Rewards and Punishments

Akio sat in the back of the squad car, looking out of the rolled up tinted window.

Gentle hands held the brown paper, the fading warmth of the now-dry clothes draining into his lap.

*Tap, tap.*

A finger poked the middle of the dashboard from the driver's side. The tiny seatbelt light flashed on and off, and the tapping continued as the driver spoke up, airing their annoyance.

Kendleton: It's always something with this car! 'Bewildered.' Akio... Shit. Hey, does he have his seatbelt on? I forgot he was mute. (Still tapping the flashing light.)

The female officer turned to face Akio at Kendleton's request, attentively looking at the young boy's thick red shirt draped over him, many sizes larger than his own, then down to the locked seatbelt.

Kendleton noticed a slow nod and a filthy, squinting look in his direction. He turned to Hinnakow, meeting her gaze.

Hinnakow: Yup. 'Staring.' Call him that one more time, and I will write you up myself; you heard what Mrs Aherra said about him before we left: "He doesn't talk." (Shuffling something in her pocket.) We're tired, but he's a kid—don't be rude. Please apologise before I change my mind. (Now seeing the flashing light on the dash.) What's up with the light?

Hinnakow swivelled under her seatbelt as the nylon strap pushed her vest closer to her chest. She shot a short smile at Akio before returning to the crack in the window, watching as the world whizzed by and driver's coming words.

Kendleton: Okay, okay. 'Defeated.' No hard feelings there, kid; I get cranky when I don't get my beauty sleep. Are we cool? (Remembering what Maria said.) Oh right. (Tapping the dash again at the flashing light.) Either the seat sensor is on the frits or a ghost is attempting a ride-along. Chuckling.'

The satnav beeped, and a robotic tone in a female voice called out, crackling to life in a garbled mess. Kendleton's finger moved from the flashing dash to the tiny screen without hesitating, knocking the touchpad with his index finger's middle knuckle. With each knock, the screen colours bled into one.

Hinnakow: Hey, be careful with it; you're going to crack the screen. 'Worried.'

The distorted noise faded, gradually returning to normal. No longer sputtering, the garbled words were now recognisable to human ears.

Satnav: "Officers, you have arrived at your destination."

The car slowed and pulled into a rundown street. The light wind flicked up the strewn rubbish from the ripped black bags; tiny claw marks fluttered, showing the rotting food inside. 

Kendleton: Nothing a bit of tough love won't fix. 'Grinning.' 

The bright lights of the squad car beamed down the quiet street as the driver scanned the street, noticing the bags up close to the curb as they pulled in and small creatures running into the bushes.

Kendleton: This place is a right dump... 

A fist smacked into Kendleton's left shoulder padding, compacting the thick polyester down onto the muscles underneath, and a small yelp came from the man's mouth, his hands moving away from the seatbelt clasp.

Kendleton: What was that for? (The gears moved in his mind.) Me and my big mouth. (Pinching his eyes shut.) Sorry Akio...

A scolding look crashed down on the driver.

Hinnakow: You know what it's for—just a bit of tough love, am I right? 'Scolding.' Any bigger and it won't be a mouth.

The seatbelt unclicking in the back caught the attention of the two in front, and the rear side door opened. Both officers sat in consternation as Akio exited the car, still tightly holding his bag. Dangling feet plopped onto the pavement, shutting the door behind him. Small feet pattered past Kendleton's window, away, and up to the house to their right.

The driver moved to open the door, forgetting to undo his seatbelt and crashing back into the seat, only rising a few inches.

Kendlton: Shit! 'Curcsing.' Did you unlock the door for him? (Moving to remove his seatbelt hastily.)

The female officer sat still, with a puzzled look, for a moment, watching Akio go by and up the small steps. She could see a shadow in the doorway; someone was watching them.

Hinnakow: I thought you unlocked it? (Shaking her head.) It's likely that you accidentally opened it while fiddling with the light's button. First the seatbelt, then the satnav, now the door—this car is falling to pieces. 'Joking.' Let's make sure he gets home before we do, okay? We have company. (Her eyes signalling up to the house on their right.)

The mood lightened, taking their minds off the strange occurrence, playing it off as a simple mistake, their shift almost coming to an end.

Kendleton: You don't have to tell me twice, preferably to our own homes... or, you know, you could sleep over again. 'Smirking.'

Another fist landed in the same spot, harder this time, and a cry rang out from the driver. The fat fingers missed their mark on the seatbelt clasp.

Hinnakow: In your dreams! 'Menacingly.' Come on, I want to get home before it rains. Akio has the right idea. (Exiting the car.)

Outside, atop the steps, eyes were looking down at the parked police car. A burly figure was standing by the dented metal door, partially open. He was observing the young boy stealthily ascend the stairs, and when he saw two officers approaching, he released his thumbs from his belt when he saw the officers in tow.

Uncle: 'Hushed.' Go to your room; I'll deal with this, then you later...

Akio slunk by, squeezing past the bulky man he knew as his uncle, not wanting his body to touch him, and into the darkness of the hall. Muffled voices came from beyond the door; the tone shown to Akio was now long gone, and it was a friendly, pleasant, and sweet way of talking to the two officers.

Akio went to the back door and exited, slowly making his way to the small, run-down shack, still gripping the bag tightly.

---At the Aherra Household---

Maria held the thick book in her slender hands, the glossy binding gripping her soft skin. A small slip of yellow paper was sticking out from one of the middle pages, which caught her attention.

Maria: This isn't one of mine. 'Wondering.' Could it be...

The thick book opened, resting on Maria's forearm. Maria looked over the simple ink drawing as two fingers pinched the yellow piece of paper that was now at eye level.

Silent footsteps creeped up on her, and a large hand fell on her shoulder.

Mitsuko: Spooky, huh! 'Playful.'

As the bulky book slid from Maria's arched arm and fell back onto the kitchen table, a loud bang and a deafening scream of words ruptured in the kitchen 

Maria: MITUSKO, YOU DOTE! 'Screeching.' Are you trying to give me a heart attack... (Catching her breath.)

Mitsuko, wanting to sway the conversation, moved to the note, leaning over Maria's shoulder and holding onto her waist, pulling her in close.

Mitsuko: Did Akio draw this? It's really good. 'Smiling.'

Maria saw through Mitsuko's words and went with them, not wanting to soil the mood.

Maria: 'Smiling.' He really has an eye for details, though his proportions seem off on the arms and legs. (Turning to break free of Mitsuko's grip.) Points for imagination: I think I'll keep it on the fridge as a keepsake; it will be "Akio's little Demon."

*Clack of a magnet on the fridge.*

Maria stood back, admiring the drawing and slowly undoing the drawstring on the bathrobe. The thick material was now draped to the sides, exposing short red underwear and the waist high top that barely fit, it read "Mykan Furo High."

Mitusko turned to the fridge. He stared into the drawing's cold, lifeless eyes and ignored the distorted appendages and black forms on its back. Mitsuko felt a wave of unease wash over him. He was imagining something. A large bush suddenly appeared in his mind, and the shadowy form that tried to materialise in his head disappeared as a hand ran down the front of his shorts, slipping into his boxers. A warm set of lips fell on his own. The soft hand was still caressing his privates.

A soft voice whispered in his right ear as the warm breath of air ran down his ear canal.

*Mitsuko gulped.*

Maria: Now, what do you want for the rest of your reward? A simple kiss isn't enough now, is it? 'Affectionate.' 

The quiet kitchen was now bustling to life as the table rocked.