The Long Walk Home

Devon kicked at the dead leaves clustered on the rainy sidewalk. It was a cold October night, and it had been raining steadily all day. Devon tossed his thick blond hair out of his eyes, shoulders hunched against the cold wind.

He stared at the parking lot, hoping to see his father’s wood-panelled station wagon. Waiting for his father to pull up in front of the mall, and honk once. But their dad didn’t show up. And as the moments ticked slowly away, Devon was starting to lose hope that their father would ever show.

“You think he’ll show?” Calvin asked, glancing up at him.

“I don’t know.” Devon frowned. He had called their father on the payphone more than an hour ago. Dad had said that he was just leaving the house, that he was on the way. But he had been displeased with Devon for even calling him.

The mall had closed already, and slowly, the parking lot emptied out. Workers closed up the stores, driving off in to the gloomy October night. Devon and Calvin stayed under the overhanging roof at the front entrance of the mall, partially protecting them from the storm. But the rain had begun to fall heavier as time went on, and it was sliding sideways in the strong wind.

“I don’t think Dad’s coming,” Devon said, his set in a mouth a firm, hard line. He folded his arms across his chest, and stared out at the empty parking lot.

“We’re going to have to walk home,” Calvin said, glancing at his twin. “Aren’t we?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, then I guess we walk.” Calvin glanced at him, his mouth quirking up in a smile. It quickly dropped when he saw the stony look on Devon’s face. Calvin pulled his umbrella out of his backpack, and opened it up. He held it up over both their heads, giving his brother a little grin. “It won’t be so bad.”

It was a long walk home. The mall was a fair distance from their house, and usually took about an hour walk home in fair weather. It didn’t take long for their clothes to be sodden from the rain, water getting into Devon’s sneakers from the holes on the bottoms. It was a miserable trek, as they walked past cornfields, and quiet farmhouses, until they finally reached their home.

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