2.c.ii
Shorty shorts
tech boy was no longer crawling through the endless ventilation system. He was curled up, on his side, whimpering and
fetal. The shorts he once took pride in
were soaked through with some sort of foul gel.
They were no longer a source of accomplishment and dignity, but a mark
of amateurish shame.
He sniffled
and cried and wished he were back home with his parents, gaming online, sharing
adventures with his real friends. His
cyber friends.