1 Crash I jump and look away from my video game for a second I’m about to battle the final boss but what the heck just came through my window I hear it buzzing and bouncing around inside the mountain of boxes I haven’t unpacked The suburbs are probably full of smallish animals like squirrels raccoons and possums but even if one got into my room I doubt it would buzz I’m so distracted that I lose the battle again and toss my controller aside to investigate I grab my baseball bat and approach the buzzing box which is shaking Hard I tighten my grip and get ready to swing as the box shudders violently C’mon Lucas what are you 1
scared of I mutter to myself inching closer I jump toward the box hoping to surprise whatever’s in there but all I see is a busted drone ricocheting around like a trapped bug I pick it up and walk over to the window This yours I call to the kid standing in the yard next door Duh he’s holding a remote control and hopping up and down frantically Yes kind of Can you bring it down Right now he asks Sure I’d be happy to stop what I’m doing to make your life easier boy I’ve never met before I don’t say it out loud but I definitely think it as I walk downstairs I push open the back door and pass my parents who are shoveling a wheelbarrow full of mulch onto the garden Mom is embarrassingly excited to finally have a place to grow vegetables Dad stops and leans on his shovel What’ve you got there he asks I want to tell him it’s the exact drone I ask for every time there’s a birthday holiday or slightly above-average report card but instead I shrug and say Runaway drone as I head toward the neighbor’s yard Our yard is wide open like the space between the houses but our neighbor’s backyard is hidden by 2
the tallest fence I’ve ever seen which smells like fresh paint The kid cracks the gate just wide enough for me to see his face He looks so nervous that even his freckles are shaking Thanks and sorry he says reaching for the still-vibrating drone He starts to close the gate but not fast enough to avoid Mom Well hello there neighbor I’m Amanda I see you’ve already met Lucas Christopher Come meet our neighbor I’d crawl under the mulch if I could Dad walks over pulling off his gardening gloves Nice to meet you I’m Christopher he says extending his hand And you are The kid awkwardly gives Dad what I’m pretty sure grown-ups call a dead-fish handshake Aiden he replies not opening the gate a single extra millimeter That’s when my little sister Matty runs between Mom and Dad and crashes straight through Aiden’s gate giggling and waving her bubble wand Mattina Mom laughs Excuse me Aiden she says as she runs into his yard after Matty This is great Dad says with a smile There’s 3
