Wally - 8
by sloanranger
The blue Ford appeared alongside the curb. Bill threw papers to all but the two smallest recipients. He hesitated for a minute with their bundles.
"You two," he said, "after you sell your papers, y'all come back and wait for me, hear? I want to talk to you."
Each boy looked at one another. Wally spoke first: "Yeah sure, Bill."
Making a satisfactory grunt and nodding, Bill threw their bundles. He pounded the roof of the Ford with his fist and the old blue truck took off.
A couple of hours later the two stood waiting. "Think he'll fire us?" Wally said.
"Nah," Levy pointed at the blue Ford just turning the corner. It pulled up and let Bill out while it idled at the curb.
He came over and stood staring at the pair, his hands on his hips.
"I'm not gonna ask ya' what happened 'cause I don't want to know. All I got to say is, somebody coulda' got killed."
The boys shuffled positions on the sidewalk, looking down at their feet.
"Here's what I want. Want you to ask your old man, Sloan and you, yer Ma, Hebe...sorry, Levy, if y'all can come with me to the gym. It'll be after your ev'nin' papers is sold and I'll bring you home in the truck."
The boys looked at each other but nobody said anything.
"Look, you got lucky. Nobody died. But there's better ways a'looking out for y'self in case somebody else gets smart."
The boys looked at each other again. Finally, Wally said: "Sure, Bill."
Levy mumbled something about ball games but Wally side slapped his friend's sleeve. "We'll be here tomorrow – right, Levy?"
Recalcitrant, Levy said: "Gotta clear it with my Ma... but yeah, I guess so."
The next day, Morty was leaning against the fence at the ball field when Walton approached him.
"Hey, kid," Morty said. "Where's your brother?"
"Sent me to give you this," Walt replied, handing the makeshift bat back to its owner. "Sorry 'bout the stain," he said. "Wally cut hisself, won't be able to play fer' awhile."
"Cut his hisself, huh?" The older kid grinned. "Gotta watch y'self when you're hammering stuff."
"Yeah, I know." Walt put his hands in his over-all pockets and started for home.
"Hey kid," Morty called out. "Did he get it fixed?"
"What?" Walt said, turning.
"Whatever he was hammering on?"
"Oh... yeah. I reckon he did," Walt said.
The bigger kid nodded.
Walt gave Morty a half wave as he headed home. "Reckon I'll see y'all later."
The End (for now)
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Wally - @Short Story
Cerita Pendek@SHORTSTORY. People whose opinion I respect say that this is one of my best. About a time when bullying could mean more than internet or school embarrassment - more even than physical punishment - it could mean survival. Posted it in eight (8) Par...
