The Experiment

Howdy all!  This story isn't for the Christmas challenge, but it's one I wrote for my Short Story class.  I do not like it in the least though; I thought I'd get your opinions on it!  (By the way, the story is written in first person because that was the required format; the story is not a true one or even based off of a true one; it is purely fictional!)

The Experiment
    It was a hot, sunny day in Ravanna, Kansas.  I was running away… away from my autistic younger sister.  I’d had enough of being the good older brother who always looked after little Jessini.
    I was gasping for breath, needed to stop and rest.  I saw the convenience store as I emerged from the alley and sprinted over, thinking to run in and find a drink of water.  I entered the store and looked around.  The first thing that caught my eye was a yellowed sign hanging above the cash register, bearing faded letters that read “Don’t even think about stealing something while the counter is unattended.” 
    Ha!  I thought, an idea formulating in my brain.  I quickly scanned the store to make sure no one was in sight and then hurried over to the counter and grabbed the first thing my hands laid hold of -- a pack of cigarettes.  Hmmm...  I thought, I’m going to try something new and daring!
    I turned then, and looked right into the eyes of the “absent” worker.  His thin, wizened face was set in a frown, and his faded blue eyes gleamed with anger.  My heart began to race, all feelings of glee suddenly erased from my mind.  I looked frantically for an escape route and dodged to the left before the elderly worker could react.
    “Hey, kid!  Wait up!”  The worker’s gravely voice sounded behind me as I ran.  I reached the end of the aisle and swiveled to the right, seeing too late the “Caution: Wet Floor” sign right in front of me.  Oh great.  Just great!  I slid precariously, my arms waving wildly in a vain attempt to keep my balance. 
    I ended up flat on my back, staring up into the eyes of the worker.
    “Heh heh.  I could’ve told you running would do no good.”  He grabbed me and hauled me to my feet.  I stood there, wavering between defiance and defeat.
    “Hey, kid, calm down.  I have an offer for ya.  Ya willin’ to listen?”  The worker pulled me back into the aisle and lowered his voice as he spoke.  I nodded reluctantly, not seeing much of a choice.
    “So you’re running away from your sister, eh?” 
    I gasped.  “How did you--”
    “Don’t get all worked up,” he interrupted me.  “Any observant person can see how much your sister embarrasses you.  I’ve seen you trying to pretend you aren’t her brother.”
    I bit my lip sheepishly.  Was it really that obvious?
    “It seems we both have a dilemma,” the worker continued, “and I think you can help me solve mine and I can help you solve yours.  If you agree, I’ll let you go free.”
    I stared at him skeptically.
    “Here, let me explain.  I’m doing an experiment in my spare time with rockets.  I’ll spare your little brain from all the technical detail, but I need a little kid to go up in one of my rockets and test something out for me.”  He paused, letting his words sink in.
    “What does this have to do with me?”  I asked.  The worker chuckled.
    “You’re a little slow, aren’t you?  Never mind, I’ll explain. You’re annoyed with your sister and never want to see her again, right?  That’s why you’re running away.  I can take her off your mind; you’d never see her again if I could have her for one of my experiments.”
    “What?  Are you crazy?”  I scowled, hoping he was kidding.  No one in their right mind would try to coerce a boy to give his little sister up for some bizarre experiment… even if my little sister was troublesome with her autism.  She wasn’t that bad.
    “Look, kid, I’m not joking.  I’m serious here.  I need to do this experiment.”  He looked at me, his eyes full of some insane sort of desperation.  “How ‘bout it?  It’s a fair trade; your freedom for the kid.”
    “No!”  I said forcefully.  I couldn’t do that to my sister; to any little girl, for that matter.  The worker sneered at me. 
    “No?  You dare to decline my offer?  You realize this is the only way you’ll go free, don’t you?  I can turn you in to the authorities if you don’t agree; tell them whatever I want, and it will be your word against mine.  Who do you think they’ll believe?  Huh?  You think they’d believe a little good for nothing thief?”  He was shouting now, clenching my arm in a painful grip.  I struggled desperately, crying out in my attempt to break free. 
    “No, sir, please!  I’m not going to give you my sister!”  I managed to squeak out.  “You can turn me in.  I’ll give the cigarettes back!” 
    I felt the worker’s grip loosen and looked up to see his hard eyes soften slightly.
    “You do care about your sister then, eh?”
    I nodded in determination.  He stared at me for a long, agonizing moment and then dropped his hand.
    “Well, boy, I admire your courage.  Your sister must be someone special if you were willing to let yourself be turned in to spare her.”  
    “Yes, sir.  She...”  I paused, remembering the long hours my parents and I had spent praying for my little sister’s life when she was born prematurely.  “She’s God’s answer to prayer.” 
    “I see.”  The worker paused for a moment and then said, “You go on home now; I’ll find something else to do my experiment with.”
    I sighed in relief and turned to go, but then remembered the cigarettes.
    “Here,” I said, pulling the pack out of my pocket and giving it to the worker.   He accepted the pack, thanked me, and nodded his consent that I could leave. 
    I headed towards home then, still a little shaky from the whole ordeal.  As my house came into view, the door swung open and a little brown headed girl with a crooked smile on her face ran out, stumbling awkwardly and then catching herself before falling.  I smiled in sudden appreciation at the sight of her, my special little sister.