Steven halted, his chest rising and falling. “He’s got my intersystem
vidsender.” His small face twisted with rage and misery. “He better give it back!”
Earl came circling around from the right. In the warm gloom of evening he was almost invisible. “Here I am,” he announced. “What you going to do?”
Steven glared at him hotly. His eyes made out the square box in Earl’s hands. “You give that back! Or—or I’ll tell Dad.”
Earl laughed. “Make me.”
“Dad’ll make you.”
“You better give it to him,” Sally said.
“Catch me.” Earl started off. Steven pushed Sally out of the way, lashing wildly at his brother. He collided with him, throwing him sprawling. The box fell from Earl’s hands. It skidded to the pavement, crashing into the side of a guide-light post.
Earl and Steven picked themselves up slowly. They gazed down at the broken box.
“See?” Steven shrilled, tears filling his eyes. “See what you did?”