Chapter 6—MONDAY
“How was your weekend, Chris?”
“It was great. We had a good time. You?”
“Kathleen and I went to The City. It was really nice. I’ll tell you all about it later.” Blaise edged his desk closer to Chris. He looked back at the door to see if anyone was coming. They were fifteen minutes early for class, but Mr. Crumel sometimes showed up early. “So what’s up with Sammy?”
“Well, it’s all true—he’s in the Mavericks. He knows he made a big mistake and he wants out. The problem with that is he could get killed in the process of canceling his membership.”
“Not good.” Blaise checked the door again, and then looked back at Chris for more.
“He’s still Sammy, though. I mean we had a great time. I forgot about everything else and he was his old self and we had a blast. I’ve really missed him, Blaise. What in the hell are we gonna do? We can’t just leave him hangin'.”
“I don’t know what were gonna do, either. Terry and Johnny are handling it. You need to get with Johnny today and tell him everything you know. All right?”
“Johnny Monroe?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No. Johnny knows what to do.”
“Where did this come from?”
“Look, Terry knows the deal and he’s worked it all out with Johnny. They’ve got a plan or something; I don’t know. I don’t want to know. And you, my friend, need to be careful, too. You are predisposed to get too emotionally involved in this one. Let them handle it.”
“Johnny, huh?”
“Trust me. Just tell him everything you know. We can trust him.” Blaise scooted his desk back into his row.
Chris took a deep breath and let his head fall back. “Little Johnny.”
“Don’t underestimate our little friend. He’s a genius.”
Chris laughed in resignation. “Okay. Anyway, we had a great weekend. Caught some fish. Played ball. It was good.”
“All right,” Blaise said. “So you guys are gonna be okay?”
“I hope so.”
Chris saw Johnny right before science class. “Hey, Johnny. Let’s do lunch—we need to talk about some things”
“Yeah, sure,” Johnny said. He sat down in his seat in front of Vince.
Vince was sitting back in his chair. He put his foot on one of the legs of Johnny’s chair and gave it a push, turning it slightly. “Looks like Chris wants you back. Blaise’ll be jealous. By the way, did you tell him what I said?”
Johnny turned all the way around in his chair and said, “Yes, Vince. I passed him your little message.”
“So what’d he say?”
“He said you’re bitter, Vince. Get over it. Move on, man. For God’s sake, stop acting like a fifth grader.” Johnny turned back around to his desk and straightened his chair.
Vince looked at the back of Johnny’s head while giving thought to what he had just said. After it sunk in, Vince realized that Johnny had just humiliated him in front of anyone who might have been listening. He looked around to see who might have overheard.
The bell rang just as Brother James was entering the classroom. “Good morning students,” he said as he rounded the table at the front of the room. Everyone said good morning. Everyone, except Vince Januzi.
After class, Chris and Johnny headed for the lunchroom. They sat at a table against the wall where they hoped for some privacy. Chris got right to the point and told Johnny everything he knew about Sammy and the Mavericks.
“He’s right about one thing; the Mavericks are nothing to mess around with,” Johnny said. So what’s this Sammy guy like? How did he ever come across the Mavs?”
“He’s a great guy,” Chris said. He looked down at his tray and his voice quivered a little when he said, “He’s one of the greatest guys you could ever meet. It’s my fault.”
“What’s your fault?”
“Him being in the gang. Well, I didn’t get him into the gang. What I mean is…” Chris looked up at Johnny. “Sammy’s my cousin. We’ve always been best friends. I think what happened is, I got so busy with this place that we stopped hanging out together. He would just go home after school, or whatever, I don’t know; and I’d be doing crap with Blaise all day long.”
“That doesn’t make it your fault.”
“You do one thing and you can’t do something else. I know it’s not my fault, but it wouldn’t have happened if I was there. That’s what pisses me off.”
“Well, the important thing now is to get him out. Unfortunately, that’s the hard part. So I need to talk to Sammy, but I don’t even know him. When’s a good time for me to get with him.”
“Right now’s as good a time as any; he’s sitting right over there. See the blonde guy? That’s him.”
“Okay. Fine. And Chris, it’d be better if you just stayed out of it from here on in. I’ll let you know what’s going on at all times. I swear. But please, just let Terry and me handle it, okay?”
“What are you guys gonna do?”
Johnny looked at Chris and half smiled. He raised his eyebrows and said, “I don’t know.”
“Oh thank God. I feel better now that I know you’ve got a plan.”
“We’ve got a plan, Chris. I just don’t know exactly how we’re going to pull it off, but we’ll figure it out. Sammy’s got to give us some more details and then I’m sure it will all come together. I’ll keep you posted.”
“If you need anything you let me know.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Chris stood up. He reached across the table and shook Johnny’s hand. “You be careful too, you hear?”
“I hear ya.” Johnny picked up his tray and walked over to where Sammy was sitting with two other guys. On his way over, Johnny pondered the turn of events that had changed his life over the past two days. Terry and Blaise had caused him to recall everything he had ever learned about life in a dangerous world. He had given thought to many things he had previously hoped to forget. But it was different at Holy Cross; he felt protected. Maybe it was Blaise and some of the strong guys associated with him that made him feel safe. He felt like he could get away with things that would have been impossible at Lincoln. Besides, Blaise had called him in on this one.
Johnny placed his tray on the table and sat down next to Sammy. “Hi Sammy. Can we talk?” Johnny could feel the other guys looking at him.
Sammy did not know Johnny, but he had seen him having lunch with Chris. He guessed the ball was rolling and this guy had something to do with it. He turned to his two friends and asked if they were finished eating. They said they were, and then Sammy told them to beat it. The two boys just stood up with their trays and walked away.
Sammy looked Johnny over and said, “So, who are you?”
“I’m your coach.”
“My coach?”
“I’m your acting coach. You’ve gotta learn some lines before we can get you back on the straight and narrow.”
“I see. So what were you and Chris talking about?”
“You.”
“I figured that. What did he say about me?”
Johnny took a deep breath, exhaled, and said, “He said you were a great guy, and that I should let him know if we need anything.”
“Are you trying to be funny?” Sammy asked. He did not like being the subject of lunchtime discussions, and it embarrassed him to know that a network of guys was trying to undo his screw-ups.
Johnny looked at Sammy flatly. “No. I’m not. And look, Sammy; I’m doing this as a favor for Chris and Blaise. I don’t have to tell you how serious it is, but you’ve gotta tell me one thing: do you really want out?”
Sammy looked away while he thought. Until just then he had not thought about it. He had only felt caught, cornered, and exposed. Like Chris had said, he had to stop. Defying their commitment to getting him
out would not be a smart move, and he could not stay in the Mavs without continuing business on campus.
He looked back at Johnny. “Do I have a choice?”
“No. You really don’t. Not the way I see it. But still, you’ve got to want out to make this thing work.”
“What thing?”
“We’re gonna bust you out.”
“I don’t follow. What are you talking about, a rumble or something?”
“No. Not a fight. Murder. Cold blooded murder.”
They met down in The Paper after school. Blaise handed Chris several sheets of notebook paper that looked like something he had picked up off the ground in the parking lot. “Here’s my speech, baby. Tell me what you think.”
Chris looked at the pages of handwritten copy. Many of the words had been crossed out and new ones squeezed in between the lines. Whole paragraphs were circled and connected to arrows to indicate where they would go better. The paper was mutilated. Chris said, “This is a pretty rough draft. How long’s it been in your back pocket?”
“You can read it can’t you?”
“I’m givin’ it a shot.” Chris sat down at one of the electric typewriters and started hammering away at the keys. At the top of the page he typed ADDRESS TO ASSEMBLY-2ND DRAFT. Chris typed somewhere around seventy-five words a minute while making spelling corrections in his head. He did not look up when Terry and Johnny entered the room.
Blaise said, “Hey what’s up, you guys?” Good to see you, man.” He and Terry embraced. Johnny looked on thinking that Blaise sure hugs people a lot. Blaise sat down and said, “Okay now. Where are we at with Sammy?” Chris continued typing as if he were in the room alone.
“Johnny’s got it all worked out,” Terry said. “Sammy gave us the information we need, and we’ve got Joey and Brian. It looks like we’re gonna wrap it up Wednesday night. If everything goes according to plan, Sammy’ll have a brand new life.”
Blaise looked at Johnny. “So what’s going down Wednesday night?”
“Well…” Johnny started to say something.
Terry cut in. “Let’s just say our man Sammy will have an excuse to not show up at any more of the Maverick’s after school activities.”
“There is one other thing, though,” Johnny said.
“What’s that?” Blaise asked.
“Sammy’s worried about his friend, Jeff.”
Chris stopped typing. He ripped the last page out of the machine and pushed himself in the swivel chair away from the desk. As he rolled across the room he handed the draft to Blaise and turned to Johnny. “What about Jeff?”
“Sammy’s afraid that if he leaves the Mavericks, Jeff will be left high and dry. From what I can tell, the only reason they took Jeff was because he’s Sammy’s friend. We thought about handling him the same way, but it gets a little too complicated, especially since Jeff goes to Lincoln. Now, were not worrying about Jeff. I mean he’s not one of ours, but he could pose a problem for Sammy if he stays in and they remain friends. The way this is gonna go down is going to make it impossible for Sammy to have any contact whatsoever with the Mavericks.”
“Damn it, Johnny. Sammy and Jeff are neighbors. What are you going to do about that?”
“Okay. I don’t know. I’ll work on it.” Johnny stood up and headed for the door. “Come on Terry. We’ve got work to do.”
Blaise said, “They make a good team, don’t you think?”
Chris just looked at Blaise. Too many things were going through his mind to say anything.
Sammy rang the doorbell at Jeff’s house and waited on the porch. He turned and looked up and down the street. Leaves were blowing in the wind as they fell from the trees. Everything was changing. Soon, Sammy thought, big changes would take place in his life, and it was only right that he give Jeff a heads up. He turned around as the door opened.
“Sammy! Long time no see.” Jeff stepped away from the door to allow Sammy to come in. “What’s going on, man?”
“Same ol’ thing.” They walked into the kitchen and Sammy sat down at the table. “You home alone?”
“Yep. You want something to drink?”
“Yeah, I’ll have a Pepsi if you got one.”
Jeff handed Sammy a cold can and said, “Whadja do all weekend? It was a bummer without you.”
“I stayed over at my cousin’s house. We did some fishing, played some ball. Had a pretty good time, really. You?”
“I just pretty much hung around here; nothin’ else to do with you gone. Didn’t feel like doing much. You guys get stoned or what?”
Sammy decided this was the best time to tell Jeff. “No man. Chris ain't like that. Anyway, bro, I’m leaving the Mavericks. I can’t hang with them guys anymore.”
“Dude. What are you saying? You know you can’t just leave the Mavs.”
“I know. It’s going to be a little tricky, but I’m gonna let’m know Wednesday night at the usual pick-up. Jeff, I don’t want you to go, either. You can make up your mind about what you want to do, but I’d really like for you to not be there Wednesday.”
“Sammy. Do you know what they’re gonna do to you?”
“They’re not going to do anything to me.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I can’t tell you now, but you gotta trust me, man. Stay away Wednesday, and I’ll fill you in on all the details after that. I promise. If you wanna stay in that’s your business, but if you want out, I’ll take care of it.”
Jeff took a drink and sat down. He looked right at Sammy, the worry apparent on his face. “I don’t know. I’m telling ya, man; we can’t just up and quit these guys. Hell, if you leave, what am I gonna do? I can’t stay in if you’re not there. But then, I don’t wanna get the shit beat out of me either. How are you gonna take care of it?”
“I’ve got some help, Jeff. Don’t worry about it. I’ll get with you Wednesday night and let you know what’s going on.”
“Don’t worry, huh? Sure Sammy, whatever you say.”
Blaise and Kathleen sat on the porch swing outside his back door. The sun had gone down and it was getting cool, so Blaise put his arms around her to help keep her warm as she leaned against him. He kept the swing moving by pushing off the ground with his left foot. Kathleen sang softly a song that Blaise did not know and they looked at the night sky. They stayed like that for a long time and when Kathleen finished the song, she started another one.
Blaise was content to hold her in his arms and listen to her singing while he secretly thought about other things. He shared a lot with her, but only the things that were his to share. He sometimes told her about Chris; like the time he switched combination padlocks on their gym lockers. He stayed in the shower extra long that day, until he heard the banging. Blaise said, “Let me try. What’s your combination?” Then using his own combo, he opened it on the first try. Chris could not believe it, and Blaise told him he was just strung too tightly and needed to loosen up. Blaise switched the locks again without Chris’s knowing in case he wanted to pull that one again.
He could not tell her about Sammy, though, and he held back a lot of the trouble he had with Vince. When Blaise was with Kathleen he wanted the world to be a perfect place.
She told him just about everything. Her concerns were real and he always tried to take them seriously. He used to try to help solve her problems, but quickly learned that she prefers that he just listen. There were times, though, when they did not say much at all. Those were moments they both cherished and quietly feeling the other person close by said more than words ever could. In the coolness of the night breeze their soft touching communicated perfectly the love they shared for each other.
Blaise knew Kathleen would have to be going home soon. “You wanna spend the night?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“We’ll make love into the morning hours and sleep in each other’s arms unti
l the birds wake us with their song to more love making. We can skip school and eat a late breakfast off each other’s naked body, and then gently wash each other with soapy fingers in the shower.”
Kathleen laughed and hugged Blaise. “I just remembered something: my daddy needs his car pretty early.”
“Oh.” Blaise slumped. “Leave it to your daddy to save me from the fires of hell.”
He saw her to her father’s car and kissed her and told her that he loved her. “Drive carefully,” he said.
“I always do. Bye.”
Blaise watched longingly as she drove away and did not turn to head back into the house until he saw the taillights disappear around the corner.