• Tony stared with wide eyes at the amazing thing he had found. His hands shook slightly, wet perspiration blotting onto his ratty jeans as he unconciously dried them. "It's...so cool..." he remarked under his breath, his tone eluding to the something equal to the rising spires and faraway lands that his sister and parents enjoyed, although anyone passing by would not have known. They, the adults, wouldn't understand, he thought a brief cloud of anger disfiguring his somewhat handsome features. All a passerby would have seen was a simple black box, a piece of trash that no one else had claimed. But it was what was inside the box that counted. Tony watched it, feeling strangely cleansed. Holy! he thought, his young mind finally catching the elusive word tenderly. This, THIS! This was the solution to the problems was having! Tony released a pent-up breath. He was young, but not as young as they said he was. He'd turned fourteen last week but they still treated him like a kid! But maybe that was why he found the box. It had the answer. The answer that would make his parents listen! Would make his sister understand! His eyes strained in focus, concentrating on the inky recesses of the box. This was the solution. The answer he'd been searching for. Within the box, a mother spider lifted her arms in supplication, her newly hatched children devouring her. She deserves it. Tony thought with satisfaction, feeling peaceful. They all deserve it. He stood, his lanky body unfolding easily and began walking down the street. Now that he understood, he had to get home. He needed to complete it. Needed the satisfaction. Tony's breath sped up as he began to jog toward home. As he passed a store, the owner poked his head out, calling to him. Tony silently cursed but stopped, determined to see what was so important that it couldn't wait. "Tony, aren't you s'posed to be grounded? You're mom'll worry..." The storekeeper, Mr. Bason said, his eyebrows furrowing above thick-rimmed glasses. Tony nodded, his smile angelic, " Yessir. I was just heading back after stretching my legs some." They exchanged other pleasantries, but Tony's mind drifted. Before long he said he had to go, excusing himself from further conversation. His long legs ate up the ground beneath him and his eyes were alight with excitement. He felt wonderful, vivacious, alive! He slowed as he reached the porch, his eyes glancing thoughtfully at the crowbar his father had forgotten to put up after working on the car. Within he could hear his mother calling his sister to set the table for dinner. Tony picked up the crowbar.
    Today would be the day that they paid for being so cruel. All of them.
    Tony smiled. "I'm home!"