Undergrounders Page 10

  “Let’s line up, Rangers,” Peter said.

  I joined the end of the line and began shaking hands with the Nationals. About halfway I noticed I was getting close to that centre who’d shadowed me. I braced myself for anything, even a punch.

  “Great game,” he said to me. “Good luck in the playoffs.”

  He moved on before I could say anything. That was weird. I thought he hated me. This entire game was weird, and it continued in the dressing room. I figured everyone would be going nuts, but it was real quiet, and the guys were just getting undressed. Lou usually came in right away and spoke to us, but not this time.

  I was an expert at listening to people talk without them knowing I could hear. That’s how I heard the gossip lining up for the washroom in the morning, or figured out was going on in Executive Alley. So when I saw Peter, Derrick, and Andrew speaking quietly to each other I decided to listen in. I opened my bag and bent forward pretending to be looking for something.

  “Stink Bomb’s such a puck hog. I know he can put the puck in the net, but he could pass once in a while,” Peter said.

  Is that what they called me? Puck Hog was one thing — but Stink Bomb? Did I smell that bad? Really?

  “Try playing on his line,” Derrick said. “He couldn’t care less about this team. Malcolm talks to him every game and he still never passes.”

  “The team was more fun when we were losing,” Andrew said.

  “So what if he can score. I’d score too if I never passed,” Derrick said next.

  I began to untie my skates, all the while listening intently.

  “My dad’s talking to Lou right now,” Derrick continued. “He’s so mad, he wants him off the team.”

  “And he didn’t even pay. That’s what my dad says,” Peter added.

  “Ever seen a guy wear the same clothes every day of his life? No wonder he smells,” Andrew started laughing.

  “Try sitting next to him on the bench,” Derrick said.

  “No thanks,” Andrew said, laughing harder.

  “Collin told me Rasheed plugs his nose when he gets into their van,” Peter said. All three were laughing now.

  Rasheed actually did that? What did Alisha think of me?

  “He lives in a nice house, I think. Rasheed’s seen it. But it’s weird. Is he poor or something? If his family doesn’t have the money, okay. But I don’t think it’s right that he gets a free ride just because he can score,” Peter said.

  “And the guy has Graf skates. I mean — come on,” Andrew said.

  “I know Rasheed’s dad is tired of having to drive him all the time,” Derrick said.

  “Rasheed and his dad are too nice to say anything,” Andrew said.

  “It was his idea to get Stink Bomb on the team. He should be the one to suffer,” Derrick said, and they laughed.

  I stopped listening, and I ripped my equipment off. So they called me Stink Bomb, did they! Bunch of stupid Reggies, I thought. Idiots. I’m done with the Rangers. I’m taking my skates, gloves and stick, and I’m out of here. I tied the skate laces together and threw the skates over my shoulder. One of the skates banged into my ribs and it hurt, but I was way too mad to care.

  I went over to the door to grab my stick. Someone’s stick was crossed over mine, so I pulled on it real hard and all the sticks fell to the ground. A few bounced off a garbage can and made a huge racket, like someone drumming.

  “Smooth, Einstein,” Derrick wisecracked.

  I kicked the sticks to the side and one hit Andrew on the leg.

  “Watch it. What are you doing?” he said, his face all screwed up tight.

  “You’re all such a bunch of losers, I can’t believe it!” I screamed at him.

  His face turned beet red.

  “You think you’re so smart? I know everything. Only reason I stuck around was I felt sorry for you losing every game. You want me off the team — fine. This team is a joke — a total joke — and I don’t need to waste my time.”

  I pointed at Rasheed. “You don’t have to plug your nose anymore.” Then I pointed at Derrick. “You want me to pass the puck? Well, it’s your puck now. You score since you’re so great.”

  I spit on Derrick’s bag, I was so insanely mad, and flung the door open and left. Lou and Malcolm were talking to some parents off to the side, including Rick and Derrick’s father.

  “Hey there, Jonny,” Lou said, all friendly. “That was some effort tonight. Can I just have a quick word with you before you go to talk about …”

  Like I was going to have a nice chat. “I left your smelly equipment in the smelly dressing room, so get off my back.”

  Lou’s eyebrows got all tight together. “Why are you yelling at me? I only want to discuss …”

  “I know what you wanna say. You think I smell. Well, you’re fat and stupid and ugly … and stupid. I’m done with this team and I can’t believe I bothered playing.”

  “Jonathon, you need to calm down,” Rick said.

  “You need to shut up!” I yelled back. “I know you’re all mad that I didn’t pay. But I ain’t gonna. Here’s two bucks, and get Rasheed’s skates sharpened ’cause he can’t skate for nothing.” I threw the money at Rick and hit him right in the chest. I watched the coin spin around and around on the ground until it toppled and stopped.

  Only then did I notice everyone staring at me, all the Rangers’ parents and strangers too. Rasheed and Collin stood in front of the dressing room door, in their hockey pants and shin pads, their mouths wide open. I knew I had to leave or I’d start to bawl, and I wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction.

  Soon I was outside, running through the parking lot toward the street. I remembered turning right when we got here, so I went left to get to the main street. That’s when I heard my name called over and over. It was Alisha. I stopped and turned around. She was the one person who always treated me well. At least I could say goodbye to her.

  “Jonathon, where are you going? How are you getting home?”

  “I called my uncle,” I lied. “He’s coming to get me.”

  Rick came up behind her. “We don’t deserve this type of treatment,” he said. I could see he was steaming mad. “I’ve given you a lift to every game and practice.”

  “You’re like the rest,” I sneered back. “You can’t fool me. I saw you talking with Derrick’s dad. You all want me off the team.” I stomped my foot. “You don’t like my smell … well … I don’t like you, or Rasheed, or the Rangers … or Alisha.”

  “I hate you all — stupid Reggies!”

  Rick looked all serious at me. “I’ll wait until your uncle arrives. But I don’t understand where you got this idea anyone wanted you off the team. No one does. I can tell you that.”

  It didn’t matter. There was no going back anyway. And besides, Reggies always lie. You can’t trust them. Lewis told me that, and I’d seen it with my own eyes a million times. They promise you some money and then never give it, or they snatch you from the streets and put you in juvie. “I don’t need your help. My uncle will meet me at the corner. I called him on my cell phone.”

  I wanted to say more only the words wouldn’t come out, so I turned and left. Playing hockey with a bunch of Reggies was plain dumb of me. So hockey was done. Fine! Big deal.

  Stink Bomb!

  Stupid Reggies!

  Chapter 23

  The sun was down and it was getting real cold. I hopped off the sidewalk to go down the hill to the Underground. My head was still dizzy and I couldn’t think straight, and I’d had to buy a subway ticket, which was money I really did not want to spend. All the way back on the subway I’d gone over the game, and what I heard in the dressing room, and what Rick said to me. I remembered a bunch of times when I maybe could have passed to open guys. Most of the time I thought I could do it better myself, and I did score two goals. I guess I was a bit of a hog, and I probably did stink, and my clothes were dirty.

  I did the secret knock and waited. Nothing happened, so I did it
again, and the door opened a crack. Brachy peeked out.

  “Mouse has arrived,” he said, with a laugh. “Rigger wants a conversation right now.” He pulled the door open a little more and I slid in.

  “What’s he want?” All I wanted to do was curl up in my sleeping bag.

  “Go ask,” Brachy said with a smirk, and he sat back on the chair.

  It would be a waste of time asking him for info, so I headed down the ladder. I should have put my skates, gloves and stick in my hiding place. It was totally awkward trying to carry them down. The stupid skates banged into my sides, and climbing down a ladder with hockey gloves is no picnic, either.

  Rigger was spread out on his chair, one leg sprawled over an armrest, sipping on a drink that smelled like coffee.

  He held out his palm. “Any chance I’m gonna get paid, Mouse?” he said.

  I pulled out fifty cents and put it in his hand. He shook his head.

  “This ain’t no charitable institution. You owe me five bucks.”

  “I do not! I only owe for tonight.”

  “What about the hockey equipment you stored and didn’t tell me about?” He swung his feet to the floor. “Nobody rips me off. I’m charging you extra for that. So it’s five bucks or you’re outta here.” He put his leg back on the armrest.

  I felt my own legs tremble. I didn’t have five bucks, and like a jerk I’d thrown two bucks away after the game.

  “I’ll borrow it. Can I go ask? Please. Give me a second.”

  He laughed real low. “Sure, little Mouse. Take your time.”

  I hated Rigger so much, and that stupid chair so much, and this stupid Underground. This was the day of jerks.

  I hurried to my store. I’d never been so glad to see Will and Rose. Will was leaning against the wall, and Rose was lying on the floor. I forced myself to sound like nothing was wrong. “Hey guys, how’s it going?”

  Rose squinted up at me. Will folded his arms; and neither answered my question. That unnerved me a bit. I coughed a few times to cover up and decided to just hit them up for the cash.

  “I’m a little short today for Rigger. You know what he’s like. I left my hockey bag here one night and now he wants five bucks. Can I borrow it and I’ll pay you back tomorrow for sure?”

  All I got was more silence.

  “I ain’t playing hockey no more so I got lots of time to hawk the money, and it’s getting warmer so … no problem.” I couldn’t stop my voice from quivering. “Do you have the money?”

  Rose turned her back to me.

  “Why don’t you ask your buddy Lewis?” Will said. He seemed to be laughing at me. Did he know about Lewis and me having that fight?

  “I could, sure. I just figured since we were …”

  “We were what, Mouse?” Will said, real harsh.

  “Since we were friends, and lived in this store together … and I’ve bought you stuff … and …”

  “I am not inclined to provide you with credit at the moment,” Will said. “Perhaps you could make a withdrawal from your bank account — or I encourage you to ask your friend Lewis — or J.J. for that matter.”

  Rose laughed. A sinking feeling trickled down my chest into my stomach. Undergrounders always lent money for rent. But then Will was a jerk.

  “Whatever,” I snapped. “Don’t ask me for help the next time you need cash.”

  Rose’s laughing totally unnerved me. Everyone seemed to be in on some joke except me, and just when I needed them to be serious. Lewis was my last hope. We were buddies, even if we had a bit of a fight. He always looked out for me, and this was nothing for him. Besides, he really did owe me something for the stuff I stole.

  As I headed back to Executive Alley, Creeper was coming the other way. Now here’s a guy who’d owed me money for like two months.

  “Hey, Creeper. How’s it going?”

  He grimaced. “It’s … going like any other freakin’ day.”

  He tried to walk past me and I grabbed his arm.

  “Can I get that three dollars I lent you? Remember? I lent you two bucks, and then another one. That’s three bucks.”

  “I gave you a subway ticket.”

  “Okay. Then you owe me $2.25.”

  “No.”

  That word hurt like a slap in the face. “You owe me the money. Come on. I need it. Rigger’s being totally lame and I gotta pay him or he said I can’t stay tonight.”

  Creeper shrugged. “Then go,” he said, and tried to walk away again.

  I grabbed his arm, and he shoved me hard in the chest and pulled his arm free. “Touch me again, and I’ll break you in half.”

  “What’s wrong with everyone?” That shaky sound was in my voice, and I couldn’t stop this panicky feeling from bugging my stomach.

  Creeper raised his eyes to the ceiling and then leaned forward and whispered, “You’re jacked, Mouse. Rigger said. You should just get your stuff and go.” And with that he went into his store.

  My legs were numb, I couldn’t move, and I had a bizarre feeling that I had to go pee. The panic in my gut had taken over my whole body. Jacked meant Rigger kicked you out for good. In my time, only one kid had been jacked, and he’d been caught stealing from Executive Alley. I hadn’t done anything.

  I needed Lewis.

  As luck would have it he was standing outside his store eating a sandwich. I ran up to him.

  “Lewis … Lewis …” I stammered. “Creeper told me Rigger wants to jack me. Do you know what’s going on? I mean, I didn’t do nothing. Why is he asking for five bucks when I don’t owe him a penny? I only left my bag up top for one night, and he’s gone crazy about it. I’ll pay, but I need a loan or he’s going to jack me.”

  I think I was crying, but I was so messed I wasn’t sure. Lewis took no notice of me and chewed his sandwich. I waited for him to speak, which was painful because now I had to go pee real bad. Finally, he swallowed his food.

  “So Mouse wants Lewis to help him? Is that it?”

  All I could muster was a nod.

  “And when Lewis asked Mouse for help, what did Mouse say?”

  “I’ll help you anytime,” I said weakly.

  He poked me in the chest. “Did you help me, Mouse, or not?”

  “I was a jerk. I admit it, totally. I was tired from running, and scared. I trust you. I’ll help you with whatever. We can … do you need a package delivered? Or we can go to the electronics store?”

  “You’ve been replaced, Mouse, but thanks for the generous offer.” That’s when I noticed J.J. stretched out on Lewis’s couch, grinning at me all smug-like, and laughing like all the others.

  It was over. Lewis had actually sold me out, all because I wouldn’t steal for him.

  I marched slowly to Rigger.

  “Have we managed to borrow the money?” he mocked.

  I shook my head.

  “Then it’s time for you to leave.”

  “Can I come back tomorrow with the money?” It didn’t sound like my voice.

  Rigger yawned. “You’re not dependable. I think it’s time for you to find a new place to sleep.”

  There it was — officially jacked.

  “Why?” I had to know.

  He looked surprised. “Lewis got you in — and Lewis got you out.”

  Suddenly, I couldn’t stand being here; the sight of Rigger made me beyond angry. If only I could grow big and smash his face to pieces and then I’d sit in his throne chair and tell people what to do. But I was twelve years old, and the growing would have to wait.

  I went back to my store to get my stuff.

  “Here Mousey, Mousey, Mousey,” Fitzy called out in a high voice, and Happy D began giggling like an idiot as usual. Then, as if things couldn’t get worse, Will was lying in my sleeping bag and he had this stupid goofy grin like he just won a million dollars in the lottery.

  “I’m leaving,” I said to Will and Rose. “I know you think it’s funny, but Rigger’s jacked me, or I think Lewis did it. So laugh away — and real
funny with the sleeping bag.” Will rolled over as if he was going to sleep. “Real funny. Now give it over.” He didn’t move. I grabbed the end of the bag and began to pull on it. Will sat up violently and took hold of my wrist, and for all my struggling I couldn’t pull away.

  “Give the poor kid his freakin’ sleeping bag.” Rose was on her knees glaring at her brother.

  He let go of me, but not my sleeping bag.

  “Stop torturing him. Why are you so ugly and mean?” she yelled.

  Will spun toward her. “Why? Because we’re living like freakin’ animals, underground, hawking on the streets, freezing cold all the time! Because I gotta sneak around so W5 don’t kill me, and we gotta kiss that jerk Rigger’s butt, so he lets us in every night. Because I wouldn’t mind sleeping in a real bed once in a while and eating as much as I want, and I didn’t ask to have a dad who got drunk all the time …”

  Rose was crying but not making a sound.

  “Why am I so mean?” Will hissed. “It’s called staying alive, and I don’t see why I have to sleep in some thin, pathetic, dirty little sleeping bag.”

  “He’s a little kid,” Rose answered. “He’ll die out there without his sleeping bag. You want to kill him?”

  “I couldn’t care less,” Will spat back. But then he climbed out and threw the sleeping bag in my face. “There — happy?” he growled at Rose, and he took his sleeping bag from the corner and began to spread it out.

  Rose and my eyes met. She looked like nothing had happened, and without a word lay back down.

  A minute later I was climbing up the ladder with my skates slung over my shoulder, stick in hand, and the rest of my stuff in my knapsack. I don’t even know why I was taking my hockey stuff. I just couldn’t stand to leave anything here.

  I clambered over the top and looked down. I hated this place. Will was right. We lived like animals.

  But at least it was a home. Now I was a Streeter.

  Chapter 24

  I stared in the window for a minute. The red neon S in the Baxter’s sign flickered on and off. So much had happened since I’d stolen the skates. It was hard to believe I’d been better off then. I yawned for like the millionth time today. I hadn’t slept too well last night; I was too nervous someone was going to steal my stuff, and a doorway isn’t a comfortable place to sleep.