The Wolf and Me: The Seven Sequels

by Richard Scrimger

  The phone rings a bit more and then stops.

  Sorry I say. I cant get thru.

  We try again and again and then the driver gives up and turns to go. On his way out he pats Joe on the back—witch he has to reach up to do.

  You keep trying Joe he says. You and Lubor and Vi are in charge of Bunny. Get him to talk to his brother. I am going to the square now to check on the others. Keep Bunny safe for now he says.

  For now? I think. What does that mean—for now?

  We all look at the clock. 6:32.

  Sure Dusan says Joe.

  Dusan?

  I know the name now—I thot it was Susan the first time I herd it.

  Your Dusan? I say to the driver.

  He is standing in the door way.

  It is 1 of my names he says and walks away.

  He knows what he wants. And hes neat and tidy—even tho he has a lame mustash. If I ever see Dusan again I will tell him who he reminds me of. Hell be surprised.

  Joe walks out with him. The door slams shut. Its just me and the clock now.

  6:35.

  I think about Spencer doing something to save me because I am kid napped. I do not like the thot at all.

  I wonder wuld I do something to save him? Course I wuld. But I am unhappy. It is no fun to need saving.

  I wish I was back in the police station. Then I culd call Spencer and tell him I am safe and he wuld not have to do the thing that Dusan wants him to do. Even Bets jail is better than here. I worked hard and came a long way to be here like Dusan said—but I ended up in the worst place I can be.

  I feel bad and useless and a failure and my feet hurt. I wonder what I can do. Words come back to me. Do what you say your going to do. Help as many as you can. These are good things to have on your grave stone. He helped many. He did what he said he would. But I still feel bad. 6:36.

  Im yawning all the time.

  The wolfs words come back to me—take care of yourself Bernard.

  Im not mad at him—the wolf I mean. Im not mad at Grampa ether. I culd be mad because he didnt tell me Vi and Dusan were in the car. But I still trust him and I will try to take care of myself. The clock says 6:38.

  When I wake up it says 11:15. I do some push ups and some jumps. Sleep helped me. I’m ready to go. Thanks for the advice Grampa. I feel better. Witch is funny because talking to Grampa didn’t always make me feel better when he was alive.

  WE TRY DIFFERENT PHONES.

  Lubors and Vis and Joes. I remember how Joe told me his phone didnt work. Now he wants me to use it and it really doesnt work. What do they call that kind of joke? Its not funny. But something.

  11:35.

  If I was back at Creekside it would be lites out.

  You didnt call Creekside did you? I ask Joe. But hes not paying attention. He frowns at the phone in my hand witch rings and then stops. We are not getting thru. I remember the old lady who thot I was God. Not even you can get the phones to work she said. Joe presses redial and we try again. Still nothing.

  Why doesnt Vis mom have a landline? he mutters.

  I know a bit about what is going on by now. Theres a New Years Eve concert and something is going to happen and it will be about Pee Yan Vee Yah. Thats all I know for sure because Lubor and Joe talk a lot of Pee Yan Vee Yan and I have no idea what there saying. And even when they speak English I do not know what they mean a lot of the time. They talk about 80 a lot. Is 80 there yet? Whos with 80? When is 80 going on? Will 80 know the words?

  What is this 80? I asked when I was trying Vis phone.

  It was like 80 was somebodys uncle—or an animal like a hamster.

  80 is old if its a person I said.

  And if theres an 80 year old hamster its a miracle.

  80 is letters Vi told me. A and T.

  Oh. AT. Whoever that is.

  Her phone didnt work either.

  That was a few minits ago. Now it is 11:47 and they are all back in the room together and something is going on because they have coats and boots on. Joe holds my skates.

  We have to get closer he says. AT will be going onstage soon and we have to find a phone signal. Come on.

  We walk upstares. Joe and Lubor hold onto my arms. Vi talks to me.

  We are going for a car ride she says. Its about twenty minits from here to the concert. We need you to be awake to talk to your brother. So you have to be good. No running away. No shouting ok?

  I dont know what to say. There are more of them and they are bigger and stronger than me and I have no shoes.

  Promise? she says. Promise you will not try to escape and you can sit in the car until we find a signal from your brothers phone.

  I shake my head.

  I cant promise I say.

  Im wondering if she will slap me again but she doesnt.

  Lubor! she calls.

  Next thing I know there is a thing on my head like a blanket or something. I cant see. Lubor and I gess Joe grab my arms and legs and carry me outside.

  Help! I yell. Help!!

  Nobody comes to save me. Im thrown into a place that smells like dust. I hear a click and then silence. It takes me a while to get free of the blanket because I cant see or stretch out very far. When my head is clear I still cant see. Its super dark. There are 2 lumps near me—my skates. And a bigger lump under me—a spare tire. I hear a familiar rumbling noise and feel a vibration around but mostly under me. We start to move.

  BUMP BUMP SLIDE BUMP.

  Ow. I am an idiot. Why didnt I promise not to escape? I could be sitting in the back seat of the car rite now insted of sliding around the trunk getting hurt every time we run over a pot hole or stop at a stop sine.

  Bump bump bump. This is how it all started—me in the trunk. I dont know how much time I will have befor they get a phone signal. I shuld get ready to escape. The only thing I can think of is to put on my skates. Its not much of an idea but a skater can move quick across the ice. If theres ice.

  I twist around like a worm on a fish hook to get my skates on my sore feet. It takes a while in the dark with all the bumps and jolts. I work up a swet. I am the hottest I have been since I dont know when. But at last the skates are on. I take a breath. If theres ice on the Toronto streets I can maybe get away.

  The pop song surprises me. Not witch song it is—You baby you baby you are the 1. You hear that song all the time. Aiden Tween is hard to miss. But I dont expect to hear him coming out of my pants.

  I reach into my pocket and pull out the phone. Its working now. Full power. There were no bars befor but now they are all lit up. Lites are flashing.

  Befor I can say hello into the phone I hear a loud voice tell me Ive won a chance to go on a dream vacation. Lucky you! says the voice. Its a what do you call them—guys who sell stuff on the phone. Only its really a tape recording. Mom hates them. She shouts into the phone until Dad tells her to chill. Then she slams down the phone and shouts at Dad.

  I end the call and stare at the phone. This is my chance. I dont know why the phone is working but it is. I slide up my coat sleeve and my shirt sleeve and use the lite from the phone to read the number on my arm. The call to my brother goes thru—first time tonite. I am about to give up when the ringing stops and Spencer says hi. I say hi.

  BUNNY! HE SAYS.

  He recognizes my voice rite away and he sounds really happy to hear from me. I almost start to cry. I dont tho. He asks where I am.

  In Toronto I say. In a car.

  Fantastic Bun! he shouts. Your home safe.

  Well actually—I start but he interrupts me.

  Mom said you would be okay he says. Man am I ever glad.

  Mom? I say.

  Yeah. She knows all about you. She sees this you know.

  At least thats what I think he says. I dont understand. What can Mom see? Doesnt matter—I dont have much time. If the signal is good enough to get thru now then Joe will be stopping the car soon.

  Spencer call the cops I say. Tell them—

  And I stop. Its my
usual problem. I dont know enuff. I dont know whats going on at the concert or where Dusan is or the license plate of this car. I dont even know anything about AT xept its probly not a hamster. But I have a working phone and a chance to talk to my brother. This is help and I shuld use it.

  Im going to get away Spencer I say. I have my skates. So dont do it ok?

  Dont—

  Whatever they want you to do at the concert I say. Dusan and those guys. The kid nappers. Dont do it.

  I cant hear you Bun he says.

  And dont worry about me.

  Dont—

  Dont worry! I almost shout.

  OK see you soon he says. Have fun.

  He clicks off.

  Fun? What does he think is going on? Has he herd anything I said?

  I didnt get a chance to tell him about Dusan. Theres a mistery—or why would Dusan remind me of Jade? Im sure theres a reason. Jade is a mistery 2. But Spencer hung up so quick I didnt get a chance to say any of this.

  Bump. Bump. It feels like the car is running over a bunch of holes. Bump bump bump.

  And then the world ends with a—

  BANG!

  Thats what it sounds like.

  BANG!

  Something is happening in front of me. Something loud—like firecrackers or bombs. The car starts to spin. 1 time around. 2 times. Are the bombs part of the Pee Yan Vee Yah plan? There is a down and an up as well as a round and round. I feel like I am on a ride at Wonderland only I cant see anything and I dont have a seat belt on. I keep bumping into parts of the trunk.

  BANG!

  Another loud something happens beside me and we start spinning the other way. Noises are coming from all over. Horns and brake squeals and yells. Loud yells. Weird ones that dont even sound human. Whatevers going on is big and bad and lasts a long time. If this was a TV show itd be in slow motion. And its all in the dark.

  I remember the word I was trying to think of befor. Telemarketer. Thats the word.

  Time keeps going by.

  The car stops spinning. Im pressed against the side of the trunk. The car is tilted with my side lower than the other. I wait. I have no idea what to expect. Its still noisy outside—like Im inside a thunderstorm. And then comes the loudest thunder clap of all—the one where the storm is rite over head and the thunder and the litening come together.

  CRACK!!

  It happens rite at my feet. I shoot forward and hit my sholder on something. The trunk pops wide open. Its cold. I take a breath and shake my head to clear it. Im looking up. I can see a moon and some street lites and the front of a station wagon that bumped into us from behind and popped the trunk.

  Do something.

  I have to do something.

  My brain is slow—I mean its always slow but it is even slower now. I hear a scream. And another. And then a lot of bellowing.

  Do something.

  Escape! Rite. This is my chance. I sit up and the world spins. I have to shake my head again. Come on Bunny.

  I start to crawl out. I have my hand on the edge of the trunk when I take a look around and realize how very strange the hole thing is.

  I KNOW SOME OF THE TRUTH RITE AWAY.

  I find some out later. And some of it I still dont know. Heres what I see from the trunk of Joes car.

  We are in a field of ice and snow. Not a farm field—a city kind. We are in Toronto. The white gates of the CNE are rite over there. I can see them. Theres a road on my left and then an other field with a baseball diamond and then Lake Ontario witch is big and dark and empty. On my rite is a street going up a hill and a big overpass. The grounds uneven and thats why we are tilted. The station wagon that popped the trunk is near by. It bounced back and there is a big white balloon in the front seat. All around me are cows.

  Yes thats what I said.

  The biggest thing in the field is a huge truck that carries cows. Used to I mean. You know the kind of truck—it has holes in the sides for the cows to breath. Or the pigs or whatever animal. This truck was carrying cows and now it is lying half on its side in the middle of the field with the back doors open. The cows are out. Some of them are rite there. I dont think Ive ever been this close to cows befor. You know what—they are big. These are anyway. They are black and white and as tall as the car. They have horns and round wet eyes. There breath comes out in clouds around there heads.

  Im surprised by the axident—the bangs and the spinning around—and Im surprised to find myself in a place I know like the CNE but I am even more surprised by the cows. I dont know what I expect when the trunk pops up but not this. I find out later that the cow truck hit a patch of ice and skidded across 2 lanes and into the icy field. Our car and the station wagon were beside the truck and it carried us along. Nobody was hurt in the crash itself—all the injuries happen now.

  Joe and Vi and Lubor are all ready out of the car. They see me. Lubor moves toward the trunk. He has a phone in his hand and a grim nasty look on his face.

  Wheres AT now? he says into the phone.

  Do something I think. I will have to be fast if I want to get away.

  Watch out! yells Joe. These cows are spooked.

  What do you mean? says Lubor. They are just cows.

  No no says Joe. I live in the country and I have seen—

  Lubor tries to push a cow out of the way. Something happens that I can not see and he goes down screaming. Vi drops to her nees to help him and the cow kicks her. I see this. Vi is beside the cow and the animal lifts its leg side ways and kicks Vi in the neck. Really—a side ways kick. Vi goes sprawly on the ice beside Lubor whose leg is bent in a way that makes me sick to look at. The cow lifts her head and bellows loud and long. Its a cow noise but it sounds like a truck going up hill. She starts to run. The other cows follow her—big and slippy sloppy and crazy mad.

  I watch Vi because I want to know if she is alive. She is. She moves her head and then puts it back down on the ice again.

  The cows slide around the field like birds flying this way and then that way.

  The driver of the station wagon is a man in a suit and tie and nice coat and gloves. He looks like hes just come from the bank. When he sees the cows he climbs back inside the car with the big white balloon in the front seat.

  Do something.

  I step down from the trunk onto the ice and take a wobbly stride on my skates—and theres Joe with his super strong hand on my arm. He’s got me again. I try to pull away but Joe hangs on.

  I am not letting you go he says.

  Why?

  He doesnt anser.

  Why? I say louder.

  Im not asking about letting go. I want to know why they are doing this. Why kid nap me and chase me around? What does it matter about where Grampa put the anthem? What does it matter if Spencer finds it? Whats it all about?

  Joe understands. He nods.

  I love my country he says.

  What? Canada?

  He shakes his head.

  Pee Yan Vee Yah is my real home country he says—and it is not free. I would do anything to free it. Lubor and Vi feel the same way. And Dusan. We live in North America now but we love Pee Yan Vee Yah.

  But you work for us—for Canada, I say. Your a kind of police man. You have to serve and protect like it says on the cars.

  Do you care about your country Bunny? he asks. What if Canada was in chains? Wuldnt you work to make it free?

  Chains? I say.

  Thats what the SPCA is about, he says.

  At the customs place he dint know about the SPCA but now he does. He tells me what the letters stand for—something about Saving Pee Yan Vee Yah and a counter army. I dont get it. I dont get any of this.

  No but—chains? I say.

  Wuldnt you want the world to know your story? he asks. Wuldnt you want Aiden Tween to sing your national anthem? That is happening at city hall. That is why you must speak to your brother he says.

  His face is long and his eyes are dark and hooded. It is totally weerd—he is walking me across
a field of escaped cows talking about Aiden Tween and a counter army and chains around a place I never herd of until this week. Behind us Vi and Lubor are lying on the ice. Maybe they love Pee Yan Vee Yah as much as Joe does. Maybe Joe is hurt rite now. Maybe he was hit on the head and is a bit crazy.

  Cows eh? Didnt I say they were mean?

  The sky over the lake xplodes. Theres a ball of red and gold stars. Fireworks. It must be New Years. Joe is surprised enuff to look up and stumble and lose his balance. I take my chance and push. He stumbles some more. I push again and he falls to the ground.

  The field has lousy ice but skating is still faster than walking. I take off. The cows are ahead of me and I go around them. Joe scrambles to his feet and tries to cut me off but he skids into a cow and she kicks him in the side. He falls. The cows gallop away.

  A blu and green lite hangs in the sky and then a brite white comet type thing fizzles up and dies. I hear a clap of thunder. A shower of yellowy stars rains on us.

  Joe is down. Vi and Lubor are still down. There is nobody moving around but me and the cows. They are clumped together by the big truck. I skate to the edge of the field near the CNE gates and hop onto the road. I know what to do now. I get out the phone and call a number from memory.

  HI THANKS FOR CALLING OTOOLE CENTRAL.

  At the sound of the tone leave a message for Deb Jerry Bunny or Spencer and well get back to you Scouts honor. And dont forget to wonder whats so crazy about peace love and understanding.

  Dads voice. I hang up and call the other number I know. Jade ansers rite away. It sounds like there is a party in the background. When I say who I am the party sounds go away and it is just Jades voice.

  Where are you Bunny? I dont know this phone number.

  I explain what is going on—some of it. And where I am and what I want. Jade promises to help.

  I know somebody who can get there in 10 minits. Look for a taxi.