The Boy in the Homemade Robot Suit (excerpt)

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A couple of days later, it was going well enough that Kadin finally replied to Dale’s constant questions about the Halloween party and his costume.  “I’m gonna be a robot,” he said plainly.  They took a place in the cafeteria line, and he dug in his pocket for the ticket that let him eat for free. 

“What robot?  TV robot, movie robot, killer robot … you gotta give me more,” Dale said, stepping on the shoe of the boy in front of him, then laughing when he had to hop on one foot to pull it back on properly.  “Where did you get the costume?” 

Kadin picked up a tray, focusing on the containers of silverware and checking several forks before choosing one.  “It’s … kind of a surprise.  You’ll see it on Halloween.” 

”It’s a secret?  What are you, working in a hidden lab for the government? Is Doctor David Banner part of the project?”

“I didn’t say it was a secret,” Kadin protested as one of the women behind the counter slopped creamed corn into a circular section in his tray.  “I’m just keeping it a surprise, that’s all.” 

Dale looked up at the ceiling.  “Can you believe it?  After all I’ve done for this boy?  I took him under my wing!”  He elbowed Kadin hard, but then grinned.  “Okay … but it better be worth it, or my costume is gonna have to kick your costume’s ass.” 

They walked through a crowd of kids to the far table where they always sat.  “What’s your costume?” Kadin asked, lifting the wilted bun of his hamburger and peeling off the paper-thin slice of pickle. 

“I can’t tell you.  It’s a surprise,” Dale said, drawing the last word out and raising the tone of his voice on the last syllable. Suddenly, he dropped back to regular and put down his fork.  “Hey, I almost forgot.  What are you doing on Saturday?” 

Kadin thought for a minute. “My uncle is supposed to come over so we can work on … I mean, so he can show me this electronics kit thing he has from when he was a kid.  And I’m supposed to help my dad.  Sorry.” 

“You can’t get out of that stuff?”  Kadin shook his head.  “That sucks. The dollar theatre is showing Superman 3 and Jaws 3 back to back, and I think I know how to sneak us in.  There’s this one guy who works there, David said he’ll let you in if you sneak him an extra dollar when you pay.” 

“He won’t be there on Sunday?” 

Dale shrugged. “Sunday, the manager’s actually there watching him.  Do you wanna do something that day anyway?  You could come to my house, my mom already said I could invite you some time.” 

Swallowing his last bite of hamburger, Kadin nodded, but mumbled, “What’s on Sundays?  My dad always watches football or something.” 

“You don’t know?” Dale shouted, ignoring a dirty look from the teacher closest to their table.  “That New York station, the one the cable company just added?  They show … Godzilla movies every Sunday!” 

Kadin’s eyes went wide, and he dropped his last french fry on the floor.  “No way!  Oh, man, I am so coming over!” 

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