15

The sun was very close to being fully gone, while the pale moon was halfway over the horizon. Stars started to appear in the sky one by one, like they were being spawned in. Lights in houses faded as the night began. It was the perfect time to be out without being spotted by the pedestrians.

"Damn, dude. I think my buds are dying." Joseph whispered to Junior.

"Dang it... that's the only thing that was gonna keep me up." Junior whined. "When are we gonna stop?"

"When the sun starts to come up, or until one of us is too tired to walk." Chef PeePee responded.

"Great..." Junior mumbled. He would now only have his thoughts to entertain him, again. Sure, Joseph was there, but if they talked they'd make noise, and Chef PeePee wouldn't like that.

Joseph could handle quietness better than Junior. His old house used to be quiet all the time. Really the only things that made noise were leaky pipes, various rats that moved in and out, and Joseph himself talking to his skeleton mother. He was also used to walking far distances. Sometimes to get to Junior's house, or to find the most rundown gas station he could, or even to catch 'dinner.' He was a better walker than a being-quiet-er though, and he was starting to get bored.

"Hey Junior," Joseph whispered to his ginger friend.

"Yeah, Joseph?"

"Wanna play eye spy or something?" Joseph asked.

"Sure!" Junior responded.

"Just be quiet, you two." Chef PeePee emphasized. "I know the streets are empty, but still."

"I spy with my little eye..." Junior said. "Something brown-ish."

"A tree?" Joseph questioned.

"Nope. It's round." Junior clarified. Chef PeePee groaned and rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what Junior was talking about. "Chef PeePee knows it, don't you?"

"Yes... I do." Chef PeePee replied, monotone.

Joseph, much to the chef's dismay, guessed it after quite a few tries. The two boys played some more rounds, which lasted them long enough to get to the next baron road.

Due to the road being pretty much empty, and the sun being fully gone, the boy's could be louder than they were originally. They drifted from using I spy to occupy themselves, to just talking in general.

"I can't believe Jeffy actually threw the desk. I wish I was there to actually see it happen." Junior said.

"It was wild, dude. I'm surprised it didn't break the chalkboard, he threw it really hard!" Joseph exclaimed.

"I'm surprised he hasn't gotten sent to military school or something yet." Junior joked.

"He would find a way to either escape or annoy the heck out of people enough to where they kick him out, I know it."

"True that." Junior agreed.

Chef PeePee stayed silent, listening in on the boy's conversation. He was glad Junior was enjoying himself. Even with sore legs and getting reported, the feeling of freedom kept Junior positive. The chef was thankful for that, dealing with a scared Junior while trying to keep attention away from them would be difficult.

"What time is it, Joseph?" The chef asked.

Joseph took his phone out of his pocket. "9:19."

"I'd normally have to be in bed by now." Junior commented. "And then I'd sneak my phone in my bed and play clash of clans for like an hour."

"I knew you faked sleeping, every time I checked on you your phone was on your chest or to your side. It was obvious!" The chef exclaimed.

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Junior said playfully.

"Because you'd deny it and change the subject!"

"I'm good at doing that." Junior said proudly. Joseph laughed, and the chef felt a smile tug at his lips.

"Whatever..." the chef said in defeat. He then felt his stomach grumble a little bit. "You guys want to take a break and eat something?"

"Sure, dude! I'll get the squirrel out!" Joseph said, reaching into one of his plastic sacks he brought along, which stunk bad.

"Please don't..." The chef begged. "Especially since we have no way to cook it. I'll make us some sandwiches." The three led themselves to a spot a little ways from the road, near a tree. The chef got into his bag and took out some bread and peanut butter and made the three of them a sandwich.

"Peanut butter sandwiches again?" Junior asked after receiving his dinner. Despite questioning it, he still started to eat while Chef PeePee formulated his response.

"That's most of what we have, for now anyways." He replied, starting to chow down on his sandwich.

"We could've eaten the squirrel too..." Joseph said, pointing to the squirrel bag.

"You can eat it if you want, just don't get sick." The chef said, sighing.

The three of them finished their dinner, and Joseph finished most of his squirrel. Then Chef PeePee led the two on the road again, but not before throwing out the rest of Joseph's "dinner."