Chapter 5: Two Rules

I found Dustin at the end of my parents' street.

He was sitting on the curb under a dead streetlight with his hands hanging between his knees.

I sat down next to him, leaving a foot of space.

"I know you didn't swap them," I said.

He didn't answer.

"I'm not going to ask you why you said it. I just want you to know I know."

His jaw moved.

For a second I thought he would speak.

Then headlights swung around the corner and a white sedan pulled up with its window down.

Lacey leaned across the passenger seat.

"There you are, sweetheart." She said it to Dustin, and she did not look at me. "Get in. Let's get you some air."

Dustin stood.

He got into the car and fastened the seatbelt without looking at me.

"Thank you for finding him, Dean," Lacey said through the window. "Go back inside and make peace with your dad."

The car pulled away.

I stood on the curb and watched the taillights go.

When I went back to the house my father was on the porch with his arms crossed.

"Your mother's in her room," he said. "Don't come in tonight."

"Dad, the boxes were all the same."

"I saw." His voice was rough. "And I saw what happened to your brother when you pushed. Go home, Dean."

I didn't have a home to go to.

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