Pouring a jug of coffee into two white mugs, I placed them on top of a brown tray, together with two plates of freshly-buttered toast and two bowls of soft-boiled eggs. With both hands, I carried it towards table number two, which was placed at the right corner of the store window. "Here are your breakfast, Mayor Yearns," I served his meal on his table. "That'll be 6 dollars altogether."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4jjjcrj2u
Taking out his wallet from his side pocket, Mayor Yearns handed me a green bill and a blue bill and thanked me. I smiled as I was about to head back to the counter, only for his daughter, Lisa, to tug the sleeves of my T-shirt. "Hey Bugsy, are we still meeting up at the arcade tonight?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlDJJPJcEh
I nodded. "Of course we are, Lisa. Why do you ask?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhR2BAERqd
Mayor Yearns cleared his throat. "Well Bugsy, I've read today's newspaper and umm...it doesn't look good at all."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TeKzDAwCo
"Oh," my eyebrows furrowed. "Did we lost many men at the battlefield?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48uMbEwxwd
He shook his head. "Nope, a serial killer had escaped from prison in La Belle."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK0WikPPX6
I let out a loud gasp. "Really? What's his name?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8v0OsRekB
"His name is James Larthow, also known as the Ripper. His method of killing included mutilating his victims into bits and disposing them in the garbage bin."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOlVkinTza
He showed me a mugshot of a young man, with fair skin, blue eyes and chestnut hair, who was grinning ear-to-ear. "I'm still allowing both of you to hang out at the arcade, but in one condition."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXIE9nVe7Y
"What is it, daddy?" Lisa asked.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqOg8MFSSz
"Both of you must be home by 10 p.m, sharp," he instructed. "The same goes for the whole town."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfrQejUvrm
"I beg to differ, Mayor Yearns," I spoke. "But La Belle prison is in the other side of the country and with the war going on right now, it's unlikely for the Ripper to escaped to Slaborough."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXouDXUwq5
"But still, Bugsy, it's better to be safe than sorry. I can't let this killer take an innocent life in this town."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXn0bBxP81
Looking at the watch on his wrist, he gulped down his coffee and laid his handkerchief on the table as he got up from his seat. "Now if you excuse me, ladies, I have a town meeting to attend to. Good day," he tipped his hat to me as he left the coffeehouse. 704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL8DnCKw0D
Lisa sighed as I lifted the empty dishes from where she was sitting and walked towards the counter. Putting on a pair of rubber gloves, I scrubbed the dishes with a squishy, yellow sponge when I heard the door chime. 704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyIqBOXrR0
"Welcome to Little Owl Coffeehouse," I greeted. "What can I do for you?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkWW3JozbQ
"Hey Bugsy," chirped a familiar voice behind me. "You look good today."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y52AbcxA3
My lips twisted and my left fist clenched as I turned around and faced the dark-skinned boy with black, frizzy hair. "Archie Velasco," I forced a smile at my class rival. "It's nice seeing you here."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFfprgSjrR
"You too, Bugsy," he rested his elbow on the counter, eyeing at the menu on the chalkboard. "Could I have a glass of lemonade? It's pretty hot out there."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0revmpmZhp
"One glass of lemonade coming right up," I said as I grabbed a lemon from the bowl and sliced it in half, squeezing it with a squeezer and poured it inside the glass. Adding some sugar syrup and water inside, I dumped a few cubes of ice inside and stirred it with a spoon. Not forgetting a straw, I slid the drink on the counter and gestured to Archie for payment.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSCR3qYuZK
"That'll be four dollars," I spoke. He handed me four one-dollar bills and thanked me, sipping his drink. 704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAaiPEmjcY
"By the way, Bugsy, do you have any plans tonight?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG3PDh0oid
I bobbed my head. "Ferdinand, Naomi, Lisa and I are going to the arcade tonight. Why did you ask?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCa05JIDUG
Archie shrugged. "Well, I was gonna ask you to join me and my friends for a movie."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PqyFq6Ici
Lisa and I burst into laughter. "Really? Don't you have enough friends to join you?" asked Lisa, who was poking his cheeks.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MvMtyzQCk
"I do, Lisa. It's just that it'll be nice to have more people joining us. You know what they say, the more the merrier."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6ygow0MUt
"Oh, are you watching The Truman Show?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hlNGTB9Hy
"Of course. My favourite actor is there. Jim Carrey, love his work."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXLnFGhBJ0
"That's cool. Well, I watched it the other day with my dad and it was heart-wrenching in the end."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bGtS22TEv
Archie sighed. "Well Lisa, thanks for reminding me to bring a box of tissue to the cinema."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeX5RwuIUf
"Oh shoot," she covered her mouth. "I shouldn't have said that."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnmD6StgLm
He let out a small laugh and continued to chat with the girl with dreadlocks, leaving me to wipe the tables and chairs and wash the dishes in the sink, waiting for time to fly a little faster.
Wearing a graphic tee that says 'Colour Pop' with blue denim shorts, I walked inside the air-conditioned arcade and watched so many kids and teens sitting in front of the bright, flashy screen popping out from the arcade games, pressing the buttons and swinging the joysticks.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpMRT5VBsT
I headed towards the counter and slipped two dollars in front of the token man, asking for game tokens. As the token man gave me four game tokens, I thanked him and searched for my friends all over, only to feel a huge squeeze from behind.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tJ3ac35fm
"Hi Bugsy," Naomi squealed in my ear. I gave a huge whoop as I turned to see my friend, and held my chest for a few moments. 704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszs6Qr3sto
"Goddammit," I exclaimed, panting. "Don't ever do that to me ever again."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRt2tUlm59
Naomi giggled and wrapped her arms around my shoulder. "Sorry about that, Bugsy," she placed her hand on her bubblegum pink beret. "I forgot that you hate surprises."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtVMdvIgNM
I sighed as I gave Naomi a friendly hug. "You know, you look pretty in pink."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CcG54lUpU
"Like the movie with the redhead girl?" she pointed out.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpADMFMRLJ9
I lifted my shoulder. "No pun intended, pal but yeah, just like that movie with Molly Ringwald."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQIYBUg6lq
Grabbing my hand, she dragged me towards the 'Street Fighters II' arcade, where I watched Ferdinand and Lisa competing against each other.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHTICoxNtc
"You're going down, farm boy," Lisa gritted her teeth, pressing the game buttons in an aggressive manner. 704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHXP7Si8Mr
The blue-collared shirt boy let out a small chuckle. "We'll see about that, princess."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUQjWJ2b7L
Lisa gave a smug as she shifted her focus towards the game screen and moved her fingers on the buttons numerous times. She panted and panted until her hands began to feel numb. She released her breath and slammed the button vigorously, and the arcade machine declared the winner of the game.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOYzBWCEFB
She raised both arms in the air and screamed in joy as Naomi gave her a hug. Ferdinand's jaws dropped as he watched the screen fade to black. 704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qfxnEAbH7
"I don't believe it," he stuttered. "I almost had you, Lisa."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrhjuuXRtZ
"Well top bad, farm boy," she stuck her tongue out. Ferdinand exhaled when he saw me approaching, making his lips curved into a smile. "Oh hey Bugsy. Boy, I'm glad to see you here."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AE8NgpzIK
"Me too," I gleamed as we embraced others in a long hug. "So how's it going with your mom?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8QXyDPfCp
"We're doing fine," he replied. "Corn season will be here soon, and we'll be working in no time."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3jz3DQFVK
I nodded as I took out two of my tokens from my jean pocket and inserted them into the coin slot. The screen turned bright as I entered the game with Naomi playing against me. As the game began, both of us frantically pushed the buttons with both hands while Lisa and Ferdinand cheered for us.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqd4NGQVLM
I leaned forward as I felt a rush of adrenaline released throughout my whole body, my right foot pacing up and down. In a flash, Naomi literally jumped in the air as the machine announced her as the winner. "I won!" she screamed with excitement. "I won! I won! I won!"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KFV0m2c1l
"Dammit," I cursed, as I dropped on my knees and pulled my hair. "I'm so bad at video games."
Lisa and Naomi high-five each other as Ferdinand kneel and placed his hands on my shoulder. "You did your best, Bugsy. You can do better next time."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXUh63PPJr
He helped me up as I dusted my jeans with my hands, before glancing at him. "So, how's your day?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMSTk9VoLb
I shrugged. "It was fine, I guess. Mayor Yearns told me about this serial killer."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPJzyh5EMn
"Oh, the Ripper," he raised his fingers. "Yeah, I heard about it from my mom. She attended the town meeting this morning."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyzzI37Ztd
"What did Mayor Yearns say?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUD5bZoQFi
"My mom told me that I should stay over at a friend's house if it's past curfew."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog1RhYOmGV
"That's exactly what my parents told me," Naomi joined in. "My mom almost fainted when she heard the news."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywAciogaTl
"Same goes for me, although I'm skeptical about Mayor Yearn's actions."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTTUj85qz2
Lisa raised her eyebrows. "What are you saying?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBxjmjZxqz
"Geographically, La Belle's prison is 1,849 kilometres. And if he were to run all the way here, that'll take him about 446 hours," I explained. "And with the war going on right now, it's impossible for him to go anywhere right now."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NZC8RKUg7
Naomi, Ferdinand and Lisa glimpsed at each other before Lisa let out a loud sigh. "I get where you're coming from, Bugsy," she crossed her arms. "But you know dad. He always told me that I can never be too safe and well, he seem to have a point."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i5qNR9KZa
Naomi looked at the round clock on the wall and placed her hand over her mouth. "Oh my gosh," she exclaimed. "It's quarter to ten."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPY0TGAKCf
Lisa smacks her hand on her forehead. "We have fifteen minutes to reach home."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxYYvurVne
All four of us rushed out of the arcade and said a quick goodbye to each other, before parting ways. Ferdinand and I held hands as we ran on the pavement, as I glanced at Naomi and Lisa over my shoulder, who were bolting through the crowd.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V3TRiJSwC
"Come on, Bugsy," Ferdinand pulled my hands. "We have to hurry back to the coffeehouse."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQSzaOoc0R
"Sorry," I uttered, catching my breath as I ran. Feeling like a thousand needles stabbing through my left legs, I gulped for air as we almost reached the Little Owl Coffeehouse. Hearing me hiss in pain, Ferdinand burst the front door opened and pushed me inside, before walking in and closing the door behind me.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHMFrKHtQ3
Aunt Inara ran towards me and gave me a hand, as she sat me down. "Are you guys alright?" she asked, her eyebrows raised. 704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1WUvLrqsY
Ferdinand held his chest and sat beside me. "We're fine, auntie," I finally caught my breath. "We're just trying to beat the curfew."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftRu8DCYFr
She let out a small laugh. "Well, you guys arrived just on time. Why don't you kids watch something on TV, while I'll close the store with Chaeyeong?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRxpFpkpTt
"Yes, ma'am," said Ferdinand, as he was about to head upstairs with me. "Oh Aunt Inara," he stopped mid-track. "Could I call my mom and tell her that I'm here in your place?"704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeXHM3RUHk
"Sure," Aunt Inara accepted his permission. "Phone call's free after ten."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRP5jwuR1g
Ferdinand thanked my aunt and went upstairs to the living room, picking up the handset and dialled the numbers on the keypad. "I'll get us some refreshments," I pointed the kitchen with my thumb. He gave me a thumbs up and started talking to his mother on the phone as soon as I walked into the kitchen, grabbing a jug full of water.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHPl3nh3Pk
As I poured a jug of water into two glasses, I looked out of the window and stared at the now-empty streets, filled with flickering streetlights and the distant howling from the prairies. The waning moon was illuminating its light at the alleyway. I watched the night skies decorated with the ethereal Milky Way and held my head with both hands as I counted the stars and galaxies above me.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1OaL1vwlu
My arms were relaxed and my mind wandered in the clouds when I noticed a tall, dark shadow from the window below me.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5MZq3l7nY
