A Song for Kenny Novel (Part 7)

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?

 

Kenny knew it was time for a decision. Running away occupied his thoughts constantly. He hardly dared to say the words out loud. His feet carried him over to the dresser and he began pulling out clothes.

            Why am I doing this? What will mom say? He returned to his bed and flung himself on it. After a short while he made his final decision.

            He began to stuff his backpack with shirts, jeans, socks, shorts and underwear.

            How long will I be gone? He wondered. And where am I going? Greenfield, fifteen miles away, was his answer. Even more questions popped up. He kept packing.

            Hearing a noise downstairs he quickly began hiding the evidence of his packing.

            Mom's sudden turning up in the house almost caused him to faint. "Kenny, I'm home. Are you upstairs?"

            "I'm busy right now, mom. Hey, I'll be right down, OK? You're home early," he added. Kenny hoped she wouldn't come to his room right this moment.

With drawers pulled out and clothes all over, she might get suspicious.

            He scrambled around quickly stuffing loose ends into his dresser. Tidiness was the password.

            "Kenny, are up there? Supper's ready!" Mom's voice was not a request or coaxing.

            Some boys would hesitate or even yell back an answer. Not Kenny. He knew the various pitches his mom's voice usually carried.

            Often it was a pleasing request as if he were someone to be reasoned with. Not this time, though. It was a command, like "Move it."

            And he obeyed. Quickly. He didn't want anything to bung up his plans. He opened his bedroom door and tore down the stairs. "Coming!!"

            His mom and … that James again, were sitting at the table patiently waiting.

            "Did you wash your hands, son?"

            "Sorry." He hurried to the downstairs washroom and turned the cold water on full blast. Sprays of wetness splashed all over his chest and waist.

            He returned sheepishly to the table. And leaned forward so they wouldn't notice the front of his pants were all wet.

            His mom smiled at his boy-carelessness. She knew he felt embarrassed.

            Of course, James had to make a wisecrack, "Taking evening swimming lessons I see."

            Kenny felt like telling him where to get off. Somehow he managed a tight smile. "Yes. And the water is just right." He laughed aloud in spite of himself. Hey, that was kind of funny.

            It felt good to turn the tables on James. And not taking the bait seemed to please his mother. Another peaceful meal in the Mitchell household was all she hoped for.

            Maybe this was a good time to ask for an increase in his allowance. Everyone seemed to be in such a good mood.

            "Mom?"

            "Hold your question until after grace, son."

            "Alright. Could I ask the first question after," he said quickly.

            "Deal," she said, "if you say the grace."

            After asking the blessing for this meal, he ended with an Amen. Then boldly asked, "May I have an extra two dollars a week for my chores?" 

            "No," was the quick reply.

            "And why not," he shot back.

            "Hey Ken … be more polite with your mother," James intervened.

            "I wasn't talking to you," Kenny blurted out. Oh, Oh. This was not the way he planned it. Easy Kenny. Play it cool.

            "Sorry," he said meekly. He hoped this contrite act would satisfy them.

            James answered, "I'm sorry too, for butting in."

            His mom said the usual stuff about how tight the budget was, etc. etc. He didn't get the increase. It was almost as if he was glad to get turned down. It helped fuel his upset feelings...

 

Finally, everyone was sound asleep. Kenny opened his eyes and looked around. The moon sifted in through the parted curtains.

            A slight breeze tumbled into the room.

            He stretched his arms behind his head. Slowly peeling back the covers, Kenny hopped out of bed. He was already fully dressed and ready for action.

            There was no turning back now. He took his pack from the closet where it was hidden. It was in a corner under a pile of jeans and shorts. He remembered mom's comment hours ago.

            They were saying goodnight in the living room. "Kenny, what is it? You're awfully quiet."

            "Nothing mom, just school, I guess. We're getting our final exams back next week."

            "Do you think you'll grade? Excuse me dear, what an absurd question. You're tops. A's all the way," she chuckled softly.

            "Goodnight dear mom," he had said when he bent to kiss her on the cheek.

            The memory washed over him painfully. He would miss her. And he hoped she wouldn't cry about what he was about to do. She had James. Kenny figured she got the worst of the deal.

            Then he went silently out the door. Kenny pushed his bike down the long driveway before mounting it.

            A single sentence lay on his bed. It was in a note on a sheet of paper.

            Mom, I’ll be gone a couple of days, love you, Kenny.

 

IN FAMILIAR TERRITORY

 

Kenny tugged at his pack, easing nylon straps that dug deeply into tired shoulders.

            It hit him all of a sudden. He looked down at his new running shoes mom bought for him last week. He felt guilty. Right now it would feel so good to throw himself into his mom's arms.

            But he couldn't. The trees in the forest continued to call to him. Their shivering and squeaking sent signals that excited him. He was in his beloved woods.

            And he was alone.

            Kenny headed further into the Scotch pine forest. It was a special spot he and Larry found last summer. A creek cutting through the hills gave just the right amount of shelter. Water was in plentiful supply.

And he was sure the trout would help with the food situation.

            He and Larry had planned to come back this summer for fishing to try it out. It might not happen now, if Larry became upset at him.

            It was the perfect place to hide away until he figured everything out. For a couple of days or a week even. Meanwhile his bike was well hidden back off the road.

            After all, he was almost twelve, and should be able to take care of himself. He just had to.

            Suddenly he stumbled, and as he fell threw himself to the side, landing heavily on the ground. His knee bumped against a rock and something slashed at his leg. Oh, Oh. Any food damaged?

            His mom would throw a fit when she woke up and discovered all the canned goods gone. And the only can opener, too. He chuckled as he thought of mom trying to open a can with a hammer.

            And then she'd ask herself, "Where's that Kenny? What's he up to now?"

            But she didn't realize how much of a change had come over her son. And how prepared he was to do something about it. He wished she had kept a closer eye on him lately.

Then maybe she would have noticed how unhappy he was.

            Kenny lay there going over his reasons for being here. The warmth of his body against the damp ground felt comfortable.

            First of all he was very upset. Not voice-screaming, tantrum noisy. But just darned upset at mom for even thinking of marrying James.

            How could mom do that to dad? What would his dad think? Just maybe he might want to live with them again. Would James even want Kenny to come back and continue to live at the same house? Especially after what Kenny did?

It was probably because they could barely stand each other. James was a wimp. Kenny might not even fit into his mom's and James' life together.

            All Kenny really wanted for a family was he and mom. They liked shopping and going for car rides, picnics and talking together.

            Now it was all changed. It wasn't fair.

            Kenny never thought of his mom marrying again. If she did then he would have two dads.

            It was painful thinking of words some of his friends at school used. Like foster dad, or Step dad, even Dad #2. It didn't fit into his plans. To Kenny, it should be, "Creep, butt out of my life."

            Kenny already had Larry to take him places. He was like a dad. He sure didn't need James. His head swam as these thoughts raced through his mind.     

            Right now he had to get up and get going.

            Sure wish Larry was with me, he thought. Then Kenny had a sudden inspiration. He looked out over the valley below, where the creek flowed in a crooked pattern.

            "Hey Larry!" he shouted. "LARRYYYY! ... LARRYYYY!" Echoes of sound were like ocean waves returning surfers on their white crests. The man's name arose from the valley and stretched itself from one distant ridge to the other.

            "I want you to be my Father!!! FAAATHERRR! ... FAATHERR! … FATHER" called back. He stood for a few minutes listening to the sounds. "I wish..." But he didn't finish. He had to get going, somewhere.

            At least Kenny didn't feel so alone anymore...

 

He finally reached his destination. This was to be his new home, for now.

            It didn't take Kenny long to set up his nylon pup tent with two short aluminum poles, one at either end. Then he unzipped his sleeping bag, slipped into nightclothes and climbed in.

            A loon sounded off a way. There had to be a lake around here, or perhaps a pond, further up the creek? He turned his ear in the direction of his favorite forest sound. The loon's haunting call whispered peace and contentment. It usually relaxed him.

            But it wasn't working at this moment. He felt restless. What if he checked out the loon? What time is it? 2 AM. Is that all?

            He pulled on fresh jeans, his others being damp and muddy. Kenny pulled on another shirt as well as socks and wet sneakers. Then he kneeled on his 6-volt flashlight.

That hurt, especially where he banged his leg."

            Kenny peeked out of the tent, crouching low. His ears were tuned up for any sounds. He shone his light around his camping area.

            Everything seemed to be as he had left it.

            His woodpile remained stacked near the fire, now out. Some smoke trailed from the ashes. A homemade table stood nearby. His dishes were face down to keep the flies off. And his perishable food bag was hoisted up on a branch high enough so no animal could get at it.

            Larry had taught him well.

Not too long ago Troy had asked, "How some you're always going out with that guy?" The answer was easy, "He takes me fishing and places."

"Sometimes I wish I could go too," Troy had answered.

            Well, thought Kenny, it's also because he's a canoeing and hiking nut. No, that's not true. He knew it might be because Larry's own kids were grown up and he enjoyed the company.

            "He's like a real dad to me," Kenny had finally answered his friend. It was the first time he had shared this feeling with Troy. It astonished him how easily it came out.

            Maybe it had something to do with the time he overheard Larry telling a neighbor, "Kenny is like a son to me."

            Trees shivered as the breeze increased in velocity. Splatters of rain fell from blowing leaves. Kenny noticed the stars were winking their eyes, watching him.

            "Hello out there!" he hailed the forest. There was a slight creepiness in his voice.

"My name is Kenny and I don't really know why I'm here. It will only be for a little while, though. I have things to think about. You don't mind do you?" It was silly talking to the forest. But it made him feel better.

            "Goodnight sky."

            As he lay in his sleeping bag once more, his thoughts turned to his mother. "I wonder what she's doing now?"

            Then Kenny drifted off to sleep.

            Not so far away loons called one to another, their melody providing a soothing backdrop to a lonely boy.