Free Desert Passage by P. S. Carillo Page B

want to expel you.”
    Ramón took a cookie and bit into it. “Miguel was fighting this kid. He was winning at first but then two other guys jumped in and started punching Miguel. That’s three against one and I couldn’t just stand there. I had to get into the mix!”
    The others listened and their admiration grew even more. Miguel and Ramón were real heroes in their eyes, tough guys who could make it on their own and fight back if they had to. Chris spoke first.
    â€œWhy were you fighting in the first place? I mean, what started it?”
    Ramón looked to Miguel to tell the story.
    â€œWell, there was this guy, not really a friend of mine but I knew him from grade school. We played on the same soccer team when we were kids,” he stopped and took the last bite of his third chili dog. “He’s kinda small, he didn’t grow much after fifth grade, and this other guy was pushing him around and it looked like he was going to get real hurt. He was throwing him up against a brick wall.”
    Ramón stayed silent as Miguel continued.
    â€œI got in the middle of it and pushed the other guy on the ground, when he got up his other friends jumped in and it got rough. That’s when Ramón tried to help.”
    â€œDid you explain that to the principal, did you tell him why you got involved in that fight?” Turner asked with a concerned tone in his voice.
    â€œYeah, we both did,” said Miguel, looking at his cousin. “But I guess that other guy’s dad, the one I beat up, is on the school board or something. He didn’t get in trouble. We did.”
    â€œWhat about your parents, what did they say?” Turner asked.
    â€œMy dad was real mad after the principal told him that the fight was my fault. He wouldn’t listen when I tried to tell him what really happened. Then it only got worse when I got in trouble the second time,” Miguel explained.
    Everyone was listening with rapt attention.
    â€œA couple of days later, the guy I beat up jumped me after school in the parking lot, with his older brother. I’m bigger than the both of them, though, so I didn’t get hurt, but his older brother ended up with a broken nose, I think.” Miguel smiled a little when he remembered the older brother crying on the ground with blood coming out of his nose.
    â€œHe had to defend himself, those guys were trying to mess him up. What was he supposed to do?” Ramón asked, feeling his emotions rise as his cousin retold the story. “I even got blamed for the second fight and I wasn’t even there!”
    Turner sat down and faced Miguel. “You did what you had to do, you had no choice. Those boys attacked your friend and could have really hurt him. It was good that you interceded. You did the right thing.”
    â€œI wish my dad thought so,” Miguel said, mournfully remembering the lost cell phones and video games.
    â€œKeep telling him the truth. One day he’ll hear you,” consoled Turner. “Your dad just wants you to have a good future. He’s worried that if you get into trouble at school, it will affect the rest of your life.”
    â€œI remember when my little brother was getting picked on by a bully last year and we had to change schools because my parents couldn’t stop it. Maybe I should have beat himup,” interjected a red-haired boy almost the same size as Miguel. “I could have taken him.”
    â€œIf you get the first punch in you have a better chance at winning the fight!” Ramón suggested eagerly.
    â€œBeating someone up isn’t always the answer,” Turner quickly stated. “Sometimes, only sometimes, violence is appropriate. I do think Miguel did the right thing. Don’t worry about your dad, Miguel. I’m sure he’ll understand someday.”
    Miguel ate the stack of cookies in his hand, stared into the firelight, and thought to himself, “Why