We all turned around to see Monty flash Pookie a disgusted look. Everyone quited down, probably because we were all equally terrified of the huge and muscular "maintenance" guy who lived in the basement. Pookie was the only one who was seemingly unperturbed by Monty's menacing appearance.
"Sure thing, ya lip noodle!" Pookie shouted out in one of his crazy bursts.
Monty gave him a look and returned to reading the Sports Illustrated magazine he had picked up. Sure, Monty LOOKED like a creep, he ACTED like a creep, but he really wasn't one. He just minded his buisness and tended to the sinks and toilets that were always broken around our parts. The only reason everyone was afraid of him was his "couture" and his rude, recluse behavior.
As the line slowly moved forward Nay-Nay and I started up a conversation. "So I heard there's this new kid on Lacey Street. Know about him?" I asked. DeLante was telling me the other day about something like that, I added mentally.
"Ohh, yeah. I heard about him. He a rich boy, straight from New York or some shit like that. I dunna know," Nay-Nay said, busying herself with watching DeLante, who was talking to a girl that I vaguely recognized going to my school. "Heifer betta back OFF ma man," she mumbled, looking over my shoulders to get a better look.
"Hmm," I said, thinking about this "new kid". I wonder who he is, I thought. As I was thinking, Krispy came up from behind me.
"Ay what's up, girl?" he asked, nudging me gently. Krispy was by far the most calm and truthful in the group.
"Not much, just waiting for the raffle announcements," I replied, putting an arm through his.
I noticed someone in the corner shift uncomfortably. I looked over to see Derrel give me that same look he had earlier.
It was kinda beginning to creep me out.
"That's cool," Krispy said, nodding his head. He was one of those friends that you can be comfortable saying absolutely nothing with. A good friend.
A thought suddenly came to my head. "Oh, Krispy."
"Hmm," he said, looking up.
"Do you know anything about some kid moving in on Lacey?" I asked.
Krispy put on a thoughtful face and said, "Well, I did hear somein' about some kid moving in the apartments, not on Lacey, though."
My heart raced suddenly. "Our apartments?"
"Yup," he said nonchalantly. "Hey, whats your raffle ticket number?"
"435826," I answered hurriedly. "Did you mean Cedar Gardens," I prodded.
"Yeah," he said, nodding his head up and down emphatically. "Why?"
"Hey Krispy, come here," someone called from behind me.
I turned around to see Derrel, leaning against the counter now, looking straight at me.
Krispy turned and said to me, "I'll be right back."
I nodded solemnly and looked to where Derrel was standing. He really was beginning to scare me now. He was leaning against the counter, telling Krispy something quietly. Krispy turned to me and nodded his head, a confused look written on his face.
It looked like he was mouthing something like, "Her?"
Derrel nodded. And then he did something that sent shivers down my spine. He winked at me. Like for a tiny second, but I could see it wasn't a blink, but a one-eye move. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I watched his eyes change color to the black on his shirt.
It was so creepy when that happened. Derrel had had Chameleon Eye for as long as I could remember. So that meant his eyes weren't the usual cyan, blue green color, but always changing. It looked nice when he wore green or brown, but red or black or orange made him look- almost- ... devilish.
I shuddered and moved over to where a big crowd was surrounding Pookie.
He was talking, "...Now I know all ya'll hobknockers and looney toons all came here for the raffle. Now I'm about to read myself a number outta this....this..this.." All of a sudden he began to wiggle and squirm like some psychotic worm.
"Oh Lord," I heard a woman mumble.
"Get on with it," Monty growled.
Pookie finally put his hand down and the counter and his crazy dance stopped. "Whew, like I was sayin', now. I'm about to choose me a number outta this hat, know what I'm sayin'?" He asked, holding up a bright purple top hat with the words "Willy Wonka" written on it.
Everyone nodded and he continued. "And whoever had the number, I want you to jump up, like THIS," he said, jumping up and touching one of the store lights. It shook uncontrollably. "And say, "Lordie, Lordie, lookie here! I've got the number, Pookie dear!"
Nay and I giggled and DeLante chuckled a little, crossing his arms over his chest.
"OK, let's get this pumpkin to the ball, now Cinderella!" Pookie said, clamping one hand over his eyes and throwing the other into the hat. "Nope, not that one," he kept mumbling. Finally his hand shot out, with a number in tow. "AHA! I have it!" He threw his hands off his head and said, "OK, the winnin' number is.....Drum roll please," he said. DeLante sped up to the counter and started tapping a beat. "Okay...NUMBER L2Y3" he said, all too proud of himself.
Everyone was confused for a while when suddenly, someone shouted out, "It gotta be all numbers, FOOL!"
"Oh, hehe, 'cuse me," he said, taking another number out of the hat. "Okay," he said after a while. "Number 346292!" Pookie shouted.
"That's ME!" Monty shouted excitedly. I had never seen him so up and about before. He even did a little jig. "Lordie Lordie, I won!!" He danced up to the counter suddenly and said, giving Pookie a huge thump on the back. "See here you go, ma man," he said, thrusting the paper into Pookie's face.
"That seems to be correct," Pookie said thoguhtfully. "Congratulations," he said, rather calmly.
"Alright now, man, where's ma' Flat Screen? What is it Polaroid, Sony?" Monty asked, nearly jumping up and down.
"Actually, it's a Bravia," Pookie said proudly. At that, he disappeared to the back room. "I'll be right back," he said, then started to whistle a tune.
After a couple of seconds, he came back with a huge box. Hmm, he did keep his word, I thought. Unable to keep from his excitement any longer, Monty sprang at the box and snatched it up. He shook it for while, while Pookie said, "Hope you like it."
Monty confusedly opened the box and said, "There aint....THERE AIN'T NOTHING IN HER YA FOOL!" He bellowed.
Pookie looked over and said, "Of course. Whatchyu think? I was gonna give you a whole TV? Hahaha," The thin man erupted with laughter.
Monty balled his fists, " You crazy old man..."
Pookie stepped back and said, "Well look at the flyer, everyone. It says here clearly," he took his glasses out of his breast pocket and cleared his throat, picking up the paper he had been passing around since two days before. "'The winner gets a Flat Screen TV...Box.'"
Everyone looked at the paper and saw, indeed the small word written in baby blue ink, "Box." Well at least he hadn't of lied.
Next time you should try printing on white paper though, Pookie. Not blue.
