Chapter 28
"Alright, it's settled. We need to f-f-find B-Bowers and the r-r-rest of his g-gang. They could be t-t-targets for all w-we kn-kn-know." Bill suggested.
"What, Bill are you sure?" Mike asked surprised.
"Aww, that's a shame. I would like for them to be dead." Ale said bluntly.
"Well I'm sorry you f-f-feel that w-way, but we c-c-can't s-sit here and do nothing. There are l-l-lives at st-stake!" Bill argued.
Ale glared at Bill, but didn't say anything. Everyone else looked at each other, concerned with the idea and wondered if the Bowers gang would listen to them or if they needed any help at all.
"Uhh guys, we have another problem. How are we going to explain this to our parents? I mean dad noticed that I was no longer scared of the cellar and Ms. K must have noticed that Eddie's no longer scared of germs, how are we going to explain all of this to our parents?" Georgie asked concerned.
Bill and the others looked at each other and realized that Georgie had a point. Bill didn't think of that, how could he? All this time, he was trying to figure out what Pennywise was doing here in Derry, he hadn't realized that even his parents were noticing. Mike, on the other hand, had other thoughts in mind.
"Speaking of explaining things, how are we going to explain to Bowers that he and his gang are in danger? They'll never believe us if we tell them that a demon clown is going to kill them." He pointed out.
"Mike is right, Bill, they'll never believe us." Beverly agreed.
"No, they won't, but we know wh-wh-where th-they're going." Bill pointed out
"That's right, tomorrow's the fair. If the Bowers gang is going to be at the fair, then there's a chance that Pennywise will be there too." Stanley said.
"Alright, than it's settled. We'll go to the fair tomorrow and find Pennywise and the Bowers gang." Ben spoke.
"And if we don't?" Georgie asked concerned.
"Than, we'll have fun. Who s-s-says we c-can't?" Bill said.
"Alright than, we'll go to the fair tomorrow. I have to get home guys, I think my mom has noticed I'm missing." Eddie spoke.
"Alright, tomorrow we m-m-meet at the f-fair and find P-P-Pennywise. If we c-c-can't f-find him, than we f-f-find the B-Bowers gang." Bill said.
The others agreed and started putting the photo books back in the boxes and placing them back on the shelves. The next morning, Bill and Georgie got up and got ready for the fair. They got their clothes on and brushed their teeth. Once they got their socks and shoes on, they went downstairs and approached the dining room table. Their mother had already made cereal and their bowls were on the table. It wasn't necessary, but ever since Georgie was found, she was treating Bill as a hero and Georgie as if he was a baby. As the boys ate their cereal, Bill liked this, but knew it wouldn't last forever. He swallowed his cereal and placed the spoon down for a bit.
"Hey mom, are you going to the f-f-fair t-today?" Bill asked.
"No, your father and I are going to be busy at work today." She said.
"What about grandma?" Georgie asked.
"I'm not sure, but she should be there." Bill and Georgie's mother said.
Bill wondered if he should warn his grandmother about Pennywise since she was involved with the incident at the park, but decided that it would be better to find Pennywise first before telling his grandmother about Pennywise.
"Georgie and I are going to the f-f-fair, mom." Bill said.
"Oh, can you bring back some kettle corn please?" she asked.
"S-S-Sure mom." Bill said.
He and Georgie finished their cereal and got up. Bill wiped the milk off his face and started to leave the house with Georgie behind him.
"Watch Georgie, Bill. You know I don't want him to go missing again." Bill and Georgie's mom warned.
"I will!" Bill shouted.
"Bye mom!" Georgie shouted.
"Bye you two, I love you!" she shouted.
"Love you too!" both boys shouted.
Bill and Georgie left the house and got on their bikes. They rode down the sidewalk towards the town fair and once they got there, Mike, Ben, Stanley, Eddie, Beverly, and Ale were waiting for them. Bill and Georgie parked their bikes, got off of them, than ran up to the others.
"Hey Bill." Mike greeted.
"Hey Mike, have any of you seen Pennywise or the B-B-Bowers g-gang?" Bill panted.
"No, the fair just opened, but we haven't seen Pennywise or the Bowers gang." Beverly answered.
"Okay, remember, we st-st-stay t-together and if we have to, we sp-sp-split u-up in p-p-pairs." Bill ordered.
Everyone nodded and headed towards one of the stands. For the next few hours, the group searched the entire fair and even broke up into pairs for a bit, but none of them could find Pennywise or the Bowers gang. Even with Ale's best tracking skills, there was no trace, faint or any scent that suggested they were at the fair. After a while, they stopped and met back at the town square.
"So, did any of you f-f-find th-them?" Bill asked.
"No, we searched everywhere, but we couldn't find them." Mike said.
"If they were here, they're long gone by now." Ale added.
Bill nodded and wondered about what to do now. The plan was to find the Bowers gang and warn them about Pennywise. If they were lucky, they could find Pennywise first and stop him for whatever he was about to do, but now, neither one was here and Bill wondered on what to do next.
"Are we going home, Bill?" Ben asked.
"No, we'll st-st-stay h-here for a bit." He said.
"And do what?" Eddie asked confused.
"Have fun!" Bill exclaimed.
"But what about Richie or the Bowers gang?" Stanley asked.
"We can worry about them later. For the p-p-past few days, w-we've been so focused on f-f-finding Eddie and f-figuring out Pennywise that we h-h-haven't had any t-time to enjoy our s-s-summer br-break." Bill pointed out.
"Yeah well, our best friends are our top priority, aren't they?" Stanley questioned.
"Exactly, but we n-n-need to t-take a br-break and c-c-come up with a n-new pl-plan." Bill said.
The group looked at each other and had to admit that Bill had a point. They've been so worked up about Pennywise that they haven't been able to enjoy themselves and they only had one plan.
"Pennywise will keep Richie alive, as long as he has u-u-use for h-him. You've seen Eddie and G-G-Georgie, they're al-al-alive and w-well!" Bill pointed out.
"Yeah, except Eddie's injured." Stanley argued.
"And there's a good chance that Richie's killed someone" Ale added.
"Yeah, but Bill's right, Pennywise will keep Richie alive, but we can't fix the past; what's done is done." Mike argued.
"I agree, Patrick's dead and we can't fix that and for all we know, the Bowers gang might stick closer together, so it will stall Pennywise for the moment. I agree with Bill, maybe we should take a break and have fun." Georgie spoke.
The others looked at each other and agreed, they needed a break and this would be a good opportunity to brainstorm new ideas.
"Alright, I'm in." Ale spoke excited.
"Good, now does everyone have e-e-enough m-m-money? I have sp-sp-spare ch-change if anyone w-w-wants it." Bill offered.
"Yes, I do." Beverly spoke.
"Me too." Mike spoke.
"Alright. Remember, we m-m-meet b-back here in a f-f-few h-hours." Bill ordered.
Everyone nodded and split up. For the next few hours, Bill, Georgie, and Eddie were having a time of their lives. They played games, ate delicious food, and visited the petting zoo and petted all the animals. Georgie enjoyed the time he had here, it made him feel invisible and like his old self. For the first time of his life, he felt like a kid again; not being a grownup like he was forced to be. Georgie had to admit, this was nice; for once, he felt as if a part of him hadn't died just yet. Bill and Georgie were at a ice cream stand and were in the process of buying three ice cream cones for themselves and Eddie as he watched the parade go by. Surprisingly, Georgie hadn't seen anyone he knew, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't, but it was so surprising that Georgie hadn't seen any of his old classmates or friends; besides Mia, at least. Bill paid the vendor and headed towards the row of spectators and Eddie was sitting on the curb and watched the parade. Bill sat next to him and Georgie sat next to Bill. Bill gave the ice cream cone to Eddie.
"Thanks." Eddie said.
"You're welcome." Bill said.
All three boys watched as the parade marched on. They saw amazing floats, bands playing wonderful music, and many entertaining stunts and shows. Bill looked at Eddie and Georgie and was happy to see them both enjoying the show. This was like old times, when they believed that they knew their town and could face the world. The crowd clapped and cheered when the last part of the parade marched by and the crowd started to disperse. As Bill, Georgie, and Eddie headed towards the town square, Georgie noticed a familiar looking poster on a wall. Georgie felt down as they were no close to finding Richie or Betty. It broke Georgie's heart to see Betty's face on the posters, she's Mia's best friend and he just found Betty's shoe in Pennywise's lair. As he looked at the poster, his heart dropped and his eyes went wide when he saw a different face on the poster.
"Uh Bill, you need to see this." Georgie spoke.