Danny's Pet Snail

MEMORIES

     Danny sat in the middle of the pavement, his face tilted toward the ground, he seemed oblivious to the fact that Sydney Hoff stood beside him with her shoe on his back.
    "Come on Danny, what's wrong with you? Why won't you crush it?" She screamed in his ear. Sydney's hand was outstretched behind her, her hand on my chest, preventing me from going to help Danny.
    Danny held the tiniest snail in his palm, and his shaggy blonde hair covered his face, he looked so focused on the snail I thought Sydney would reach down and crush the poor thing herself. "STOP!" I screamed, clawing at Sydney's arm, hoping she would loosen her grip on me, her hand was pressing into a fresh bruise my father had given me the night before.
    It really hurt.
    Finally, she let go of me, but before I could relax, she lunged toward Danny. In an instant, his hands cupped over the snail and his cheek was against the concrete. "You don't even talk! How'd you get a boyfriend, retard?" She seemed so angry, the other kids watched in awe and fascination; entertainment.
     Sydney pulled a pocket knife from her sweater and held it to Danny's throat, she whispered loudly in his ear, "Eat it." Danny looked at me, his dust-colored eyes glistening, he raised his palm up to his lips, and opened his mouth slowly.
    Tears fell down his cheeks and onto the pavement. Right as his teeth began to move, a sharp sound consumed the air around us, Danny pulled the snail away from his mouth and he winced at the loud noise as he wiped the tears off his face.
    Danny didn't talk anyone until school let out.
    He stood shyly in the corner until I walked up to him, he pulled me behind the school building and hugged me tightly, I felt a few years fall on my shoulder, he held my hand warmly as he looked at me, "Tonight?" He asked. "Okay." I swallowed, nervous, "Meet me behind Frank's Diner?" He nodded then walked off toward the bus.
    I began to walk towards my home, which was only a few blocks away, preparing myself to pack secretly, and if I got caught, it would be all over.