Figment is having a 29 Day Writing Challenge for the month of February. I am a few days behind (okay, two weeks behind), but I am going to catch up. Here is Day Four
Why was there a secret door in the back of her closet? Why had it just opened? And what could possibly be down the steps?
Alex wanted to show him something.
Alex and Henry had been best friends since second grade, when Alex beat up the fourth grader who had started bullying Henry as soon as he moved to town. Seven year old Henry didn’t know how different things were in Nebraska than they were in California, he didn’t know boys couldn’t wear pink or cry when they fell down, but he soon learned. Alex didn’t like seeing anyone be bullied, even if boys shouldn’t wear pink or cry when they fell. So, one early morning at the schoolyard, the fourth grade bully got what was coming to him when Alex de-panced him and punched him in the nose so hard the whole schoolyard could hear the crunch of his ethmoid breaking.
Alex and Henry lived five houses away from each other. Every day after school they went to Henry’s house, Alex would always eat dinner with Henry’s family and go home just before bedtime. But not today, because Alex wanted to show him something.
They quietly walked through the living room and tiptoed to Alex’s bedroom, neither wanted to wake Alex’s dead while he was passed out on the couch. Alex went straight to the closet, moved some clothes to the side so Henry could see a door. He was about to ask about it, when Alex shushed him and opened the door, inviting him in.
It was a small room, probably built to be a panic room. There was barely room for the two of them but Alex managed to squeeze them both in before shutting the door. The light was dim but Henry could see the pictures on walls––pictures of Alex’s sisters, drawings Henry and Alex made when they were young, magazine clippings of different celebrities and superheroes.
Henry asked what Alex wanted to show him but Alex didn’t answer. Suddenly Henry felt the softest lips graze his cheek. Alex had been in love with Henry since learning from him that boys can wear pink and cry when the fall.
Henry’s lips grazed Alex’s lips. Henry had been in love with Alex since the fourth grade bully had hit the ground.
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