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“Kel, put your shoes on, we’re going to OtherMart,” Kel hears Hero call from the kitchen. Or he would’ve heard if he wasn’t so immersed in the game he’s currently trying to beat.
“Kel, did you hear me?” Hero calls again. After several seconds and still no response, he sighs and walks over to lean against the door frame connecting the kitchen and living room. He silently watches Kel, face pressed against the television screen, moving this way and that like he’s the one actually doing all the dodging. The screen suddenly flashes with a red GAME OVER and Kel lets out a frustrated groan. He dramatically falls back to the ground, arms and legs sprawled causing Hero to softly chuckle at how intense Kel makes a video game feel. “You’re going to hurt your eyes being that close to the TV, you know,” Hero reprimands, shaking his head. “Soon you’re going to need glasses.”
Kel swivels his head quickly, facing Hero and scoffs before firmly stating that that will never happen. He shoots up to his feet excitedly and points to the game over screen. “But did you see how low the boss’ health was? I was this close to beating him,” Kel sulks and pinches his fingers together for emphasis.
“You’ll get him next time,” Hero reassures and nods toward the front door where their shoes are kept. “Put on your shoes, though, we need to go to the grocery store.”
“What, why?” Kel whines, crossing his arms and stomping his foot.
Hero laughs and adds, “Always with the dramatics, you should be an actor.” He goes to grab Kel’s shoes since he still isn’t moving and tosses them over the back of the couch. “You know I can’t leave you home alone and besides, I need your big, strong muscles to help carry everything back.”
At the mention of how strong he is, Kel perks up and unabashedly flexes his most muscular pose. “Oh, well, if you need the help, I guess I have no choice but to come.” He picks up the tossed shoes and slips them on as Hero walks back to the kitchen to grab the finished grocery list and tote bags. Once Hero has his shoes on as well, they exit the house, not bothering to lock the door as it’s a small town, and start making their way down the street.
Hero notices Kel stopped walking and when he turns to look back, Kel speaks up, “Could I go to Hobbeez while you do the actual shopping?”
Hero lifts his hand to his chin, pretending to think his answer over as if he doesn’t already know he’s going to say yes. Shopping by himself would probably go a lot faster if he didn’t have Kel running up and down the isles, secretly putting snacks and Orange Joe in the basket when he thinks Hero isn’t looking. “Yeah, okay,” he finally says. “Do you need to go back and grab your wallet?”
Kel flashes a quick but bright smile and starts running back to the house as he shouts over his shoulder that he’ll be right back. In true Kel fashion, he’s back in under a minute without breaking a sweat or being out of breath. Kel shoots Hero a quick thumbs up and they continue their trek to the plaza.
As soon as the top of OtherMart becomes visible, Kel shoots forward toward Hobbeez, leaving Hero to continue walking at his own pace, already used to Kel’s behavior. Kel rushes inside, thankful for the cool air that hits his face as early June in Texas is already scorching hot, and makes a beeline for the one arcade machine the shop has, Capt. Spaceboy’s Space Adventure.
The machine displays the logo and periodically switches over to the leaderboard all while playing a tinny 8-bit melody. When the display switches over, Kel almost screams. In front of him, cataloged in neon blue pixellated font, is the leaderboard; the same leaderboard that had his name listed at the top just last week. It now shows, clear as day, KEL in the number two spot and someone under the alias of SSS as ranking the highest. Who is this SSS person who had dethroned him?
Kel quickly turns to the shopkeep and demands to know who SSS is. The person behind the counter, a teen probably working here as an easy summer job, lazily looks up from his magazine and shrugs. “I don’t know, man. It must’ve happened when Pedro was working.”
Kel groans and opens his wallet checking how much allowance he still has from last week’s escapades. Six dollars. He lets out a long sigh. It already costs a dollar to play a round and it took him eight tries to get to the top last time. He’ll just have to do it in two less this time.
Gearing up, he exchanges his bills for quarters and plops himself on the stool, still too short to comfortably reach the controls, though he’ll never admit that himself. He cracks his knuckles like he’s seen some of the older kids do and inserts four of his quarters, effectively starting the game.
Half an hour later and six dollars shorter, he does have a new personal high score but he’s still over 10,000 points off from SSS’s top score. Kel slumps over the control panel, groaning in irritation as the Capt. Spaceboy theme song mocks him. He’ll need to suck up to his dad in hopes of getting his allowance early as there’s no way his mom would cave, especially after learning how he plans to spend it.
At that moment, Hero pops his head into the store and calls out to Kel that it’s time to leave. Dejected, Kel quietly grabs his wallet and slowly lowers off the stool to meet back up with Hero. Stepping outside, he’s met with a wall of humidity and already misses the refreshing A/C of the store.
“You win any?” Hero asks as he hands two of the tote bags to Kel and winces slightly when Kel looks at Hero like he’s just kicked a puppy. “I guess not, huh?”
Kel lowers his head back down as they start to walk home. “I got a new high score but I wasn’t able to beat the top player,” he admits as he scuffs the bottom of his shoe against the pavement.
“That’s okay, Kel. The fact that you got a better score than last time means you’re improving. Keep it up and soon no one will be able to beat you,” Hero consoles his younger brother as he shuffles both totes into one hand so he can playfully tousle Kel’s hair.
Not able to bat Hero’s hand away as both of his hands are already full, Kel grumbles under his breath about Hero stunting his growth with how often the older brother rumples his hair. Nonetheless, he smiles lightheartedly and adds, “You’re right, I just need to keep training.”
“That’s the spirit!” Hero says fondly before looking down their street toward the recently sold house next to their own. “By the way, Mom said we’ll be getting new neighbors sometime next week. They have two kids around our age as well.”
“Ooh, I wonder what they’re like,” Kel wonders out loud.
“We’ll just have to see when we meet them next week. Now, let’s get home so we can put everything away before it melts.”
“Race you!” Kel shouts and doesn’t wait to hear Hero’s response.
Kel wakes up, groggy and sleep still clinging to his eyes. He sits up and stretches his arms over his head and notices Hero has already woken up and made his own bed. Not unusual for summer as Kel usually sleeps in. His stomach suddenly growls and all of a sudden, breakfast sounds really good.
He jumps out of bed and starts making his way downstairs to the kitchen, leaving the bed-making and getting dressed for when he’s not starving. As he passes the threshold to the living room, he notices Hero standing at the front window and watching the outside world.
Kel stops abruptly and gets into a more stealthy stance. He quietly crosses the living room and pounces on his older brother's back, scaring the ever-loving shit out of Hero; it’s a miracle Kel is still hanging off his back and not on the ground complaining about a sore tailbone.
Hero steps backward toward the couch and wrangles Kel over his shoulder and onto the soft cushions. “You got me good there, Kel. Now you deserve a reward,” Hero smirks and raises his hands in front of him, wiggling his fingers and getting closer to Kel. And then he goes in for the attack. Kel instantly erupts into laughter, filling the house with his glee, and Hero can’t help but join in. When they catch their breath, Kel finally asks what Hero was doing over at the window.
“Our new neighbors arrived about an hour and a half ago. There are four people in total,” Hero says and adds, “an older man and woman, a girl around my age, and a boy around yours.”
“Hero, I can’t believe you! Stalking our neighbors before they’re even fully moved in,” Kel clutches his chest and feigns shock before Hero jokingly pushes him away saying he was just curious.
Hero stands up and lends a hand to Kel, helping him off the couch. “Let’s eat breakfast and go say hello after. Mom’s at work and won’t be back till night so she wants us to give them the gift basket she put together.” Kel responds with a small nod and hums in acknowledgment as they enter the kitchen.
It seems Hero has already started on and finished making breakfast as Kel notices the freshly toasted waffles and cooked sausage on two plates. “I was going to come wake you earlier but I got distracted,” Hero scratches the back of his head and explains away the already made breakfast.
Kel grins, clasps his hands together, and puckers his lips while making kissing noises. “Yeah, too distracted stalking that girl,” he teases as Hero shoots him a scowl and a dry ha ha, very funny.
Kel grabs one of the plates from the counter and nearly jumps onto his chair at the kitchen table, ready to devour this meal and clearly very lucky that his food didn’t jump off his plate as well. They enjoy their breakfast of waffles and sausage, Kel with copious amounts of butter and syrup and Hero with his modest amount, accompanied by some fresh berries and a cold glass of milk. As soon as Kel finishes his last drop of milk, he sits back with his belly extended as much as possible and pats his stomach a few times, a satisfied smile on his face.
“You full?” Hero asks and Kel gives a pleased nod. “Then go get dressed while I clean up and we’ll go say hi.”
“Thanks, bro!” Kel hops up and pats Hero on the back as the older brother collects the plates, utensils, and glass cups. Kel leaves the kitchen and rushes up to his room. He quickly changes out of his pajamas and barely contains the way his legs want to bounce around with the excitement of gaining possible new friends already rushing through his veins.
He takes a deep, calming breath and exits his room, skipping three steps at a time as he descends the stairs. When he enters the living room again, he still hears the water running in the kitchen so he walks over to the front window to do a little spying of his own. Kel mainly sees men in movers' uniforms walking in and out of the house carrying a variety of items and boxes. No sign of his actual new neighbors. Makes sense, Kel thinks, it’s hot and they’re already paying the movers.
Hero walks into the living room calling out to Kel if he’s ready and is pleasantly surprised when he sees Kel already dressed and by the front door. “Excited?” Hero asks, already knowing the answer with how much Kel is visibly vibrating. “Okay, let’s go,” Hero says after putting on his shoes and grabbing the gift basket.
When they step outside, they see the movers lounging on the back of an orange and white U-Haul and hydrating, probably taking a well-deserved break. The brothers wave at them as they cross over the grass into their new neighbors’ yard. As they approach the door, they notice it’s wide open. They turn to each other and Kel shrugs while Hero rings the doorbell once.
They wait a few seconds before one of the movers shouts at them that the owners are probably in the back. Just then, a girl comes out of the kitchen carrying a tray of bottled lemonade and bagged pretzels. She sees the brothers and gives them an easy smile as she walks toward them. “Can I help you two?” she asks while balancing the tray in one hand and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Hero is silent, staring at the girl, leaving Kel to answer her question. “Yeah! We’re your neighbors and just wanted to come say hi! I’m Kel and this is my older brother, Hero,” he says excitedly while getting behind Hero to give him a push forward.
He falls forward, catching himself easily before looking back at Kel to give him a glare. He quickly turns back around toward the girl and runs a hand through his hair, plastering on his best smile. “Henry, actually, but everyone calls me Hero,” he corrects, holding out his hand between the two of them.
The girl takes his hand and gives him a light shake while introducing herself as Mari. “It’s nice to meet you, Hero,” she says, looking into his eyes directly. She then leans around him to give Kel a smile as she adds, “You too, Kel.” Hero audibly gulps as Mari releases a quiet giggle.
And then he remembers why they actually came over. “Uh, right, my mom wanted us to drop off this gift basket since she’s at work.”
Mari gasps and bounces a little on her feet. “Oh, how nice! Let me go give these refreshments to the movers and then I’ll show you around!” She passes them quickly, heading straight for the large truck while Hero’s gaze follows her the whole time.
Kel gives him a concerned look and elbows him in the side while asking, “What was that about?” Hero clears his throat as his face heats up and hastily says that it was nothing just as Mari makes her way back to the brothers.
“Everyone else is in the back,” she says as she grabs the gift basket from Hero and walks back through the open front door. The two brothers look at each other and then follow after her. They all pass through the living room filled with boxes and covered furniture and Mari calls out, “Mom, Dad! The neighbors brought us a gift!”
The sliding back door is open as well and a woman’s head pops out from behind the wall as Mari approaches the backyard. “Look, Mom,” she says as she holds the basket up.
The middle-aged woman raises her hands to her mouth that’s in the shape of an O. “Oh, wow! This must be from Maria and her family,” she exclaims as she grabs the basket and looks it over while making little noises of ooh and ahh.
She then notices the brothers and turns fully to them, putting the gift basket on what seems to be a covered side table. “You two must be Henry and Kelsey!” She brings them into a welcoming hug and adds, “Your mother has told me so much about you two.” When she releases them and just as Hero starts to speak up, an older man walks in, presumably Mari’s father.
“Jun, look,” she says as she lifts the basket back off the table for him to see. The man, Jun, gives it a stern look and nods quietly, not one for many words apparently.
Trying to make a good impression, Hero pushes forward and says with his hand out in front of him, “It’s nice to meet you and your family.” Jun takes his hand and gives him a firm grip, encouraging Hero to continue. “As Mrs…” he trails off.
“Suzuki,” Jun supplies, gruffly.
“Right,” Hero smiles and continues, “as Mrs. Suzuki said, our mother is Maria Rodriguez Garcia and though our name’s are Henry and Kelsey, we typically go by Hero and Kel respectively.” As he finishes, he turns back toward Mari and her mother to smile at them as well.
“Oh, you’re such a well-mannered, handsome young man, aren’t you?” Mrs. Suzuki compliments him and clasps his hands between her own. “I’m sure you’ll get along just fine with our Mari and Sunny.”
Kel perks up and cocks his head to the side. “Who’s Sunny?” he asks.
Mari claps her hands together. “Sunny’s my brother! I’m sure you’ll love him,” she says eagerly and holds her hand out for Kel to grab. “I think he’s still outside exploring the forest. Do you want to go find him?”
“Of course!” Kel grabs her hand enthusiastically and they both dart into the backyard. Kel hears a shout from back inside for them to be careful and sees Hero dutifully following after them.
They call out for Sunny a few times before Mari spots him hiding slightly behind a tree.
“Sunny!” She sprints forward, tugging along Kel as Hero slowly makes his way over. “This is Kel, one of our new neighbors, and the one lagging behind is Hero.”
Still hiding, Sunny gives a small nod and a quiet hi. Kel smiles brightly and waves vigorously which causes Sunny to form a shy smile. Hero finally reaches the trio and gives a wave of his own.
“Sunny, are you getting thirsty? We’ve been outside for a while now and it’s pretty hot already,” she says. When Sunny nods back, she turns around toward the house. “I’ll go get us something to drink.”
“I’ll help you out,” Hero announces and they both walk back inside.
Kel watches them silently and turns back toward Sunny. “So, what do you like to do for fun?” he asks.
The other boy seems to analyze him before softly saying that he likes to read. Kel hums and looks up, thinking before asking, “Do you like video games?”
Visibly brightening at the mention of video games, Sunny nods a bit less hesitantly than last time. Kel beams, having found common ground. “Sweet! Do you have any consoles? I have a SEGA Genesis back home.” Kel moves over to Sunny and plops down next to the tree, eagerly awaiting his response.
Sunny takes a seat next to Kel and replies, “I have a SNES.”
“What!?” Kel blurts out, surprising Sunny. “Oh, sorry,” he draws back his volume and overall enthusiasm a bit, “but didn’t that just come out?”
“Yeah, I also have a Game Boy Color,” he boasts albeit shyly.
“Man, that’s so cool! The Genesis is all we have…” Kel says enviously, leaning back against the tree with his arms behind his head. He promptly sits back up though and leans forward. “But there’s this really cool store in the plaza that sells games and comic books that also has an arcade machine. It’s called Hobbeez! I could show you around sometime,” Kel announces and points a thumb toward himself.
Sunny looks to the side, as if in thought and tells Kel that he thinks he’s been there. “Me and my family visited last week to look around and I was able to go in and play some after we had lunch at the pizza place next to it.”
“Oh, is that how your mom knew my mom?”
Sunny nods, clearly much more comfortable speaking with Kel. “When we came to see the house, your mom was outside with your dad. I think she and my mom exchanged numbers or something.”
“Wait, you said you played something at Hobbeez?”
Sunny looks down, trying to remember what it was called before looking back up. “I think it was Capt. Spaceboy’s–”
“Space Adventure!” Kel interrupts and finishes for Sunny. Suddenly, it’s like a lightbulb goes off in Kel’s head. “Are you SSS?” he asks almost aggressively, surging forward to grasp Sunny’s shoulders. Sunny gasps and falls back, undoubtedly startled by Kel’s forwardness. He nods nervously, fearful of Kel’s response.
Kel jumps up to his feet, too zealous to notice Sunny’s anxiousness. “OMG! I finally found you! It’s been bothering me for days!” Kel is now pacing around, his body too hyped up to stand still. Suddenly, he turns back to Sunny, who’s sat back up and is giving Kel an apprehensive look. Kel just gives a big, toothy grin and declares, “You’ll just have to teach me how to beat you!”
Sunny looks at Kel in surprise, eyes wide and mouth agape before bending over into himself. Thinking he’s said something wrong, Kel starts to panic, jumping from one foot to the other and looking around. Then he hears it; a sound that starts out quiet but is rapidly gaining volume and then it hits him. Sunny’s laughing.
Kel is instantly captivated and swears he’ll protect this boy in front of him no matter what, if only to keep hearing his laugh. Sunny recovers, wipes a tear from his eye, and gives Kel a gentle smile. “I guess I will.”