#fc5ocweek2025

The Deputy was being dramatic. Cal crossed his arms with a huff. He had followed them many times! Why was it a big deal now? It was just a stupid train place and they had already taken it. He kicked his feet idly as he sat up on the platform. The Deputy went off to call someone on their radio. They told him to stay or they would leave him with Jerome. Jokes on them, though, he liked him!

Still, Cal wanted to hang out with them. It got boring in Fall’s End. And the Deputy's friends were always weird, so were Dad's though. Adults here were just weird. When Cal was getting the urge to get up, the Deputy came back up to him. He grinned up at them. He tried to hop off the platform, but they held out a hand to stop him. “You're going back to Fall’s End.” Cal's face fell, forcing tears into his eyes. The Deputy wasn’t moved as they shook their head. “Please don't start. It’s better than getting hurt here.”

“No it's not!”Cal whined. He jumped off the platform. “You said we would beat people up together!” He yelled while pointing at them.

“No… No I didn't. You said that.” Their brow raised as they spoke. They stepped in front of him to block his path.

His frown deepened. “I really want to.” He kicked the dirt on the ground while pouting.

The Deputy held out a hand palm down, and leaned down to the ground, almost touching it. “Oh no, you're tiny.” They jested. “They could just stomp on you and win.”

Cal's mouth fell open. “I'm not!” He protested as he shoved their hand away.

“You're the tiniest kid I have ever seen!” They laughed and stepped away. Their hand immediately grabbed him when he tried to dart away. “Ah, ah! Rail yard ain't no place for a tiny kid.”

His mouth went to the Deputy's hand, making biting motions. They picked him up and tucked him under their arm. He wiggled around. “Sh- Fu- Jerkface!” He couldn't use the cool words Mary May taught him, yet. His wiggling stopped as his eyes turned out into the greater rail yard. There were so many places for him to climb, so many things for him to eat, and he really wanted to climb the tower thing. The Deputy had denied him all of it! “I'm going to have a train run you over!”

The Deputy bounced him. “None of the trains can be used, buddy.”

“Then why did you people up over it?! Are you stupid? Brain wreck?” He pressed his face closer up at every sentence.

The Deputy gestured back to the platform Cal used to be sitting on with their free hand. “Peggies are stripping metal off the trains for their bunkers. We had to stop them.”

“Why?” Cal questioned.

“To stop them from… because it helps John if we don't stop them. And someone doesn't like John, does he?” The Deputy really pronounced each syllable.

Cal's mouth fell open. His face turned to disgust. He wiggled in their arms more. “I'll bite him! Let me bite him! I want to!” He yelled out.

The Deputy laughed out. They kept laughing and laughing while Cal kept making biting comments and what else he would do to John. Their hold loosened enough for Cal to slip out, hitting the ground face first. They stopped laughing almost immediately, crouching down. Cal shuffled to the sit up. Then their radio came on. They had curious eyes that disappeared when they heard who was talking. “Your actions have consequences, Deputy. I've gathered all your friends here in Fall’s End to atone for your sins. You're welcome to join us. After all, if it weren't for you, they wouldn't be in this predicament. This is your last chance to say Yes, Deputy… Don't be late.” It was John! He shot up onto his feet in a minute.

“Are you going to beat him up?! Can I beat him up?!” He grabbed onto the Deputy's shirt. They kept standing there, their eyes on the radio.

Their hands suddenly grabbed it and threw it. “That bastard!” They shouted. Their hands went to their hair. Cal tilted his head. It was kinda when Dad had outbursts, but it was the Deputy instead. He tugged on their shirt. A ragged breath escaped them as they looked down. A light bulb lit up in their eyes. “Listen Cal,” they crouched down, “you're going to Fall’s End, but only to distract John! I’m going to get my friends out while you do whatever you can to keep your uncle away. Once I get them out, you're going to run away. Following?”

He tilted his head. “Do I get to beat him up?”