by Orca Various
Trouble says Bet. I know.
Do you know what Im holding? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Thats 13 times I said it. Dont move girl. Do you? There thats 14. Thats when I can start to start to when I can start to—
She breaks off. I hear a smacking sound like a punch or a kick.
Ow! says Bet.
There says Skrillex. Thatll teach you. Thatll—thatll—thatll—thatll—thatll—
With every thatll theres an other smacking sound. Skrillex is hitting Bet.
I cant let her take my punishment because of me. I dont think what I am doing. I throw open the door of my stall. Theres 2 people in the room—Bet and an old lady with a cane witch she is holding like a club. Bet is rubbing her leg where the lady must of hit her with the cane. The lady stares up at me with her evil old eyes.
Skrillex.
She is tiny like an elf. I am 2wice as big as she is. The cane is a thin bit of wood like a marsh mallow tosting stick. Every thing about her is little xept for her long long long long—now I am sounding like her—hair. And her eyes. They are huge and round and full of fire. She stares at me like—I dont know—like the sun. I think of her hitting Bet and I am mad. Bet is big and Skrillex is little and her cane probly doesnt hurt much but I am still mad. I think of the judge telling Bet she is no good. That makes me mad 2.
Skrillex gasps. What? she says to me. What what what what are you?
What does she think I am? Over her sholder is a meer and I see myself in it. I look stupid with the big white towel on my head but Skrillex isnt looking at my towel. Its so hot I have my sleeve rolled up and shes staring at the tattoo on my arm. She takes a step back.
Fiff she says. Then again. Fiff. Fiff fiff fiff—
I think fast. Well I cant—but I think as fast as I can.
15 I say.
Thats what she is trying to say. My tatoo is a 15 with a candle. I sort of belong to a street gang called the 15 Street Possy. Sort of. Its a long story.
NO! yells Skrillex. 14 14 14 14 14 is a good number. Not that not not—
15 I say again.
Bet is looking hard and thinking hard.
Its always 14 with you she says. You do things 14 times. Ive seen you counting. You walk 14 steps and then turn left. We all wonder. Why not keep going? 10 11 12 13—
14! Skrillex wispers in a voice that kind of creeps me out. 14! she wispers again.
Im holding the bag with skates in it. When the skate blades hit each other it sounds like chains. With my towel on and my chains does Skrillex think I am somebody else? A gost? Maybe she does. She is not like the sun now. Her eyes are scared.
Daddy! says Skrillex still in her creepy wisper. Why Daddy why? Daddy likes 14. Daddy likes Daddy likes 14. But not fiff not fiff not fiff not not not—
She points at my arm.
Why Daddy? she asks.
I take a step out of the stall. Skrillex looks back at the door like she wants to run. But she is not a scaredy cat. She swings her cane at me.
I catch it in my free hand. It stings but I dont care. I am thinking of all the girls Skrillex has hit with the cane. I pull the cane out of her hand. Now I am holding it.
I drop my bag witch makes the skates clash. I swing Skrillex cane hard and hit the side of the stall. A thin sharp whippy sound bounces around the room. I do it again. And again. And again. And again and again and again and again. Bets head moves up and down.
Thats 12 she says. Shes been counting. I hit the stall again.
Skrillex starts to shake. Got she says. Pant. Got got got got gotta go.
The cane breaks but I keep on hitting with the bit in my hand. Bet counts along with my hits. Smash. 13. Smash 14. Skrillex is shaking like a broken machine. Arms out wide and hair in her eyes. Things fall out of her pockets.
15!
Bet holds the bathroom door open and Skrillex runs. Turns out she doesnt need her cane.
IT IS A BIT LATER
—maybe an hour maybe a bit longer. A lot has happened. I am full of pancakes and juice. I am skating away from Bet and Skrillex and Teena and the rest of them. The sun is shining and my shadow is bouncing around on the road and the ground in front of me.
I talked to my brother. Finally. Skrillex dropped her phone along with everything else and Bet handed it to me and I phoned the number on my arm. It was great to hear his voice.
Bunny? he said. And then he said my name again. Bunny! Oh my god, you remembered my number. Where are you? Are you all rite?
It was nice to hear how worryed Spencer was. That doesnt sound rite but you know what I mean.
Jade gave me your number I said. I called her.
You’ve been gone 2 days now Bun. Are you okay? Can you talk? asked Spencer. Witch was silly because thats what we were doing.
I’m pretty hungry I said.
Bet herd me say this and grabbed my arm. She led me down a dark cement hall with 2 doors at the end. There was a sine painted over 1 of the doors. Visitors Only it said. She pushed me thru it into a big room with windows and sunshine and people eating. I blinked. This was way nicer than our caf at Creekside. Xept for the gards.
Spencer asked where I was so he culd come and get me witch sounded great. But I didnt know where I was yet. There was a big map on the wall but I didnt see it until later.
I wonder what wuld happen—what it wuld of been like—if I saw the map and told Spencer where I really was? He wuld of beleeved me but then what—wuld he still say he culd come and get me? Anyway I didnt see the map yet. I started by telling Spencer about the house I skated away from. The Newman place.
They put me in the basement I said but I culd see things out the window.
What can you see now? he asked.
Now?
Yes rite now.
I wasnt at the Newman place now but Spencer is smarter than me and he wanted to know so I went over to the window and looked out.
I can see a fence and a road I told him. And some stores in the distance. And a guy talking on the phone like us. And a speed limit sine by the road. It says 30.
He wanted to know more so I told him there was a muffler place and a pizza place. He wanted to know what kind.
I told him it had the blu sine with the white holes.
Dominos! he shouted.
The name of the pizza place. He asked if there was a Christmas reath in the window but I culdnt see because it was far away. I told him I culd see a wall and an alley.
And the wall is covered with tags like the gym on 15 Street! he shouted. Witch it was. I never thot of that I said.
By the way did you know that gym and jim are not the same? I was amazed when Mr Wing told me. Jim is the guys name and gym is the place. So Jim can go to the gym—I think thats it. Doug and dug are different 2. And brian and brain. But not Rob and rob—they are the same. You can rob Rob on your way home from the gym.
On my report card Mr Wing said my spelling still needs work.
Spencer wanted to know my street number but I didnt know. And wuld you really need the number anyway? Its a jail. Wuldnt you just tell the pizza guy to deliver to the place with the big fence and the armed gards?
Visitors day here was a lot like at Creekside. The caf was full of jail girls and there moms and dads and frends. You culd tell the jail girls because they were in green suits. It wasnt very noisy. People are quiet when they are sad and when they are eating.
My phone—Skrillex phone—beeped. I held it away from my ear. 3% power it said.
Spencer told me they were on their way and to be careful. I gess he new how slippery it was outside.
I wanted to know more about why they kid napped me. He said it went back to Grampa being a spy and that it was Grampa in the movy. Hed been talking to somebody named Susan. I asked about her and he said not Susan—Dusan.
Its a guy he said. He has a beerd.
Dusan—ok.
I didnt know if Grampa was a good guy or not. But Vi and Lubor and ma
ybe this Dusan with the beerd were the kid nappers. That made them the bad guys. And me and Spencer were working against them.
He told me that made us the good guys and that they were on there way and to stay cool. I said I wuld and he hung up.
My brother. A guy who was on my side all the time. Everybody shuld have 1 of those.
I filled a plate with pancakes and found Bet and had brekfast with her. She told me to eat fast and then go. That because I was a guy I culd walk out the main door and be free.
I said thank you again and she said forget it and I said I never wuld.
You said youd help me and you did I said.
We talked about Skrillex and how weird she was.
What was that about her dad? I asked.
Shes old—I never thot of her having a dad said Bet. Maybe he did something when she was 15. Maybe he left. My dad left when I was little.
I said I was sorry. Bet shrugged. It was a long time ago she said.
We chewed our pancakes. Teena frowned from a few tables over and then looked away. Pretending I wasnt there. OK with me.
Anyway its lucky Skrillex saw your tatoo Bet said. Now I know shes scared of 15 and when shes being mean I can start counting and freak her out. Thanks Bunny.
And then I saw the map on the wall. I went over and stared at it but it didnt make sense. Bet came over and pointed stuff out. I said no way. She xplained. The words were there on the paper all rite. I new where I was. O crap.
I took out the Skrillex phone. Spencer wuld tell me what to do. But the call didnt work. Bet took the phone and said it was out of power. Thats what the 3% ment.
Spencer culdnt come to get me. It was up to me to get home.
I told Bet I had to leave rite then. And I did. We shook hands at the door and the gards let me out. Bet waved.
And now it is an hour later. Maybe a bit longer.
I AM SKATING DOWN THE STREET
with my shadow ahead of me. I know a hole lot that I didnt know befor. Bets jail is called the Joy center for youth rehab. Really—Joy. Somebody has a great sense of humor. It has the same bildings and the same fence as Creekside witch is why I thot I was home when I saw it. I sort of know where Joy is—where I am I mean. I have to keep the sun behind me if I am going to get home witch will take longer than I thot. I will not get there tonite.
Even tho Spencer cant help me Im feeling pretty good. I didnt want to trust Bet but I did and that worked out ok. Skrillex will probly not hit her again.
I still dont know why Bet broke her uncles arm.
I come to the edge of town. There is a rink and a couple of kids are playing hockey with an old man. There skates look new.
I get a sudden strong memory of shopping for skates with Grampa. I was maybe in grade 5 and there was a spotted puppy scratching its ears on the floor. Grampa asked for the best pair in the store.
Try these Bernard he said. He always called me Bernard witch is my long name. Every one else calls me Bunny because that is frendlier and more like me. I only hear the name Bernard in Grampa’s voice. Your problem is Bernard. What you need Bernard. You shuld be doing this thing Bernard.
We were shopping for skates because he wanted me to play hockey.
Your a good skater Bernard he said. A big tuff boy like you shuld be going into the corners. You arent afraid of corners are you?
I didnt know what he ment. Why would I be afraid of corners? I asked.
Good for you he said.
Sometimes I dont know where to go I said. A corner means you can go different ways. Choice is tricky I said. But not scary.
We brought the skates home and Grampa told Mom about me playing hockey.
Do you want to play hockey? she asked me.
Sure he does said Grampa. Hockey is a tuff guy sport and Bunny is a tuff guy.
Am I? I said.
What do you think we were talking about back there at the store? he said.
I dont know I said.
I never know what we are talking about. I was looking at the puppy I said.
You shuld listen harder Bernard he said.
Grampa wanted me to do better all the time. What does that mean? If a guy wants you to do better he must think you are not doing very well.
I wonder what he wuld say to me now. A hoss stage who escaped and broke into a girls jail and escaped again. Who is on his way home without food or money or a phone. And home is a long way—longer than I thot.
Grampa is dead so of course he wuldnt really say much now. Only whatever you say when you are under ground—its dark in here I gess he wuld say. But if he was alive and standing beside me what wuld he say? Probly he wuld say Do better.
Maybe he is rite. But I am doing my best. I dont think I can do any better than that.
The family on the rink are practicing. Grampa is teaching the boy and girl how to pass. Shoot it at me KC he says. Aim a little ahead. And soft KC. Soft! Or I will miss he says. KC is the girl. She fires the puck way ahead of Grampa and way hard.
You missed she says.
He gets the puck and passes to the boy. Pass it back he says.
They talk like the old lady who thot I was God. The guy with the telly scope sounded the same. Like me but not quite like me. Now I know why.
I hop over the bords and head down the rink. There’s an exit at the far end—a hole in the bords. I head for that. The ice is smooth and clean. Better than the road.
The family watch me. Hey mister you skate good says the little girl KC.
I am not used to being called Mister. I spin round so I am facing her and keep going backward. Showing off a little. Thanks I say.
Do you wanna stay and play with us? she asks. Grampa can he play with us?
Yah says the boy. Hes good.
Yah hes good all rite. Dyou wanna play son? he says to me.
They are all having fun together. I shake my head. Got to get home I say.
Are you crying? asks the girl.
No I say. I am thru the bords now.
Why is he crying Grampa? she asks.
I am gone.
I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY SIDE
heading toward the river witch I know I have to cross. Roads are narrow and icy xept when they are wide and icy. I pass car after car after stopped car. And truck. Some are in the ditch. Some are busted. None of them can go. I gess in the city everything is salted and sanded but out here it is a day for no cars.
I am feeling ok. Really. I miss Spencer. I miss mom and dad. I miss Jade even tho we havent seen each other in a while. I sort of miss my cousins. DJ is always sure what to do. Whether it is rite or not he is always sure. I culd use some of that now. I wonder if DJ will get in trubble now? Trouble I mean. He was sort of looking after me and I got kid napped. It wuld be 2 bad if he got in trouble—it is not his falt.
My cousin Adam is from New York. Spencer stayed over at his place when he was on his way to kiss that actress. Huh. I shuld of looked harder at the map in the Joy jail. Maybe I wuld of seen Adams place.
Swoosh swish. My shadow is to the rite of me and way out in front. It is like I am a huge snake or a train or something. That is what my shadow looks like.
You know what I do not miss—jail. Creekside or Joy ether. Being locked up is not fun. Flying down the road like this is the opposite of being in jail. Dad sings a song about a river you can skate away on. It is a pretty cool song. If I new the words I wuld sing it now. I dont know them but I know the tune. I hum a bit.
I keep my rite hand in my pocket. It is the one without a glove. I lost it on the fence at the Joy jail and now I dont have it. My hand is okay in my pocket. Things culd be worse. Some people have no shoes. If I had no shoes I culd not put my feet in my pockets.
I hear loud noises of scraping and grinding from behind me. I move to the side of the road as here comes a tow truck—the kind with a long flat bed. Sitting on top of the truck is a little car with a camera sticking out of the top. The front of the car is smashed. The sine on the side says GOOGLE.
The camera is still working. It turns to point at me as it goes past. I wave. I am going to be on google maps if anyone wants to get here.
I have to pee. That is easy because I am alone. Nothing but fields all around me. Its a good thing I was not peeing when the google car went by.
Things do get worse now. My left skate is undone and when I bend over to tie it again the lace breaks. Bang. Or more like Thwap. I end up lying in the road holding a piece of lace. This is not a big bad thing like being kid napped or being cold and late and a long way from home. Witch is also true for me. But it seems really really bad. I was not upset befor but I am now. I am healthy and free and I dont have to pee any more but I almost start crying over a skate lace. Funny eh?
And then I hear Santa.
Jingle Jingle Jingle.
Dammit Rudolf!
Jingle.
Stop Rudolf! Stop! I say. Dammit stop!!
Thats what I hear. Its not really him but Santa is what I think when I hear the jingling and the name. And this is a good place to see Santa—a real old fashioned winter picture with snow and ice and some forest and a lot of quiet. I used to think of him flying down from the North Pole every year on just this kind of evening.
A horse is pulling a sled toward me. Perfect for the seen. It has those big runner things that bend up in the front. Bells hang on the what are they—the rains. The driver pulls on them and the sled finally stops.
Want some help? he calls to me.
I am trying to figure him out. Hes fat and he has a beerd and he drives a sled with jingle bells—but he has a horse insted of rain deer and his sled doesnt fly and his beerd and coat are brown. Hes like Santas poor little brother.
I think about that for a sec—life at home with a big brother who brings home A+ report cards and gives presents to the poor. His parents and teachers go on about how wonderful he is. That Nickolas is a saint! And mean while this guy is not doing so well. Every body is shaking there heads saying he wont amount to anything. A saint—dont joke with me.
Hmm. These thots are getting close to my home life. Spencers teachers like him and mine dont think much of me. The only A I ever got was at Creekside this year. Mr Wing liked the story I rote about getting that 15 tatoo.