The Wolf and Me: The Seven Sequels

by Richard Scrimger

  wanted me to tell them about Grampa and papers but I didnt know much. The big boss in the red mask got mad.

  Where does McLean keep papers? he shouted. Where is the anthem? Where?

  He took a gun out of his pocket and started waving it around.

  Talk! he shouted. Or I will shoot you!

  I wuld of been scareder but I had to go to the bathroom. Its hard to be scared when you really have to pee.

  Vi stepped in between the boss guy and me.

  Let Bunny alone. He doesnt know anything she said.

  She pushed him out of the way even tho he was much bigger than her.

  The three mask guys went off and talked to each other. I didnt understand what they said but I herd the word Spencer.

  Spencer is my brother I said.

  So they started to ask me about Spencer.

  Does he know where is the anthem? asked the boss.

  I dont know I said.

  Spencer is a smart guy. He doesnt always see stuff but he knows stuff. He didnt see Grampa in the video we looked at. Even tho it was clear to me.

  I wanted to call him but I didnt have my phone. It was in my pocket when I was skating but I didnt have it now. Did Spencer know where I was? Probly not. Was he worryed? Probly.

  We will call Spencer the boss told me.

  Can I talk to him? I asked.

  No said the boss.

  He left with the other 2 mask guys. It was only me and Vi.

  Sorry Bunny she said.

  Thats ok I said.

  No it isnt. We shuld treat you better. I believe in our cause but I dont want to hurt you.

  She was talking soft. Her eyes were big and wet like she was about to cry. Im sorry she said agane. What can I get you?

  Uh I said.

  Wuld you like something to eat?

  Yes I said. But uh first—

  I was hopping up and down.

  Oh she said.

  There was a black mask guy standing at the top of the basement stares. He nodded down to me. The bathroom was small and dusty. The stone floor was cold on my winter sock feet. I didnt care at all.

  When I got back to my room Vi had a paper and pencil in her hand.

  Rite a note she said. Put down what you know about what is going on and I will deliver it. Do you want to go to the police? I will take it to there. What we are doing is rong. I am on your side she said.

  I didnt know what to say.

  Trust me she said.

  And she left.

  That was a few minits ago. I wrote the note about what I culd see from my window—the barn and the speed limit sine—and now I am wating for Vi to come back so I can give it to her.

  I CAN TAKE THIS TO THE POLICE SHE SAYS.

  She is wearing a scarf now.

  Sure I say. Or give it to somebody who can give it to the police.

  I dont want you to get in trouble I say.

  That is okay she says. I do not like what Lubor is doing to you. He is mean.

  Who is Lubor? I say.

  I dont know how to spell the name. It may be Lewbor or Luboar or something else. But Lubor is what it sounds like so that is how I am riting it.

  Lubor is the boss of this sell says Vi. He is in charge of us.

  Oh I say. Then I have to ask what she means.

  What is a sell?

  We are. All of us in the unit says Vi. Lubor is in charge. When he said we were going to Toronto to kid nap someone I thot we wuld be nice. I didnt know how mean we culd be she says.

  She reads the note again and nods to her self.

  Is this all you know Bunny? she says. Do you know where is the anthem? Where your grampa wuld keep it? In his house? In his bank?

  No I say. Spencer mite know but I dont.

  She puts the note in her pocket. I hate that Lubor she says.

  He is the big guy in the red mask?

  Yes Bunny. I am on your side not his. I will take this letter to the police. Wait for them, ok? Do not try to escape—I dont want you to get hurt.

  OK I say.

  Great she says. We are on the same side now.

  And she leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. She smells nice.

  Thats our secret she says.

  And she goes.

  Its cold in the basement but I am not cold.

  I WAIT FOR THE POLICE ALL DAY.

  They do not come. I think about good and bad and James Bond. Is he a good guy just because he is on our side? If he was on the other side wuld he still be a good guy? And what if we were on the other side? Wuld he be a bad guy even tho he is James Bond? I start to get confused and switch to thinking about Grampa. Was he bad or good? I gess it depends what side you are on.

  Vi is good. She doesnt like Lubor and she kissed me. That’s one way to tell if someone is good. If they kiss you.

  I keep looking out the window to see if the police are coming. A truck goes by and a car—but not a police car. It slides sideways down the road. It is not going 40—more like 10. A mask guy comes down with a sandwich and some more water. He takes me to the bathroom.

  1 time when I am looking out the window I see the guys in the black masks working behind the wood fence with shovels and you will never believe what they are doing. Go on gess.

  They are getting ready to skate.

  There is a rink inside the fence and they are cleaning it. It doesnt take them long. Soon they are skating. I see them bent over going fast and faster around the rink. One of them is a pretty good skater and the other is pretty bad. That is a way to tell them apart because other wise they are the same. There is just the 2 of them for a while and then 2 other guys come out. They dont have masks.

  They play hockey for a bit. I see there sticks. When the puck goes over the bords they get it. One of them has boots on and the others have skates. Every body is breathing hard. I cant tell about the guys with masks but the guys without masks are smiling. Where ever these guys are from they like hockey.

  I shiver in my blanket all nite long. In the morning the window is frosted over. I cant see anything. My breath is frosty. A mask guy takes me to the bathroom witch is so cold the tap doesnt work. Time passes slowly. Like it has big boots and can not lift its feet.

  Vi comes in with breakfast—toast and jam and water like yesterday. She smiles at me.

  I handed in the note she says. I didnt have a lot of time in town yesterday but I ran into the police station and gave it to them.

  Great I say. So when are the police coming?

  Soon she says. You wait here and you will be ok.

  I wonder if she is going to kiss me again. The last person to kiss me was Jade. Its not like shes my girl frend but still. I wonder how old Vi is? Older than me but how much older? A black mask guy comes in and Vi goes away. Oh well.

  The mask guy talks to me while I eat.

  You are a boy from Canada he says. You have skates.

  Uh huh I say.

  I am thinking that rite now my rented skates are all I have. My boots are back at the city hall.

  The guy talks some more. He tells me about himself. He is not from Canada. His home is a place that sounds like Pee and Vee. He asks if I have heard of some guy who plays hockey for Vancoover in the NHL. This player is from Pee and Vee he says. He is a hero there.

  I have never heard of Pee and Vee. I do not know if it is a country or a city or what it is. I do not know the NHL player ether.

  But you play hockey yes? the mask guy asks.

  I nod. I am not bad. I am better than my brother and his frends. I like skating.

  Wuld you—

  He stops then goes on.

  Wuld you play with us? he asks. There is a rink in the front yard. We wuld like to play with a Canadian player. Please play with us Bunny.

  I dont know what to say. He sounds like an ok guy.

  I gess so I say.

  We shake hands. He tells me his name.

  Bojan? I say. He shrugs. Maybe I am saying it rong. It is something like Bojan.


  THE SUN IS DOWN BUT THERE IS STILL LITE IN THE SKY.

  I am playing hockey with Bojan and the other mask guy whose name is Peter. I am on there team. Lubor the big boss is playing with 2 guys I dont know. The score is 4 to 4 or maybe 5 to 5. It is tyed.

  Vi comes out and then goes back in. She is not a hockey fan. Or maybe she doesnt want to be with Lubor.

  I skate hard. My blades are sharp. I am having fun—witch sounds stupid because after all these are my kid nappers. I am a hoss stage. But the only guy I dont like is Lubor and when you play a game with a bunch of people there is usually somebody you dont like.

  Think about that.

  There is some shoving and elbowing but nobody gets mad xept Lubor. One time I am over by the bords and he trys to cross check me. I duck and the stick goes over my head. I tell him to watch out. Shut up he says. There is a ring of white ice around the mouth of his red mask from where he is breathing. I pass to Peter behind my back and he scores. Lubor slams his stick down on the ice.

  On the next rush one of the new guys has the puck. He has boots on and is sliding over the ice. His nose drips. He passes to Lubor but I get my stick out and stop the puck. Lubor charges at me like a bull going after Bugs Bunny. I duck at the last minit and Lubor goes flying over me and hits his head on the bords and lands on the ice and starts to bleed.

  We stop playing and carry him inside. Lubor is out cold. The kitchen is the first room we come to and we lay him on the table.

  When Vi sees him she starts to cry.

  That is rite. She runs over and takes his head in her hands and kisses him. And then glares at me.

  You did this she says.

  What? I say.

  You and Lubor hate each other she says.

  She is crying and holding Lubor and calling his name and I am surprised as anything.

  AS ANYTHING.

  I say the first thing that comes to me.

  Your the good cop I say.

  Like in a police show you know? Theres a bad cop and a good cop. They seem different but they are working together. They are both cops. So Lubor is scaring me and Vi is kissing me but they both want the same thing. They want to know what I know about Grampa and the anthem.

  I forget that Peter and Bojan and the others are there. It is just me and Vi and she is a lyer. She does not hate Lubor. She likes him. She has always liked him. She did not take my note to the police. She and I are not on the same side. She was lying to me all this time.

  Wow I say. Wow I think.

  I walk outside. Bojan comes with me. And so does the guy with the drippy nose. They are garding me. Bojan takes off his skates and puts his boots back on.

  I breath in the fresh air. It is cold and clean winter air.

  Vi is not on my side. The police are not coming to get me and bring me home. Wow.

  I trusted her and I was rong.

  There are no cars on the road. I can hear the nite sounds and the cold sounds—the crack of the ice and the wistle of the wind. I hop over to the rink and skate around while Bojan and the drippy nose guy watch. It is cold and the hi way lites show all the snow and ice that is packed and stacked and planked down. The drive way is coverd. So is the road. It is ice as far as I can see. A real Canadian winter seen.

  I get an idea. Partly it is from knowing that the police are not coming. Partly it is from wanting to get back to Creekside and call Spencer who will be worryed. A lot of it is not wanting to be a hoss stage. I had some fun playing hockey but I am not having fun now and I do not want to help these people. My idea is to get away now. Bojan and the other guy are in boots. I am in skates. I can go faster than them. Lubor is sleeping. Vi cant catch me. Why not skate away rite now?

  So I do. I hop over the bords and head for the drive. Bojan takes a minit to work out what is happening and then yells at me.

  Bunny stop!

  Bojan is sort of an ok guy. I can play hockey with him. But I dont want to be his prisoner. I skate down the drive and turn. The road is icy. I am going ok. A bit bumpy but ok. I skate past the 40 sine. I dont know what way I am going but it doesnt matter. I am going away from my prison and that is the rite way.

  I am skating home.

  THINGS GET UGLY RITE AWAY.

  I hear the car start up. Oh crap! I think. How can I skate faster than a car can drive? I call myself names. Stupid I think. Dummy. They are rite about you. You can not plan a head.

  I look back over my sholder to see where the car is. And I start to laff. The ice is every where and the car is not going the way Bojan wants it to go. I watch it slide down the drive and across the road and into the ditch at the far side. The drippy nose guy has all ready slipped. He is lying on his back in the drive way.

  Maybe I am smarter than I know.

  My skates cut into the ice. I zoom along. The road bends to the rite and I follow the bend. I can not see the Newman place any more. There is lite in the sky to my left. And there are street lites every now and then. I pass another car in the ditch and then a truck in the ditch. No one is driving. I keep going. I can do this as long as I have to. I keep my eyes open for a place to stop and get help.

  Skate skate skate.

  The first place I pass has no lites on. Nether does the second. The places are far apart. There are fields in between. I am some where in the country. The third place is lit up but no one is home. I try the front door and the back but no one comes.

  I wonder what I shuld do. The place has a clear patch of ice in the back with some snow piled up. I hop over the snow and skate across the open ice for something to do. I remember learning to skate. Dads arms around me. Mom telling him to let me go. Dad worrying about me falling. Mom saying so what every body falls.

  My mom—tuff lady.

  I get back on the road and keep skating. I pass another speed limit sine. It looks rong somehow. And then I come to a salt truck. It is resting by the side of the road. I am so happy. I skate up to the door and wave my hands. The driver rolls down his window.

  Help he says. A surprise since I was going to ask him for help.

  What?

  Im stuck he says. And my sell phone is out of power. Do you have a sell phone kid?

  I shake my head.

  Sorry.

  Well can you go home and tell your mom or dad to call in? This stupid wether is killing me. Im supposed to get 40 miles of hi way salted and I am stuck in the ditch.

  Sorry I say again.

  You got the rite idea he says. Skates. Wish I had em.

  Yah I say.

  Go home kid he says rolling up the window.

  Skate rite home. Thats what I want to do.

  This guy is not going to save me. I skate away. I keep going until I come to my first cross street. Still no cars or walkers. Or skaters. Theres a sine that says RICO CITY LIMIT with an arrow pointing the way but I cant see a city. Or even a house. I have never heard of Rico Ontario. Not even on the wether report from CBC that they listen to at Creekside witch is how I have herd of Red Lake Pickle Lake Kenora and Rainy River.

  I turn left to follow the arrow. I can skate faster than I can run. I bend over and put my hands on my nees to go even faster. Nothing but woods and stars for a while. The next place I come to has a lite on the porch and a car in the drive. I skate up the walk and ring the bell. I hear it like a voice in a dream. Bing Bong. No 1 comes out.

  I put up my hands to cup my face and look thru the window beside the door. I can see into the living room. And there is the woman who lives here. She is in her house.

  Only problem—she seems to be dead. O wait no. She gets up.

  THE OLD LADYS LEGS WORK LIKE MY BRAIN

  —slow and not strait. She opens the door and peers up at me.

  You are not God are you? she says.

  What? I say.

  I was having the most wonderful dream she says. God was showing me how the univers works and I was taking notes. And then the grate bell to end all time was ringing in my dream and it was the door bell.

 
I dont know what to say.

  In my dream God had a beerd she says. Why dont you dont have a beerd?

  Because I am not God you crazy lady.

  I dont say that.

  I cant grow a beerd—I am only fifteen.

  I dont say that ether.

  Can I use your phone? I say.

  She lets me in and I start to see how hard this is going to be. I do not know Spencers number. It is in my phone not in my brain. I know the first three numbers because they are the same as mine. But I dont know the others. I stare at the ladys phone and go blank.

  Then I remember the cops and phone 911 and they put me on hold. A machine voice tells me what to do. The system is over loded they say. We will reply as soon as we can. Thank you for calling they say. Leave a message they say.

  I do not believe it. What if I am being robbed? What if I am on fire? If you have a medical emergency press 1 says the voice. If you have a police emergency press 2. If you have a—

  I want a person I say. The voice doesnt say anything back. I hang up.

  I am in a kitchen. The wall paper has flowers on it. The sink is empty. There is a little towel on the frig door. It is a kitchen from a TV ad. If only it was sunny I wuld xpect to see Mr Clean. But it is nite. It is always sunny in Mr Clean ads. He never shows up in nite kitchens.

  I try to think what numbers I know apart from 911.

  The first one that comes to mind is a pizza place. I do not call that. I think harder and come up with my parents. I phone home and get the machine. It is funny to here my dad telling me to leave my name and number. Dad is so frendly. I take a deep breath and wish I was there insted of here.

  I hang up.

  Are you ok? asks the old lady. I am in her kitchen dripping with swet and snow and standing a foot taller than her in my skates. She is not scared of me at all. She is staring at me like I am Christmas.

  Im trying to remember who I know I say.

  You know every body in the world says the old lady. You even know how many hairs they have on there heads.

  I dont know what she is talking about. I am thinking of something else. What phone numbers do I know?