Chapter 8 Nightmares Unfold (Part II)

Thomas leaned back on his chair and put on a grin that meant to say, 'Yeah, right.'

'I guess I woke up late,' Brendan answered his teacher.

'And let it never happen again. This is the first time you're late, Mr. Eriksson. You should tread carefully and keep your record clean. Sit down.'

Brendan walked up to his desk trying hard not to let his two enemies change the expression of nonchalance on his face.

'Oh, darn it,' Mr. Price said suddenly in regret. 'Be quiet till I get back, understood?'

'Yes, Mr. Price,' the class responded in unison except for three boys; Thomas, Angus and Brendan.

Thomas leaned in towards Brendan's ear. 'We're gonna have so much fun together, Eriksson.'

The coarseness of his voice annoyed him.

'You bet we will,' Angus bellowed in agreement.

His deeper voice only annoyed Brendan even more but he did not respond, fearing he would start an uncomfortable conversation with them.

At recess, Brendan bumped into Angus.

'Happy to see me, orphan kid?' Angus was almost a foot taller than Brendan. The red color of his blazer had faded. His shoes were starting to tear at the front. He had a muscular face and intimidating bottle-green eyes. Brendan had thought that Angus was the worst dressed student but that was before he saw Thomas Bradley.

Angus hurled his enormous fist at him but he ducked. Someone else received the blow from behind him.

'Ouch! What you do dat for, you overgrown gorilla?' The blow had landed on Thomas' jaw. He was wearing his black bandana. He was now soothing his jaw trying to ease the pain.

'It was a mistake, Thom, I'm sorry,' he apologized.

This was the first time Brendan had actually heard Angus apologize to anyone.

'You call dat a mistake?' Thomas' eyes were raging with a blazing fury. 'This is what you call a mistake...' He began slapping Angus all over his head.

Angus was defenseless. He just kept on apologizing. 'I'm sorry, Thom, it won't happen again.'

Meanwhile, Brendan managed to slip away from the scene. He paused by the entrance of the cafeteria and watched them for a while. He finally decided that anyone strong enough to subdue Angus was someone who was definitely worth avoiding.

At dismissal time, Brendan went home alone, dragging his feet. He usually walked with Simon and they would part ways at their "crossroads". This was because Simon lived on Kennan Rodgers Street. Brendan had suffered a grueling hour in detention because of Samantha.

'Home is where the heart is,' he sighed to himself when he opened the door into his house. He looked over at Howard's rocking chair. He was lying on the floor surrounded by numerous medicine bottles.

Brendan dropped his books on the floor and rushed to his aid. 'Howard! Howard!' He kept shouting, shaking him violently. He checked his pulse and skin temperature and he realized that he had been dead for hours.

A small note was lying next to Howard's head. Brendan grabbed it and unfolded it with heartache and tears beginning to stream down his cheeks. The note read:

I'm sorry for hurting you Brendan. You were right. I wasn't your father but you do know that the love I had for you was genuine. You were also right about another thing. The potion is evil. Take it from my pocket and crush it in secret. Rid yourself of such a great curse. From the moment you were born I knew you were special. The potion was meant to prolong your life but I've realized that it would only prolong your misery. Your life is in your hands, not some lightning in a bottle. Return evil with good. Stay well

Love; Howard

Brendan folded the note and put it in his pocket. His face was covered in tears. He laid Howard's head on his lap and he sat there on the floor with him the whole night.