Johnny unlocked his gold schwinn ten speed and watched his friends begin a new game of touch football. Johnny had to be home before 5pm or him mom would be mad at him. And if she got mad at him, she would tell his dad and then Johnny's dad would be mad with him. And Johnny did not want this for he was afraid of his dad. The schwinn wasn't new to Johnny anymore. It almost felt like an extension of his legs as he peddled away from the school yard and towards home. Just as he turned the corner he heard Mike yell "hut hut hike" and a new play started. Mike was a good player, one of the best in the yard. There was no one best player in this playground. No one stood out above the rest. As such none of these boys were destined for any athletic greatness. Not even a college scholarship. Johnny was everyone's friend. He felt that everyone liked him just fine and he liked everyone in the yard. At the same time Johnny didn't have a buddy, a best friend. Mike and Dave were best friends. Dan and Julio were tight. Johnny? He hadn't even been over these guys' house. Shifting down into second Johnny felt strong and powerful and as free as any 14 year old boy could. Soon, by the time they were 15, the tag football games would be left to the younger kids. Johnny new this, he was insightful in this way, and he wondered what he would do after school when the games ended. Johnny pulled up to his house and leaned his bike against the side of it. He was hungry and hoped his mom cooked something good for dinner. Good being things that were not bad. Like creamed tuna over bread. Or eggplant parmesan. Or any meal that included broccoli. Johhny had to eat every thing on his plate even though that hated broccoli made him feel like he would puke. But if he didn't his mom might tell his dad and his dad would be mad and we've already covered that. A strange thing happened. Johnny opened the front door and no one was home. In fact there was nothing. No furniture, no pictures on the wall, no nick knacks, no people, and strangely enough no toilet paper. The place was empty. It was if Johnny's family had moved out and forgot to take him. So Johnny sat down on the hardwood floor, wondered what he would do with no TV, what he would do for dinner, what the heck is going on. Then Johnny smiled.