...Pureville...2015...

...May 26th...8: 19 AM...Tuesday...

John sought comfort in knowing that he is protected. How so? Uncle Bob is a Terminator capable of protecting him under means necessary to ensure The Resistance's presence in the future. So happens Uncle Bob works as a bank security guard from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. John saw a couple street kids lingering by a pole with solemn looks on their faces, hands in their hoody pockets, and eyes daggering right towards John. John can feel in his gut this is not a good time to be out as these kids mean business! They were the trouble makers at school and had assembled a group of bullies.

Sadly Uncle Bob cannot protect John in school.

One time the bullies stuffed John into his locker!

John takes the other direction from the usual route. Boy, he didn't want to cross them! John went down a dark shady street with broken down furniture discarded outside, trees were all around the houses ranging in size and shape in the species listing of trees, and some broken down cars are parked alongside the sidewalk. Maxy whines stopping firmly in his tracks lowering his tail in-between his legs and lowers his head towards the old gray sidewalk.

"What's up, Maxy?" John asks.

Maxy turns his head over towards John with a 'please, no further' look in his eyes.

"All right," John said. "Let's turn around."

Maxy turns around then marches off with John in tow getting out of the diresome street that truly frightened an ordinary pet. When John came back on the street the bullies were now at the closest pole. Their eyes seemingly judged John on the spot. A sly grin spreads on the shortest boy Bill Hastings and a unique evil spark glint off in the eyes of the three other boys packed behind Bill.

"Yo' Connor!" Bill Hastings calls, taking his hands out of his pocket. "Where yo' been?"

"Uh, everywhere," John said. "Been busy for the past couple days."

"Yo' were not too busy cleaning out yo' locker!" Bill said.

"Lockers are a different story," John said.

Maxy is growling at the bullies. There are four boys. Bill Hastings, Andrew Shepard, Fin Shepard, and Gill Shepard. No girls are in the group.

"Nice dog," Gill said, looking down towards Maxy, "Does he know you are gonna be rolling in a garbage can soon?"

Leaves rustle above the boys.

"We're not in school," John said. "Besides, if I were you, I wouldn't lay a hand on me."

"I hear a challenge," Andrew said,turning towards the boys. "Did you hear what he said?"

"Yes," The three boys said.

John rolls an eye.

"I don't have time for this," John said. "Maxy, let's go home."

John turns away but Andrew grabs the leash out of John's hands.

"Too slow," Andrew said.

"Hey!" John said. "Give that back!"

"Nah uh," Andrew said, holding it up out of John's reach.

A long hard metal thorn from the tree jabs into Andrew's hand. Andrew yelps letting go of the leash. Maxy runs towards the direction of the house with John running around the boys after Maxy. Andrew looks up rather royally mad at the tree. A long pipe with a sharp edge fell down landing beside Billy's shoe.

"I wonder who is in there," Billy said, looking up.

None of the boys saw a figure in the tree branches.

Strange, huh?