Oh shit seemed to be the theme of the afternoon . After the old man found out that we didn't even have any money on us, he called Mrs . Atkins . Apparently, the twins had broken something a few years before and they exchanged numbers in case something happened again . Unfortunately it was me who broke the bat .
I started to feel anxious and sick to my stomach . Just thinking about Noah's mom getting mom was stressing me out . Will she act like my mom? Will she just ignore me since I'm not her kid? I definitely prefer option number two .
We were sitting in the old mans office, waiting for her arrival . We both sat on a worn couch opposite of the old man, who sat behind a desk filled with clutter .
AdvertisementNoah was giving him a rundown on everything that happened between us and the four older teens . He had a talent for spinning stories to make us look like the ones picked on . "They just couldn't stand seeing a kid better than them . " He finished .
The old man peered at me . "So you're better than them?"
I shook my head no, but Noah answered for me . "He's way better . He's like a machine . Same perfect swing over and over . "
The old man looked at the bat pieces in my hands . "Can't be that perfect of a swing if the bat broke . " He looked me in the eyes . "Did the ball hit close to your hands causing the bat to break along the handle?"
I shook my head no . I always try to hit baseballs with the sweet part of the bat where the barrel is thickest .
"Jake isn't a newbie . He knows what part of the bat to hit with . My theory is that there was a crack and with his perfect hitting, the balls hit the same spot over and over, until bam! Bat explosion . " Noah always had answers, especially when he can still put the blame on someone or something else .
The old man looked at us, amused, no doubt he was able to see through Noah's explanation .
A knock on the door interrupted us . A tall woman walked in . Mrs . Atkins . She greeted the old man before turning to us . She was still in a business suit looking more intimidating than yesterday . "You guys broke a rental bat?"
I felt extremely guilty as I held what was left of the bat .
"Technically . " Noah cringed . "But I'm standing my ground that it was cracked beforehand . "
Mrs . Atkins remained expressionless as she turned back to the old man . "I'll defer judgment to Mr . Williams . He's the boss so he would know best . "
"Yea, best how to scam us out of our money . " Noah rebuked .
"Noah James . " Mrs . Atkins scolded . "I taught you to respect your elders regardless of personal conflicts . You're setting a bad example for Jake . You should take note how he sits quietly and doesn't inject snide comments . "
Noah jumped up . "Yea, because he's terrified . Look how frozen he is . These four guys bullied us, took my money when the bat broke, then ran off . Now we have a bunch of adults telling us that we're the ones in the wrong and that we're in trouble . Where's the justice?!"
Mrs . Atkins expression softened at the sight of my stiff posture . "Is that true, Jake?"
I didn't answer and just kept my eyes down on the bat pieces . I was shocked again how Noah can change black to white and vice versa . It's a real skill . To not always be right, but at least never wrong . He told the truth, but not the whole truth .
Chapter end
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