Decade: 1970s (1972)

FRIENDLY TERMS

by Paula

A true friend raises more in our happiness than a thousand enemies in our unhappiness.

~ Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

With several candles lit, a thoughtful figure lay on the bed. This chamber was so large, the silence still frightening, the loneliness increasingly annoying. How long has it been since your escape, brother? Vincent couldn’t stop the tears that kept forming in his eyes when he mentioned him. I remember it well. It’s been four years since you went off to pursue your dreams. I hope you succeed and return home someday.

He rubbed his eyes with his hand. And I stopped missing Lisa and things that would not have been possible. Apparently, loneliness is going to be a part of my life story and I have to get over it.  He sighed heavily because he felt like he was about to run out of breath from grief. Why do I even exist?

Attempts to sort it out in his head were unsuccessful. He couldn’t get rid of the longing for his brother and the feeling of abandonment. The cure was to escape into the world of books and adventures of heroes; then, he forgot about the emptiness. Thanks to the library’s extensive contents, he was able to treat himself in this way.

Although the company of his friends gave him joy, the most important person after Father and Mary left a pain in his heart like an open wound…

He was already seventeen years old, quite tall and responsible enough that Father allowed him to do evening and sometimes even night guard duty. His sensitive heart was filled with pride when he was entrusted with this task; he felt needed. In love with books, he often took a trip to the world of fantasy during his shift, still remaining sensitive to what was happening around him.

* * *

It was a summer evening, and the tunnels were pleasantly cool. Vincent was  immersed in adventures he’d found in the book “Life on the Mississippi” when he noticed a boy, probably his age, wandering in the tunnel. Slim, neglected, and clearly frightened, he hid in one of the corridors and crouched in a corner, apparently in need of shelter.

Azure eyes focused on the unknown intruder. Nobody had followed him. After a while, he saw that he had taken a paper out of his pocket and unrolled a piece of candy bar from it. He saw how he ate slowly and after a while lay down in a fetal position.  Several moments later, he could hear his steady breathing;  the teenage boy had fallen asleep.

What is your story? The sensitive watcher wondered. Vulnerable to the misery of others, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the sleeping boy needed help.

This place provided no comfort on the sandy ground. Focusing on him for a moment, he dismissed the engrossing book and watched to see if anyone else would appear, but the rest of his shift went on quietly.

When Winslow came to the night watch, his younger friend showed him the stranger and revealed his premonitions. He nodded and, as befits a guard, did not take his eyes off the reclining figure all night.

In the morning, the emaciated boy woke up and ate another piece of candy bar. With a slow step, he walked out of the hallway toward the Central Park entrance.

As soon as the next day began, Vincent ran to the place where the unknown boy had spent the night, but it was empty. His shoulders slumped and he sighed, feeling disappointed. He spread his hands helplessly. What if he needs a home? What if something happens to him Above?  Worry took over his mind and heart. There are so many dangers up there.

Several days passed without unexpected visitors. It seemed that the boy stopped here only once. However, one evening he reappeared and settled in the same place, but this time his shoulders were shaking and tears were streaming down his cheeks. He covered his face with his hands and began to sob.

This time Rennie was on duty. He felt incredible sympathy for the young man, but didn’t know how to act. His first reasonable thought was to notify Father. He quickly tapped out a message on the pipes.

Pascal’s father, the leader of the tunnel family, and Winslow appeared within a dozen minutes. Their sensitive hearts could not bear such a picture of sadness and despair, but they also had to exercise caution out of fear for their world.

They hurriedly outlined a plan for Rennie to go with something to eat and question the boy a bit about his situation. The teenager accepted his mission with seriousness; he didn’t want to fail. With an attentive and courageous step, he headed from the other side of the tunnel toward the crying figure.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, the stranger trembled, but didn’t care what happened.  I could even die. In a moment, a boy about his age emerged from the twilight.

“Hi.” His voice was low.

“Hi.” He glanced at his clothes. “You’re not much different from me, except that your clothes are clean.”

Rennie grinned and handed him a sandwich. “Take it. You look like you haven’t eaten in a long time.”

“Because it’s true – thanks.” In his gaze, gratitude was mixed with surprise.

Rennie looked at the newly acquainted colleague; indeed it seemed that he lived on the street. “What is your name?”

The outsider was in the process of chewing his first bite of sandwich; his eyes were closed while he was enjoying the taste of strawberry jam. “Ike,” he replied between bites.

“I’m Rennie. What happened? You were crying.” He wanted to probe more into the matter, though he felt the boy was not threatening.

“My mother overdosed today. I had only her in my life. She led a bad life, but in a way she loved me.” He wiped his eyes with his hand. “She wanted to take care of me, but she couldn’t. Sometimes lunch and dinner were the same meal.” His laugh was bitter.

The young tunnel dweller looked down, drawing circles with his shoe in the dirt. “And your father?”

“I never knew my father. I hid in an abandoned building with Mom and other addicts. Her friend taught me how to read and write and how to be invisible to the authorities and that is all. I think it wouldn’t be good if I stayed there.” He furrowed his brow. “They could use me to get drugs or something worse.”

The listener’s eyes opened wide with terror. “I am so sorry.”

“Thanks.” He leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes again. “Now I have no one, and don’t know what to do next.”

Rennie nodded his head. The boy didn’t have an easy life, but he couldn’t decide for himself and just take him to the tunnels. Before he had time to ask for more details, the hidden passage opened. They risked everything, guided only by instinct.

The orphaned boy bolted from his seat, ready to run away, but his peer stopped him. “Wait! This is my family. They won’t hurt you.”

Gray eyes opened wider with astonishment. “Family? Here?”

“Yes.” A middle-aged man with a friendly look approached him. “Hello, I am the leader of this community. We live here like a big family; we help each other. Our world is very different to the one you have lived in so far.”

He looked at his companions and waited for their nod of agreement before continuing. “If you can keep a secret, we can give you shelter. We have heard a little about your difficult life and the sad events of today, and we are very sorry that you lost your only parent.”

The boy bowed his head, pondering his words. At the reminder of his hopeless situation, tears again appeared in his eyes. His voice was hushed. “Thank you, sir.”

He smiled gently at the boy. “Please, everyone calls me Father.” He knelt down next to him. “If you want to let yourself be helped, you can have your place with us to start a new life.”

Ike had never hoped for such a smile of fate, or a better life. This offer was a gift to him.  “Is it true?” His voice trembled. “If so, I will not let you down. I am clean. I lived in poverty, and unfortunately sometimes I stole something to eat, and sometimes I got something.” Tears flowed down the frail, soiled face. “Now I can work here in this place. I have nothing to go back to.”

Everyone was amazed by his words, intelligent although he had no education. He had a strong personality, and they deeply trusted that his sincere words came straight from his heart.

Father’s smile offered faith and reassurance. He saw the boy’s future and strength. If he only wants to study, he can achieve a lot in the future. “Come with us to see your new home.” With his hand, he indicated to him in which direction they would go.

Rennie patted the new resident companionably on the back “Cool! You’ll meet the others, see what our world is like, get clothes. I can show you where you’ll sleep, bathe, and eat. I will show you everything.” He chatted a lot, happy to have another buddy.

Ike’s step was slow. He listened to his companions but could not shake the feeling of bewilderment, the change that was about to take place.

They passed darkened corridors, accompanied by the tapping of pipes; the air here was crisp. When they found themselves in the home tunnels, the new member couldn’t stop marveling at what was underground:  warm chambers, bathing chambers, a kitchen, the huge library.  He hadn’t read many books in his life, and here he intended to take advantage of such an opportunity often.  He spun around with his mouth open. Everything surrounded by candlelight gave the impression of an enchanted land. I can’t believe this is really happening.

He immediately took a liking to Pascal, who told him about the Pipe Chamber and the transmission of messages. Communication through pipes? It was some kind of cosmos for him. Winslow gave the impression of being very friendly and reasonable. He also met Rebecca, Olivia, and Amy, very pretty and nice girls.

Mitch seemed to him overconfident and trouble-seeking, reminding him of some of his mother’s friends. Rennie had gained his trust the moment he served him a sandwich.

He tried to sort everything out in his head; the unexpected smile of fate offered at a time when he had given up hope. Such a wonderful world exists underground. Now he understood why this place must be protected.

Mary was so kind, calm; he felt taken care of like never before in his life. Did I get to heaven and am I seeing the angels walking by? He couldn’t help the tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.

The community prepared him to meet Vincent. His new friends told him about Devin’s escape and how the event changed the said boy, who has since become somewhat withdrawn. Ike understood that Vincent was special and there was no other person like him and that he should not be afraid of him. Why should I be afraid? He shook his head, already wanting to get to know this unusual person.

Curiosity grew by the minute before they finally saw each other. The uniqueness of his new colleague did not let Ike sleep a wink the first night.

Later that evening, lying in a warm bed, he still recalled their meeting. Now he was concerned that Vincent’s future would be confined to these tunnels. He doesn’t know where he came from, what are or were his parents, or if there is anyone else like him? More questions kept coming up. He didn’t know the answers, but one thing was certain.  I want to get to know him better. I think he’s much more human than he realizes.

Their first meeting had been full of caution, compassion, comprehension. Ike shook his hand with a broad smile. Although his eyes were bigger than usual, he had tried not staring at the dangerous fingers and fur-covered hands. There was no fear from them, only amazement.

“I’m counting on you to show me all the cool places Below,” he’d said without a shadow of trepidation.

Vincent’s face was decorated with a wide, surprising smile. “Very eagerly.” He immediately felt hope awakening. He trusted him instinctively and the boy’s past aroused his sympathy. Perhaps the void left by Devin would be filled at least a little.

Until now he had looked at Mitch as a substitute for his brother, but with him he sometimes felt ridiculed, and this only deepened his shyness and sense of alienation. Yes, we are buddies, but not friends.

The newly met colleague had kept looking around at his surroundings with his hands in his pockets. “Will you show me your chamber? I hear you have great things there.”

The exceptional teenager needed no more encouragement. “Let’s go!” His voice sounded cheerful.

They walked together through the dimmed tunnels. On the spot, Ike marveled at the place and some of his belongings: a large number of books, a chest of old toys, an ancient clock, souvenirs. He didn’t know where to focus his distracted gaze.

His mouth was open for a moment. “Fantastic stuff you have! And how much space!” His gray eyes sparkled with delight. “I hear you read a lot. Maybe you can recommend something adventurous.”

Vincent was surprised to see someone sincerely interested in books. “I know many titles you will like.” He began to list the novels of Jules Verne, Mark Twain, Jack London.

His newly met friend was nodding his head with great interest. How grateful I am for this place. He combed his hand through his blond hair, still not believing his luck. I will do everything to take my chance from fate for a better life.

* * *

Ike’s promise had not been spoken thoughtlessly or on impulse. He sat next to his special buddy in class, admiring his cleverness as they studied together. He helped willingly in the kitchen, with deliveries of goods from the Helpers, and did guard duty in the afternoons. He treated his family with respect, avoided misunderstandings, and still felt grateful that one summer evening his feet led him to the storm sewer.

Council members watched with pride, their hearts filled with joy as they saved a life that could have been wasted.

* * *

One afternoon at the Chamber of the Falls, the two new friends sat leaning against a rock, each immersed in a different reading. Ike was completely absorbed in Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” and Vincent was intent on London’s book “The Call of the Wild.” The sound of the water had a soothing effect. Near the picturesque waterfall they felt like characters from books, on one of their expeditions.

Suddenly the echo of approaching footsteps summoned them from a distant fantasy land.

“There you are!” Rennie gasped, resting his hands on his knees and trying to catch his breath.

Vincent opened eyes wide with concern. “Did something happen?”

Mitch came out from the hallway. “It’s nothing. The girls are going to the swimming pool and asked us to join them for a kind of picnic. We’ll play cards and  we can kick a ball, and we have a new game from Helpers. It’s called Uno; for me it’s boring, but there will also be some snacks.” He leaned against a rock, waiting for a response.

Rennie stood next to his companion “I remember when we played skully Above. It’s impossible here; it would be hard to move the bottle caps on the sandy ground.” He shrugged his shoulders helplessly; he liked this game.

Ike scratched his head. “I recently found a ball. I used to watch the teams practice on the volleyball court. They had one just like it. I watched the game so often and I know what the rules are. We can try playing on the sand; it’s almost like a beach.”

Mitch patted him on the shoulder. “Perfect. So, you’re going?”

Ike smiled broadly. “It could be a lot of fun. What do you think, Vincent?”

Azure eyes shone with interest. I would like to learn to play volleyball and I like swimming. He smiled softly. In his imagination he saw wonderful moments spent with his friends.

Mitch sneered. “Why are you asking him? If he strips down to his underpants and takes his shirt off, the girls will run away.”

Ike looked at him angrily. “Don’t exaggerate – he is not repulsive.”

“He’s a freak.” Mitch burbled.

His opponent took a breath. “I think I may have misheard you? He can swim like the others!” He clenched his hands into fists.

Vincent felt as if he were absent and looking down on the whole situation. He closed his eyes. Perhaps I am dreaming.

Mitch furrowed his brow and straightened up, ready for a fight.

The gray eyes were full of anger; his breathing became heavy as he tried to control himself.

Rennie, fearing a confrontation, stood between them, reassuring them both. “Stop it, people, because if Father sees you fighting, there will be no picnic. Besides, Mitch, I think you’ve overdone it.” His lips tightened in a narrow line.

The recent scofflaw raised his hands in surrender and took a few steps back, but his face remained flushed and his eyebrows were still drawn together in rage.

Sadly, these nasty words rang in unique ears and resonated in the heart, cutting like a knife. However, this is really happening.  He lowered his blond, disheveled head. He could not look their way and chose to stare at the open book. “You can go. I’ll read some more.” His voice was calm.

“No way!” His reading buddy was determined. “We’re going there together!”

Mitch rolled his eyes and tugged at Rennie. “Let’s go! It’s a waste of our time!”

Vincent looked at his increasingly furry hands and long claws. I am different; there is no escaping it. He sent a wounded look in the direction of his defender. “You became more than a new buddy to me. You protected me like Devin once did.”

At these words, his new friend relaxed the hands still clenched in fists and sighed. “He insulted you. I couldn’t listen to it.” He looked intensely into blue eyes. “So, now do we go together or stay here? I will show you how to play volleyball.” He raised his eyebrows in anticipation.

The word freak still sounded in sensitive ears. His gaze focused on the still-open book, then he looked at the water running off the rock. “I’ll go, but I won’t go swimming.” He put the engaging story into his sewn canvas backpack.

Ike shook his head. “Don’t worry about Mitch talking. He probably envies your strength.” He smiled lightly at him.

The corners of his mouth lifted in a shy smile. With Ike, he was able to believe that he was not as unique as he thought, but the truth was different.

His defender ran his hands through his short blond hair and furrowed his brow. “Can you tell me what the game ‘Uno’ is?”

The corner of an exceptional mouth twisted gently. “To play, you’ll match one of your cards with the card that’s been dealt from the draw pile. The first player to get rid of all of their cards wins the round. Then all players tally up their scores. The game continues until one person scores 500 points.”

“I don’t understand why Mitch said that it bores him. I’d like to try playing it. Thanks for the explanation.”

The sadness was still visible in blue eyes. “No problem.”

His companion didn’t know what to do to snap him out of his despondency. “Come on, we should hurry before they eat all the cookies.” He saw no reaction from his side…after a while he sighed. “You didn’t deserve Mitch’s words. I don’t want you to be sidelined because of your uniqueness.”

“Ok, but let’s not go back to it anymore. I’ll pretend I dreamed it.”

Ike nodded; however, he was convinced that what his special buddy had heard would always remain in his memory.

When they arrived at the picnic spot, Rebecca, Olivia, Mitch, and Rennie were playing rummy on a blanket. Ike and Vincent set up metal poles and stretched joined sheets to play the role of a net.

Ike cleared his throat so they could hear him well. “We don’t have the right number of people, six players are needed, but I’ll tell you the general rules.” He explained to them that competing teams master six basic skills: serve, pass, play, attack, block and rebound. “Players use their hands to bounce the ball back and forth over a high net, trying to get the ball to touch the court in the opponent’s field of play before it is returned.” He showed them everything he remembered, and they practiced and tried to play to get some idea of it.

After a while, Pascal and Winslow joined the gathering along with shy Amy, who had appeared in the tunnels a few weeks before Ike.

They split into teams. With the girls on one team was Pascal; the others formed another team. Although there were still not enough of them, they could already get a taste of the game. At first, clumsy movements and attempts at serves turned into quite a good game. Mitch didn’t tease; Vincent handled his serves perfectly. Everything promised to be a very pleasant time.

When they felt tired after a while, they moved to the blankets and enjoyed the taste of berry cupcakes and honey cookies. Water and juice were waiting for them in thermoses. Satisfied, satiated, they lazily lay on the blankets. Vincent’s eyes were closed and the gentle smile did not disappear from his face. Ike felt that he had found something that improved the mood of his closest friend.

“Maybe we’ll go for a swim.” The voice of Mitch interrupted the blissful moment, proposing an entertainment from which Vincent would be excluded.

The girls joyfully ran to the water; Pascal retreated to his favorite Pipe Chamber; and Winslow lay lazily, just in need of a nap. Ike reluctantly left his buddy, who had already dipped his nose into an adventure book, and joined the others.

For a long time, the sounds of jumping into the pool reached Vincent’s ears, and after a while the joyful squeals of Rebecca and Olivia along with the splashing of the water. He struggled to focus on his reading when all around him was the fun, which he outright loved – jumping, diving, swimming – but for him it took place only in solitude.

However, reading consumed him. He managed to forget about what was around him to such an extent that he did not notice how his earlier defender sat down next to him and, wiping himself with a towel, spoke to him.

His eyes looked at him, just plucked from the fictional world. “Did you say something?”

Ike snorted. “I said I just got wet and then walked in the shallower part. I can’t swim.”

Vincent’s face lit up that he could offer him something from himself. “I can teach you.”

“Seriously? That would be great!” He smiled broadly.

“We can come here in the afternoon for thirty minutes every day, so that no one is around.”

“All right, let’s start tomorrow. I’ve always wanted to know how to swim. Thank you for your offer.” He patted him on the shoulder.

“No problem. It’s easy you’ll see.”

He nodded his still wet head, chewing on a cookie, and after a moment looked at Vincent. “Amy is a cool girl, so calm and sensitive.”

He closed the book and gazed at his buddy with a gleam in his eyes.  “Do you like her?”

His gray eyes watched the girl playing in the water. “Yes, but let’s keep it between us. If I can swim, maybe she’ll swim with me. It would be almost like a date.”

Blue eyes also began to follow the girls in the pool. “Ok. I hope she’ll enjoy your attention.”

Ike laughed briefly. “You use nice words. That’s why, among other things, girls like you so much.”

Vincent tilted his head so that his long blond hair covered his face. “They are like sisters to me.”

“Are you kidding? You never thought…?” He looked at him, squinting his eyes. “But you like girls, don’t you?”

Surprised by the question, he quickly raised his head, revealing unique facial features. “I do.” His voice was almost a whisper; in a moment he closed his eyes tightly. “Let’s not talk about this subject.”

“I’m sorry, Vincent.”

A furry hand raised in protest. “Don’t apologize, nothing happened.”

For a moment there was silence; they did not even hear the sounds of conversation and laughter from the pool. Ike was angry with himself for his stupidity, and wanted to occupy his friend’s thoughts with something else. “How about  practicing serves again?”  He threw the ball in his direction.

His peer caught the ball in his hands. “And what do you think?”

He looked at him and grinned. “I think you like it.”

The other friends came out of the water and sat on blankets and watched them during the exercising. They were doing quite well, lightly bouncing the ball between them, practicing until they felt it was high time for a little break.

“You have a strong serve, Vin.” Ike patted him on the shoulder while they went toward blankets.

He nodded, his long hair in a huge disarray. “I didn’t expect to like it so much.  We should play a match sometime, with the right lineup.”

Their young trainer looked around the makeshift court. “We will definitely do it soon. Everyone needs to get some exercise, and then we’ll organize everything. Maybe we’ll find some kind of net to stretch.” His gray eyes turned to his pals lying nearby. They gave a thumbs up, accepting his plan.

Rennie approached them and looked at the makeshift structure. “We’ll leave these bars. This is a good place.”

“Yes,” the two players responded simultaneously.

“Come if you want something else to eat and drink.” Feeling tired and hungry, Rebecca’s words distracted them from their unique pitch.

They were eager to return to their friends to enjoy their time together, a time to remember.

* * *

Learning to swim was a challenge for Ike. His enthusiasm fought a battle with fear. Every day, in small steps, he first waded through the water, close to the edge. When he felt confident there, he tried to plunge under Vincent’s watchful eye.

He became accustomed to the water, but although the fear diminished, it did not disappear completely.  His exercises progressed to more difficult stages like floating on the water on his back and then with his arms straight out on his stomach.

He drifted beautifully on his back, but the reverse was not as much fun. His muscles were tense and his fingers were caught in the rock wall.

Vincent noticed that he wasn’t ready for the next lesson, so for a few days they practiced in the same position until his student felt more confident.

After a while, Ike immersed himself in the water without fear. He lasted longer and longer under the surface, but still did not swim independently.

The scientific idea of how to move an object forward in water came to the mind of an exceptional teenager. He tied a hemp rope with a string attached around Ike’s waist, the end of which he held tightly in his hands.

Blue eyes focused on him. “This will help you overcome your fear of drowning. I’ll be watching while you try the moves I showed you. If something were to happen, I would pull you out, trust me. It’s best not to think about the fact that something could go wrong, because I’m here to protect you. Let this be relaxing and fun for you.”

Ike nodded, feeling more confident, knowing that if he panicked, his buddy would save him. Close to the exit of the bathing pond, he began to swim by moving his arms and legs, making calm motions.

Exceptional lips smiled widely seeing his progress, but remained quiet so as not to distract him.

After a few minutes, the swimmer moved a greater distance away and continued to make careful movements, and after a while returned. Vincent had not seen him so exultant for a long time.

He waved his hands in the water, bouncing. “It worked! I swam! All thanks to you, my friend!”

His heart was filled with pride when he saw his sincere joy.  I helped you; it is a wonderful feeling. “I believed you would succeed. We will continue to practice so that you will gain confidence, and later you will no longer need me when swimming.”

“I hope we will swim together.” His voice was serious. “I owe you a lot.”

He bowed his head, a little embarrassed by the compliment. “No problem. I like to help, and perhaps one day we will swim together, but not with others.”

His gray eyes squinted and focused on his companion. “With others or with Mitch? I noticed that he teases you.”

He shrugged his shoulders without comment. “Maybe he doesn’t like me.”

Ike shook his head. “I don’t believe it. I still think it’s jealousy. Girls like you for your kindness, helpfulness, and your good looks. Mitch sees this and can’t stand it. Don’t pay attention to him.”

Vincent sighed heavily, stunned by his words. He was maturing; his hands and forearms had increasingly begun to be covered with golden hair, but his chest was already quite covered. How can I please someone? He shook his head, completely dismissing such a possibility.

Meanwhile, his companion untied the string and tried again. He felt the water surround him and it was a wonderful feeling without the fear. When he climbed out of the water, a wide smile once again came to his face.

Vincent gave a thumbs up, noting that he enjoyed teaching. It requires a lot of patience, but he possessed it in excess.

His student was still smiling and then quickly wiped himself off with a towel and put on worn pants and a sweater. “I got hungry! How about you?”

Vincent’s hands were just smoothing the disheveled long golden hair. “Me, too, a little!”

Ike chuckled. “Let’s go. Maybe we can find some snacks before dinner.”

* * *

It was a late autumn afternoon. Mitch was bored with sitting underground and wanted to go Above; a desire to do something fun and risk-taking was growing in him. He wanted to take Rennie, but his buddy was afraid to go, just the two of them.

“The more people, the safer,” he tried to convince his friend.

“You’re boring!” Mitch growled back at him, looking for some money from bottle sales. “So, let’s take Ike.”

“And Vincent? We shouldn’t leave him. After all, it’s safer with him when it’s dark outside.”

Mitch sighed heavily. “Fine!”

That day Pascal accompanied his dad to the Pipe Chamber, and Winslow performed guard duty with the hope that it would be a peaceful time. Suddenly his relaxing shift was interrupted by the sound of footsteps and whispers. He rubbed his slumber-ready eyes and saw a group of boys heading toward the Central Park entrance. He frowned. “Hey! And where are you guys going?”

They stopped, after which Mitch stepped forward. “We’re going  for a walk Above. Just let us go. We’ll be careful.”

He scratched his head, not wanting to come off as a stiff if he didn’t let them pass. “Well, I don’t know. It’s already dark and dangerous in the park.”

“Come on, we’ll be together. Don’t be like Father!” Sam’s son did not relent, squinting his eyes.

Winslow sighed heavily. “I don’t understand this need of yours to walk Above. In the tunnels there are so many places to see that are not yet discovered.”

“But it’s more exciting up top, and besides, Vincent is almost like a prisoner here, and now he can take the opportunity to get out.” He cast a communicative glance in the direction of the aforementioned boy, expecting confirmation.

Vincent nodded. It has been a long time since I’ve been up there. Only Devin was brave enough to take me on his expeditions. Mitch has surprised me completely.

“Is excitement what you need?” Winslow shook his head in wonder. “In my opinion, it’s looking for trouble. If you’re attacked and someone gets hurt, I will never forgive myself.” His face was serious, but he also looked towards the special boy and, due to his limitations, changed his mind.

“Take it easy. We’ll be careful,” they answered in unison.

He threatened them with a raised finger and tone of voice. “Let’s hope I don’t regret this. Don’t be long and stay together.”

“It’s okay. Nothing will happen,” Rennie tried to assure him.

“Yeah, yeah…” He replied, returning to his post.

Satisfied, the boys moved in a group towards the exit. They didn’t have to sneak out unnoticed; they had the consent of sensitive Winslow.

It was mid-November, approaching 8 p.m., and it had long since become dark outside. The air had become crisp, a sign of the coming cooler night.

Rennie slipped his hands into his jacket pockets, looking around at the murky surroundings.  Mitch took a breath and raised his hands in the air. “Freedom!” He laughed briefly and turned toward his companions.

Ike put up the collar of his jacket, regretting that he had not put on a turtleneck, indifferent to the joy evident in his colleague, playing the role of leader.

Vincent stepped out of the storm sewer at the end. He also took a deep breath and could sense no one in the area. The scenery looked ominous. Dense trees, cloudy sky. I thought I might see the stars. With a small disappointment, he pulled up the hood of his jacket so that no one could see his face and put gloves on his clawed hands.

They headed toward the carousel, which the unique teenager didn’t even look at. This is the place where the joy of the ride had been replaced by the pain of parting.

Unhurriedly they passed Sheep Meadow, which, now deserted, looked nothing like a place of relaxation. They reached the statue of American lawyer and statesman Daniel Webster, which stood like a guard along West Drive, near 72nd Street.

The rest of the walk was along the lake. Ike followed Vincent, and as he watched his friend soak up every element, he felt sorry for him being trapped in the tunnels, but learned from him how to appreciate everything.

In the distance, the romantically lit Bow Bridge may have been visible. Blue eyes, spotted a couple in a tender embrace. He couldn’t help the tightness in his heart; he thought he was going to stop breathing. This is not for you, son resounded in his head.

Rennie was silent. He had a bad feeling; they had already ventured quite far from home.

All of them were wearing hoods, looking like an ordinary group of teenagers, not arousing the interest of individual people passing them.

They walked along West Drive; a short distance away was the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre. A stronger wind began to blow. The house among the trees did not look like a friendly place.

“Too bad you couldn’t be here during the day. They present free performances here,” Rennie said to Vincent, thoughtlessly making him uncomfortable.

He only nodded, sad eyes gazing at the building located amid dense plant life. “It must be beautiful here during the day,” he whispered.

Ike sighed. They reminded him of his limitations at every turn, as if he could ever forget.

The road was long, in the shade of trees. Rennie mumbled that he already wanted to go back, but Mitch, unmoved by his complaints, searched for glass bottles in roadside garbage cans.

When they finally passed a huge reservoir, they turned onto West 96th Street and noticed they were close to a park exit.

The originator of their walk stopped for a moment. “Wait here. I’ll go with Rennie to the subway yard, and we will look for bottles to sell later.” They headed toward the exit with his bag and in a moment disappeared from their sight.

“Hurry up! It’s really getting cold!” Ike shouted after them. He grabbed Vincent’s arm and they moved closer to the trees so as not to stand out in the gloom.

He breathed on his hands. “I don’t like it. Our trek has gone too far.”

The air became sharp, as if there was going to be a frost. Vincent was grateful for the gloves he had put on. He pulled his hood tighter. “So far nothing has happened. Don’t panic.” His voice sounded soothing.

Minutes passed and their companions still did not return. They began to pace a new path around the trees to wait for them and not feel the falling temperatures.

After a while, familiar figures appeared on the horizon. Ike was relieved to come out from under the tree closer to the sidewalk.

Mitch was smiling broadly. “We collected a lot.”

His fellow nodded. “Let’s get back already, because my legs are hurting.”

A group of four people emerged from the path from the park. In the darkness and from a distance it was not clear what age they were and how they looked.

Vincent felt tense and pulled his hood up again, but he got rid of the gloves, hiding his hands in his pockets.

The newcomers stopped by the boys. Their clothes were dirty and tattered. Faces emaciated, with traces of bruises and furrows. Their glazed, dark eyes did not inspire confidence.

They were smiling at them, but their now disheveled gaze showed madness. “Do you have a light?” One of the strangers, slowly said each word in an almost sing-song tone, causing the group of teenagers to shudder.

Rennie squinted his eyes. “We don’t smoke.”

The presumed leader of this group shook his head, displeased. “And that’s too bad.”

They took out their knives and brandished them in all directions, folding and unfolding them. They managed perfectly well without hurting themselves with the blades. The teenagers straightened up and followed every move of this fearsome type, almost holding their breath; they felt their knees softening.

Another uninterested-looking companion of the entourage scratched his head. “And the money?” He showed a toothless smile.

In that moment his buddy grabbed Ike, who was standing closest to them, and held the knife tightly to his neck. The boy’s eyes were wide open; his breathing was fast, and uneven.

Vincent clenched his hands into fists; a warning murmur began to come from his chest.

“We don’t want trouble,” Mitch naively tried to reassure them.

The thugs laughed as if on cue, and this mocking retch deepened the teenagers’ growing fear, causing their limbs to tremble. The boys’ faces turned pale; in their ears they could hear the dizzying pace at which their hearts were beating. They no longer felt the cold air but only the fever of the danger.

Vincent retreated minimally behind Mitch. A warning growl sounded again.

For a moment, the criminals, confused by the sound they heard, froze in stillness; their gazes were diverted.

The chief of the group took another step toward the boys. “If you have something of value, give it. Otherwise your colleague will not go anywhere with you anymore.”

“Do we look rich? Look at us, man!” Mitch shouted nervously, wanting to gain time.

Rennie bit his lips. If someone is evil by nature and insane, how can you talk sense into him? He saw escape as the only solution, but Ike would be without a chance. He swallowed his saliva nervously and wiped the sweat from his face.

The gang’s leader focused on the bag which the teenager was holding. “What’s in your bag?”

Mitch breathed heavily. “Empty bottles.”

Vincent saw the plan before his eyes – to have Mitch make one slight move so that he would have room to attack. Fury was rising in him; he could not stop it spreading inside, needing an outlet; his muscles tensed painfully. In the face of danger, something was happening to him that he did not understand and that he himself feared.

Ike closed his eyes tightly. He wished it was some kind of nightmare. His thoughts were full of hopelessness. I had liberated myself from life on the street and now on the street I would die.

He opened his eyes, praying in his spirit for a miracle. His frightened gaze shifted to his special friend and noticed that he was not wearing gloves and he gave him a sign with his head. Something was going to happen. A small hope ignited in his heart, and he felt strength when he realized that his friends had a plan.

Suddenly, Mitch hit one of the attackers with a bag of bottles, knocking him to the ground. His companion was surprised; then Rennie kicked him in the stomach.

The man who was holding Ike turned his head for a moment. Vincent took advantage of the situation, quickly got next to the thug, and clawed at the man’s hand. The torturer let the knife out of his hands, howling in pain. The friends did not wait for the reaction of the fourth, but started running towards the tunnels with all their strength.

“To the nearest manhole!” shouted Mitch. Everyone ran after him, the street dragged endlessly. They were no longer breathing normally, just panting heavily.

The curses heard in the near distance confirmed the villains were treading on their toes.

Vincent wanted to know what kind of advantage they had so the gang wouldn’t see where they were disappearing.  He looked over, wanting to assess how far away they were.  He didn’t know how it happened. It was a moment the world around him swirled; he fell to the hard ground, hitting his shoulder and knee.

As the friends passed the reservoir, they noticed a sewer manhole nearby where they could hide. Mitch and Rennie lifted the grate quickly. They looked around and didn’t see their unique companion anywhere. Ike was standing still, straining his eyes. “He fell, and they’re about to catch up with him!”

Vincent was afraid as never before. He stood up and felt his legs refuse to obey him; his knee hurt incredibly, and his buddies were far ahead of him.

Ike’s eyes opened wider. “Faster!” he shouted in terror.

Waiting for them, drops of sweat dripped down Mitch’s forehead. He nervously bit his lip and shook his head from side to side, thinking that Vincent would not make it.

Ike made a quick decision. I will not leave you, my friend. He ran as fast as he could towards him and grabbed his hand, giving him strength with this support.  They gained the upper hand over their pursuers. Together they slipped into the hatch, and Mitch slammed the grate behind them.

There was no time to celebrate. Although extremely exhausted and in fear, they ran further through the sewers to lose them. Since they didn’t hear the bars slamming again, there was a shadow of hope that the tormentors didn’t jump in after them.

They saw familiar corridors and stopped, bending down and resting their hands on their knees. For a long moment, gradually calming breaths could be heard around them.

Rennie spoke first. “There wasn’t much to…”

Mitch threatened with his finger. “No one can find out about it, because they’ll never let us go Above again.”

Ike remained silent, still shocked; only a moment and his life would have been over. He glanced in the direction of his savior, who nearly got cut by their attackers. They exchanged glances for a moment, knowing the course of their thoughts.

Vincent groaned as he tried to straighten his leg. “You came back for me. It took courage.”

“You saved me, too.” Ike looked around at the sweaty and tired faces of his buddies. “Together you saved me.” His voice began to tremble.

“Everything stays between us, ok?” Mitch extended his hand in front of him. One by one, they placed their hands on each other’s as a seal of promise and nodded their heads in knowing agreement.

* * *

That night Vincent couldn’t get to sleep. He was horrified by how narrowly he’d escaped, and he could have been gone. Mitch held open the grate. He didn’t leave me though he always teased me. And Ike… His heavy sigh echoed off stony walls. He risked his life for me, gave me a hand. If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have managed to get away.

Images of escape kept appearing before his eyes. He shuddered and covered himself with the quilt and breathed deeply. His eyes were closed. I will never forget this.

The silence around him was broken by the steady tapping of pipes; one candle was burning on the table; a gentle smile appeared on unique lips…

Ike — more than a friend, almost like a brother…