(Michelle)

Jennifer stood in the alcove between the kitchen and the living room. She was watching the flurry of activity with a sense of awe. It had been so long since she had been a teenager, the energy that the 14 teenagers who had invaded her home were exhibiting just made her tired. And, she was only a spectator. There were balloons and confetti everywhere. Jonathan had gone out of his way to make sure the living room was party ready. This was the first time they had thrown a birthday party for a child and they were a little nervous. This wasn’t just any birthday party either, it was a momentous occasion. Today Jessica turned sweet sixteen. The pressure was on to make sure she had the best of all birthday parties. Jonathan had hired party planners and caterers before Jennifer reined him in. Jennifer figured it would probably be better to allow Jessica to plan her own party. It had been a while since Jonathan had been sixteen, and he had never been a sixteen-year-old girl. Good thing, too…Jessica insisted she wanted a small party. Balloons, cake and ice cream were fine with her. She just wanted to be allowed to invite boys…a point which Jonathan had argued feverishly until giving in a week before the big day.

Jennifer was brought out of her daydream when Jonathan walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "Having fun?" she asked her husband.

"Mmm." He mumbled as he stared at the boy who was standing way too close to his little girl.

Jennifer laughed.

"What’s so funny?" Jonathan asked, momentarily distracted. He pulled on her shoulders and turned her around so that she was facing him.

"Not a thing." She smiled.

Jonathan narrowed his eyes. His lips curled into a ¼ smile and he reached down and kissed her.

"Mom!" Jessica called as she ran towards them. "Oops, sorry." She turned to go back when Jennifer stopped her.

"Hey, what’s up?" Jennifer asked.

"We’re going to play telephone. Wanna join in?" Jessica asked.

"You want us to?"

"Sure, I want you to. Come on." Jessica grabbed each parent by one hand and pulled them to the living room.

The couches and chairs had all been moved to sit in a circle. The teenagers sat in the circle and moved to allow Jonathan, Jennifer and Jessica to join the circle.

"Okay, who’s gonna start?" Sarah asked.

"Dana! She’s the best!" One of the boys, Kyle yelled.

Dana smiled an ambiguous smile and thought for a moment. She then whispered in the ear of the person next to her. The game continued in this manner until it reached Jennifer. "What?" She asked, confused.

"No repeats!" all the kids called.

"This isn’t a game!" Jennifer yelled. "What did you say?" Jennifer turned to the girl on her left. "Wait, you didn’t say it. Where’s the boy?"

"What boy?" Jessica asked.

"The boy who whispered in my ear."

"She’s right, there was a boy here, but I didn’t see him there until I turned to whisper." The girl beside Jennifer said.

"What did he say darling?" Jonathan asked.

Jennifer looked him straight in the eyes. "He just said ‘Are you ready to die?’"

"Is that what you said?" Jonathan asked Dana.

Dana shook her head no.

"What did you say?"

"The rooster crows at midnight." Dana said quietly.

"Who changed it?" Jennifer asked.

All the teenagers looked around at each other and shrugged their shoulders. No one had changed it to anything more than "A shoester mows at midnight."

"Did you recognize the guy?" Sarah asked.

The girl said no. "Maybe he was just a party crasher." She offered.

Jennifer looked at Jonathan, "This was no party crasher." Her eyes seemed to say.

"I’m going to go check the house, see if he’s still here." Jonathan announced as he stood up.

"We’ll help." One of the boys, Evan said. All the teenagers stood up, ready to help search for the lone boy.

"Ok, we’ll split up." Jonathan said as he put them into groups of four and sent them in separate directions.

Jessica walked up to her parents with her group of Sarah, Dana and Evan in tow. "You don’t think he was a party crasher do you?"

Jennifer spoke up. "Of course he’s just a party crasher." She touched Jessica’s arm gently.

An hour later, everyone was gathered in the living room. No one had found any sign of the mysterious boy. He had disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. The Hart’s convinced the kids that they should finish the party. There was no reason to break it up just for one troublemaker. Besides, they hadn’t even cut the cake yet.

"Did anyone follow you?"

"N-no sir.  N-noone followed. I made sure and r-ran all the way li-like you told me." Josh secretly cursed his stammering. "Mr. Steele, I just wa-anted you to know that if my father d-did-n't owe you all that money, I w-wouldn't be doing this.  B-but when I offered to help you, I didn't mean l-like this."

"When you offered to help your father you mean."  Mr. Steele wasn't letting Josh’s father, Danny Eagland out of owing him the $50,000 dollars he lost on that gambling bet. His payoff date was months ago.  It was merely a fluke this boy called offering to help his dear old dad.  Why not kill two birds with one stone?  Mr. Hart and Mr. Eagland. "Now Jr.  you realize if you go to the police or tell anyone-ANYONE about this.  Your father will have a very unfortunate accident.  You wouldn't want that would you?"

Josh was beginning to realize what hate really meant, "Nn-no sir."

"Now you run along like a good boy.  Go home until I contact you again.  Lose the number I gave you and never dial it again.  You'll receive instructions from me soon." 

And Mr. Steele hung up.

Josh didn't know what he had really gotten into.  But if it would help his dad to stop drinking and be the man Josh knew he could be, again. He'd do anything.

A few minutes into midnight, the last of the partygoers had finally gone.  Jonathan and Jennifer had time to reflect on what exactly happened during that game.  Jessica asked if Sarah could stay the night. After a phone call to her parents, they were up in Jessica's room ready for bed.  Jonathan and Jennifer could hear giggling and laughing through Jessica's door as they passed it on their way to their room.  "Darling, let's go over it again..."

"What more is there to tell Jonathan?  I didn't see him at all.  I couldn't tell you what he looked like, only that it was a boy.  There was something distinct about his speech but I can't put my finger on it."

"I'm sorry darling.  You know how I get when it comes to my family's safety."  Jonathan sat on the side of his bed going over the night’s happenings in his mind. 

Sensing his struggle, Jennifer came to his aid.  "Yes I do."  Putting her arms around his neck.  "And I know that look on your face that this isn't the end of it."

"No, it isn't"

Nuzzling his neck she whispered seductively. "Can I do anything to get your mind off it?"

"No.  You can't talk me out of it this time."  Jonathan said with hope in his eyes.

"Who said anything about talking?" 

"Jess" Sarah asked concerned. "Who do you think that was?"

"No one ever saw him.  I mean.  By the time they did, he was gone.  I didn't see him at all."

"But your party was awesome!  You have the sweetest parents!"

"Yeah.  They are."

Sarah reached for the picture of Max on the end table.  "He looks like a sweet ole guy.  Really sweet."

"He was. My parents say they think of him every time they see me." Jessica paused and sighed. "This doesn't make sense."

"What?"  Sarah was accustomed to Jessie's nose for being an Eye Spy.

"Well.  Dad said all the doors were locked.  All of the people here were invited.  How did he get in?"

"Dunno."

Just then Jessie remembered something.  "Come on!  I've got an idea!"  And they snuck downstairs past her parent's door.

(Michelle)

"Darling? What was that?" Jennifer asked.

Jonathan was too engrossed in what he was doing to know what she was talking about, however. "Hmm?" He mumbled as he kissed his wife. Suddenly, he realized she wasn’t responding to him and stopped. "Darling?"

"Shhhhhhhh." She cautioned. "Someone’s out there."

"Well, we do have two teenage girls and a dog in the house."

"Yes, but none of them would sneak around, would they?"

"I don’t know. Maybe Jessica and Sarah decided to raid the fridge."

"Darling, couldn’t you just go check?"

"Ok, come on." Jonathan got out of the bed and waited for Jennifer to do the same. They both threw on their bathrobes and walked out into the hall.

Sarah tiptoed behind Jessica. She wasn’t sure where her friend was leading her, and she had to admit she was a little frightened.

"Jess? Where are we going?"

"Shh." She said as she led the way into the living room. "Look." Jessica pointed at the floor.

"What? I don’t see anything."

"Neither do I."

"Jessica, are you ok?"

"Yeah, I thought I saw something there earlier, but I didn’t."

Sarah looked at her friend with concern. "What’d you think you saw?"

"I don’t know." Jessica shrugged her shoulders. "Hungry?" She changed the subject and started walking towards the kitchen.

Jennifer walked slowly behind Jonathan as they descended the stairs. When they reached the bottom Jonathan stopped suddenly and caused Jennifer to bump into him.

"Why’d you stop?" She asked.

Jonathan didn’t answer; he just put his finger to his lips and indicated the boy standing only a few feet away. The boy was facing towards the door and did not see the Hart’s standing behind him. Just then the boy was startled by the sound of a cup breaking in the kitchen. He ran towards the sound. Jennifer and Jonathan were close behind him. However, when they reached the kitchen, the only people Jennifer and Jonathan saw were Jessica and Sarah. The boy had disappeared.

"Jessica? What are you girls doing up?" Jennifer asked as she eyed the glass that littered the otherwise spotless kitchen floor.

"Uhh, nothing. We were hungry." Jessica smiled, a little too sweetly.

"Mmm Hmm…now how about the truth?"

"I thought I remembered something. But, I didn’t."

"I’ll be right back." Jonathan said.

"What happened?" Jennifer asked as she nodded to Jonathan.

"It just slipped." Sarah said as she bent down to pick up the broken pieces and Jonathan left the kitchen.

Jonathan searched the alcove between the living room and kitchen ferociously and then searched the living room and the foyer. He searched every room meticulously and found nothing. He re-entered the kitchen and found his wife sitting at the table with his daughter and her friend. They were all drinking out of un-broken cups and had pulled out a pack of graham crackers. There was an extra cup waiting for him. He sat down at the table.

"Did you find the guy?" Jessica asked.

Jonathan looked at her warily.

"I told them." Jennifer said.

"No, there’s no sign of anyone. The doors are all still locked and the alarm hasn’t been tripped."

"What are you saying?" Jennifer asked.

"I’m saying, that if I hadn’t seen him standing right there in front of me, I’d have to say that there had been no one in the house."

"This is too freaky." Jessica said. Sarah agreed.

The boy walked along the banks of the river quietly. His feet barely touched the ground as he maneuvered the turns and twists. The darkness seemed to empower him and his movements became quicker and steadier as he tried to reach his destination. Something compelled him to take this odd stretch of woods to get there, something he couldn’t name. A feeling deep within cried out to him, begging him to allow his eyes to fall upon it. He needed to feel at home, he had been feeling somewhat out of place for a while now. He had a mission to finish, and he would finish it, but he needed to experience this one piece of self-indulgence first. He stopped suddenly, but neither the animals around him nor the grass beneath him paid any notice to his presence. He looked inside the log cabin and smiled as he watched his mother and father sleep peacefully in their bed. He entered the cabin and made his way to their bed. He sat on the mattress beside his mother and kissed her bruised cheek gently. He then took his hand and slapped his father on his cheek. His father never woke. The boy touched his mother’s brow gently and whispered in her ear "Don’t worry, Mama, I’ll take care of you. I’ll help him get better." He kissed her again and then kissed his father on the same cheek he had slapped. Silently, the boy stood and left the cabin. It didn’t take him long after that to reach the night’s final destination. His eyes wandered to the ground and he sat on the tiny marble plaque. The plaque bore the familiar words "Rest in peace." The boy felt along the name on the plaque and traced the letters with his fingers. "Joshua Michael Eagland." He read silently and he laid his head down on the ground. Josh wouldn’t be able to rest in peace until he made sure he kept the promise he had just made to his mother.

(Ci)

Helen awoke to Danny’s moving. She looked over at the clock.  5:00am it read.  Her body was wracked with pain.  Didn’t he know this was killing her?  There was nothing she could do.  She had tried everything she could to get him to stop drinking.  And now he was gambling.  Bills were due and if she mentioned it, well, the night before was just a reprise of what follows.  She laid there thinking back to all the days of happiness.  She thought of Josh’s perfect smile and his gentleman like qualities.  She shivered.  How did all of this happen?  Where did the time go?

Danny stirred and awoke.  He took one look at Helen and guilt consumed him.  "Helen?"

She shivered at the thought of what came next.  She’d been hearing it a lot lately, "Yes?" she barely said.

"Helen, are you ok?"

Tears began to stream down her face.  "I’ll live."

Danny turned to her and began to gently wipe the tears from her bruised face.  "Oh please Helen, forgive me.  I don’t know what got into me.  I went back to try to win all our money back and instead lost what little I had taken."  There was no response from Helen, who felt his vulnerability.   This was the Danny she loved, the sweet Danny, the loving Danny he used to be.

"Darling."  Jennifer entered the kitchen for a cup of coffee.  "You’re up early.  It’s barely 7am."   She kissed him on the cheek.

"I know.  I wanted to have the alarm system checked out.  And find out how that guy got in and out so quickly."

Jennifer poured herself a cup of coffee, "Want some?" she asked Jonathan.

"Yes, thanks darling...I stayed up after you all went to bed thinking of what he wanted."

"Wanted?  I don’t understand."

"Well, he was here at the party obviously to deliver a message.  If he was here to hurt someone, he could have easily.  Same with coming back.  Why did he come back? And what is he trying to tell us?"

(Michelle)

Mr. Steele was pacing up and down the room. Josh was supposed to have met him an hour ago. Mr. Steele did not like to be left waiting. He was about to call one of his men to go and find the kid when he heard someone open the door to his office. Mr. Steele was surprised to find Danny Eagland standing there before him.

"Well, Mr. Eagland, to what do I owe this honor?"

"I want out Mr. Steele. I can’t do this anymore, it’s killing me…and my wife." Danny said. He could only hope that beneath Steele’s iron exterior there beat a heart.

"Can’t do what? You have no choice, Mr. Eagland. You owe me $50, 000 and I will get my money one way or another." Mr. Steele said with a sickeningly sweet voice.

"Please, Mr. Steele. I love my wife; I can’t bear to see her hurt! It breaks my heart to watch her cry and to know it’s all my fault." Danny said with complete sincerity.

"That is not my problem." Mr. Steele sat down at his desk and pulled a syringe out of his desk. "You will continue the treatments until you have given me my money or until you die…it’s your decision Mr. Eagland."

Danny didn’t know what to do. He was afraid of what would happen to his marriage if he had to continue with these treatments. He never remembered the first few hours between a treatment and sweet sleep. He only knew he always seemed to wake up and find his wife bruised and in tears. His beautiful wife, the love of his life. She would always assume he had been drinking, and he could only let her believe that. For the first time since the accident he was even happy Josh wasn’t there. He knew it would break his little boy’s heart to see him like this. Josh had always wanted to be just like his father. He didn’t have to worry about hurting Josh at least.

"Have you made your decision?" Mr. Steele asked with an evil grin.

"Was there ever really a decision?" Danny said as he sat in a chair in front of Mr. Steele’s desk. Mr. Steele got out of his seat and walked around to where Danny was sitting. He pulled roughly at Danny’s sleeve and pushed it up his arm.

"You know," Mr. Steele said as he held the cold steel needle above Danny’s arm. "If you are afraid of how this makes you react maybe you should not go home."

Danny glared at Mr. Steele and then shut his eyes. "It was just an idea." Mr. Steele said as he brought the needle down and its sharpness penetrated Danny’s unwilling flesh.