Gabes Guardian Angel

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

Gabe finished the mowing jobs he’d started at the first hint of sunrise by noon Saturday. With one hand, he pushed the lawn mower home, a spring to his step, as springy as his clumsy, aching feet could walk, anyhow. He whistled a tune he’d heard but could not remember where. No matter. He liked it. Every few minutes, he slid his free hand into his jeans pocket and checked to make sure the bills still nestled in its depths. After deducting his expenses for gasoline, helping Grandpa pay some of the bills, and adding the money he already had saved, he might have a little extra. He’d have to wait and see before planning how to spend it.

He shoved the lawn mower into the carport and dashed inside the house, waving his money in the air. “Lindy! Grandpa! Look what I got!”

Only the thud, thud, thud of Gabe’s shoes on the wooden floor answered him. No sister ran up, begging to see the money, asking if she could have a new dress. No Grandpa slapped him on the back and said, “Good boy.”

Instead, he found two notes on the kitchen cabinet.

He read the first one: I’m ta krow, Gade. eeS uoy siht qnineve. aqbnarG

He shouted, “Dang it, stupid letters! Stop jumping around.” He pressed his lips together and leaned closer to the paper, determined to read the note correctly. He said each word out loud, one at a time, focusing on the letters, putting them in a different order when necessary. On the third try, the note finally made sense. “I’m at work, Gabe.” He grinned. “Yeah, I got it!” he shouted. “Of course, I should have remembered. Grandpa’s at his day job at the hamburger joint. No problem, I’ll tell him about the money later.”

He picked up the other note from Lindy and unfolded the paper. Again, he had to interpret the message. tneW to s’anelE esuoh. gnibneqS eht thgin. aqbnarG swonk. “Went to Elena’s house. Spending the night. Grandpa knows.”

He wadded the note up in his hand. “Have fun.”

His stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten since early this morning. He might die of starvation if he didn’t get food soon. After two sandwiches, a glass of milk, and a couple of Lindy’s famous chocolate chip cookies, his belly cried, “Enough! I’m stuffed,” and he rushed to his room to add his money to the rest of his savings.

He dug under the T-shirts in his chest, pulled out the bills wrapped in a rubber band, and added the day’s earnings. “It’s not a fortune, but it’ll help. Someday, I’ll—”

Outside, engines roared. Loud and clear. The room shook. Gabe clenched his hands into fists and squeezed his eyes closed. “No! No!” he whispered. “Not them. Not here. My home.”

His jaw muscle twitched. He opened his eyes. “No, Mick,” he yelled. “You may taunt me and laugh at me at school, but you’ve crossed the line.”

Gabe raced out the door as two motorcycles spun around the corner and disappeared. He shook a fist in their direction. “Run, cowards, run. Next time, I’ll be ready for you.”

Only the wind heard his threat.

Still fuming at the guts of those guys to drive by his house, he marched back and forth across the lawn, his hands clinched so tight his fingernails dug furrows in his flesh. A low roar rumbled in his throat. “Brave guys, aren’t you?” he yelled after them. “So, why’d you run away? Scared of me? Ha, ha! You should stick around. Show how brave you are.”

He stopped. Stared at the corner. Nope, they’re not coming back. And, I know why. They got what they wanted. They know where I live. Better make sure the locks are all tight.