Selection (ch.1)

Joey Wylie bounded down the street, the wind rushing through his auburn hair and piercing into his young green eyes. Excitement was coursing through his long, lanky limbs like electricity. For today was the day! It was his first day of being 13, which meant that THE Mr Bruce Bleu was going to teach him how to mow the lawn.

The end of Sundale Street finally neared and the faint smell of petrol curled in the air. Bruce was standing in the front lawn of his manor, leaning upon his shiny red mower.

“Joey my boy!” Bruce greeted Joey as he reached him, slowing down and bending over to catch his breath.

“Hi Mr Bleu- Bruce! Sorry… just give me one second,” Joey puffed. Bruce let out a chuckle.

“It’s ok son. Have a breather we’ve got all afternoon.”

Joey grabbed his water bottle out of his school bag, took a few sips then chucked them both aside on the concrete in front of his house next door.

“I’m ready, sir!”

“Ok then, let’s get to it.”

Bruce showed Joey the basic parts to the mower- the pungent fuel tank, the sharp blades underneath, the pull start and the large grass bag at the end. Joey attentively noted each part in his head and then watched on in awe as Bruce tugged at the pull start and the machine roared to life. Bruce passed Joey a pair of fluffy oversized earmuffs and fitted on his own. He proceeded to show the eager boy how to grip the handles and push forward in a straight line, then turn back and begin cutting the next overgrown section.

Bruce cut the power and turned to Joey, “Pretty easy hey?”

“I think so. Can I please have a go?”

“Sure thing. Think you can do the whole front and the side of the house?”

“Yes, sir!”

Joey puffed out his scrawny chest and approached the glowing mechanical beast. He grabbed the pull start and tugged it thrice, the mower growling then bursting to a roar. Joey gave a quick thumbs up, then proceeded to copy Bruce’s movements. Up and down the lawn he went, pushing and sweating with pride.

Mum and Dad won’t be laughing now, Joey thought, maybe Bruce will show me how to pull out the weeds next!

Joey’s parents Nicole and Jasper Wylie had moved into their grand house on Sundale only a year before the Bleus arrived next door. Joey was a toddler during the move, a factor that required special permissions. Nicole however, being the daughter of celebrated Stork General, Mason DeGrove, did not find it hard to acquire them.

Sundale was a quiet street when the Wylies arrived, a kind but private community. The arrival of the Bleus changed this dynamic instantly. From hosting fire-lit dinners, sharing afternoon teas on their porches and bantering over the fences- Sundale seemed to come alive with chit-chat the second they appeared.

Then Maddison Bleu was born when Joey was 4 years old. Paddy and Bruce brought her to meet the Wylie family the moment they were home from the hospital, beaming at their sleepy little bundle. Joey adored Maddy from the moment he saw her and instantly declared they would be best friends.

Joey only had a small collection of memories growing up beside the Bleus, some more confusing than others. Paddy stomping on the floor of her living room, her screaming echoing through the window and into Joey’s room. And Bruce, talking to himself in the side yard in the middle of the night, moving things around. Joey had just assumed he was night gardening.

Thinking about it now as he pushed the mower, the sweet and earthy smell of fresh cuttings tingling his nose, he had to admit he had no idea what he saw. But it wasn’t his place to judge them, his mother told him no one was completely normal anyway.

“HEY JOEY!” Bruce called across the lawn.

YEAH?”

“PADDY IS LATE I HAVE TO START DINNER. GIVE ME A YELL IF YOU NEED HELP.”

“OK!”

Joey continued on as the warm sun slowly descended. He finished the front lawn and pushed towards the overgrown side strip. A few minutes later he was stuffed and cut the power. Puffing against the side of the Bleu house, Joey took off his ridiculous earmuffs and admired his work. He leant his head against the cool wooden boards and tried to slow is racing heart as the delightful air around him began to chill.

“Hello?”

Joey froze.

“Who is that? Father is that you?”

Petrified, Joey turned around slowly and looked into the wooden cracks from where the voice rang. A pair of tiny brown eyes stared back at him.

“Who are you?” The eyes looked him up and down. “Are you the neighbour’s boy Mother rants about?”

Joey tried to respond but found his jaw clenched shut. These were not Maddy’s eyes, nor any eyes he knew. He felt the unknown child’s warm, sour breath upon his face. His skin began to prickle. It’s curious eyes suddenly grew round and glassy.

“Please don’t tell them. Don’t tell them you saw me. I don’t wanna be in trouble again. Please?”

Joey mustered the strength to slowly nod his head.

“Thank you.”

And the grateful, crying eyes disappeared into the darkness, leaving Joey stunned in the stretching shadows.