“We waited to enter the ride. There were a few people in front of us, but some were getting turned away because they weren’t tall enough.” Barney was a fifteen-year-old student from Mossdale High. His class was on their year-end field trip to The Royal Amusement Park. He was now being questioned by local police because his best friend Percy didn’t make it back from the two-seater ferry ride that began inside a hollow, water-filled mock castle.
“Did you and Percy have a fight?” Detective Reynolds tapped his ballpoint pen against the table. They hadn’t charged Barney with anything, but had him secluded in a park office.
“Never!” Barney’s legs bounced nervously.
“Mmmmm.” Reynolds replied.
“Oh, Barney! What’s going on?” Barney’s mother burst through the door, ran to her child and wrapped her arms around him. “You shouldn’t question a boy without his mother present.” She harshly pointed her finger towards the detective.
“Ma’am, we’re trying to find out what went on out there. Your son was the only one with Percy.”
“What happened to Percy? Tell your mother.” Her stern look held a protective meaning.
“There’s a monster on the island, when we rounded the corner, he jumped out and grabbed Percy from the boat!” The boy began to cry. “I covered my eyes!” Barney screamed in horror.
Weeks later, a homeless man, resembling a monster was found camping on the park’s island. He admitted guilt in Percy’s murder. Barney was released into his mother’s custody after weeks incarcerated with the criminally insane.
“How’d you get someone to live there and confess, mom?”
“We never share our secrets, so when asked, we don’t have to lie.” His mother smiled and patted his back. The old green station wagon pulled off.
“Why’d you name me Barney?”
“It’s sophisticated.” She smiled.
Leesa Writes 