The Seer (Chapter 10)

"Anyway, " he continued, "I didn't know about the bet until afterward, and my dad was really furious with me when I didn't win the game." "But you didn't lose, either, " I said. "Shouldn't that mean that the bet is canceled and that neither side pays? " "That's not how it works, " he said. "The bet was that I would win, and I didn't, so Dad still has to pay." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The next day I went to Charlie's house before sunup because we were going to walk up to Water Canyon and go fishing. He wasn't outside waiting. I gently tapped on his window, thinking he must have overslept. There was no response. I looked in the driveway and the family car was gone. I didn't feel like going fishing alone. I walked back home and put my fishing pole away. A few hours later I noticed a U-Haul truck in front of Charlie's house. (To be continued)