by A. E. Lucky
Chapter 2
The Superkid Duplicate’s Journey
The clone had stopped just long enough to steal the map in the glove compartment of the skeletal car parked outside the old abandoned factory. He was now a fair distance from the factory, studying the map in an attempt to locate himself.
“Let’s see, my house is somewhere right here…” he murmured and tapped the dot labeled “Poolington.” “And I’m somewhere right…” His finger zigzagged over the map until he finally realized that he had no idea where he was. Whoever had drawn the map (Doctor Red) had terrible mapmaking skills. With a disgusted grunt, the clone tossed the map.
“I guess my only choice is to keep going until I reach civilization. From there I should be able to find my way home.”
He glanced up at the sky. It was cloudless but pale. The sun glared down at him like an oven light-bulb, baking the desert and him to a golden-brown. The clone turned up the collar of his overlarge overalls and began trudging down the road.
It was about five hours of miserable trudging before he reached a town. It was just getting dark so there weren’t many people outside. But he was tired, thirsty and footsore and he desperately wanted a place to stay. So he picked a house at random and knocked on the door.
It was answered by a kind-looking Mexican woman. One look at him and she exclaimed, “¡Oh! ¡Pobrecito! Are you lost, dear?
“Yes,” the clone answered. “Could you point me to Poolington?”
“Poolington?” the woman said. “It’s that way.” She pointed down the street and then turned back to him. “But it’s too far to walk there. I will take you there tomorrow. Come, you can stay here tonight. Mi casa es su casa.”
“Thanks,” said the clone. After a long day of walking barefoot on hot pavement and hot sand, he was grateful for any amount of comfort. He planned to first take a shower but this was derailed when he was discovered by the three little ones--Rodriguez, Juan, and Suzy--who were bouncing with excitement to meet him.
“What’s your name?” Rodriguez asked, tugging on the clone’s coveralls.
“Are you an orphan?” Juan inquired.
“Can we keep him?” said Suzy, turning to her mother with her hands clasped together.
“Now, now, mis hijos,” their madré said. “He’s just staying for the night. I’m taking him to Poolington in the morning.”
“He can sleep in my bed!” exclaimed Rodriguez.
While the family sorted out the details of who would share what, the clone snuck off to shower. In the middle of his shower though he was interrupted by a knock on the door and the voice of Juan saying, “I brought you some clothes, orphan! I’ll leave it outside the door.” Which is where he found them when he got out. They were a little small, unfortunately. His belly button showed and his ankles felt like they were losing circulation, but he appreciated the gesture nonetheless. He appreciated more the box dinner of seasoned rice since he couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten—which of course he wouldn’t since he had been created that morning. He couldn’t remember the last time he had slept so comfortably either. His feet barely hung over the end of Rodriguez’s bed.
There was an advantage to being the shortest kid his age.
The next morning, as she promised, the nice Mexican lady drove him the twenty-five miles to Poolington. She asked him as they entered town, “Where’s your house?”
“I’ll show you,” the clone answered. He guided her down the streets. But when they were about three houses away from his house (or what he believed was his house since he wasn’t the actual Superkid) he told her, “Right here.”
So she pulled into the driveway. The clone told her as he unbuckled himself and opened the door, “Thanks for the ride. And for letting me stay at your house last night.”
“Es nada,” she replied.
The clone jumped out of the car and shut the door. He waved to her. She leaned out the window.
“I don’t mean to pry, but how did you get so far away from home?”
The clone pondered his answer. At last he told her, “Let’s just say there was a mix-up at the doctor’s office.”
“If you say so,” said the woman, perplexed. Then she waved him goodbye and drove back home. The clone watched her leave until she was far into the distance. Then he turned to the house two yards down (that is, two expanses of grass) and narrowed his eyes determinedly.
“Now, to deal with that clone.”