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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgWNrx2UDA
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?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUovSvI53Ht
I nodded. "Of course we are, Lisa. Why do you ask?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5iiZYbPLn
Mayor Yearns cleared his throat. "Well Bugsy, I've read today's newspaper and umm...it doesn't look good at all."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58Z7SwvB88
"Oh," my eyebrows furrowed. "Did we lost many men at the battlefield?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUNXIkdT9O
He shook his head. "Nope, a serial killer had escaped from prison in La Belle."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3VARaxJE8
I let out a loud gasp. "Really? What's his name?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf8FEtfJmx
"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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUPgiO5zsN
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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCYVgcgeAK
"What is it, daddy?" Lisa asked.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cJJRF1Ogq
"Both of you must be home by 10 p.m, sharp," he instructed. "The same goes for the whole town."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21pEy32dkN
"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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KWmp7jTe9
"But still, Bugsy, it's better to be safe than sorry. I can't let this killer take an innocent life in this town."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nbMEpDpl4
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. 720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzeShInsvm
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. 720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ENsHRGI7o
"Welcome to Little Owl Coffeehouse," I greeted. "What can I do for you?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB2kYKe9E2
"Hey Bugsy," chirped a familiar voice behind me. "You look good today."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVDx3d79Wz
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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG0810WNhY
"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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgSAMEQ84T
"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.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvoCvbFM7y
"That'll be four dollars," I spoke. He handed me four one-dollar bills and thanked me, sipping his drink. 720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9Jit9Uvqv
"By the way, Bugsy, do you have any plans tonight?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtLCW2MwDU
I bobbed my head. "Ferdinand, Naomi, Lisa and I are going to the arcade tonight. Why did you ask?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20IiPPjuQn
Archie shrugged. "Well, I was gonna ask you to join me and my friends for a movie."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMagOWaBbZB
Lisa and I burst into laughter. "Really? Don't you have enough friends to join you?" asked Lisa, who was poking his cheeks.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ881MC3fPDM
"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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBmscbiEns
"Oh, are you watching The Truman Show?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkbQFbQbHp
"Of course. My favourite actor is there. Jim Carrey, love his work."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup6pzq43V2
"That's cool. Well, I watched it the other day with my dad and it was heart-wrenching in the end."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFB69oG4wW
Archie sighed. "Well Lisa, thanks for reminding me to bring a box of tissue to the cinema."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewfQPMRxyS
"Oh shoot," she covered her mouth. "I shouldn't have said that."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rGoFHC9TF
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.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1Ivudc7Tu
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.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTLWzP7DsI
"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. 720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5EtW0cFZx
"Goddammit," I exclaimed, panting. "Don't ever do that to me ever again."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xlrw7tSRU
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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE3mWxRvmV
I sighed as I gave Naomi a friendly hug. "You know, you look pretty in pink."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHfvMZDcUB
"Like the movie with the redhead girl?" she pointed out.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzMBS83zZ7
I lifted my shoulder. "No pun intended, pal but yeah, just like that movie with Molly Ringwald."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveuxo5II0W
Grabbing my hand, she dragged me towards the 'Street Fighters II' arcade, where I watched Ferdinand and Lisa competing against each other.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TyLrCNWto
"You're going down, farm boy," Lisa gritted her teeth, pressing the game buttons in an aggressive manner. 720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhZxHNzKbo
The blue-collared shirt boy let out a small chuckle. "We'll see about that, princess."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rcjQucdCN
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.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5x8THhOmU
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. 720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfmEK4qSdB
"I don't believe it," he stuttered. "I almost had you, Lisa."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMiAYsKJqN
"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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTnKQpNH03
"Me too," I gleamed as we embraced others in a long hug. "So how's it going with your mom?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHARP0O11NF
"We're doing fine," he replied. "Corn season will be here soon, and we'll be working in no time."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBsrhX4AjE
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.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWBStaHOYw
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!"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK7G0XmzXq
"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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZbDC9YYBq
He helped me up as I dusted my jeans with my hands, before glancing at him. "So, how's your day?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsiEEf7Pc3
I shrugged. "It was fine, I guess. Mayor Yearns told me about this serial killer."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyrhwrzRtq
"Oh, the Ripper," he raised his fingers. "Yeah, I heard about it from my mom. She attended the town meeting this morning."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89ahv0zucP
"What did Mayor Yearns say?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLiA1zUaU3
"My mom told me that I should stay over at a friend's house if it's past curfew."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSMwP1ePEp
"That's exactly what my parents told me," Naomi joined in. "My mom almost fainted when she heard the news."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFPaoi1355
"Same goes for me, although I'm skeptical about Mayor Yearn's actions."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuiizjDOtr
Lisa raised her eyebrows. "What are you saying?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk1MAwjIfZ
"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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fSkW1JHnl
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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVO7ddDbyq
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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIYzgmbfWr
Lisa smacks her hand on her forehead. "We have fifteen minutes to reach home."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNLeTEv1H1
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.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T4iOis7ME
"Come on, Bugsy," Ferdinand pulled my hands. "We have to hurry back to the coffeehouse."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJOLc23YDE
"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.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTSswYuptv
Aunt Inara ran towards me and gave me a hand, as she sat me down. "Are you guys alright?" she asked, her eyebrows raised. 720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u7YPhC0se
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."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrhjGr6ECJ
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?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ5C2JAPba
"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?"720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmau1Ct0N8
"Sure," Aunt Inara accepted his permission. "Phone call's free after ten."720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtPuKbw6SB
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.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRUVbTFNiG
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.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ73wtS1ik
My arms were relaxed and my mind wandered in the clouds when I noticed a tall, dark shadow from the window below me.720Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pf36LwRMJ
