They arrived home to find a note stuck to the refrigerator door.
Dad read it aloud. "Dear Mom or Dad, Gone to a movie, be back late. Jen".
"That girl needs to be put on a leash," Dad moaned.
"It is Saturday and it's not past her curfew. Besides at least she's spending her own money and not ours," Mom defended.
Billy plopped down on the couch and turned on the television.
Mom went upstairs and after a few minutes returned.
"Honey I can't find Peter. I took the dinner leftovers up to his room and he's not there. Jen's note didn't mention him either. I'm starting to worry."
Dad said, "Hmmm, if he's still out playing this late, he's gonna be grounded for a week when I get my hands on him. That boy knows no responsibility."
Mom pleaded, "Doesn't he know he makes us worry so?" Her face was wrinkled with concern. Dad's was red with anger.
He stormed out into the front yard.
Mom pulled a notebook from a drawer and began calling neighbors.

Billy sunk deeper into his pillows. He checked his brother's watch.

7:43 Then he checked the clock on the kitchen wall. He never could read that kitchen clock. It had pictures of fruits and vegetables instead of numbers. He decided if Peter didn't come back right now then they both would be in big trouble. He snuck into the basement and grabbed a flashlight. He shined it out the window onto the muddy mound. "Still there," he thought to himself.

He dashed across the wet grass and grabbed the shovel leaning against the shed. It seemed not as heavy as before. He ran to the mound.

He began whispering to his brother as he pushed the shovel into the soft Earth. "We went to Monkey Meal Emporium and we brought you back some fries and a fish burger and a hat. Dad told 'em it was my birthday so I could get a free ice cream banana barge. They believed him! We had cheesecake too. Mom saved you a piece of hers 'cause she couldn't finish it. I didn't tell Mom and Dad where you were I promise." The more Billy dug, the more mud poured back into the hole. The far-off sound of Dad's voice could be heard barking Peter's name. Billy dropped to his knees and started pulling out handfuls of mud and rocks.

"I didn't break your watch neither. Dad says it's fine." Billy, panic stricken, dug frantically with all his strength. Like a machine he dug the Earth. "Mom and Dad are looking for you and if you don't come out Dad says you'll be…" Just then the flashlight rolled down into the pit with a thud. "...grounded."

It's beam illuminated a small crinkled piece of paper. It was a note. Written in a scratchy handwriting Billy did not recognize at first.

It read: