Free Elephant Bangs Train by William Kotzwinkle Page B

suspenders had ducks on them. Someone in the crowd said, 'Get 'im, Johnny.'
    They stepped lightly, circling right past him, and dust rose at their feet. Was it a dance like the sailor's hornpipe Mother had taught him? One boy swung his arm and it landed with a thud on the other boy's head. The boy stumbled backwards into Noto's garage doors. The doors banged, the basketball hoop shook above, and the boy kicked out his foot, saying, 'Wait'll I get set.'
    The hair fell in their eyes, and they tossed it back like horses. They hugged each other and turned slowly around and everyone cheered. It was like books and the radio and movies right in the alley. A sleeve ripped and flapped in the air like a pirate shirt. Arms flew again, thud thud on the head. One of the boys sat down in the dust and did not get up. His shirt was spotted red.
    'That's all, Johnny,' said someone, taking the other boy by the arm. The game was over and the crowd moved away, down the alley and through the yards, except for the boy who sat in front of Noto's garage with his head down.
    The streetlight went on. Mother would be looking out the window. He went over to the boy and said, 'Will you show me how?' He curled his fingers in a tight ball, but the boy did not look up.
    Mother would be out on the porch, looking up and down the street. He left the boy behind and followed the crowd down the alley, towards a vacant lot, where a fire was burning in a barrel. He curled his fingers into the tight ball and swung his arms through the air. He danced across the lot, swinging his arms and making sounds with his mouth, like the thuds he had heard. What a wonderful game and anybody can play it, he thought, anybody.
    The lot was dark and filled with junk. Some boys were standing around the burning barrel. The flames lit their faces and he saw Popeye Santini, the big guy, stirring the barrel with a stick. Sparks floated in the air. Mother would be calling where are you in the dark. He went over to Popeye and said, pointing back to the alley where the crowd had been, 'Did you see?'
    'Beat it.'
    'I could do that,' he said, curling his hands into balls.
    No one said anything. He said, 'Does anybody want to do it?' He raised his arms in the air.
    'Get outa here,' said Popeye.
    A shadow stepped into the firelight. It was Lurkey Davies, who was his size but could stay out late. Lurkey said, 'I'll handle it.'
    The other boys stood around. He raised his hands, ready for the slow-moving and the turning, but something hit him in the face and a bell rang in his head. He looked around, trying to play the game, but couldn't see, and something hit him on the ear. He reached out, grabbing a shirt.
    'Wait'll I get set,' he said, but a head came towards him, knocking him in the chest, and stumbling backwards, he fell on the ground.
    He saw streetlight and stars and black telephone wires. Lurkey's face came above him, came closer, lit by fire, and a hand hit him like a stone. He rolled away, swimming in the junk, trying to get up, to move quick. The game wasn't slow, it was fast, faster than his own heart. It rose up, red, choking him. He swung at a passing shadow, thud, heard Lurkey say sonofabitch. He swung at the fire-face again and got hit in the nose and the garages turned sideways. He sank in the junk and covered his head, but two hands grabbed him from behind and lifted him off the ground.
    Popeye held him in the air. Another boy was holding Lurkey. 'Lemme go,' said Lurkey. 'I'll kill him.' Lurkey's eye was puffed liked a cupcake. His own eyes burned like fire. He kicked his feet and Popeye set him down. 'Get lost,' said Popeye, and gave him a shove.
    He walked through the lot, away from the burning barrel. The alleyway was dark and empty. Blood was dripping from his nose. He wiped it on his shirt sleeve. His head was going bong. He crossed the street and went up the steps into the house.
    Father was reading a newspaper in the living room. Mother came in quickly, said, 'Where have