Recon Squad A

 

     Marco picked the members for R.S.A. carefully, ten people in all unless Tracy forced her way in. Grady was first, since he was asked for by name. Chillus was small enough to get where the others couldn’t, so he was in. Gregory had an amazing memory, so he would have to come. Marco paused and thought, ‘Tracy hadn’t been around yesterday’. He would have remembered her red hair. That meant she would definitely be there today, so he might as well figure her in. Tracy needed to be in anyway, for strength… She wont tag along without Cynthia. Cynthia was a quick problem solver, (well… she was when she wanted to be). Paul and Janet, the twins, would probably be helpful since they seemed to have the ability to read each other’s thoughts. That left only Sarah and Brian, two exact opposites. Sarah dreams and believes in dreams, her life is half lived in an imaginary world of her own creation. Brian only believes in what he can see and touch, if his nose was ever out of a non-fiction book it was a miracle. Marco decided to leave out Jennifer this time, though she was the smartest girl in the orphanage.

     When Marco arrived at the shop with the rest of the R.S.A., he found it deserted. They ate the pancakes and drank the orange juice that had been left out for them.

     I walked in from the side door, I had only had time to change my clothes. When I noticed the kids and the quiet shop I was extremely grateful.

     “I know it’s quiet now,” I started to explain to them as they looked at me. “But it gets busy in here and I don’t have a moments peace.” I glanced at the back door to the shop wishing I could just lock the place, so I wouldn’t be interrupted. I drew in a breath and let it out, I was not sure how to explain it. “There is, on the other side of that door.” I pointed to the front door. “Another world.” I watched their faces, one girl gave me an almost pitying look. “You don’t believe me, but look.” I walked to the door and opened it, on the other side ‘Nary town bustled on with it’s everyday life.

     Their expressions now changed to wonder, everyone’s except Marco. It was as if he knew what was going to happen, and had planned for it.

     Whispers began to fill the shop as they all chattered to each other.

     I closed the door, “I need you to find out as much as you can about ‘Nary Town. Then report back to me before five o’clock.”

     “Tracy set your watch.” Cynthia urged quickly, and it was followed by beeping noises.

     “You can trust us.” Marco confirmed, and then nodded at his colleges.
I watched them file out in a single line. Chillus grabbed the front doorknob and grinned back at me with syrup stained cheeks, I chuckled as he slammed the door shut. The clock on the wall said it was ten thirty, but eight people had just poured in as if it were nine thirty on the dot. The shop was filled with tears and shouts, my head began to throb slightly. I hope the children are okay.

     “Look at my shirt!” Chillus exclaimed. He pulled frills from under a navy blue jacket that was fastened by the top button.

     “Your shirt.” Paul complained, “Look at my shirt.” He pointed to a woolen vest that had another shirt under it.

     “You’ve got a tie.” his sister pointed out, “and hat.”

     “You’re wearing a dress.” He retorted. “And it’s not just any dress, it’s a frilly princess dress. With lots of frilly little girly…” Paul began making faces at his sister, but was interrupted by Tracy.

     “All the girls are wearing dresses, and what of it?” she began unbuttoning the cuff of her long sleeved, emerald green dress.

     “Shut up!” Marco barked. He wore a full suit in plaid, and a tan bowler hat that was a little too large. “We’re being watched.” he looked across the street at a blonde girl, wearing a blue dress and matching bonnet.

     The whole R.S.A. turned and stared at her, but Cynthia Perking stood unflinching. Her eyes narrowed a bit as she crossed the road towards them.

     She walked up to Brian, who wore a sailors outfit, and poked him hard. “You aren’t haunts are you?” she eyed them suspiciously.

     “What?” Tracy took offense.

     Marco stepped in front of the crowd, and put his arm out in front of Tracy to keep her from advancing. “We’re not haunts, what do you think?” he barked and glanced over his shoulder at the shop. “Just curious is all. You know how it is.”, he turned back to Cynthia Perking. “Why are you watching this place? What makes it so special?” he turned the accusations on her.

     “I don’t want those haunts coming out.” she crossed her arms. “I’m making sure they don’t.”

     “Haunts?” said Brian in a bored tone. “Oh really. As if there was such a thing. You’re a stupid girl, you know that?” He began to poke Cynthia Perking with every emphasized word, “a Stupid Poking Girl.”

     “I beg your pardon, don’t you be calling her no stupid girl.” Cynthia walked from behind Tracy. Her brown hair was all in curls, and her dress was a little too tight for her walk in smoothly.

     Brian looked at her in a superior manner, “What’s twenty four times six?”

     “What’s five in your two eyes?”, shot Tracy quickly as she held up her fist.

     “Can we please move on?” Marco urged.

     “Move on where?” Cynthia Perking moved in front of Marco.

     “You ask a lot of questions for someone without a name.” Marco moved around her.

     “I’m Cynthia Perking, and who are you?” she demanded.

     “I’m Marco.” he half bowed at her.

     “I’m Brian.” Brian said as he poked her one more time.

     Chillus who was trying to unbutton his knickerbockers, mumbled his name.

     “I’m Paul and this is my sister Janet.” Paul pointed to his sister, who was admiring a her purple waist sash.

     “I’m Tracy, and this is Cynthia my BEST friend.” Tracy glared at the new Cynthia, but she seemed unmoved.

     “Gregory.” Said a boy aged around eight, unbuttoning his light brown vest to look at his double breasted white shirt.

     “Call her Perking, Cynthia was here first.” Grady walked forward wearing a double breasted coat over a dapper black suit. “I’m assuming you want to tag along.” he sneered at her. Then he glanced around for the last member who had not yet said a word. “Where’s Sarah?”

     Marco snapped to attention and looked all around.

     “She’s wearing orange, if you find her.” Chillus said. “She was in front of me on the way out. She had some big ball on her butt.”

     “A bustle?” Cynthia Perking sounded snooty.

     “Whatever that is.” Tracy pushed past her and started walking down the street, shouting out Sarah’s name.

     “Tracy!” Cynthia bellowed loud enough to get her attention. “Come back here. You have the watch.”

     Tracy turned bright red and hurried back to the rest of the group.

     “We’ve got to find her.” Marco planned, “first we’ll go down the intersection, then double back on the other side. Chances are she’s still on the street.”

     They walked up the first street until it ended, window after window they looked. There was no little girl to be found. Then they walked off the “T” part of the road, and still she was no where to be seen on the street or in a building.

     “What are we going to do if we can’t find her?” Janet walked close to Grady.

     “We will all loose our jobs, that’s what.” he replied gruffly.

     “It’s well worse than that.” Marco stopped the troop. “You may not know this.” he stopped quickly and weighed his words carefully. “This is not the first time I have been here. And once this place gets dark, you are going to want to find a place to hide. But there is NO safe place to hide.”

     “I ain’t a-scared.” Chillus interrupted him as he walked forward in the crowd. “I told you last time you told me about this place, I ain’t a-scared. And I ain’t a-scared now.” He turned around to the others, “So, you…” he pointed at all of them. “Can go on home. Where it’s safe, and nothing can happen to you. Cause where Sarah’s gone you can’t go.”

     “They have to go.” Marco said coldly, “We took an oath before we stepped through those doors. We all come back together or not at all.”

     Brian glanced around, “You never told us we were going back in time.”

     “That’s because we haven’t.” Marco noticed the light fading from the sky.

     The light began to fade, and the candles were being lit in the street lamps. It was apparent they would not find Sarah.

     “What time is it Tracy.”Grady asked.

     “I don’t know.” Tracy said in a half whisper as she stared at her bare wrist.

     Everyone glanced at Marco in terror, everyone except Cynthia Perking. Her suspicions about this group were growing more and more. But her mother was calling from the corner, and she had to leave the group before any further investigating.

     Everyone ran to the Hauntch Store, but when Marco turned the knob it was locked. He banged on the door, and everyone shouted as loud as they could. It was a while before they gave up and sat down on the street.

     “Why didn’t she open the door?” Brian asked dejectedly, “Why didn’t she wait for us?”

     Marco let out an exasperated breath and took off his hat, “It doesn’t work like that. If you don’t make it back in time, the portal closes.”

     “What portal?” Cynthia stood up with new strength. “You didn’t tell us anything about any portal. How am I supposed to plan for a portal, if I don’t know about any portal?” she gestured wildly with her hands.

     “You tell him.” Tracy piped in.

     “This wasn’t supposed to happen.” Marco remained calm.