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Tossed Away Kid - Chapter 19 This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to anyone in real life is a coincidence. A special thanks to the Late Ed Wooten for his editorial help. When I got home I found Danny sound asleep.
My mind raced with the events of the day.
I got out my journal to try to organize my thoughts. ‘Today was a day I will not soon forget.
First Danny was hit on by Rick. I
was proud of the way that he resisted Rick.
I’ve always felt closer to Danny than my brothers.
I’ve heard people talk about soul mates and I believe that perhaps we
are soul mates. He’s my best
friend, my boyfriend and lover, my brother, and my companion.
I’ve always loved Danny. Even
before I understood the concept of love. I
never want to be separated from him again without the hope of us getting back
together. It’s been a long time since I thought about my parents.
Detective Samuels really took me off guard today by explaining the
beatings and death at my dad’s high school.
I know well my father’s temper. I
have the scars to prove it. I
don’t hate my mom or dad but I do hate their actions.
Over the years I have done all I can do to show my love for them. There were times I wished I were never born when I was living
with them. Then they would have
been happy. Now I’m involved in bringing my father to justice.
My feelings on this issue are really mixed.
First, I’m going to have to leave my bestest friend.
Then I’m going to have to be humiliated by everyone at school. Then if all goes as planned a bunch of football players are
going to try to half kill me. Then
Detective Samuels is going to try to prove that my father is behind all the
beatings. After trying my whole
life to show my parents that I love them, now I’m going to be involved in
putting my dad in jail. I can’t
find it in my heart to hate my parents. Then there’s still the issue of who is going to be my
guardian until I’m 18. I want so
much to stay here with Danny and his family.
I wish I had some answers. I see Danny playing and just having fun while I’m going
to work full time. I seem to be
handling it pretty well. I
haven’t been having mood swings and fits of rage.
I must have learned to deal with stress from the constant walking on
eggshells around my parents. After
this experience, I don’t think I’ll be able to just go back to being a kid.
I’ve grown up this summer. Although
I’m not an adult I’m starting to think like one.
I find myself thinking about other people’s needs before I do my own.
I don’t listen to the words people tell me but I watch their actions to
see if their actions match their words. I
consider myself part of a team. My
actions affect the whole team. Before
I make any decision I consider how it affects others.
For example I’ve decided what I want to get Danny for
his 14th birthday present. I want
to buy two 125cc dirt bikes. There
are same trails just a few blocks away from the house alongside an expressway.
I need to talk with Danny’s parents first.
I already know all the concerns that they will have.
Danny’s dad has a 250cc dirt bike he’s had for years.
He’s been riding since he was our age.
I know he’s not going to want me to spend my money that way.
And if he does agree he’ll want to at least also spend some of his
money. He won’t let either of us
ride alone. He’ll insist on
helmets and other safety gear. He’ll
probably help me talk Danny’s mom into it.
At some point one of us will probably get hurt riding and that will be
her main concern. I find myself
considering what others will say and think.
I know Danny would be beside himself.
We’ve been riding mountain bikes on trails for years, dreaming of the
day we could have a mini bike or small dirt bike. I spent most of my time today snooping into other
people’s criminal records. I
found out that some of the people arrested for trying to have sex with me were
real weirdoes. It makes me sad that
kids have no choice but to have to have sex with people like that just to
survive. I really am lucky.’ I took my journal and locked it up in a filing cabinet in
my room and went to bed with Danny. I
still haven’t slept a single night in the room that houses most of my stuff.
I don’t even consider it my bedroom.
It’s strange having three different beds to sleep in -
Danny’s bed, my own bed, and the bed at Mike and Mark’s apartment.
Soon I’m going to be back in Springfield.
I was sure not looking forward to that.
I guess that writing down the events of my day and my feelings helped to
clear my mind because before I knew it I was asleep.
It was early for me as it
was not even 10:00am by the time we got dressed.
We went downstairs and I ran into Mr. Smith. I realized that I hadn’t seen him since Monday. “Hi, Mr. Smith, I’m really glad to see you.
I need some fatherly advice.” “Sure, Tommy, but first let’s get some coffee and go
into my study.” We got some coffee.
(Something I really never started drinking until this week.
I found that a couple of cups helped keep me awake until late at night
without yawning every 5 minutes.) We
went into his study and sat down. “Tell me about your week, Tommy, how has your on the
job training been going?” “Very good, I think – I’ve learned how to sell my
body, buy beer, wine, and hard liquor. How
to get into bars and get served and buy cigarettes. Next I figure they’ll teach me how to buy drugs.
I ought to be real popular in high school now,” I said with a
shit-eating grin. He threw a
newspaper sitting on his desk at me. I
ducked. “But seriously, I can see
how the training we went through at Great Lakes ties into real police work.
Yesterday Detective Samuels showed up and went over the plan of operation
for when I go back to Springfield.” “I talked with Mike’s dad earlier this week and
he’s found a lawyer for me. I
need to go there Monday and give him some money so he’ll be my lawyer.” “That’s called a retainer, Tommy.
I hope you don’t need one but it’s good to have that kind of stuff
worked out in advance. I’ve
always considered you my son. You’re
far too young to consider taking care of yourself and you do need a secure,
loving family. I talked to
Detective Samuels this week also and he’s got enough work lined up to keep you
busy until you’re 40. He says he
has schools all over this area that are asking the state for help.
He wants to keep you working full time all the way through high school
and beyond. Seriously, if you keep
going the way that you have been so far you could be retired with a full state
retirement at 40. Of course that
might seem like a long time from now to you but I can tell you I’d love to be
retired in 4 years when I turn 40. You
have a great opportunity.” “What about child labor laws and working full time?” “That’s a good question, Tommy.
Technically you’re not supposed to be working full time right now - not
until you’re at least 16. And
even when you’re 16 you can’t work full time during school.
However, you’ll be working while you’re at school.
They’ll basically be paying you a full time state policeman’s salary
to go to school. Because they
intend to keep you undercover no one will ever know you are actually a police
officer until you leave the school and arrests are made based on your work.
You have to be sure that is what you want.
After all you’re still a child.” “I’ve been doing lots of thinking about how much
I’ve changed this summer. In the
eyes of the law I might still be a child but I sure don’t feel like one.
I don’t think like I did two months ago at all.
I no longer take things at face value.
I read in between the lines. I
can walk into a convenience store and tell you before I even try whether or not
the clerk is going to sell me whatever I want.
I consider very carefully how my actions are going to affect other
members of the team I’m working for. If
I’m going from school to school during high school then HOW am I going to be
able to spend time with Danny? How
is it going to affect him if I don’t go to high school with him like I
planned? If I do become a full time
policeman how am I going to deal with $35,000 a year income?
If I don’t become a police officer how is that going to affect my
future? You have men 8 years older than me coming out of college who would love to have the same opportunity that I have had the last two months.
I have to consider 1000 different things before I can make a decision.
Every decision I make affects me and everyone I love for the rest of my
life. And you know…I don’t have
a problem making those kinds of decisions.” “I’ll tell you the truth, Tommy.
I’m totally taken aback by what you just said.
I didn’t start thinking the same way you are right now until Ann was
pregnant with Danny. I sure hope
you don’t expect Danny to keep up with you, because he’s nowhere near as
mature as you are right now.” “Mr. Smith, I love Danny just the way he is.
I thought about it last night. There
is no way I can go back to just being a kid again.
I’ve crossed a line. I’m
trusted with deadly force. I’m a
member of a team. The other members
of the team respect me. I hadn’t
really considered being employed full time.
I think I’d like to do it. What
do you think is going to happen, Mr. Smith?” “First of all we need to find some more appropriate for
you to call me than Mr. Smith.” “How about Pops?” “I like that. This
is what I think is going to happen. The state has petitioned the court to have you under limited
emancipation.” “You mean like Abraham Lincoln did for the slaves?” “Something like that.
What they want to do is give you the same rights as an adult.
That way you’ll be independent of your parents.
They want you to be able to drive and even live on your own in your own
apartment from time to time. The
only condition is that you have to be a state police officer.
Should you lose your job then you’ll also lose your independence. Right now everyone is impressed with your performance.
A petition has been filed and there is a court hearing on Monday.
From what I was told you will not need to be there.
The judgment will be based on the reports of your performance up to this
point. You have shown you are
responsible and as long as you keep making the same decisions in the future
there shouldn’t be any problems.” “Detective Samuels felt that it would be best for me to
tell you this news. This will give
you all the rights of an adult. However,
you can’t let it go to your head. You
still need guidance. You’ll be
able to sign contracts. That means
you can buy a house. Get credit
cards and get loans in your own name. But
be warned – with adult responsibilities come adult headaches.
I’m more than willing to help you make decisions.
I still think having a lawyer is a good idea but I don’t think you’ll
have to worry about your bank account. You’ll
probably want to open a checking account. Also
it would be a good idea to establish some credit.
Do you have any questions, Tommy?” “I’m a bit overwhelmed right now, tell you the truth.
Give me some time to think about it all.
You said they want me to be able to drive – does that mean that I can
buy a car?” “You will be able to if you want, but from what
Detective Samuels said you won’t need one.
First you’ll need a driver’s license.
That will be a number one priority after you get back from Springfield.
You’ll take a driver training course and then you’ll go back to the
state police headquarter in Springfield for a week’s additional training and
then you’ll be tested. If you
pass you’ll be presented with a restricted driver’s license.
Then you’ll be assigned a vehicle that you will use.
The license is restricted until you’re 16, to be used only when you are
on location or duty. That means no
joy riding. You’ll probably need
to keep a log of everyplace you go. Look
at it as just another test to make sure that you are responsible.” “What I really wanted to talk to you about is Danny’s
birthday present. Now my mind is
swamped. There are some bike trails
a few blocks from here. I know
about your love for dirt bike riding, Pops, and I wanted to get a couple of
125cc dirt bikes for Danny and me so we can ride together.” “That’s very generous of you, Tommy, but that’s
also a lot of money.” “I have more than enough saved up and I figure that as
hard as I’ve worked this summer the least I can do is buy something that we
like to do together.” “I’ll tell you what, Tommy. I can’t let you spend all your own money on a gift like
this. If you put up $1,000 I’ll
match it and then co sign a loan on the balance. That way you can establish some credit. We’ll need to get all the safety gear and there will be
rules on their use. I’ll help
teach you guys how to ride and you can’t go on your own until I feel you’re
ready. And I’ll never approve
your riding alone. Are you sure you
want to get 125cc bikes? They are
kind of big. It might be better to
start on something smaller.” “I figure we’ll grow into them.
It doesn’t make much sense to buy a dirt bike we’ll grow out of in a
year. I’m also willing to follow
any rules you want us to follow.” “I’ll need to talk Ann into it.
I know how she’ll respond. She
still sees Danny as needing training wheels.
Let me work on her and I’ll get back with you.
You have anything else you need to talk to me about, Tommy?” “That’s it for now.
I still have to work tonight and tomorrow night and then I’ll have a
couple of days off.” “Okay, think about everything I’ve said and I’ll
talk with you later. You better get
something to eat.” “Thanks, Pops.”
And I gave him a big hug. That’s
something I’d never do with my own dad. I
could see a few tears forming in Mr. Smith’s eyes. “I’m very proud of you, Tommy. I really like being called ‘Pops’ by you.
Work hard and keep your nose clean and good things can happen.
You already know that life is not fair.
You’ve had more than your share of hard times.
You know you can come to Ann or me anytime you need something. Now off with you before you have me crying.” I went into the kitchen and got something to eat.
I decided not to think about everything running through my mind, by
keeping myself busy. I’ll deal with it as it happens.
No need in thinking about it now. I
played basketball with Danny after a couple of sandwiches.
I didn’t tell him the news because I was trying not to think about it. After about an hour we were both tired.
We went up to Danny’s room and played video games for a couple of
hours. Danny and I mainly talked
about the game we were playing, talking shit mostly.
We do a lot of that when we’re together playing.
Not only were we trying to beat the other in the video game but we were
also trying to outdo each other in our conversation too. All too soon Mike and Mark showed up and we left for
work. On our way into work on the
train some guy near us was drunk. I’d
say he was about 35 and not that big – about 5’9 and 160 pounds.
He had a brown paper bag with a bottle in it.
He was making rude comments and asking every girl near him to go home
with him. He almost fell over several times. As we got near to the station that we get off Mark
whispered in my ear that he was going to arrest the man and for Mike and me to
back him up. Mark walked up to the
man and showed him his badge. “Sir, you are under arrest for being drunk and
disorderly, and drinking in public.” “Fuck you,” the drunk said and threw his bottle at
Mark - big mistake. Mark dodged the
bottle and it shattered on the wall. Before
Mark could recover, the guy pulled out a rather impressive looking knife.
“I’ll cut you good if you come near me, you…you fucking piece of
shit,” he hissed. Mike and I both pulled out our side arms.
Mark calmly said, “Now you’re also under arrest for assaulting a
police officer with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, destroying
evidence, and resisting arrest. Now
drop the knife before someone gets hurt and you have to face even more
charges.” The guy took a wild swing at Mark with the knife and Mark
stepped back. I put my finger on
the trigger, took aim and squeezed off a round. I shot him in the right shoulder and he dropped the knife.
He was so drunk that I don’t even think he felt any pain.
We jumped on him and cuffed him. Mark
took a tee shirt out of his backpack and put it over the wound and instructed me
to put pressure on it. There was no
exit wound. That’s one thing
about a small caliber weapon like the 25-caliber Beretta I carry.
If you hit your target the bullet only penetrates a few inches.
If it hits any bones it can be deflected and cause quite a bit of
internal damage but usually stays in the body. By now the transit police were on the scene.
We showed them our badges and told them where we worked.
By now the train pulled into our station and they told us the guy was our
problem. Mike had gotten the names
and addresses of the other witnesses in the train car.
We had to practically carry the guy into the station.
When the desk Sergeant saw us he picked up the phone and called Sergeant
O’Brien. When he came walking out he took one look at us and
instructed the desk Sergeant to put the guy in a holding cell and call an
ambulance. He led us into his
office and we explained to him what happened. “It sounds like you acted properly, guys.
I’ve been on the force for 15 years and I’ve never had to use my gun,
Tommy. Tell me your thought
process.” “Well, it just kind of happened.
It was all training kicking in. I
really didn’t think about anything except what I’ve been trained to do in
this kind of situation. The guy
pulled out a deadly weapon. Mike
and I responded by drawing our weapons. The
guy attacked Mark and he stepped back instead of trying to disarm him.
I put my finger on the trigger and aimed at his shoulder.
I really couldn’t fire a warning shot because it was a crowded train.
I squeezed off one round, hoping that would get him to drop the knife.
It worked.” “I have a ton of paper work you have to fill out.
This is your first felony arrest, guys.
I want you to escort him to the Cook County Jail.
They have a medical facility there that will fix him up.
Here is all the paper work you’ll need.
Go and change into you uniform, Mark and here are some keys to a squad
car. Follow the ambulance over to
the Jail. I’m going to send
Officer Keith with you to show you where to go and help you fill out the
paperwork. This should take you
most of the rest of the night.” “I’m real proud of you, Tommy. You acted responsibly in defense of your partner.
You acted cool and calm in a high stress situation.
You didn’t kill the guy. You
can bet that the guy is going to try to sue you.
The department will defend you and he won’t have any grounds for a
settlement. Even if he does win you
won’t have to pay anything. We
have insurance for that kind of thing. When
you finish with all the paper work and you get back here, you’re done for the
week. All you guys have done an
outstanding job this week. Call
your extra day off battle pay.” By the time Mark was changed and we made our way down to
the patrol car the ambulance was there. We
followed it to the Cook County Jail. Officer
(Big Daddy) Keith led us into the building.
He kept telling everyone there that we were heroes and he taught us
everything we know. I got asked my
age several times. Each officer
looked shocked when I told them 14. We
started filling out the paperwork when Captain Wright and Mayor Daley walked in. “Okay, guys,” Capt. Wright said, “we have WGN news
here in 15 minutes. Tell us what
happened.” Mark explained what happened up until the point until I
fired my weapon. Then I explained
my actions. When I was finished the
Mayor came over to me to shake my hand. “Tommy, as Mayor of a City like Chicago I’m always
being second guessed. I have many
critics of my plan to end crime in our schools.
Some of them are on the school board.
That is why we are only testing it in a few schools.
It’s also costing a ton of money.
One of the things my critics have said is that a 16 or 17 year-old is not
old enough and doesn’t have the maturity to act as a police officer.
You have just proven my critics wrong.
You have also shown that the training you received has been
worthwhile.” “Tommy, you are a hero.
Mike and Mark are also heroes. Captain
Wright tells me that I can’t release your name because you’re a minor and
you are working on a murder case undercover but I will see that you receive the
recognition that you deserve. Any
14 year-old that handles himself the way you did today deserves a ‘Medal of
Valor’. It’s the highest award
we give any police officer. Mike
and Mark already have one. This is
the third time they have had to face an attack in our city.
All three times you have made me proud.” “But…. Mayor Daley, I don’t feel like a hero.”
This hero talk was really bugging me.
“I was just doing what I was trained to do.
Now that I think about it, I’m sure that Mark could have easily
disarmed him.” “Tommy,” replied Capt. Wright. “In your training were you taught to try to disarm someone
with a knife or to use your weapon to disarm them?” “We were told to use our weapon.
But Mark also taught us how to disarm someone.
As drunk as he was I’m sure he could have done it.” “We can’t afford a police officer getting injured
trying to disarm someone, Tommy,” replied the Mayor.
“The difference between a hero and everyone else is how they react
under a life or death situation. The
normal average person given a life or death situation REACTS.
A hero ACTS. Do you know the difference between acting and reacting,
Tommy?” “Sure, when you’re on offence playing football you
are acting. When you’re playing
defense you’re reacting.” “Very good, Tommy.
That is a great analogy. Mark
reacted by moving back out of the way. He
didn’t have his weapon out and based on his training, moving back was the
thing to do. It was a natural
reaction. His next action following
his training would have been to draw his weapon.
You and Mike already had them out. Mark
had warned him to drop the knife. You
saw that Mark was in danger and you acted. There are grown men who would have wet their pants if they
were in your shoes. I’m very
proud of all three of you guys and I’m going out there to tell the world about
it.” The Mayor and Capt. shook our hands and went outside.
We spent several hours filling out paperwork.
I had to fill out about 5 forms for firing my weapon and another 6 for
hitting someone. Officer Keith made
sure that all our i’s were dotted and t’s crossed.
We were informed my bullet was removed from the suspect and that he would
be just fine. No serious damage was
done. We got back to the station
just in time to watch the Mayor talk all about our heroics on the 10 o’clock
news. Sergeant O’Brien and
Captain Sanders watched along with us. The Mayor went on and on about how a 14 year-old was more
responsible and a better police officer than many adult officers.
He didn’t mention my name but he did mention Mike and Mark.
WGN is a local Chicago channel but it is also picked up on cable and
satellite across the country. As
soon as the Mayor’s segment was over they had another segment on the problems
in Chicago’s schools and another segment on our training and operation.
Then the anchorperson commented on the wisdom of the total program and
commented on how he wished he had a son like me. My dad never misses the 10 o’clock news.
I wondered if he wished he had a son like that too.
Now that would be ironic. The phone rang and the Captain answered it.
He said that it was Detective Samuels and he wanted to be put on
speakerphone. “Guys, I just saw
the news and I want you to know I think you’re ready.
I’m sorry, Sergeant O’Brien and Captain Sanders, but I think the guys
are ready and I can’t take a chance on them getting hurt.” “I figured that out already, Jim (Detective Samuels’
first name) and told them they have tomorrow off.” “After tomorrow, Tommy, I’m sure you’ll be
considered in the eyes of the State of Illinois as an adult.
I’m going to have Fred Kelly include for the record the Mayor’s
comments about you from the news report. I’ll
have Officer Miller contact you this week to have a crash course (no pun
intended) in driver’s education. Besides
that you guys are off for the next three weeks.
As far as I’m concerned you have all completed your training.
Mike and Mark, pack up your stuff and I’ll see you in Springfield three
weeks from today.” Everyone in the station wanted to shake our hands and
wished us well. Captain Sanders and
Sergeant O'Brien told us that we better stop in and see them some time.
They also told us that if there was anything they could do for us, just
ask. We left the station and this
time there were no drunks on the train ride home. Mike and Mark were just happier than I’ve ever seen
them. They told me that they would
be leaving for home early tomorrow morning.
We hugged and I know I’m going to miss them even if it’s just for a
few weeks. They pulled away and I
went in the house. It wasn’t
midnight yet and everyone was still up. They
had seen the news and knew that it was me they were talking about.
After all I was the only 14 year-old police officer working with Mike and
Mark. That night Danny and I had
some really quality time to explore each other.
I think it was the best it’s ever been. The next day Office Miller (Danny’s friend Bill’s
father who is a state police officer and had been covertly keeping an eye on me)
called me up to tell me that every day for the next two weeks for 3 hours I’ll
be taking driver’s ed. He told me
that the first hour and a half will be classroom instruction and the second hour
and a half he’ll be helping me with the driving part in his state police
cruiser. Talk about getting
excited. Some of you old folks
might have forgotten what it feels like to take driver’s ed.
I can tell you it put me on top of the world. A little later Mr. Kelly, my caseworker, called me.
The petition to have me emancipated was approved and effective
immediately. He told me that I’m
now free to go anywhere I want by myself as long as I let someone know where
I’m going. It’s good to know I
don’t need an escort any more. Mrs. Smith took me to see the lawyer that Mike’s dad
lined up for me. I told him about
my conditional emancipation and gave him Mr. Kelly’s phone number.
He wanted to hear my whole story. He
saw the news last night so I didn’t have to tell him that part.
As a matter of fact he realized that I was the person the Mayor was
talking about as soon as I told him I was sent to train to become a police
officer. He told me how happy he
would be to be my lawyer but also said I’d probably not need him. He settled for a $.50 retainer even after I took over an hour
to tell my story. He told me my
story was very refreshing and entertaining. The story that aired on WGN TV the night before was
picked up on all the national news networks. The next day in the afternoon I started driver’s
training. Officer Miller took me to
class and sat with me. Then we went
out driving. He was really patient
with me and before our hour and a half was over I was on the freeway.
He worked with me all week and was not teaching me just how to drive but
also how to drive like a police officer under all conditions.
We spent an hour in a parking lot just practicing skids and spins.
Another day it was dirt roads. We
had to drive for two hours in order to find one. Danny’s dad kept his word and convinced Danny’s mom
that we were old enough for dirt bikes. He
took Friday morning off and we went to the bank. Office Miller came along.
Earlier in the week he had gotten all the information needed to make me a
full time state employee. I even
had to take a drug test. He helped
arrange for my checks to get deposited directly into my bank account and I even
got a raise. He also came to
reassure the bank officer that I was a full time police officer. I think that bank officer almost fainted several times.
The first time was when we told him the amount of the loan and my age.
Then when he found out I was a full time state police officer.
Then when we told him how much down payment we wanted to make.
Then he asked if I had any collateral and I showed him my bank account. Papa Smith explained that I was just establishing credit and
he seamed satisfied with that. We then went to a motorcycle store and paid for two 125cc
dirt bikes, helmets, pads, and guards. We
had enough protection to play football. We arranged for it to be delivered next Saturday on Danny’s
14th birthday. The next week flew buy.
By the end of the week Officer Miller felt that I was more than ready to
take my written and driving test as soon as I got back from Springfield.
So I ended up way ahead of schedule on getting my driver's license.
Mike and Mark called and told me that a week from Saturday they are going
to pick me up and we’ll drive to Springfield together. Saturday is a day I’ll never forget.
Rick and Bill (Danny’s friends) and their parents came over for a mini
birthday party for Danny. We were
able to keep the big surprise secret all week.
The party was in the back yard and Papa Smith had arranged to have both
bikes with huge red bows delivered in the garage while we were in the back yard.
Everyone gave Danny his gifts and they were all nice but he failed to get
anything from me. “Danny, I need to explain about the fact that I have no
gift for you.” “You don’t need to explain, Tommy.
Just having you with me part of the summer is enough for me.” “But I still need to explain. You see, I didn’t get something just for you.
I got something for us. It’s
not much but it’s something we can do together and with your dad.
It’s in the garage. Come
on, I’ll show you.” I could see he looked a little disappointed until we all
went into the garage and he saw two state of the art 125cc motorcross trail
bikes with the big red ribbon bows. Then
he pulled me into a huge hug and kissed me full on the lips.
He pulled back and I could see tears in his eyes. “How did you ever talk my parents into getting these
bikes? I’ve dreamed of this day
all my life. I can’t wait to try
them out. Dad, will you teach us
right now?” “First of all, Danny, I had one when I was your age so
I was able to talk your mom into it. Second,
this gift is from all of us but mainly Tommy.
There are rules you have to follow.
First, you NEVER ride alone. Second,
you MUST wear all the safety gear. Third,
you will NEVER ride on the street. You
must walk the bike over to the trail before you start the bike.
Fourth, before you are allowed to ride it without me around you must
attend a cycle safety course. I’ve signed both of you up for a safety course
next week. Then I’ll work with
you on how to keep from killing yourself. If
either of you break any of these rules I’ll slap a chain and lock them up so
fast it will make your head spin.” Papa Smith got out his 250cc bike and we walked them over
to the trails. He taught us how to
start them and how to work the brakes. He
pointed out stuff like if you try to stop and only hit the front brake you’ll
fly over the handlebars. He also
showed us how to shift the gears. We spent about 20 minutes just learning to use the clutch and
go from 1st to 2nd gears.
These bikes are harder to ride than they look on TV flying through the
air. We rode some more on Sunday and then on Monday attended a
training course. It only lasted 3
hours for 2 days but we learned everything we needed to know about proper use
and care of a motor bike. We spent
the week learning how to stay upright. There
were other guys riding on the trails who were real good but they didn’t make
fun of us. We managed to get
through the week without busting up ourselves or the motor bikes. If you’re getting the idea that the last three-weeks
went by incredibly fast, you’re right. Now
it’s Saturday and Mike and Mark will be here any minute.
Both Danny and I are trying real hard to hold back tears.
School starts in a week and Labor Day weekend is not until one week after
school starts so I won’t see Danny for at least two weeks.
Starting school with Bill and Rick should help.
Myself, I’m not looking forward to going back to Springfield but it has
to be done. I’m not scared.
I know I can handle myself. At
least not at what I’m going to have to do.
What scares me is perhaps my dad is at fault.
If he is responsible then I can’t think of a better person to stop him
than me. I’m the last person
he’d ever suspect as police. To
him I'm not even his son any more. I’m
just some fag. Mark and Mike’s truck pulled in the driveway and I
hugged Danny. “This is it,
bud.” To be continued… |