No says Bet.
Teena scrunches up her face and stomps out the door.
OK SAYS BET.
I will help you. But first what is your name?
I shake my head. I dont want to tell her. I dont want to give her anything.
OK she says again. Get dressed. I wont look.
She turns away and I pull on my close. The air is warm and smells like cement and soap. Better than Creekside.
I want to make sure.
How do I know you will help me get out? I ask her.
Cause I said I wuld.
But why shuld I beleeve you?
She doesnt turn around. I can see her sholders bunch up under her suit.
Are you calling me a lyer? she says.
Maybe I say.
I am thinking about Vi. I beleeved her and I was rong.
Bet doesnt talk for a second. The hole in the wall is about the size of a fist. And it is about the same place her fist wuld be if she punched the wall.
Are you dressed yet? she says. Can I turn round?
Yes I say.
So she turns and she is mad all rite. Her face was dark befor but it is darker now. Her eyes are thin and her hands are fists.
I am a bad girl she says. The judge said so. I do not have a lot going for me. I am not rich or pretty and my parents dont love me. I am a JO—I broke my uncles arm and I am here because of it she says. I am angry a lot of the time. But I do what I say I will do. My frend Tracy lives in my bilding back home she says. Tracy isnt my mom or anything but she gives good advice. Keep your word she says. If you say you are going to do something do it. No matter how it turns out you will be able to live with yourself because you did what you said you would do. Your word is good.
Bet is looking away from me. She is thinking about her frend Tracy. Her eyes are long distance. She is knowing things. Vi never looked like that. Not even when she kissed me.
I said I wuld help you says Bet. And I will. Or I will go down trying to help you. If you dont trust me—well you wont. But you will be rong.
A bell rings some where down the hall and the lites go off in the dorms. They do this in Creekside to save energy. We are supposed to go to the common areas now—gym or dining hall or class.
Bet doesnt move. The whites of her eyes disappear and then come back when she blinks. I cant say when someone is lying but sometimes I can tell when they are not. Bet is not.
My name is Bunny I say.
She nods. I put out my hand and we shake. Her hands are as big as mine.
My hall looks just like this I say. Thats why I broke in last nite. Sorry. Now I have to get back to Creekside befor my Christmas pass runs out. Thanks for helping I say.
She looks away.
Whats a JO? I ask.
Juvenile offender she says.
Oh.
And why did you break your uncles arm? I ask.
None of your dam business.
THE ONLY REASON I HAVENT BEEN FOUND OUT YET
is cause of the holidays. Other girls normally live in this room along with Teena and Bet. I was in 1 of there beds last nite.
And we dont have much time says Bet. Teena is a chatty girl. She will talk even tho she shuldnt. Skrillex will find out.
Skrillex is a gard? I say.
She is awful. She makes you want to scream. Come with me now.
I start toward the door.
Stop says Bet. Walk slower and swing your hips.
She found a green jump suit that is almost my size and I have it on and also a big towel around my head.
Hows this? I ask.
Pretty bad says Bet. You make an ugly girl Bunny.
She is smiling but not with her eyes. She carries a green garbage bag. I am wearing sandals that hide my guy feet and are better to walk in than my skates witch are in the garbage bag along with my coat and hat.
The hall is brite like at Creekside. Lots of ways the 2 places are the same. The noise bounces around off the same hard walls and floors. The windows have the same bars on them.
A couple of guys go past talking about home. Sorry girls not guys. But they are talking the same as if this was Creekside and they were guys. One of them says how her home sucks and the other one says yah but it is better than here. Then they are past.
Take your hands out of your pockets Bunny says Bet. You just washed your hair. Thats why you have the towel. Use it to hide your hands.
Rite.
Visiting is in the caf like at Creekside. Bets plan is sneek me in so I can go out later with the other visitors. It is a good plan. All I need is a place to change back into a boy. And a reason to be there.
Who am I visiting? I ask.
Me you dummy says Bet. You can be my—
And she stops.
I know what she is thinking. Who can I be? Brother isnt rite. I am a lot whiter than her. Cousin maybe. But probly not.
Frend I say. I can be your frend visiting from Toronto or someplace.
Where? she says.
Toronto. You know—where the Maple Leafs are from.
I heard of it she says. Making a joke.
Some other girls are coming toward us. I dont see them—just there jump suits. I hide my head in the towel. I am afraid of bumping into a wall so I slow down.
I hear them say Hey Bet. I smell something sweet. Candy or something.
Hey says Bet.
I have to act like a girl but all I am doing is standing. Do girls stand different from guys? I never noticed.
Whos this? says a new voice. Shes a big one isnt she?
This heres Bunny says Bet. She just got here. Shes in C dorm with me.
Hi Bunny says a few voices. I hear them like a waterfall. Hi Hi Hi. I nod my towel.
Bunny cant talk on account of her cold says Bet.
It came on sudden after she washed her hair. Her voice drys up. Rite Bunny?
I nod.
Bunnys mom is coming to visit today so Im taking her to the visitors room says Bet.
I feel a hand on my elbow and hear her saying This way. A minit later I smell soap and cleaner and bathroom tile. I know where we are. I listen for voices and sounds of splashing or flushing but there arent any—we are alone.
Can I take off my towel? I ask.
Shh says Bet. Wernt supposed to be here.
She pushes me into a what do you call it—a place with a toilet—and throws the bag in after me. A stall. Thats what I mean.
Get changed quick and I will take you in to the visitors room she says.
I put on my old shirt and pants so I am a boy again. Its hot.
I hear a new voice outside. Not Bets. A woman it sounds like.
Hell she says.
Bets towel is on the toilet seat. I put it back on—in case.
Hell says the new voice. Hell hell hello Bet. Watcha watcha watcha doin here?
Her breath comes in pants in between her talking.
Watcha pant pant watcha doin? Skrillex says Bet.
Yournot she says. Yournot allowed yournot yournot yournot allowed—
Allowed in here on visitors day? Bet cuts in. Your rite Skrillex.
Skrillex is the gard who drives Bet crazy. If she talks like this all the time I beleeve it.
I was on my way to brekfast and I just had to go says Bet. Sorry.
Sorry? says Skrillex. Not so so so so so so so sorry enuff. This is out of bounds. Out of out of bounds. Im counting she says. Im counting the strokes youll get for breaking bounds. Can you gess? Gess how many? How many strokes? Can you can you can you?
I hear Bet thru the door of the stall. She goes Huhhh. Its always 14 she says.
Thats rite says Skrillex. Im counting to counting to 14. Im counting til counting til your sorry for breaking the rules. You are in so much so much so so so so so so much—
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 maybe 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 t
here 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.
The Wolf and Me: The Seven Sequels Page 4
