All The Madmen, Chapter 1


"Sammy, must you make it a point to be kicked out of Mr. Sylvester's class every other day?"

"It's not my fault! I honestly don't see what could have offended him!"

I shook my head, grinning. "Silly Sammy. Most people don't appreciate unflattering cartoons of them drawn on lab reports."

Silence. "I MEANT to turn in another assignment. I mixed up my creative teacher drawing and my report; sue me. And am I really THAT bad of an artist?"

I laughed. "Sams, he was at LEAST 40 pounds overweight and riding a cactus in a thong."

"Some people have no sense of humor."

"For the record, everyone but he thought it was funny."

She ignored my comment. "Just because the last time he smiled was 1973 doesn't mean he has to send EVERY INNOCENT GIRL to the office once she makes a harmless drawing."

"HAH. Throwing out the 'don't get your panties in a twist' line after he caught you probably wasn't the best route to take."

She was about to scoff and respond sarcastically back when she paused and stared at me with a confused expression. "Wait, how'd YOU get a pass out of class?"

I held up my laminated bathroom pass. "You think I'm going to miss Sammy Keyes' TWELTH trip to the office in the month of December?"

She blushed. "Hell no. If you're going to stalk and keep track of my detention record then at least do it ACCURATELY. This is number FIFTEEN as we speak. And YOU'LL be the one who has to explain to the dear office lady why you showed up with a BATHROOM pass."

"Oh c'mon. They love me there. They practically hand me a Snickers every time I come in. Just go, Sammy, I'll just pretend I took the biggest king jewel of craps when I get back to the room."

"What a romantic."

"I try."

Getting to the office and listening to the principal scream at Sammy, her little outburst cost her so much that in the end she had two Saturday detentions AND she had to clean out the vice principal's desk for "inappropriate commentary."

Principal yelled at Sammy until the bell rang, and after we collected our stuff we walked home, discussing Sammy's recent trip.

We talked until we came to Marissa's house, where a boy I've never met before played with a baseball outside. He was around five or six.

Marissa came outside and hugged us simultaneously and tightly, which only meant one thing: she had a favor to ask us.

"This is Jeffrey, my nephew. Jeffy, say hi to Sammy and Casey."

The boy tentatively shook my hand and gave a small wave to Sammy.

She inhaled and looked at both of us with hopeful expressions. "Jeffy needs someone to babysit him for the rest of the day."

I glanced sideways at Sammy, and she did the same.

Sammy spoke. "And I'm taking it that you aren't going to be that person?"

Marissa shifted her pleading gaze me. I sighed in defeat and grabbed Jeffy's mitt.

"You know how to play catch?"

Marissa broke into a huge smile and hugged both of us like crazy.

"THANK you SO much. I owe you guys my soul. Jeffy, be good, ok? All right, I have to go...get myself ready."

Sammy scoffed. "YES. Leave me with the child while you go primp for Billyyyyyyy." She made exaggerated kissy noises.

Marissa smacked her and kissed Jeffy goodbye. It was once she left when I realized I had never babysat before.

But what are we supposed to do with a child for the next 5 hours?


A/N: IT'S BASICALLY NOTHING BUT I PROMISE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER THEY'RE GOING TO VISIT A PLACE AND SOME SHIT IS GOING DOWN.

Guys, it's my tenth story! I know, pretty mediocre landmark, but WHATEVER it's important to me so be quiet and buy me balloons.

DID YOU KNOW THAT JOHN'S MUSTACHE HAS ITS OWN TUMBLR PAGE AND NAME. IM HAVING MAJOR SHERLOCK WITHDRAWALS,
GUYS. I NEED BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH'S DARK CHOCOLATE VOICE IN MY EARS.

CATCHING FIRE WAS AMAZING ACK MEIN GOIT (pretty sure that's omg in german, but Idk man. Feel free to google translate that or something ) but in the IMAX version, the screen only expands when she's being lifted into the arena so we see it at the full experience when she does too I was like THAT, SIR, IS BRILLIANT and the movie was BEYOND BELIEF AMAZING.

I feel like for the marathon something has to be different too besides the influx of stories by maybe we could also have abnormally long authors notes for the pleasure of others BUT ALSO we need to make an effort to REVIEW MORE CUZ WE BETTER BE ON THIS STINKIN SITE 24/7 MARATHON RUNNERS DON'T EVER REST. But who knows if that's actually true because...after a mile in actual running I kind of pass out.

MANY HUGS,
-DontKillMyVibe