her out of control curls away from her face. We had been flying for about an hour so I could see why she was getting impatient.
"We'll make a stop somewhere," I promised. From what I saw, there wasn't much around in the town we were passing over. "Just be patient," I mumbled while thinking of a plan. Geez, I sure am rusty at that.
"Hey," Fang skillfully glided up beside me without moving his wings. Out of all of us, he was the best flyer since he learned from the hawks. I watched as he nodded his head towards a larger building towards the edge of the town right by the high way. Then, without another response, Fang motioned for the flock to follow him and we landed on the back of the roof.
I stumbled at bit with my landing. My legs hadn't gotten use to flying for so long and just dangling in the air doing nothing. Fang actually had to catch me for a second while I caught my balance. "Thanks," I managed while trying to collect my dignity back and walked towards the front. "Guys, check this out," I waved my hand.
Before us was a large parking lot, bigger than the building, and people were just walking in by the masses. I saw mother's with crying children, men dressed in extra-large shirts and shorts, teens in black make-up. "Where are we?" Gazzy asked, his mouth wide open as he admired the passing people. He was amazed. Ah- the joys of being a ten-year-old where everything fascinated you.
"Wal-mart," Iggy replied pressed his hand against a part of the wall that was painted blue. "It's got the same color as their adds in the newspaper." I stared at him with my mouth agape. He laughed and shook his head, "The spots with the grocery carts say Wal-mart on them."
"Can we go and get some food?" Nudge asked with wide eyes and giving me a smile. Angel smiled as well while petting Total. "I'm really hungry and maybe we can look at new clothes!" I raised an eyebrow and Nudge shrugged, "I said look not buy."
"Come on Max," Angel pleaded. I looked over my shoulder to see the sun was close to going down. "Let's at least get food," she wrapped her hand in mine. "Please?" There-it hit me-Bambi eyes. Damn it. "No bad words," Angel reminded me, reading my thoughts.
"Fine," I answered. Then, we went back to the other side of the roof and flew down where no one could see us. When we touched the asphalt I made everyone turn around so I could make sure their wings weren't visible. "All right," I nodded my head, proud with the non-wing appearance and placed my hands on my hip, "All right, let's go."
We did our usual positioning, me leading and Fang in the back with everyone else in between checking the sides. When we walked around, I saw one woman on her cell phone give us an odd look. I guess she didn't see many kids who were freakishly tall round the corner of a Wal-Mart. I was use to it and ignored her by stepping through the automatic doors.
Cool air blew into my face and I watched the television screen that hung from the ceiling of us entering. Why do they put the TV there? I don't care where I am relative to the camera. I do care that you're watching but that's a whole different story. I led the flock towards the eating court.
"Guys, grab a table away from everyone else. Fang and I will go get the food." They all nodded in agreement and went towards the back of the eating court that was being completely ignored. Fang and I made our way to the counter where a boy our age was looking too bored for his own good and some older lady with a fake smile, each behind a cash register. I went up to the boy while Fang went up to the older lady.
"What would you like?" He asked, staring down at a notepad which he obviously was doodling on. Running a hand through his red hair, he lifted his head to stare up at me. Closer up I noticed that he had deep brown eyes and kind of seemed like that actor in that movie about wizards. "Oh, hi," he eyes were very obvious at checking me out.
"Hi," I replied, frowning and glaring at him. "I'll have six of the hot dogs and six bags of chips. Two orders of mozzarella sticks. Can you make it quick? My friends are waiting." He nodded, put in the order, and then, attempted to make a conversation.
"So, uh- what brings you to Smellington?" I raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, town nickname. It smells because of the cows…uh…it's a small place so I pretty much know everyone. Visiting family for an early vacation?"
"Just a road trip with my friends," I answered back casually. "Not quite sure where we're going…" I trailed off to observe the flock. From where the cashier was, he couldn't see them but I could. Iggy and Nudge were in a deep conversation. Gazzy and Angel were sitting up at the booths waving their hands at me. I lifted a hand at them in response.
"A road trip? Really, it's early November. How many schools have vacation at this time?" I heard a voice telling him an order was up. The boy, whose name tag read "Ross", ignored it. I crossed my arms impatiently.
"Hippie school, they believe in letting us leave if it will help our creative juices flow. Was that my order?" Aware that I was waiting for my food, he jumped and went to the little window where the food was waiting, stuffed on one large tray.
"Here," he handed me the plate and I paid him. "So, would your boyfriend happen to be on this trip?" I guess he was hoping that I would say I didn't have a boyfriend or that I would break down, start crying, and complain about my awful boyfriend which would allow him to swoop in and save my day.
"Yep," Fang replied, stepping beside me holding his large tray of food. I watched as the boy frowned. "Let's go eat," he balanced the tray in one hand and wrapped an arm around my waist.
"Sorry, nice to meet you," I gave him a smile as Fang pulled me away. I noticed Fang's glare…jealous much? "He was nice, you don't have to be mean." I whispered, lightly elbowing him but not hard enough so Fang would loosen his grip on my waist. I liked the comfort.
We all sat down to eat. The boy forgotten.
"Wal-mart will now be closing in ten minutes," a voice announced over the intercom. Iggy had managed to get us in the back of the store where they kept the extra items. We decided to stay the entire night. We were hidden perfectly so that none of the workers would see us…
Ten minutes later, the lights were off and the people had left. With our good sight, we found the light switches and turned on the lights of the Wal-Mart. Can you see where this is going? Angel went to the children's aisle to find Barbie sleeping bags. Gazzy found a Transformers one. Iggy and Nudge settled for regular sleeping bags. I went for a set up patio swing. Fang was nowhere to be seen.
We turned on a fake fire pretending to roast marshmallows. I know, we're stealing and all but, Wal-Mart can afford it. I read somewhere that they get all their merchandise from China where the products are cheaper and their workers are paid fifty cents an hour- no lie. So, Wal-Mart was just doing us a favor.
I pushed the swing back and forth, searching around for Fang wondering what he could possibly be up too. Everyone had their wings stretched out and we were relaxing enjoying the fake fire. "Hey! I found a book on scary stories," Gazzy held it up in the air. "Can we read some?"
"Sure," I replied. I stood up, "Guys, I'm going to find Fang. I'll be back." I went to walk past the aisles so I could see down all of them. I tiptoed back and forth, hoping, maybe, if given the chance, I could sneak up on him.
I went around one corner and decided to head down the aisle. Suddenly, before I could react, I was lifted off the ground. Panicking, I went to get a look at my attacker. Warm arms, dark eyes, can turn invisible at need, "Fang!" I whispered this.
Fang laughed holding me up in the air against him. "What are you doing?" I asked him. He went towards a door. "Uh, Fang?"
"Alone time," he told me. We had talked this morning about how we had to keep us down low while we were on the run. I needed to stay focused on taking care of the flock.
"Where are we going?" Fang finally placed me on the ground, opened the door, and led me up to stairs. I saw a sign that read "To Roof". I let Fang lead me up and when he opened the door I saw a blanket and food. Wow, Fang as a romantic? Not what I was expecting. "Oh," I replied.
I sat beside him and we opened up a bag of chips. I took a bite and smiled, "Thanks." Fang rolled his eyes. "What? It's not every day I get to eat chips on a roof at Wal-Mart with my boyfriend." Did I just call Fang that? I mean, I know he considered himself that but I bet it was the first time he heard me admit it.
Fang smirked, "Geez Max, you'd think you'd be better at this than me." I raised an eyebrow that asked him 'what?' "Relationship stuff." I laughed and shook my head. I leaned over and went to kiss his cheek. Fang, however, wanted more and turned his head so we kissed full on the lips.
"Max!" A voice called from behind- Nudge. "Gazzy and Iggy are racing grocery carts down the aisles!"
"Crud," I muttered under my breath. I rested my forehead against his and I peered down at his lips in a small smile while he laughed. I kissed him quickly before standing up and jumping into leader mode. Fang stood up beside me.
"Racing grocery carts?" I asked to Nudge. She nodded her head, trying not to smile at Fang and I. "All right," I thought about it for a moment. "I want in." Then, we all went down and raced through the aisles.
I would like to take a moment to apologize to Wal-Mart.
We did not intend on crashing at the finish line.