The Old House loomed darkly over them, looking even more ominous than ever. It was no longer a place to play, but rather a place filled with danger. Both boys stopped, just two steps away from the sagging front porch. Neither wanted to go in, and both wondered whether they dared to venture again into the unknown to search for their brother.

“Jim!” Michael’s voice broke the silence and caused Tony to nearly jump out of his skin. “Damn! Give a guy a warning before you go screaming like a banshee!” A nervous giggle escaped Michael’s throat and was cut short by a sound from behind the house. Both boys looked hopefully at each other and tore out around the corner with vengeance in their hearts.

They rounded the back corner and startled a fox foraging for food. Jim was nowhere in sight.

Tony’s large brown eyes turned on Michael. Both silently nodded and approached the front door. Neither looked around, but made a beeline for the kitchen sink under which they had made their journey that morning. Again, they stopped, looked at each other, and then at the wall behind the sink. It didn’t look quite the same somehow. With a quick sideways glance at his brother, Michael reached out to push his hand through the portal. He was met by an unyielding wall.

“Holy shit! What happened?” Both boys pressed against the wainscot. It was solid.

“Maybe it was over this way…” They pushed and rapped their knuckles against the wall, horrific dread rising with each unsuccessful move.

“What are we gonna tell Mother? She’ll have a fit and fall back in it when we tell her we lost Jim!” Both boys sat back, alternately staring at the wall and at each other. Nothing was said for a full minute. At last, Tony broke the silence.

“Nothing to do but tell her he ain’t here.” Michael’s big blue eyes turned on him, “We can’t tell her he’s crossed over or whatever we did this morning. She ain’t never gonna swallow that. She’ll say we’re lying to protect Jim because he’s run away!”

“Okay, remember this,” said Tony. “He ain’t never said nothing about running away, because really, he ain’t. But he ain’t here and we don’t know where he is, and just leave it at that. No matter who asks nor how many times they ask that’s all we know. We were playing up here, we went home, and Jim said he was going to Grandaddy’s house. We ain’t seen him since.” With that decision made they walked out of the house, dreading facing Mother with the news.

I hope you enjoyed this little teaser. I can’t wait to finish the tale and share it with y’all! And, don’t forget, New Yesterdays is re-released in all formats and all platforms. If you haven’t read it yet, get your copy so you’ll be up-to-date when Changed Tomorrows is finished! Are you ready for it?