Summer of Ed - The Abandoned Park Part II

The place was amazing. It gave a jump-start to his veins; a jolt to his blood. He could do something with this. He could make something with it. His brother was right, this place was boss. He got this warm feeling around his rib cage thinking how Bro shared this with him. Double D was wrong, this wasn't a trap. His Bro must have finally gotten around to respecting him. Eddy puffed his chest out and jumped up on a bench, scanning the scene. He yawned and stretched his arms up, fists closed. It sure was a trip getting here. Other than finding his Bro's place, this was the biggest jaunt they'd ever made. He hopped off the bench.

If only he could find the stinkin' entrance...or at least some vending machines to nab change from. The game stands were mostly boarded over and pretty creepy. A sign of a clown head looming over a booth hardly had any paint details left, the face had rusted brown. A muscle dude statue next to a strength meter seemed to be looking at him...

"Hey guys, where'd ya go??"

He kicked a piece of gravel along as he walked, hands shoved in his pockets. He was near the roller coaster now and walked the path alongside its chain link fence. It was really quiet. There was a hot rod parked a ways ahead of him and he made his way toward it. He stood beside it and looked in the passenger window while trying the handle. It opened and he crawled in.

"Bitchin'."

He grinned and hit the horn. It didn't work. He shrugged and started scanning the car. Nothing but trash and a really bizarre-smelling glove. He climbed out and shut the door. The light was fading, the white sky was beginning to get this yellow pinkish tinge to it. The colors of everything were softening. He turned around.

Walking between bumper cars, something hopped out of one of them.

"LAND HO!" Ed landed right on top of Eddy like a prowling tiger. Eddy squealed and fell backwards. "HI EDDY!"

Eddy looked up at him with astonished wide eyes, then his face quickly became a scowl.

"Ed, you dolt, get off me!" Ed rolled off with his usual smile.

"I found a cool poster, Eddy!" He pulled a folded square out of his pocket.

"Were you trying to give me a cardiac??" He brushed off his beloved leather jacket and stormed off the bumper platform.

"Eddy!"

Eddy looked over to see Double D standing under the roller coaster, looking over a little wooden fence at him with a smile.

"What're ya doin in there, Double D?"

"Oh Eddy, I'm so relieved!" He put his hand over his chest and smiled sweetly. "And you found Ed! Ed, what happened to you?"

"We are not alone!" Ed tossed a knapsack at Double D, who clumsily caught it.

"My knapsack! Oh yes, I set it down on the bench. Silly me to forget it. Thank you, Ed." He clambered over the fence and tripped to Ed and Eddy's side. "Now then, let's stick together, shall we, fellows?"

****

Evening had turned the park blue. The air was beginning to taste wet and the crickets were filling in the silence. They'd been munching on the food remaining in Double D's pack.

"Happy belly, happy belly!"

Eddy was waving Double D's flashlight all over the place as he gestured, loudly expressing how they could make the most of their discovery. Double D pitter pattered beside him, squinting when the light hit his eyes. They moved slower than usual; they moved like they were tired. A lightning bug flickered near them.

"A space dweller!"

Eddy and Double D glanced back at him for a moment, then turned back around and kept talking.

"This is beyond my scope..." He continued his speech for a time, Eddy looking like this isn't what he wanted Double D to be saying. "....It's- it's really not at all salvageable, Eddy."

"What's savage?" Eddy rubbed an eye.

Double D squinted, directing the flashlight away from his face and speaking with his patient teacher voice. He looked like he was getting cold. Eddy's voice was getting quieter, the way it does only when he's getting tired.

Ed scooped up Double D and held him in the folds of his jacket. Double D jumped at the sudden close contact, squirming under his grip.

"I'm fine Ed, really! You...you can set me down now." Eddy was grinning at Double D's awkwardness.

"We must find shelter!!!!" With this proclamation, Ed scooped up Eddy to rest on his hip.

"Yeah, where are we gonna sleep, Double D?"

"Well, um, it'd be nice to find a place that the breeze didn't come through."

"Aha!" Eddy climbed up Ed and sat on his shoulders, turning his head the direction he wanted him to go. "Thatta way, Lumpy!"

"Follow the yellow brick road!" Ed galloped forward, holding Double D like a baby as he gripped onto Ed's arm for dear life.

****

By the time Double D had cleared out the car as best he could, the park was shrouded in night.

Ed crawled inside, nestled up against the seat, and shut the door behind him before closing his eyes.

"Nice." Eddy stomped around to the passenger door and slid inside.

Double D slipped in beside him. "It still smells in here."

"You are not spending another minute cleaning this thing."

Double D grabbed his knapsack and quietly walked behind the car. Eddy was too tired to care. Double D returned shortly wearing thermal pajamas and smelling like mouthwash. He left the door open a crack for some ventilation. Laying his knapsack on the floor, he curled up, hugging his knees tight. He twiddled his fingers.

He had forgotten his label maker. He was running low on bottled water. He didn't know if they were safe. Why would Eddy's brother send him here? What if Eddy's brother had sent Eddy here to do something horrible to him? How could Eddy still respect him? He felt a jab between his shoulder blades.

"Will you stop twitchin'?!"

"Oh, sorry Eddy," he whispered. He turned and smiled nervously at him. "Unfamiliar places are...difficult for me." He looked down with a shrug.

Ed nuzzled against Eddy's arm in his sleep and Eddy nudged him off and shifted, removing his jacket and throwing it at Double D.

"It's stuffy in here..." He leaned over Ed and opened his door, then settled back into his spot.

"Goodnight, Eddy."

"Go to sleep, Sockhead." Double D turned back around.

Ed was snoring, and surprisingly it was comforting. The car smelled somewhat better. He realized it was Eddy's jacket and he pulled it up over his shoulder. He felt like Eddy was watching him, it was reassuring but also made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

"Eddy? Are you up?" His voice was barely a whisper. All he heard was the breathing in the car. After a little while he slowly turned to face him. Eddy was sound asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful.

Ed and Eddy looked so at ease...he felt his breathing slow as he watched their chests rise up and down. His body had that languid, drifting feeling, and he knew if he closed his eyes, it wouldn't matter, they'd all still be together.