The Soda Bottle Kid

Rodney found his mom crying again, "It'll be ok mommy",
something he had always said since he was little.
She tried to smile and hugged him tight.
Rodney liked being the good guy, and how it made him
feel warm inside.
  "What would you say to a rootbeer float and fries at the
A n W, my treat"?, Rodney said. His mom smiled and said "Okay,
 Ill get my purse and we'll go". Rodney went to the garage and got a 5
out of the tackle box, and got in the Montery,Turnpike Cruiser. 
Mom came out and they were off. Rodney liked to put all the windows
down in the old hard top even the special back window. So it felt like
a convertible, Clipper hung his head out as they drove to the drive-in.
  What had seemed horrible, was no longer, Rootbeer floats and the soft
 neon glow of the drive-in with the sun going down.
A softserve mustache on a french fry gobbling dog made them laugh.
"Just like old times, huh mom?", Rodney smiled.
" Thanks, Rodney You saved me again", his mom said gently as they started
the long drive home. "So, what was the fight about", Rodney asked .
 "Money, it's always money," his mom told him quietly.
Rodney thought to himself it had to be more than that
how could anyone get mad at someone just about money?
  The pillow consumed his tired head and he fell asleep,
The next day was filled with more tests and papers.
At lunch he talked to Ton and Tank about joining the gang,
and they said," Yes" almost in unison. Tank said "on one condition,
We can have cookout meetings at our fort by Beaver creek".
"Agreed", Rodney knew about the fort, but had never been there.
He imagined a lean-to of plywood and a campfire ring, "We'll meet
there next week, after school let's out for a party."Ton said.
Rodney passed the word onto Brian and told him to tell the rest of the guys.
  Social Studies ,Current Events Class was almost over when
Coach Harris said, "Rodney could you see me after school."
The class gave out a bunch of oohs and awws and Rodney sunk in his chair.
After the last bell he went to see coach, "you wanted to see me Coach"
Rodney almost stammered? " it's about your test, didn't you study? You got
alot of the true false answers right but, your essay where on earth
did you get that Cockamammy story from?" "From Lenny sir"
"From Leonard Larson your neighbor?" "yes sir", "I hardly think
Leonard Larson is a reliable resource for this class" the Coach leered.
"Do you understand?, You are getting a D+ on your final!" "Yes Sir"
  Oh no a D+ you idiot how could you have listened to him, that crazy hippy?
Rodney beat himself with the thought for awhile on the way home.
How was he going to explain the D+ on his report card?
He might as well just move to another country this summer,
He'd probably get grounded for life. All this whirled in his head
as he came to Lennys' house. " Hey neighbor", Lenny called from his yard.
Rodney in a rage pulled in and started yelling how Lenny had gotten him in
so much hot water. "Slow down little brother, What I told you was true. I'm
sorry the establishment has lied to everyone." Rodney felt tears well up in his eyes
" You probably got me grounded for the summer you crazy hippy!!!"
" I'm sorry you doubt me little brother, but one day the truth will come out
about Nixon and his whole gang of deviates." By then Rodney was too upset
and rode off on his bike. Lenny just shook his head.
  At home he went straight to the barn and hid out with Clipper.
" I am so screwed", he told the dog. He tried thinking about the
bottle scheme and making a bunch of money, he fantasized about
being the richest kid around and buy his mom A-W every night and
a new house and car, and having Edwin Foremann kicked out for being an
A-hole. " Clipper, one day, one day......"Rodney said

( a D+,  Rodney grounded, how will he make it? will he let the gang down?)
tune in next time.