Free Rat by Lesley Choyce

Chapter One
    It’s not like I’ve assigned myself the job of protector of the weak or anything. I just get tired of creeps at school harassing people who don’t deserve it. I mean, a lot of things really piss me off. School in general pisses me off. And that includes the teachers. Most of them see me as a troublemaker, and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.
    But there are some kids at school who are hard at work practicing to be the true scum of the earth. You know the type I’m talking about. If you’re not the one being worked over in one way or another by these dorks, then you just turn the other way. We all know the drill. Don’t get involved. Don’t rat on anyone.
    I just don’t think it should work that way. Funny thing is, though, whenever I try to bring a little honesty into this crazy, screwed-up world, I’m the one who gets his ass kicked in one form or another.
    Take this for example.
    During lunchtime awhile back, I was walking back to school after eating a not-so-great greasy hamburger and stale French fries. I was reminding myself that my friend Emily was right. I should give up that crap and become a vegetarian. I was almost back to school and anxious to get on with what looked to be a monumentally boring afternoon. That’s when I saw Liam and Craig harassing some old geezer carrying a couple of bags of groceries. The old guy was kind of bent over and walking funny. I don’t know why I even noticed. I was across the street, and there was a lot of traffic, but it was like I had radar or something.
    So I crossed over right away, ignoring the cars honking at me and the one idiot who had to screech to a halt so he didn’t kill me. He shot me the finger, and I thumped smartly on the hood of his Lexus.
    I felt a knot in my stomach (it could have been the greasy burger) as I walked up to Liam and Craig. I heard Liam shouting at the old guy, “C’mon, I’m sure you have some spare cash you can lend us. You look like you have plenty.” You had to be there to hear the real nastiness in the way he said this.
    The old guy just shook his head and tried to keep walking. But just then, Craig walked forward and put himself right in the way. The old man tried to walk around, but Craig had him covered again.
    â€œCraig, you stupid piece of garbage,” I shouted. “Leave him alone!”
    Craig looked at me like I had punched him in the face.
    â€œLeave him alone,” I said again.
    Liam gave me the once-over too, but then turned back to Mr. Groceries and said, “Maybe we can just make do with something in the bag. You got anything good in there?” Liam had his hand on the cloth grocery bag and was trying to reach inside. The old man was trying to pull away, and he mumbled something. That’s when I realized that here was an old dude who was a little out of it and probably downright scared of these two grunge mongers. Craig was blocking the man’s path, and Liam was still reaching into the bag. I’d had enough.
    â€œGet out of his way,” I yelled at Craig. And I grabbed Liam by the shoulder and was spinning him around. Liam looked shocked and angry.
    â€œColin,” he said, “this has nothing to do with you. We’re just having a little fun.”
    â€œLeave him alone,” I insisted. The old man was moving away now as Liam and Craig stood toe-to-toe with me. I wasn’t sure what would happen next. I knew I could outrun them if I had to. But that wouldn’t matter. They’d get me one way or the other. So I just stood my ground.
    I was about to launch into one of my lectures. It was always the wrong thing to do.
    But then I heard the outside bell at school across the street. The end of lunch hour. Liam gave me a dirty look, and he put his index finger in the air in front of my face. That said it all. This isn’t over yet . He tapped Craig on the shoulder, and they sprinted across the street