Seven Bundle

by Various Orca

  Those dam Angels he said. Tagging on our turf. This is—15 Street. They cant put there tags here.

  Huh? I said.

  Well look!

  Lots of riting and drawing on the brick wall. Differnt things. In the middl of the wall was a big white letter A with a littl O on top. Like this:

  Thats there tag? I said.

  Jaden was carrying a nap sack. He pulld out a spray can and sprayd out the sine in red. Then he took a can of black and sprayd a 15 on top of the red.

  Wont they be mad? I ast.

  Who?

  Whoever lives here. Were riting on there house.

  No 1 lives here stupid he said with a smile and a push.

  The smile was reel and that made it OK. 1st time ever sum 1 calld me stupid and dint make me feel bad.

  15 like my tatoo I said.

  Were the 15 Street Possy arnt we? Thats our tag. Any 1 sees that sine they no that 15s bin here.

  O yah I said. Cors.

  So now I new about tags. It was a way of saying we r here. We. R. Here.

  Me and Jaden went up and down 14 and 15 and 16 Streets looking for Angel tags and spraying over them. They were on bildings and streetcar stops and sidewalks. There was a big A on the side of a donut shop. I went inside and ast if it was OK to spray over it. The guy behind the counter dint no what I was talking about and Jaden draggd me out of there and said I was crazy.

  That guy dont care about whats on his store he said.

  O I said.

  My fav was 1 we did on a STOP sine. The Angels had put A under the O to make it look like there tag. Jaden made a new tag for us on the sine. He sprayd out the A and then—you no how S looks like 5? Jaden put a white 1 in front of the STOP and fixd the S to be more like a 5 so the sine lookd like 15 TOP—like were the top. Cool or what? He climed onto my sholders to get hi enuff.

  This was his job—looking for other tags. Its why the Angel bully was pushing him down wen I met him—he dint like Jaden spraying out his tags.

  I look after the possy on the street he said. We have to be able to say this is our turf.

  Turf I said.

  Ware we r. Ware we hang out. Other gangs come along and tag on our turf and I rub them out.

  Like picking up dog poop I said. You dont want those Angels pooping on our front lon.

  He laffd agane. Your a funny Bunny he said.

  It was lunch time so we went back to the donut shop with our tag on it. I got cool running shoos for my birthday and also money and I had sum money left so I bot us donuts and coffee. I wud of got coke but Jaden said coffee so I did 2 even tho I never had it befor. I put in milk and 4 sugars like he did. We took our lunch down to the lake. Theres stones and garbaj and stuff and we went rite down to the water and climed big flat stones and stood there drinking and eating. The lakes so big you cant see across. The world looks flat all the way. The coffee was pretty good.

  A bird landed near me and startd yelling. It went rite up to me and opend its mouth and yelld. Gimme it said. Gimme gimme gimme gimme. I still had sum donut left and I was going to give the bird sum and then an other 1 landed and started the same thing. Gimme. And an other 1 and an other. White birds with yello beaks and meen eyes. They were all round us going Gimme. I cudnt give them all donut so I ate it.

  I ast if the Angels had turf. Jaden said of cors they did. Over by Mimico Street. I said we shud put our tags there and his face lit up. Thatd be aw sum he said but weed have to ast Cobra first. So we did—we went back to the jim and ast Cobra and he said no. He dint want any 1 messing with the Angels.

  Not now he said.

  That Angel guy was messing with me yesterday said Jaden.

  That was away over on 20th said Cobra. And you were bugging the guy wernt you? Following him and spraying over his tag as soon as he put it on?

  Mayb said Jaden.

  We were all in the offis—a littl room off the jim smelling like smoke and swet. Cobra and Jello were sitting on the couch and watching TV. Cobras head was on a level with ours—Jadens and mine.

  I dont want any problem with the Angels until after the deel goes thru he said.

  O yah the deel said Jaden.

  They both turnd to look at me.

  You dont no any thing more about that do you mistery boy? said Cobra.

  What? I said.

  The deel said Cobra.

  What deel?

  The 1 with the Angels and the guys from Buffalo. You new ware Al Capoli was. Hes part of the deel—Rocko says so. Do you no sum thing you havent told us?

  My brothers the 1 in Torrents I said. He textd me agane but it wasnt about the deel.

  You sure? said Jello. What was it about? Lets see.

  He stood up and came over to ware I was standing.

  What did your brother tell you? he ast. You guys talking about our deel on the phone? Show us.

  Yes show us said Cobra. The tatoo on his neck was dark ink xept for the eyes and fangs witch were red. Pretty intens.

  I got out my phone. See? I said. Heres my text saying my tatoo still hurts. And heres what Spencer sent back.

  I held my phone flat and we all stared at the screen together—me and Jaden and Cobra and Jello. The text said—outhouse xploded tell u later.

  What the hell does that meen? ast Cobra.

  I had no idea.

  MOM WAS IN A

  GOOD MOOD

  WEN I GOT UP THE NEXT DAY. She was in the kitchen with her coffee and her golfing hat and those shorts that make her look like 2 peepl. She said hi and did I sleep all rite. I said uh huh. And how about you?

  Fine.

  The coffee smell reminded me of the donut shop. I pored sum into the mug and put in lots of milk and sugar. The sun was shining and the floor of the kitchen was yello dime ends.

  Mom had her phone out. Isnt that grate she said.

  What?

  I got a text from your father. He says he and Spencer r having so much fun on there trip. He sounds reely xited.

  Did he say any thing about the outhouse blowing up? I ast.

  What r you talking about Bunny? Outhouse? What outhouse? There in New York City. There r no outhouses in New York City Bunny.

  O I said.

  I have to think about restronts for them she said. Your father and I went to a wonderful place down in so ho. I wonder if Spencer wud like it.

  Im used to being rong. In histry class if I think the anser is the pine ears and sum 1 says the anser is water vaper then water vaper is probly rite and it probly isnt histry class. Thats what I am used to. But I was pretty sure I wasnt rong this time. Spencer said they were in Torrents. Not New York. I dint think he wud tell me a ly. But if there was a problem he mite ly to Mom. A problem like the outhouse xploding.

  What is it Bunny?

  I wasnt used to lying. But I dint want to give Spencer away.

  Nothing I said.

  She put away her phone and got her golf clubs out of the closet. She goes golfing evry Sunday with sum other profs. Dad laffs at her for being boor jaw. Its 1 of his things—he hates the boor jaws. She tells him to shut up but shes smiling wen she says it so its OK.

  On her way out she gave me a hug.

  Ill be back in the afternoon she said. You have my sell number.

  OK.

  Ware will you be?

  I dunno. With Jaden I gess.

  Good. Thats good.

  She stood in the door looking back at me.

  Have fun today she said.

  You 2 I said. Get a bird.

  Is that coffee? Wen did you start drinking coffee?

  Yesterday I said.

  And that was tru. I dint have to ly all the time.

  The streetcar stoppd. Cars around us were honking. No 1 moving as far as I cud see. The driver said there was an axident and let us off. I startd walking. I went the same way the streetcar wud of bin going. After a wile I came to the axident. No blud or any thing just cars and pleece and toe trucks and glass. The Lake shore was clear now but no streetcars. I ke
pt walking.

  I saw a hole lot of tags on fences and bildings as I walkd by. And on the side walk. Differnt sizes but all white and all the same kind.

  Angel tags. I gess they were there all along but I saw them now cuz I was walking and cuz of what me and Jaden did yesterday. I past a sine that said Mimico. The rode bent round. A cupl of guys stood outside a corner store. They yond and smoked and spat. Wen I past they spat at me and told me to go away. I kept walking. It was a sunny day but I felt cold.

  I herd a bike far away. That farting sound they make—brrrap.

  The stores all had Mimico in the names. Mimico Hardware. Mimico Bar and Grill. Mimico Daycare. The bike sound got louder. It was going faster now and the sound was more like vroom. I went faster 2. I tryd counting my breths. In 2 3 4 out 2 3 4. I came to the number streets.

  There was a junk store with a big Angel tag on the front. A guy with a beerd was going in. He stoppd and stared at me. I kept going. At the next lite the bikes cot up to me. 2 of them. The lite was red and the bikes were going brrrap and the guys were pointing at me. They both had jackets with the Angel sine on the back.

  In 2 3 4.

  I was all alone. The Angels were the bad guys. I felt it. I wantd to see sum 1 from 15—Jaden or Morgan or Cobra. Even Jello. I wud of bin happy to see Jello even tho he dint like me.

  I textd Jaden hoping he wud text back and I wudnt be alone.

  The bikes went slow like they were wating for me to catch up. I duckd down 3 Street so I cud miss them. At the first corner I turnd and startd running. In 2 3 out 2 3. I herd the bikes. They made a vroom sound now. They were coming after me. I took the next left. And the next rite. I dint stop to think about what the bikes wud do to me. Probly nothing. Probly just laff. These were streets with houses and kids on wagons and guys cutting there front lons. I dint think about that. I dint think about us doing a deel with the Angels. All I new was that they were the bad guys and they were after me. In 2 out 2 in 2 out 2.

  The Angels gave up and vroomd away the noys getting softer and softer. I took a big breth and kept going. Wen I got to 9 Street I saw my first 15 tag and felt warm inside. Weerd eh? Last week I dint no what a tag was. On 10 Street there was a big place with lots of peepl coming out and music 2. Today was Sunday. We dont go to church cuz Mom and Dad say theres no God but lots of peepl do go and this was a church. The music sounded nice and the peepl were dressd up and smiling at each other. And there was Jaden. He was with an old lady in a big white hat. Wen he saw me he ran rite over.

  Bunny!

  He was happy to see me—I new that. But he was sum thing els 2. He ast what I was doing there. I told him about the Angels chasing me and he shook his head and said yah. We made a plan to meet at the jim. He wantd to go home and put on new close.

  You sure do I said.

  He was waring a flower shirt and tite pants.

  Shut up Bunny.

  Just joking I said.

  The church peepl dint like me. They dint smile or any thing. Most of them dint look at me. I ast Jaden who was the lady in the hat?

  Who? O you meen Gramma.

  He shut his mouth with a snap. He dint want to talk about her. See you soon he said and I said see you 2 and he walkd away down the street. Wen his gramma tryd to put her arm round him he shovd it off. He dint look back at me.

  ALL AFTERNOON

  WE TOOK TURNS

  FITING IN THE RING. Morgan checkd our gear and rang a bell and we went at each other. Me and Xray and Jello and Snocone. I was pretty good. Fiting is sum thing I can do. I cant run fast but my hands can—I meen they go fast. They move on there own. I dont try to make them do things but they do them anyway. And Im sort of strong. I can lift stuff—like desks and stuff. Dad calls me wen hes cleening the kitchen and I get the frij out of his way.

  The first fite was me and Xray who does marshal arts with sum kind of belt. He kickd a lot and I kept catching his feet. He dint like that. Wen I turnd away he jumpd in the air to kick me from behind. I dint see him coming but my hand did. It movd on its own and pushd his leg in the air and he fell on his head and went uhhh. Yesterday he said wo—today it was uhhh. His hair spred out on the floor like a mop.

  Poor Xray said Jaden.

  Morgan climed into the ring to help Xray up.

  I ast Jaden if he wantd to fite but he shook his head. He liked hanging out at the jim but he hated fiting.

  And anyway I wudnt have a chance aganest you Bunny he said. Your good. You mite be as good as Jello he said. What do you think Morgan? He as good as Jello?

  Probly not said Morgan.

  He was holding Xray so he cud sit up. I ast Xray if he wantd to fite sum more. He tryd to say sum thing but all that came out was uhhh.

  Morgan laffd.

  Then Jello came into the jim. He had his fiting shorts on like befor and he pulld off his shirt and said it was his turn. He calld me white boy and ast if I was reddy.

  Sure I said.

  Morgan blew his wistle and Jello ran rite at me. I pushd him sideways to spin him and he was suprised and went down. I jumpd on him and got him in a key lock and his eyes got big and Morgan blew his wistle agane. The hole fite took like 10 seconds. Jaden cheerd. Jello told him to shut up and said I was lucky. He was panting and his eyes were small and mad.

  1 more time he said putting his mouth gard back in.

  Sure.

  This time he went slower and I made a mistake and got 2 close. He swung left rite and wile I was catching his fists he need me rite there.

  You no—there?

  Wo that hurt.

  He swung agane and I cudnt get my hands up in time and I went down and he fell on me. I wasnt breething yet. Morgan blew his wistle.

  Got you said Jello.

  Took me a wile to get back on my feet.

  You dint drop and roll Morgan said to me.

  I dint think you were sposed to kick there I said to Jello.

  I fite 2 win he said. I do what I have 2.

  We had a brake and Morgan took me a side. Who tot you to fite? he ast.

  Tot? I said.

  Your hands r so fast. I saw it yesterday and agane today. You missd Jellos rush and got him off balance. And then the lock. Sum 1 show you how to do that?

  Sum times at the cottage thered be fites. 6 boys and we all liked each other but we wud still fite. Weed be in the forest with no grone ups and DJ wud push sum 1. Adam or Webb wud start things 2 but mostly DJ. Hes bossy. 1 time we were all in the yard behind the barn and DJ pushd Steve down and then Adam pushd DJ down and we all got fiting and Grampa saw us and got the hose. We were wet and he was laffing and he took us into the barn and showd us how to do it better.

  Dont push strate he said. Spin the other guy round. Thats how the empees did it back in the war. Like this. And he hit Adams sholder and he spun round and down. Like this. And he hit Steves sholder.

  Like this! said DJ and he tryd to hit my sholder but I cot his hand.

  Good for you Bernard said Grampa.

  After that we wud all try to do it—catch sum 1 on the sholder and spin him round. Spencer hated the game but I was good at it. Dad said it was OK at the cottage but I cudnt do it at home cuz it was too a gress of. I said I liked being a gress of. Dad said a gress of was bad.

  Want to lern sum more? Morgan ast me. Come here and Ill show you about kicking. We went over to the hevvy bag and he told me to side kick it. I did and he said No. Your close and 2 strate on he said. Start back and step into the kick. So I did that and it was better. Now turn your body wen your kicking said Morgan. You want to make the bag spin with your foot like you wud with your hand.

  I thot about that and I kickd the bag like it was my cuzzen DJ and I was kicking his sholder. The bag movd a bit and Morgan nodded. There you go he said. Now do it agane. So I did. And agane and agane and agane. I tryd my left foot but I wasnt as good with that. Keep on said Morgan. Feet r stronger than arms. And longer. Now you no what to do if sum 1 comes at you with a nife.

  What? I said.
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  Use your feet aganest a nife. You dont want to catch a nife in your hands he said.

  A nife? I said.

  He put pads on his hands and told me to punch them. He startd moving the pads around and I kept punching them. Good he said. Then he told me to kick and I did that 2. Morgan movd the pads faster and faster. Sum times he said kick and sum times he said punch. Jello came over to watch and I let my mind go blank and I kept hitting the pads. I dint miss ever. After a wile Morgan got tired and put down his hands and I took a big breth.

  Good Bunny said Morgan. Reel good.

  Good for a white kid said Jello. Hes good but not as good as me.

  You hit harder than what he does said Morgan. You work on your wind and your ground and pound you going to go to the octagon 1 day Jello. But the kids faster.

  I dont need you to tell me where Im going to go 1 day old man said Jello. I dont need you at all. And as for the kid Ill hurt him next time.

  He turnd to me. I will he said.

  We went to the room with the TV and sofa. There was a cooler with coke and beer. We were watching a nature show—bugs and things. Pretty gross. Jello came up behind me and said my name. I said hi and he punchd me in the face. Just boom without saying any thing. I cot his fist befor it landed.

  Wide you do that? I ast.

  He sat down next to me. He was shaking his head.

  Man your fast! he said. No wonder they call you Bunny. How you get to be that fast?

  I dunno I said.

  We watchd the TV bugs for a bit. They were eating the hole forest.

  You going to punch me agane? I ast.

  I dunno he said and smiled so it was a joke.

  I smiled back. And wonderd.

  It was dinner time by my phone. I sent Mom a text that I wudnt be home for a wile. Im with my crew I said. Cuz thats what a possy is—a crew. And I was a reel part of it now. Xray sat next to me on the sofa with his head in his hands and wen I said I was sorry he said it wasnt my bad. His life suckd anyway—it just suckd more now.

  Jello rolld his eyes at me. Xray talks like this all the time he said. Youll see.