the boy between the building started with a shriek. there had been some noise, the sound of two boys being friends.

“oh my gosh”

“oh my gosh”

“oh my gosh”

the smaller one started reciting. funny that he couldn’t bring himself to swear

“there’s blood!”

at that, the curtains in the building began to be moved. they were holding guns, the standing stranded boys between the buildings. fake ones. but guns still. the little one looked up, horrified at the blood, not knowing what was wrong. from the curtains’ edges and just behind the blinds, the neighbors scan for tragedy. but no one emerges. the questions about the boys remain in the air conditioning.

but we watch the blood boy and the scared friend leave