Operation Paintbrush: Part 2

5 boys on an adventure to see a nude college girls posing in an art program. (PG-13) mild language and suggestive themes.

 When school let out, the boys gathered in the hall to discuss the plan. Piggy decided Friday would be the best day for the operation. That way at least two days stood between them and the punishment they would receive for their absence, but it also meant they would only have one day to get all the supplies ready. None of them cared, the idea of seeing April was far stronger than any rational thought, and they all agreed. 

 With that settled, respocibilites were handed out. Curby and Flunk would lead the group through the woods. Ham wanted to be on food detail, but Piggy laughed when he suggested that. "You eat food off the floor! No way we're putting you in charge of that!" They all laughed at Ham, and gave him the job of water holder. Moton was on map detail. He was to print out a map of Underhill's campus and locate the art department, and Piggy was to bring the food.

It was the perfect plan, and the boys..."Wait!" (Okay, it was almost perfect.) Morton had a puzzled look on his face. "Where are we going to meet up Friday morning?" They all looked at each other, dumbfounded, while Piggy stammered for an answer. Flunk came to his rescue. "We can meet at my house. My mom leaves for work at six, and my dad works on a river. Right now he's on some barge, headed down south, and won't be home till next week." Now it was perfect, and the boys left school that day with the sweet anticipation of becoming men.

Friday came with a swiftness and demanded the utmost respect for time. There would be no hitting the snooze bar for Piggy today. As soon as the buzzer hit his unconscious, he was up like a shot. Took out his backpack, hid the books under his bed, and replaced them with the four basic food groups: crackers, beef jerky, carrot chips, and gummy bears. Then he yelled, " Bye mom!" and ran out the door to meet the morning haze.

Being a clandestine operation, taking the alleyways seemed appropriate and he wasn't alone with that idea. Ham was walking a little ways up the alley, swinging a large red camping thermos by it's handle with every step. Piggy threw a rock to get his attention. It hit a metal trash, scarring Ham so bad that he dropped the thermos and ran for cover at the side of a garage. Laughter ensued, and Ham peered around the corner of the garage only to see Piggy trotting towards him. "That's not funny!"

Piggy signaled Ham to keep his voice down, picked up the thermos, and said, "See, this is why you're not carrying the food." Ham looked indignant. "You're going to make for some good bacon, when you're roasting in hell... you know that, right?" Piggy chuckled at that, and handed back the thermos. "Yeah, c'mon we don't wanna be late."

Both boys jogged to the meeting place were Flunk and Curby were waiting in the side yard, protected by an old privacy fence. Flunk saw them coming, opened up the gate, and waved them like a general motioning his troops to jump out of a plane. ( GO,GO,GO!) Now the only boy missing was Morton, and they passed the time showing each other what they were bringing for the trip. Flunk had a cell phone, just in case an emergency arose, and Curby was bringing his dad's old compass. For some reason the compass was a lot cooler than the cell phone, and all the boys took turns dancing with the needle while acting like explorers. "I believe the fountain of youth is over thusly!"

The boys all jeered Ham for saying that, and forced him to give the compass back to Curby. Soon the playful energy turned nervous, as twenty minuets ticked off the clock. Where the hell is Morton? The operation could not continue without him; he had the map. Was he sick? No one knew, and soon the rumor mill's began turning in their minds. "What if he told someone about the operation?" That was an unwelcomed thought, but Curby might be right. If he had told someone, the information could get back to his parents. They would see to it that Morton went to school, then rat out the operation to the principal,or worse -- to Mrs. Miller's ugly face! Someone from the school might be on their way to bust them right now!

An evasive plan was needed and Piggy started working on one, when he heard Flunk yell, "There he is!" The boys dropped everything and looked through the cracks of the fence. Off in the distance, they saw Morton. He was chugging as fast as his little legs would take him, and the boys forgot their need for secrecy. They all jumped and cheered. Ham even ripped handfuls of grass up, and threw them in the air simulating confetti.

Morton ran into the yard, and didn't stop running till he got to the center. There he collapsed in dramatic fassion and closed his eyes. Four faces were looking down at him when he opened them, and Piggy asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "Where the hell have you been?" Morton sat up, caught his breath, and explained. "My older sister wanted a ride to school, and it would have looked suspicious if I didn't ride with her." Apon saying that, Morton knew there would be many follow-up questions and he wanted to avoid them at all cost. Becuse the story he just told was a lie. "Here's the map."

It worked. Piggy took the map with enthusiasm, and Morton breath a sigh of relief. Now he wouldn't have to tell his friends that he woke up on time, got halfway to Flunk's house, relized he forgot the map, had to run back to his house, hid from his mother in a linen closet until she left for work, and then retrieved the map.

If television and movies had taught these boys anything, it was that all operational maps were drawn in the dirt, and that's exactly what Piggy did. " Okay, right now we are at rally point zero." Nobody knew when Flunk's house became "rally point zero" , but it sounded cool and they didn't fight it. "Now" Piggy went on, "according to the information Morton printed out, we should be at Underhill Collage by lunch time. When we get there, we'll eat lunch and survey the area. Sound good?"

All the boys nodded in agreeance, and packed up their gear. Operation Paintbrush had begun.

Author's Note

All matter of critiques are welcomed.

Reviews

[EsdeeAyo]

It's short, but short installments are good. There are somethings I read that seem to go on forever and all I'm looking for is a break. I hate having to stop in the middle of a page. Having quick breaks actually makes me want to read more because I feel like I'm making progress.

I like how the boys plan this mission out. It feels like they're planing a military mission. To be fair, they treat it like one.

I would say this section feels more like a summary. We could always see this stuff happening instead of just hear that it did.

Otherwise I like it. The optimism and rowdiness of sixth grade boys always amuses me.

[Kayja Symphious]

Thank you EsdeeAyo. With this installment I was exploring a slightly different style, by trying to keep the word count low. As you said, short installments are good... and I agree. Unfortunately, it took a bit away from the readers, so I went back to my natural style after this chapter.

Thanks again for the read!

[Deepwater]

Your most welcome good to see young people writing good wok

[Kayja Symphious]

I'm very appreciative for your kind words. It means a lot to me.

I have read some of your works too. Eventhough I do not possess the best mind for poetry, it's obvious you are very skilled, and those skills are helping me to understand different forms of writing. I look forward to reading more of your works.

The fact of you having such skills, allows your comments to hold more weight.

Thanks again Deepwater.

Respect.

[Deepwater]

keep writing you have what it takes

[Kayja Symphious]

Thank you Deepwater! That's more encouraging than you know!

Thank you for the read!

[Jonas]

Well, it definitely is a good story. The plotline, the vocabulary, the detail: one of the most important aspects out there - show not tell - you have it all.
It's a really good read and left me in definite enjoyment.
Maybe consider grammar. (However, I shall leave that up to you, because one thing I learned about the Internet is that they stop caring after the fourth asterisk).

[Kayja Symphious]

HA! So true, but I will hold your advice close. Grammar is a definite weak spot, and I'm determined to work on it. Thank you. You are unfailingly kind.

[Jonas]

Well, always trying!
Trying.
70% of those I know hate me to the root.