Trent Reedy - Stealing Air

“What?” Max asked.

“It’s so easy,” said Brian.

“What?” Alex asked.

“Your phone can take photos and videos, right?” Brian said to Alex.

Alex took his iPhone out. “This baby can do anything.”

“I’ll call Mrs. Douglas and arrange a meeting,” said Brian. “She keeps saying she wants to see a Plastisteel car or even a plane. We’ll take her photos and a video of the flyer as proof that Plastisteel can be awesome. If we do a good job with our presentation, we’ll impress her enough to invest in the company.”

Max tilted his head. “This is likely the best we can do under the circumstances.”

Alex began circling the flyer. “You make the appointment. I’ll get photos and a video.”

“Mrs. Douglas lives in Iowa City,” said Max. “How will we get there?”

“Leave that to me,” Alex said. “Good idea, Brian.”

The next evening after school, Brian, Max, and Alex found themselves crammed into the backseat of Matt Karn’s aging Oldsmobile Alero, along with all of Matt’s sweaty football gear. The car smelled like a mix of greasy fries, chopped onions, and rotten tomatoes.

“So, Alex, is it true that my brother owes you five bucks after the Dysart game?” Matt spoke loudly, watching Alex, Brian, and Max in the rearview mirror. Matt was David’s older brother, and the only teenager Alex could bribe to drive them to Iowa City. There was some kind of Thursday night football team supper at a pizza buffet, and Alex had offered Matt ten dollars to drop the three of them off at the mall on his way.

“Sorry, dude,” Alex said. “I have to bet on the winner. It’s just business.”

Matt frowned. “Yeah? Who’d you pick to win this week?”

“Are you kidding me?” Alex was in his smooth business mode. “You and the Roughriders will crush Lone Tree.”

“Yeah we will! Playoffs this year, baby!” Matt punched the steering wheel as he pulled his car up to the curb in front of the mall. His eyes found Alex in the mirror and his smile vanished. “Now give me ten bucks. How’s that for business?”

Alex handed over the money.

“Great. Get out of my car. Meet me here at eight. If you’re late, you can walk the twelve miles back to Riverside.”

Brian took a deep breath of clean air when he got out of the car. “That guy seriously needs to do some laundry.”

Alex scanned the parking lot as he spoke. “David said that Matt thinks he’ll run the luck out of his clothes if he washes them.”

Max wiped his glasses off on his shirt. “I believe he is risking infection by any number of strains of bacteria that must be breeding in his sweat-soaked—”

“There’s our cab!” Alex said.

The three of them climbed into the back of the taxi that Alex had arranged to pick them up, and Alex gave the driver the address. They couldn’t afford a taxi all the way from Riverside to Mrs. Douglas’s house in Iowa City, and they couldn’t let Matt Karn know where they were really going. Now that they were on their way to the meeting, Brian’s stomach felt inside out, the way it did when Dad used to throw the Cardinal into quick little dives.

“Okay, gentlemen,” said Alex. “Time to look classy. Ties.”

Brian pulled his necktie out of his bag. Matt had already made fun of them for their khaki pants and shirts with buttons. The ties would have completely signaled that something funny was up. All three of them slipped their ties on and tightened them. Brian leaned forward in the seat and faced Alex. “Does this look right?”

Alex checked Brian and Max over. “Very professional. Just remember to take these things off before we catch our ride with Matt back at the mall.”

Brian nodded. How could he forget to take this stupid thing off? The tie was so tight on his neck that he felt he was on his way to his own execution.

When they arrived at Mrs. Douglas’s address, Alex paid the driver and the three of them climbed out of the car. The after-sunset glow was dimming in the west, but the night wasn’t any darker in front of this house. On either side of a big round-top wooden front door were large lights that looked like old oil lanterns from castle movies. The house itself was built out of tan stone blocks and looked like a fortress for a king or queen.

“This house must be worth at least a million dollars,” Max said.

“I like this lady already,” said Alex.

Brian led the way up to the house. Small black lamps lined both sides of the cement path. They paused on the front porch. To the right of the door was the glowing orange button for the doorbell. All they had to do was press it.

“Are you guys ready for this?” Brian asked.

“Dude, this will be easy,” Alex said. “Let me do the talking.”

Brian tried to will his legs to stop shaking, but couldn’t. After all, Mrs. Douglas had intimidated even Dad, who always had, or used to have, an answer for everything. He swallowed. Great success through great risk. He pressed the button to ring the doorbell and a series of chimes rang inside, like classical music.

Something clicked, and the door swung open to reveal Mrs. Douglas in black pants and a sweater with a flower pattern. She smiled when she saw them. “Well, aren’t you boys just the picture of charming little professionals. Please come in.”

Brian let Alex lead the way into a room with antique furniture, a large fireplace, and a grand piano. The heavy door thudded shut behind them.

“The office is this way, boys.” Mrs. Douglas’s shoes tapped the hardwood floor all the way down the hallway. She led them into a room lined with bookshelves crowded with old and expensive-looking leather-covered books. Her shiny wooden desk was in the center of the room. Four high-backed leather chairs, the kind with the little round brass buttons along the fronts of the armrests, waited in front of it. She sat down behind her desk. “Please,” she said, motioning for them to sit.

Brian, Max, and Alex sat. Mrs. Douglas seemed to study each of them. The room was absolutely silent for what seemed like a very long time. Finally, she took a breath and sighed. “Boys, I’m a very busy woman. If I wanted to sit here with someone quiet, I’d call my husband in.” She tapped her lower lip.

Alex stood up. “Good evening, ma’am, I’m Alex. Thank you for letting us come see you tonight. I’d like to begin by—”

“What’s your last name, Alex?” Mrs. Douglas said.

“Mackenzie, ma’am. I’m Alex Mackenzie. This is Brian Roberts and Max Warrender.” He nodded to each of them.

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you any relation to the Mackenzie Lexus dealer here in town?”

“That’s my father’s dealership, ma’am.”

Brian watched Alex. He looked completely comfortable. How did he do it? Where had he learned all this “ma’am” stuff? He sounded like he’d been in the army.

“Hmm,” she said. “I wouldn’t even waste my time with you boys, but Brian here tells me there’s been a major breakthrough with Plastisteel. Except … I’m not supposed to discuss this with Mr. Roberts or Dr. Warrender. A secret? I’m mildly interested.” She pulled back her sleeve and checked her gold watch. Brian thought he caught a glimpse of diamonds on it. “You have exactly five minutes.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Douglas,” Alex said. He activated a smile. “Should you choose to wisely invest in this incredible new invention of my friend’s mother—”

“Don’t even try to give me advice about my investments, boy. I’ll decide what’s wise and what’s not. Now get to the point.”

Alex’s smile vanished. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… well… I just wanted…”

Mrs. Douglas sighed loudly. “Four minutes left!”