Boxed In

The loud booming music shook the floor from upstairs, sending vibrations throughout the entire house. Carmen looked over at Kyle and, without saying a word, shook her head in frustration. Carmen had just about enough of the noise, so she got up from the loveseat in the living room and made her way into the kitchen to cook. Kyle understood his wife's irritation, he too, was fed up with the racket coming from Simone's room.

The loud booming music shook the floor from upstairs, sending vibrations throughout the entire house. Carmen looked over at Kyle and, without saying a word, shook her head in frustration. Carmen had just about enough of the noise, so she got up from the loveseat in the living room and made her way into the kitchen to cook. Kyle understood his wife's irritation, he too, was fed up with the racket coming from Simone's room.

Kyle abruptly got up from the couch and jogged up the stairs to Simone's room. Once in front of Simone's room, Kyle turned the doorknob a few times before realizing Simone locked it. He knocked two times without an answer, then another three times before yelling, "Simone, open the door, please!" Finally, the door opened, with the music screaming in Kyle's face. "Can you turn this music down? I can't even hear the tv downstairs", Kyle pleaded.

Simone left the door space to turn her music down. "Is that good?" Simone questioned. "Yes, thank you. Every day after school with this music, though, Simone, save it for the weekends or keep it low. Your mother and I have long days at work sometimes; we don't wanna hear all that noise late at night", Kyle explained. "I didn't think it was that loud, but yeah, I got it," Simone responded. "Thank you. Are you coming down to eat?" Kyle asked. "I had a late lunch, so I'm good, thanks," Simone replied. "What, you don't like your mother's cooking anymore?" Kyle joked. "I just wanna finish what Im doing, thanks," Simone expressed. "Ok, well, have a goodnight," Kyle mentioned. "Ok," Simone replied.

As Kyle slowly closed Simone's door, he mumbled, 'teenagers,' as he headed back downstairs. Carmen heard Kyle making his way back to the living room and stopped him before he sat down. "How did it go? Carmen asked, meeting Kyle at the end of the stairs. "Well, you know, she's just being Simone, always with her little teenage attitude," Kyle responded. "Yeah, I know, but it seems like it's getting worse lately," Carmen replied. Kyle put his hand on Carmen's shoulder to comfort her. "Don't worry; she'll snap out of it," Kyle assured. "I hope so. I really hope she's not moping around tomorrow for the cookout, either", Melissa exclaimed.

"I think she'll be fine. You know how she likes Tony and Melissa and adores that little Antoine", Carmen mentioned. "Yeah, you're right about that. So we'll see", Kyle responded. "What time you told them to come over?" Carmen asked. "Who, Tony and Melissa? I said about seven-ish, so right after work, just about. Give them time to relax a bit and then swing by, you know", Kyle explained. "Ok, that's perfect," Carmen responded.

The following day after work, Kyle hopped on the grill as Carmen made the potato salad while fixing drinks for both adults and children approved. Just around the time, Kyle told them to come, Tony and Melissa walked into the back yard greeting Kyle and Carmen with smiles and hugs. "What's up, guys? Brought some wine for the ladies and a little Patron for Kyle and me," Tony announced. "Dude! See, that's my guy right there", Kyle responded. Just as Kyle said this, a green and white remote control truck suddenly hit Kyle's foot. "Little Tony, what's up, man! How you doing?" Kyle said. "Sorry about that, Kyle, this boy, and his truck, I swear!. You have to be careful, Antoine!" Melissa scolded. "Oh, no worries, he's just playing, he's fine," Kyle laughed.

"Sorry, Mr. Kyle," Antoine mumbled. "No problem, little Tony. Let me see that thing", Kyle said, grabbing the remote to operate the truck. "Um, where's Simone?" Antoine questioned. "Oh, that girl is upstairs, locked in her room as usual. Want me to go get her for you?" Carmen asked. "Yes, please," Antoine answered. "Let me call her on the phone," Carmen mumbled while shaking her head. "Still having issues with Simone, huh?" Tony whispered to Kyle. Kyle slowly nodded his head.

Seconds later, Simone came running into the backyard straight to Antoine. "Hey, Ant, what you up to?" Simone asked while hugging Antoine. "Nothing Simone, want to see my new truck?" Antoine asked. "Sure!" Simone replied, reaching for the remote from Kyle. "Oh, Hey," Simone blurted. "Hey girl, I like your hair," Melissa complimented. "Oh, thanks," Simone replied. "You know Antoine is going to bother you all night, right. He couldn't wait to see you", Tony mentioned. "Oh no, he's never a bother to me," Simone responded. As both families sat down to eat, Simone scribbled on a piece of paper with her head down. "Hey Simone, how's your last year going so far," Melissa asked. "Oh, it's going good so far," Simone replied. "Hey, I always see you scribbling cubes or boxes down; what's up with that?" Tony asked. "Yeah, it's just a habit. uess sometimes I feel boxed in", Simone responded.

It started to get late, and Antoine was visibly tired.

"Look at your son dosing off over there; looks like it's just about that time," Melissa mentioned. As soon as Melissa finished her statement, Antoine woke right up. "Hey Mom, can I sleep over in Simone's room?" Antoine asked. "Well, son, you gotta ask Simone that," Tony responded. Antoine turned to Simone anticipating her response. "Well, sure, kid, as long as you don't snore," Simone joked. Simone said good night and took Antoine to her room to lay down. "I wish she were that sweet all the time," Carmen said. "Give it some time, Carmen; it's just hormones, you know how that can be.

Kyle, Carmen, Tony, and Melissa stood in the backyard well into the night, which lead into the morning hours. Between playing cards, eating, and drinking, they all lost sight of time. "Looks like it's big Tony's bedtime now," Melissa mentioned. "Yeah, I'm exhausted, long day today," Tony responded. "Yeah, sure. Think those Patron shots you've been throwing back just might have had something to do with it too", Melissa joked. "Yeah, Yeah, whatever. Yo, Kyle, you think we can crash the night? I don't feel like driving right now", Tony asked. "Of course! There's a pull-out couch in the basement, or you can use the guest room on the main floor", Kyle responded. "Ok, thank you. We really appreciate it", Tony replied.

The next morning, Tony and Melissa woke up late, both with their heads still buzzing from the night before. Carmen was up early cooking breakfast while Kyle was finishing up watering the lawn. Melissa walked in the kitchen with her hair looking wild, attempting to assist Carmen with the dishes. Tony crawled out of bed and walked out of the guestroom not much longer after Melissa. Tony said good morning to the ladies then headed outside to the front porch to see what Kyle was doing. Just as Tony was walking out, Kyle was stepping in for breakfast. They all sat down to eat at the dining room table. After complimenting Carmen on breakfast, Melissa asked if the kids were still asleep.

Carmen told Kyle to go upstairs to wake the kids up for breakfast. Kyle listened and slowly made his way upstairs to Simone's room. He gave it his usual two knocks, but all he got back in response was silence. Kyle banged on the door three hard times, yelling through the door for Simone to wake up, but still no answer. He yelled down to Carmen to throw the keys up to him to unlock Simone's door, and she did. After fumbling with the lock, he finally got the door to open.

"They're gone!" Kyle whispered. He took a better look around the room, then abruptly hustled out of the room and shouted, "They're gone!" In a panic, Tony, Melissa, and Carmen flew up the stairs to look for themselves. "Tony, where are they? Where's my boy?" Melissa yelled. "Let's not lose our heads; I'm pretty sure Simone just took Antoine to the park or something. Let me call her phone", Kyle responded. Kyle called Simone's phone, but to everyone's shock, it went straight to voicemail. "Don't worry, she'll call back, or they'll be walking through that door any minute now," Kyle assured. "Kyle, I pray you're right," Melissa replied.

One hour went by, and still no response from Simone. Two hours turned into four, and four into 8, without any word from Simone or little Antoine. "Kyle, what do you think we should do?" Carmen asked. "What can we do but wait" Kyle whispered.

Tony, Kyle, Melissa, and Carmen stood up all night till the following day, hoping to hear from either one of the kids.

Later that morning, Tony noticed a man in a grey hood leaving Kyle's front gate before jumping into an SUV and pulling off. Kyle and Tony rushed out the door to watch the back of the SUV pull off. Tony tripped over something on the steps of Kyle's house but didn't notice until walking back.

It was a big brown box with Tony, Melissa, Kyle, and Carmen's names written on the front of it with no return address.

Tony picked it up and handed it to Kyle as they both walked back into the house. Kyle brought it to the kitchen and sat it down on top of the kitchen table. They all had a curious look on their face before Kyle spoke.

"It says open me," Kyle murmured.

"So open it!" Carmen insisted. Kyle shook up the big box before slowly opening it.

It was a big green remote control truck.

"Is that... Is that Antoine's...?" Melissa whispered.

Before anyone could answer, a cell phone began to ring. The four of them checked their pockets until realizing it was coming from the box.

Kyle picked it up and answered, "Hello?" "You thought I didn't see y'all that day," the voice said. "Simone?" Kyle questioned as he looked around at everyone in the room.

"I dreamt about running away and finding my real parents for years but didn't have the courage to. That day when Melissa brought little Ant home, I knew then I had to. She was never pregnant! All of you, we're in on it. For year's I cried myself to sleep, but that day when I saw you all bring Ant home, I knew I had to be strong for him. I couldn't let him go through what I did", Simone exclaimed.

"You don't know what you're talking about; bring him home now!" Kyle .

Carmen peeked out the window once hearing sirens whaling blocks away.

"Ant is safe now. I'm safe now", Simone before hanging up.

"Simone...Simone!" Kyle screamed.

The flashing lights bounced off the inside walls of the house as several police officers parked out in front. As they approached the gate surrounding the house's front entrance, Tony looked down at the green remote control truck turned over on the floor. A small note laid flat on the bottom of the truck placed in between the four wheels.

It read in big capital letters, "NO LONGER BOXED IN."



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