Justin Thyme

Justin's problem was, he didn't want to go away to school. But his father was this big shot Senator, and Justin had got in trouble a few times at his public school. Nothing real bad, just normal stuff like skipping class to get high.  But the story got into the newspapers and the news shows on TV, and all the pundits were talking about him. Like he was some lost stoner kid who his parents couldn't control.

    Which wasn't true at all. But that's what they were saying on TV.

    Justin's dad was flying home from Washington to deal with it. All the adults were freaking out. His mom was crying a lot. Even Grandma was calling from the old folks home to chew him out.

    "Justin, what the hell is going on?" shouted Grandma over the phone.

    "Nothing Grandma. Stop shouting," Justin said.

    "I'm ninety years old, I'll shout if I want to!"

    "Grandma, they're making it all up." Justin's voice was shaking a little. "I'm not like this."

    "I know that," said Grandma.

    "Mom says they might send me away."

    "Join the club," said Grandma.

    Justin turned his phone off and thought about what to do.

    He was suspended from school and he couldn't even go outside because there were camera crews  parked in the front yard. He had to stay away from the windows and not answer the door. His mom had given him strict orders before going off to give a speech at the Garden Club Flower Show.

    Now Justin was alone in the big house with all the curtains closed, surrounded by herds of reporters and TV crews.  He had to get out of there.

    So he turned his phone back on and texted his friend Jimmy.

    <hey Jim>

    <haha im watching u on tv>

    <jimmy please. get me out of here>

    <ok but how>

    <remember what u were for halloween?>

    <dude that was seventh grade>

    <yeah but it still fits>

    Which was true. Jimmy and Justin were like the smallest freshmen kids in their school. Everybody else had grown up half a foot since middle school but these two guys were still small for their age. It sucked because they were teased a lot but they stayed even closer friends because of it.

    <ok>

    Justin sighed and relaxed a little then.

    <thanks dude>

    Only a little while left and he could escape.