Starry Night

The first thing I heard was a blaring police siren in the distance. Opening my eyes I found myself on my back in my little hide out of doors. Outside, it was dark just as I had suspected in my dream.

The dream!

I jerked myself into a sitting position and examined my entire body, head to toe. Each and every cut, scrape, bruise and scar I had had ever received was gone. No aches, pains or migraines!

For once, I began to wonder if my recent nightly adventures weren’t in dream land as I had believed.

“Jack! Come out now and we won’t take you’re absence from probation as critical as it can be.” Came the overcast voice of one of the police officers whom worked under Tanner.

I was still tired, so I wasn’t able to run. The most I could do was peep out through one of the many cracks in the small structure. Luckily, the officer was merely calling out and had no idea I was so near. He was patrolling in his blue and white cop car, moving along the road slowly so as to make sure he didn’t miss a thing.

The man was flashing a flashlight out of his window and into each little crevice of junk he could find. So long as he didn’t get out and walk around, I should be safe here. Or so I hoped.

He spent at least a half an hour circling around my side of the dump before leaving to look in the other sections. Laying in wait allowed me enough time to recover my strength, so now I was willing to attempt an escape.

Tomorrow I had no choice but to go back to work, but in the mean time I had to avoid the police. In this part of the neighborhood, they enjoyed dishing out free beatings.

Thinking of such, I rubbed my arms recalling the numerous injuries I should be suffering from.

Thoughts began running through my head all at once. I began wondering not only if I had been dreaming, but where was I going each night? And what was that shadow which took me there each time? And then there was the basic question of ‘why me’?

Everybody there whom I had come across so far showed no signs of hostility towards me. As a matter of fact, they all acted as though I were some sort of deity or king.

My train of concentration stopped as I focused on that single idea. King. Was this like out of some sort of science fiction movie where the main character has a secret power or is from an unknown line of royalty from another world? No, if it were, I sure couldn’t handle being the protagonist. I hated responsibility, especially since I spent my life being unable to care for myself. Plus I hated unnecessary attention.

Warily I stood and creped out of my hide out. Every step I took, I took gradually looking around for any sign of life. Even if it were a passerby, I had to hide. Here in Cumberton, everyone knew my face. I had stolen from so many of them when I was younger that almost everyone here hated my guts and would sooner give me a beating themselves rather than let the cops enjoy it alone.

Staying on the ground wasn’t safe. Anyone could find me then. So I searched for a tree to climb and hide in. There was one on the far side of town that I had normally climbed in before my parents died. When ever I got into trouble I would climb into it and lay on the fattest branch, invisible to anyone who looked up from directly under me.

That was where I headed. I ducked behind each trash can, dumpster, tree and building where I was sure no one would look. I even took the back alleys where the lesser know people of Cumberton reside.

“Well if it isn’t Jack.” Came the voice of Old Man Bob.

I didn’t see him and jumped, at first believing I had been caught.

“Calm down boy, it’s only me.” He laughed. “And don’t worry about the police, they passed by not too long ago so they shouldn’t be back around here for a while.”

“Thanks.” I sighed. Old Man Bob was the most well known hobo in town. He was always seen sitting on corners begging for money or playing his harmonica. Though when night fell he would return to the crevices in which the homeless lived to avoid the wrath of the violent when bored policemen.

His face was wrinkled and small, with huge saggy cheeks and large white puffy eyebrows. We weren’t exactly friends, but I did sit with him a number of times to hear his harmonica when I had nothing better to do.

“You’d better be hurrying along now boy. Just because I saw one pass by, doesn’t mean another one won’t come to double check.” He warned gently.

I nodded and slunk out the back side of the alleyway.

By the time I made it to where the trees my nerves were on edge. Each sound I heard I assumed was a policeman searching for me which caused me to duck down into whatever hiding place was around.

The little run down blue house which I spent my youngest years living in came into view and I knew I was safe finally. But then I turned to the backyard and found that some one had chopped the tree down.

What was worse, a policeman stood there glaring at me.

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Author's Note: Sorry he didn't return to the other world in this chapter. Please Read and review and thanks everyone who's been enjoying this so far. ^.^