Braille's Sensuous Nature
Chapter 01
Blind Sided
Synopsis Ch.1: It’s a cold dreary day in Sornell, Minnesota as thirteen year old Frankie makes his way over to the high school from his middle school for his advanced class session. It’s typical weather though here at the end of September, but the day is about to get even uglier as the thirteen year old boy makes his way through the high school to get to his class.
WARNING: this story contains sexual content, and contact between young boys. If the subject matter offends you, is not to your tastes, or if you are under legal age for your area, then find something else to read. In the following story all names and events are completely fictional. Although I may mention specific locations, places, or persons any resemblance to said people, locations, or places is completely unintentional.
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This work is copyrighted © by Hunter Woods. No part of this story may be transmitted or reproduced in whole or in part in any form including mechanical, electronic, photocopying, and recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without the express written consent of the author. For those of you who just blow this off and decide to steal anyway keep these thoughts below in mind:
“Intentionally using the quotes of others without author attribution is plagiarism and contributes to illiteracy.”
- Rain Bojangles
“Most plagiarists, like the drone, have neither taste to select, industry to acquire, nor skill to improve, but impudently pilfer the honey ready prepared, from the hive.”
- Walter Colton
“Borrowed thoughts, like borrowed money, only show the poverty of the borrower.”
- Lady Marguerite Blessington, Countess of Blessington
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BLINDSIDED
Squeezing out the last squirt or two of piss and then shaking off, I tucked my adolescent sized dinger back into my underwear and zipped up before flushing the toilet and rinsing off my hands. Picking up my books I exited the boy’s bathroom and quickly hustled over to my locker so I could stash the load of books I was carrying. School wasn’t out for another hour here at Sornell Middle School, but I was allowed to leave ten or fifteen minutes early before the bell marking the last class hour rang. This gave me enough time to make my way over to the High School just up the block from our school. Today though, I was running a minute or two late, but I wasn’t worried about it.
Shoving my books into the locker and slamming shut the door I headed for the nearest side exit, the cool air feeling refreshing as I shivered and zipped up my jacket. It got cold early in the season around here in Minnesota, and with school now in full swing for over a month it felt as if summer had long been left behind already. It was overcast most days and windy, but I didn’t mind so much as I began to jog the short distance over to the high school for my afternoon advanced class session.
Even though I wouldn’t consider myself a nerd or anything, actually, quite the opposite since I seemed to be fairly popular in my school and relatively active in sports, I was in the upper percentile of most kids my age academically. My counselors at school had wanted my dad to give permission to skip a couple of grades, but he refused saying he wanted me to be a kid for as long as possible since life was too adult like in general anyway these days. I could tell many of the school faculty thought his decision was such a waste, but I had to agree with my dad because I enjoyed hanging out with my friends and just being a normal type of kid. I went out of my way not to look too smart in my regular classes and always kept my grades low key. Most of my friends already knew I was getting top grades, but since I was just one of the guys they never made a big issue over it, which suited me just fine.
Still, the school administrators, and some of my teachers, had pressured my dad so last year when I was in seventh grade he agreed to allow me to take advanced classes towards the end of the school day over at Sornell high school. He had compromised, but made it very clear any scheduling would not be allowed to interfere with my other activities at my own school. It actually worked out pretty good because I was still able to hang around with friends my own age and have a normal kind of life.
While the rest of my junior high friends finished up their last hour at the middle school I’d take the short jaunt over to the high school. It’s where my older brother, who was a junior there, went to school and where I took some advanced classes, which actually counted towards college credits. Afterwards, I would trot back over to my school just in time for my cross country training at the middle school. In addition to being on the cross country squad I was also on my school’s soccer team. I loved the solitude cross country running offered, but also enjoyed the interaction with my teammates that soccer offered.
Since my big brother was also heavily involved in sports it got a bit hectic at times around our house. My older brother was seventeen years old with top notch athletic skills easily earning him a starting position on the varsity football team even though he was only a junior, and it often conflicted with my schedule, but somehow we always seemed to manage. I felt for my dad at times because he couldn’t be in two places at once when our schedules collided, but my brother and I never made it an issue if he couldn’t get to one of our events because of any conflicts. He was a single dad after all, with my mom having left our lives long ago to pursue her own career and needs. I was only two or three years old when she left and I’ve only seen her a few times since. Anymore, she was a stranger or perhaps a distant relative than a mom, but what she lacked my father made up in spades. He worked just across the river at the big paper mill putting in long hours, but he always made sure to make time for me and my brother. Money was always tight for us, but it was the little things he did which really showed how much he loved us.
Even though my dad put in long hours, the city itself seemed to offer a kind of safety net for kids like us because of the family like feel of it. Sornell was nestled along the Mississippi River in central Minnesota about twenty minutes north of St. Cloud and felt like a small town rather than a city, providing a more intimate charm and stimulating environment. It was a quiet community, but it was growing with a population of just over sixteen thousand. It was a place where you knew your neighbors and all, but it was also big enough where you didn’t know everyone who lived there bumping into plenty of people you’ve never met before while out at the mall or any number of other places.
Inhaling deeply, the air felt refreshingly clean after being stuck in the stuffy Middle School building for most of the day. The temperature outside was already in the low fifties dipping down into the low forties at night. It hadn’t begun to snow yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we started seeing some start to fall here between now and the next couple of weeks. It typically began to snow around mid-October, but it wasn’t unusual for us to get some at the end of September either.
Taking a minute to stretch out my legs I began the short jaunt over to the High School deciding to take the direct route through the practice fields instead of walking on the sidewalk. The High School was just across the way and I could even see it from my school as I crossed our parking lot and drive padding my way now on one of the school’s practice fields. Our track surrounding our football field along with the baseball diamond and soccer field were actually located on the back part and side of our school building, but we also had a couple of smaller practice areas for other things across the street from our school where I now jogged. The open field area on this side of the building was between the high school and middle school with a few areas of clustered trees providing a small barrier.
The short run over to Sornell High only took a couple of minutes with me hardly even being winded when I finally entered the larger facility. I liked my brother’s school because it was more updated having gone through a lot of renovations a few years back. For all practical purposes it was now all new and modernized where our middle school still felt kind of dated, old, and sort of depressing at times. Still, unlike many of my other friends I actually enjoyed going to school. It didn’t have anything to do with my grades per se, but rather I simply enjoyed keeping busy with school activities such as sports not to mention having the daily interaction with my buddies, which did include plenty of girls too. I got along with most everyone, but then again I suppose having a knack for good grades along with being athletic did make it more enjoyable to attend school for me than it was for most of my other buddies.
At least the girls seemed to notice of me and I’d catch them staring at me sometimes as if sizing me up. There were occasions when their steady gazes did get annoying, but then again it wasn’t as if many of us guys didn’t do the same thing when it came to the girls. I was athletic with decent enough looks to warrant the scrutiny from the girls at my school. I wasn’t buff or anything like that, but I guess a guy could say I was pretty fit. It’s been a while since I’ve actually looked at myself closely in the mirror, but I always thought my body was kind of skinny with a lanky type of build. All that running kept me trim and lean with long legs and a stride perfect for competing in cross country.
Just before school started I got the typical sports physical so I could participate and join the various school teams and activities. According to my doctor I came in fairly average height wise for a boy my age with the man indicating I had grown into a respectable five foot five inch tall teen. I had wondered about my weight because I did look kind of thin, but he seemed to shrug it off saying I weighed around a hundred five pounds which was, according to him again, perfectly fine for a boy my age and height. I suppose it was better than being overweight.
Getting a physical was something I really didn’t care too much for, just like most of the other boys at my school. I mean, after all who likes to strip in front a virtual stranger and have him mess with your balls and pecker. That part was downright embarrassing. Not that I really had anything to be embarrassed about size wise down there. I wasn’t like packing a huge one or anything, but it wasn’t puny either. If anything I suppose if I had asked the doctor about it he probably would have simply said I was fairly average down there as well for a boy who was in the full swing of puberty. I guess when all was said and done, I was just an average all around thirteen year old teenaged boy, yet from all indications the girls seemed to like my looks.
I’d hear them talking to each other sometimes about me out in the hallways by their lockers at school or just hanging around in general. I’d hear comments like he’s so cute, he’s got lovely blond hair, I love his pretty blue eyes, or even the sporadic he’s so dreamy; however, what I saw when I looked at myself in the mirror was just another typical kind of guy. Their remarks often felt kind of strange and awkward; especially, when they’d drop the occasional he’s got a cute ass, or the truly embarrassing ones where they’d mention about the size of the lump between my legs.
Of course, just like what I’ve got swinging between my legs, all boys have different facial features too and I didn’t think my looks were anything I would characterize as special like many of the girls in my school were claiming. I suppose I did have soft features with a fair complexion, but this was slowly changing, becoming a bit more chiseled like you’d normally see happening to teenagers as they got older. At least I didn’t have a face full of zits like some of my other friends. Thank goodness the pimple gods favored my fair skin keeping me for the most part blemish free other than the occasional stubborn one that would pop up now and then.
Checking the clock in the hallway I noticed I was back on schedule because of the decision to take a run through the fields making up for lost time. At the moment there wasn’t much activity in the hallways with only a few teenagers milling around here and there since the high school got out earlier than the middle school. This meant most of the students were already on their way home. The kids hanging around now were there for whatever typical after school activities such as attending advanced classes like me or getting ready for sports practice like football, which is exactly what my brother would be up to at the moment.
My brother’s locker with my advanced class books in them was located in another hallway towards the other side of the building, so instead of going around I decided to cut through the open inner courtyard. I typically took this route not necessarily because it was shorter, but rather since I enjoyed the open atrium like area with all the different plants. It was well protected from the weather with three walls boxing the area in a horseshoe like shape providing enough protection from the elements and warmth where the plants seemed to flourish even when it snowed.
The school had a top notch horticulture club who maintained the area and in my opinion they did a bang up job. A few years back they won a grant for their proposal and innovative design to run an underground heating system all powered by solar panels. After receiving the award they immediately set out to implement their plan, placing solar panels up on the roof and running lines all the way down powering underground heating cables even during the winter months. Within a year their plants were flourishing with the garden taking shape into what it was today a few years later. Each consecutive year a new group of young budding horticulturists took over the tasks of maintaining the system and improving upon the design. They all worked hard and now everyone could enjoy the fruits of their labor. It had developed into a well known garden in the region with plenty of visitors taking pleasure in visiting it.
Taking the side door I grinned cheerily when it opened up to all the greenery with some flowers still in bloom, but my smile quickly disappeared when I spotted a knot of teens sitting on the nearby bench and table who were considered more of a nuisance and a bunch of thugs by most of the other kids here at the school. The courtyard had a few of these tables scattered around for students to gather and shoot the breeze, but these guys looked like they were out for trouble. Scooting on to the sidewalk I began to skirt around the outside along the sidewalk so I could make my way towards the other side when I noticed one of the kids start to move towards me.
I knew most of the teens at the school because of my brother, but I didn’t recognize this guy. He looked about a year or so older than me, but not that much bigger, which made me think the kid must be a freshman. There was something about the boy, which made the hair on the back of my neck stand up so I began to brace myself for some trouble. I wasn’t the kind of guy who went looking for a quarrel, but I could take care of myself just fine, not that much ever came my way. Even though a lot of the freshman and sophomore kids tended to get picked on a bit in typical fashion by the older teens, no one ever really much bothered me here at the high school. There was the usual playful kind of teasing and all, but nothing serious and it was mostly in good fun.
For the most part, like at my middle school, I got along with nearly all the kids at this school too. I suppose my brother’s popularity helped some in this regard and I’m sure he put the word out to the older teens not to bother me. He could be a bit overprotective over me, which was a tad irritating at times, but I don’t think he really went out of his way to make it seem like I was a little crybaby or something that needed to be coddled. He knew I could take care of myself, but he definitely didn’t want the older guys to get carried away with some of the typical hazing and stuff like they did with many of the freshmen and sophomores at the school. This kid who started to approach me wasn’t an older teen though, but he definitely looked as if he was looking for a confrontation.
When one of the older boys reached out shaking his head at this new kid I sighed in relief because I was still in a bit of a hurry and didn’t want to deal with any crap at the moment. Even though this other kid was a year older he didn’t scare me much because I could hold my own when necessary. The older teen who had intervened glanced my way and nodded his head by way of greeting while I returned it. I knew the guy and thought he was a decent enough sort, which often made me wonder why he hung around with this crowd because he seemed so different. I suppose one good thing was he tended to keep the other guys in the group in line most times so they didn’t get carried away.
Being forced to hold off didn’t seem to sit well with this younger teen as I watched him ambling over to another older boy. I didn’t recognize this other kid either and since he was new too I figured the two guys must be brothers or something. They did seem to have the same kind of features, but the older boy was a head taller than the younger one not to mention way more muscular and bulky as if he worked out or something.
The older teen was swinging around one of those smaller types of bats, taking swipes at woodchips he picked up from the landscaping as he tossed them into the air. It looked about half the size of a regular bat as he paused long enough to glance over towards me and then the other older boy who had intervened. The teen who I knew shrugged his shoulders as if to dismiss the event before chatting with the other boy about something.
Ignoring them I moved down the sidewalk forgetting about the incident making my way around the courtyard to the other side feeling a bit relieved when I was able to put some bushes and shrubbery between them and me, effectively blocking most of our view from one another. There was a doorway here leading into the main hallway again, but my brother’s locker was just inside the other doorway on the end of the building. As I rounded the last corner to head down the straightaway leading to the end of the building another smile spread over my features because I noticed a kid approaching from the other end of the sidewalk. I recognized the boy, but really didn’t know him since we’ve never officially met.
Ever since the start of this school year I’ve seen him with his dog at the high school about two or three times a week. One of those specialized city vans dropped him and his dog off out front by the street. The main sidewalk paralleled the street, but where the van dropped him off there was another paved walkway leading from the street right up to the school building and along this side of the courtyard we were now both walking on. When the timing was right our paths would cross for a moment or two as we walked by one another continuing on our own way. I never stopped to talk with him, but always said ‘hey’ as we passed each other. He had an adorable pale yellowish and cream colored Labrador Retriever that had the sweetest face. I was often tempted to stop and pet the dog, but wasn’t sure if the kid would appreciate it since the Retriever was one of those guide animals.
After coming across the boy a few times on my way to class I began to wonder why he was dropped off at the high school. I thought of asking him about it, but every time I started to do it I chickened out and simply said ‘hey’ to him instead. There was just something about the kid that made me think he was a tad shy and timid, forcing me to back off on approaching him. I suppose the kid being blind made me nervous too since I didn’t know anyone who couldn’t see. At least I thought he was blind since he had a guide dog and always wore those dark shaded glasses over his eyes.
The first few times I said ‘hey’ to him he didn’t respond back at all, but at least now he would flash me a small grin and give me a greeting of his own which was kind of nice. It was strange to feel happy about such a small thing, but the guy intrigued me for some reason. I suppose some of it had to do with him being blind, but mostly it had to do more with the mystery about him.
Despite the kid’s smaller size I also got the sense he was around my age, which made me wonder even more about why he was coming here to the high school since he definitely didn’t go to my school. Even if he was a year or so younger than me and in a grade or two lower I’d still know him if he went there. I also didn’t think being blind would prevent a kid from going to a regular school like mine. At first I thought maybe he was also one of those special education students who needed some extra help, but realized they wouldn’t have him coming all the way over here since all the schools in our city had their own programs set up for kids with special needs. Besides, we were the only middle school in our small city other than the private one, ST. Francis Xavier, but they only went up to grade six and I didn’t think he was that young. This meant he’d be going to my school and I’d know him, which added even more confusion into the mix.
After that I thought maybe he was one of those kids who had skipped a grade or two, like they wanted me to do, but I quickly ruled that out too. I knew most of the guys at the high school and I hadn’t heard anything about a younger kid attending classes here. In the end all I could think of was maybe he had a mom or dad who worked at the high school as a teacher, administrator, or some other staff position. It sort of made sense why he’d come here, but still didn’t answer why I didn’t know him from over at my school. Of course he was blind, but there weren’t any schools around here for the blind and I’m sure if he went to a regular school they’d be required to accommodate his needs. So now every time I saw him it began to nag at me that I didn’t know anything about the guy.
Watching the kid and his dog approaching me I had to chuckle to myself recalling how when I saw the boy for the very first time I actually thought he was a girl because of his long chestnut brown hair, slight frame, and soft features. The kid was an inch or so shorter than me and a good ten or fifteen pounds lighter. He was kind of small and thin, somehow managing to look even skinnier than me, with his long straight hair parted in the middle and hanging all the way down past his shoulder blades. With his fair features it only added to my first impression of the kid being a girl.
There was something kind of nice and pleasant about his looks though, and I’m sure the girls probably thought he was cute too. It made me wonder if he ever got those same kinds of comments I did from girls in general. He didn’t have any fancy expensive clothes, not that it mattered since I didn’t either, but the guy was always dressed sharp with a clean simple type of style. I kind of liked that about him.
Along with each confrontation I also began to constantly wonder about his eyes and what color they were behind those tinted glasses. He always seemed to have those dark shades on even when it was overcast like today. I knew he had his reasons since he was obviously blind or at the very least visually challenged, but it just seemed to pique my interests even more because they were always hidden away.
It took me a time or two before I could actually confirm in my own mind he was actually a boy instead of a girl. What finally validated my suspicions putting the matter to rest for me was the way he tended to move and dress along with the lump between his legs that pressed up against the guy’s jeans creating a rounded bulge. It wasn’t like a huge bulge or anything, kind of average I suppose for a kid his age and size. Not that I really went out of my way to notice that sort of thing on my friends or boys in general, but I guess it just sort of comes with the territory of knowing what was what in this regard.
It’s also not as if I hadn’t seen other boys around my age naked and stuff when getting changed since all the seventh and eighth graders were required to take showers after phys-ed class. Most of us junior high guys also tended to take showers after practice and whatnot for the various sports we participated in at our school. Of course some guys were a bit shy about that sort of thing, but no one ever said anything about it one way or the other. There was the typical teasing, ribbing, and all around playful bantering, but that was about it on the matter. Most times for those of us who got cleaned up after a sweaty practice we’d simply jump into the shower and do our thing without much ado about anything.
Now, as the boy and I got closer I hesitated for a moment becoming a bit alarmed about those thugs on the other side of the courtyard. Glancing over through the growth of plants and shrubbery they seemed occupied and were way over on the other side where I had just exited with plenty of obstacles in the way. I knew the boy would be entering the doorway on this side of the building so my anxiety quickly dissipated as we approached realizing we would cross paths just outside the door I had to duck into.
“Hey,” I smiled at the boy taking a quick glance down at the Labrador Retriever in her harness.
“Hi,” I heard the boy’s soft reply as we passed one another and I opened the door hearing it shut behind me while I made my way over to my brother’s locker about ten feet away just inside the entryway to the hall.
The grin on my mug didn’t go away as I began turning the tumblers on the locker. I quickly rotated the combination and opened up the door with my thoughts wandering back to the other kid, the smile getting even bigger on my features. I began to realize I kind of liked the boy even though I really didn’t know him. Sighing and shaking my head I reached inside and grabbed my books taking a moment to pause and stare inside my brother’s locker as I scrunched up my face in thought.
The kid and I have been saying hi to each other for over a month now and I didn’t even know his name, which was sort of strange really, so with resignation I decided when we saw each other again I would take a moment and at least ask him for his name. The next time I wouldn’t chicken out because it would be kind of nice to at least get to know him a little. Smiling at myself I slammed shut my brother’s locker and nearly jumped out of my skin because of the weird noise I heard at the very same moment. Even my insides began to crawl around for some odd reason. It was the strangest sensation because just as the door had slammed closed with the usual loud clanging noise it was as if there was a sort of higher pitched noise at the same time. It was difficult to describe and I wasn’t even sure if I had really heard anything, but I did get that awful feeling on the inside I usually got when something bad was going on along with the hair on the back of my neck standing on end.
My advanced class was just up the hallway on this side of the building as I turned towards that direction, but glanced over my shoulder at the door I had just entered. Frowning I just couldn’t shake the awful feeling inside my gut and without realizing it I had made my way towards the door and actually stepped back outside into the courtyard.
The blood immediately drained from my face at the horror unfolding in front of my eyes just up the walkway close to the other entryway into the building. Those thugs had surrounded the boy and weren’t just taunting him, but actually screaming, shouting, and shoving him about. That wasn’t the worst of it though because I saw that one kid who was about to approach me actually punching and smacking the blind boy around.
It was totally horrifying to see the look of utter fear on the younger boy’s face and as long as I live I will never be able to wipe it away from my memories as I watched in shock and disgust the fourteen year old teen actually landing a punch on the smaller boy’s chin. The blow was powerful enough to rock the long haired boy backwards into the arms of one of his tormentors who merely tossed him back into the center of the ring. The poor boy’s glasses had been knocked off as he stumbled forward flailing around his arms trying to deflect the oncoming assault despite being blind.
The kid was bawling with huge sobs wracking his body while tears streamed down his face, and I kept hearing him calling out for his dog, pleading for the assholes not to hurt her. The younger boy was being beaten by a bunch of older thugs and the only concern he had was for his own dog. I watched as the fourteen year old asshole once again swung his fist around landing another punch to the side of the long haired boy’s temple to the taunting jeers of his fellow bullies.
It was simply horrifying to watch the younger long haired boy crumbling to his knees as he reached out pleading for his dog while everyone crowded around him pushing and shoving him from every which way. “Please tell me where Maggie is…pleeeeease don’t hurt her.” He managed to get out just before he was slapped by the younger teen, which was forceful enough to jerk the younger boy’s head to the side.
The younger thug was jeering at the sniveling boy now. “Just shut up about your stupid dog already and take your beating like a man girly boy. Maybe after we get done teaching you how to be a man we can shave your head bald and get rid of all that girly hair.”
“Noooo! Maggie, please nooooo!” The smaller boy began to wail as he tried to defend himself when the knot of kids started to jostle and smack him around a bit roughly.
The boy was blind and it had to be totally disorienting for him as he tried to protect himself to no avail since he couldn’t see where the blows were coming from. Slightly off to the side I could see the older boy who had intervened for me shouting for everyone to stop, but he was being held off by the other older boy who I didn’t know. They were arguing, with the larger teen saying to the other boy who had interjected earlier that it’s his little brother’s business and to not interfere or he will get the same as the dog. I didn’t know what he meant, but it didn’t sound good as I saw the younger thug pull his fist back ready to strike the smaller boy yet again.
It never landed because he suddenly crumpled to the ground knocked out cold and to my surprise I was straddling over him as I reached down picking him up by the front of his collar and letting loose on him with several more punches. Without realizing it I had sprinted over and launched myself into the knot of kids letting out the most horrendous guttural sound I’ve ever heard in my life. I was absolutely livid and the blood in my veins were boiling as I laid into the fourteen year old brute with everything I had landing a punch right on his temple.
The fourteen year old boy had never seen it coming and it was immediately lights out for him. I was so stinking mad though I didn’t even realize what I was doing when I reached down to punch him several more times. I could see several kids bolting in different directions as I pulled my arm back to punch the other kid some more, but the blows never made it because I felt myself abruptly tossed several feet away landing on my back so hard I felt the air whooshing out of my lungs. It was followed immediately by a stinging pain along my left face and mouth that left me seeing bright pinprick lights flashing in front of my eyes. I could also taste the iron like flavor of my own blood where my braces cut the flesh inside my mouth.
“You fucking little shit will pay for blindsiding my little brother.” I heard a deep voice dripping with hatred and grumbling ironically considering that’s exactly what they were doing to the long haired boy.
The stinging pain to the side of my face was immediately followed by a gut wrenching ache as the air once again whooshed out of my lungs. My side throbbed now too and I couldn’t be positive since I was still seeing stars, but I was sure the older kid must have kicked me in the ribs while I was lying disoriented on the ground.
That’s when I heard another voice I recognized interjecting and cutting through all the confusion. “What the fuck are you doing, get off him Tank.” The older teen that had intervened earlier grumbled as I opened up my eyes and through a hazy fog saw the older bully, Tank, being pulled back.
“Back off Murph.” This Tank guy grumbled shaking loose the other teen. “Just because you’re my cousin doesn’t mean I won’t pound you to a pulp too if you get in my way. The kid is going to pay for what he fucking did to my little brother.” The big brute spat shoving the other teen away from him and thrusting that small bat into Murph’s chest for emphasis.
The slightly smaller teen shoved the bat away and looked furious now. “Fuck you Tank and your little brother. I told you not to mess with the Ammussa kid and to leave the blind boy alone. This is so fucked up and you are in for a lot of hurt messing with Johnnie ’s little brother. We are totally screwed too for messing around with that blind kid and his dog. Just grab your little brother and let’s go before things get even worse.”
“Fuck you Murph. I’m not going anywhere until I finish up my business here. You’re such a chicken shit and nothing is going to happen because when I’m through they’ll be too scared to point any fingers at us. Besides, I thought you said this kid’s older brother is only a junior. I’m not afraid of anyone at this school, much less some punk ass junior.” The big thug spat and started for me as I quickly scooted away still pretty shaken up from the quick but hard pounding I had received.
My stomach and ribs hurt like hell and I could hardly catch my breath, not to mention the side of my face was numb. Still, I wasn’t about to simply let myself get beat to a pulp without a fight as I began to look around for anything that could help me. I couldn’t see anything and I was starting to panic a little and sighed in relief when I saw Murph stepping between me and this Tank guy.
“I’m not afraid of you Tank and you may think you’re tough shit, but it’s nothing compared to what Johnnie will do to us for messing with his little brother; especially, with what happened a few years back. He doesn’t go out of his way to interfere with the stuff going on with his little brother, but if you push it too far it’ll get bad, and I mean really ugly Tank; that much you can be sure of. Johnnie may only be a junior, but there’s a reason no one at our school fucks with him including seniors. Just, let’s grab Tully and get out of here while the getting is good. Maybe this will all blow over, but I won’t let you hurt Frankie or the other kid anymore even if it means a pounding by you. I’m no pushover Tank and will fight back though, that much I can promise.” I heard Murph reply with conviction glancing over his shoulder real quick and wincing when he saw me wiping the back of my hand across my bloody lip.
I’m sure I probably looked pretty banged up because it sure felt like it. This Tank guy lived up to his name because in a couple of seconds he had managed to hurt me pretty good. I had landed on the ground pretty hard and knew I’d be feeling it, not to mention the punch to the face and the kick to my ribs and stomach. I ached all over and I was still feeling woozy and nauseous.
The big teen hesitated a moment squirreling up his face and giving his smaller cousin a hard gaze before focusing his attention over at me. Lifting up his arm he pointed the small bat at me and it was then I saw the red blood smeared all over the end of it my face going completely white at what this may mean.
Shoving it towards my direction the older teen looked hard at me and there was no mistaking the hatred in his cold eyes. “You say anything about what happened here to anyone including your older brother and you are dead meat. Get me.” Tank hissed staring at me grimly while I grimaced but didn’t say anything; except, to stare back at him just as coldly because now I was mad as hell.
It seemed to catch him by surprise, but he didn’t have time to react because Murph tugged on his arm and pulled him over towards his little brother who was still knocked out cold. “Holy fucking shit, he’s still out.” Tank grumbled a bit surprised as he easily lifted his little brother off the ground and quickly followed Murph through the side door.
It got really quiet all of a sudden; except for the sobs coming from the blind kid as he started crawling around and searching the ground for something. Wincing, I managed to stand up on wobbly legs and made my way towards the other boy. I spotted his glasses and winced again when I bent over picking them up off the ground.
“Here,” I managed to wheeze out and without thinking reached down lightly touching the boy on the shoulder.
The kid immediately recoiled scooting backwards and holding up his hands along the way trying to ward off any oncoming blows that would start raining down on him any second. “P-please no more. Please don’t hurt me and please tell me where Maggie is. She’s a good dog and wouldn’t hurt anyone. Pleeeaaasssse.” He began to sob even harder.
It was awful to see because he was pleading for his poor dog while also trying desperately to escape even though it was obvious he was completely disoriented now. A twinge of guilt wracked my insides for being such an idiot and scaring the poor guy all over again. I could be such an idiot at times and I felt horrible about it now as I tried to reassure the other kid.
“N-no, please…I-I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you and the other guys are gone now.” I spoke hesitantly, but in a soothing kind of tone as I knelt down to the boy holding out his glasses and waited for a moment before realizing what an idiot I was again. “I…er…here’s your glasses.” I stated, but again realizing how stupid I was because he couldn’t see them. “I…uh…here…I’m going to touch your hand with them.” I added tapping them against the back of his hand.
The boy flinched when I touched him with his glasses, but he managed to take them and put them back on. “Hey boy?” He managed to croak out nervously.
“Huh?” I asked not understanding.
“Hey boy…y-you say ‘hey’ to me all the time. It-it is you, right?” He asked guardedly while I nodded my head with it getting quiet for a moment or two before I realized I was being stupid again.
“Er…sorry…I keep forgetting you are blind, but yeah it’s me.” I responded and then yelped in surprise when the boy unexpectedly lurched forward wrapping his arms around me and holding on tight while more sobs and tears began to flow.
It rocked me backwards slightly forcing me to sit on my butt. “Please help me…pleeeeease. I need to find Maggie. They did something to her. It was awful. I heard a horrible scream coming from her before those guys started to beat me up. Why would anyone want to hurt her…she’s the sweetest dog ever. Oh my god, please tell me she’s not hurt. Please…help me…she’s one of the most important things in my life…she’s my everything. I’d simply die if something awful happened to her. Please.” He pleaded while hanging on to me his whole body shaking with a combination of fear, panic, and anguish which broke my heart as I began to look around trying to figure out what happened to his dog.
Then I saw it, the red splatters just a few feet away from the door along with his dog lying in a pool of blood. “Oh god, stay here.” I told the boy as I gripped his arms for emphasis before getting up on my feet and sprinting over to the prone dog lying on the ground between a couple of bushes.
“Maggie…,” I heard the boy’s whispered sobs as he began to crawl towards us making me frown because things didn’t look good.
The boy’s dog looked all messed up and I was sure she was dead. It was awful, the blood pooling around her and matting into the hair around her head and body. It looked as if the older bully must have taken his bat to her head and body with her tongue hanging slackly from her mouth. It was so nasty I just about threw up, but then noticed the dog was still breathing.
“Oh my god, she’s still alive…,” I croaked out, immediately kneeling next to her to get a closer look.
I wished I hadn’t done that because what I saw made me gag and nearly puke. It was like her skull had been cracked open and I could see her breathing had become labored. It was so bad I didn’t really know what to do as I kneeled there in stunned disbelief. Just then I heard the door opening up and I panicked for a second thinking those monsters had come back to finish the job. I sighed in relief when I saw another teenager stepping out his eyes bugging out of his skull staring at me and the dog and then the other boy crawling towards us. I’ve seen him in the garden a time or two tending to the plants so knew he was part of the horticulture club.
“H-holy shit…,” The other boy squeaked visibly shaken. “What the fuck ha…,” He began before I cut him off.
“Go get my brother…now.” I commanded something inside of me kicking into gear as I finally took charge knowing we needed to hurry.
“What?” The other teen gasped.
“My brother…Johnnie. He’s in the locker room getting ready for football practice. Tell him I need him to bring his car out by the street in front of the garden…hurry.” I emphasized with the boy starting to turn but pausing.
“I…uh…but the coach…he’ll be mad and your brother won’t just show up because I said so, no matter what I say.” He added with the fact of him knowing who Johnnie was and that we were brothers making me sigh in relief.
It’s strange how those sorts of things work out. I mean, the teen and I didn’t really know each other, yet we knew some things about one another. I knew he was in the horticulture club here at the high school and that he had a little sister who went to my middle school. I’ve seen his family around during various events and all, but didn’t really know them personally.
“Er…shit.” I grumbled because I knew the football coach had very strict rules and that my brother would be in trouble big time for just up and leaving even though practice hadn’t officially started yet. Thinking off the cuff I did the only thing I could think of, to use one of our family’s safety phrases. “Tell my brother the tiger is loose.”
“What?” The other teen asked perplexed because it didn’t make any sense.
It was a phrase that would let my brother know I needed him right away because there was danger lurking about. It was the quickest way to get my brother to simply respond with no questions asked. If the other teen would have to take time to explain things precious moments would be lost and from all indications every second now counted with the dog’s life hanging in the balance.
“Just tell him the tiger is loose and to bring the car. He will know what it means, but tell him to hurry…now run.” I snapped commandingly and pointed to the door with the other teen no longer hesitating and bolting into the hallway at a full out clip heading towards the school’s locker room.
“Oh god Maggie…,” I heard the blind boy letting out a sob because he heard the exchange making me wince a bit guiltily as my mind began to race with what to do.
Then something strange happened. It was as if a sort of calmness settled over me like a warm blanket, taking over my emotions. I knew the situation was bad and that I couldn’t let my panic get in the way or things would spiral out of control in a hurry. It was then everything seemed to fall into place as I calmly turned towards the blind boy who had crawled over only a couple of feet away now by simply keying in to my voice.
Taking a deep breath to settle my nerves even more I spoke calmly now. “Listen, you need to do exactly what I tell you now.” I began, sighing in relief when I saw the boy stopping and cocking his head towards me with his long hair in total disarray and hanging over his face.
“Good.” I nodded my head. “I won’t lie to you. It’s bad…really bad, but you need to stay put for now so I can do what needs to be done. We need to get…er…,” I paused trying to remember the name he used for his dog when it suddenly came to me, “…Maggie to the vet right away. My brother should be tearing down the street in his car any moment now. I’m going to wrap my jacket around Maggie and pick her up. She’s big though and looks kind of heavy so I won’t be able to help you. I guess the best thing to do is when step over to you just get up and hang on to me somehow and I will try to get us all over to the street. When my brother arrives I will put Maggie into the car and we can head over to my Uncle who runs the veterinarian clinic a couple of miles away…alright?” I posed providing him precise instructions, noticing the boy was listening to me carefully and nodding his head in agreement even though it was obviously killing him not to be able to come see to his dog.
It made me feel bad to force him to wait, but I knew he’d freak out once he felt all the blood and noticed just how bad his dog was at the moment. Focusing back on the poor animal I winced because it really was bad. Without hesitating I slipped out of my jacket opening it up and setting it next to Maggie. I was going to simply lift her into my jacket and wrap it around her, but I had to do something about her head. I slipped out of my red colored button up flannel shirt and then stripped off my gray and black colored t-shirt shivering when the cool air licked at my exposed skin. Even though this area was warmer due to the walls and heated ground, it was still cold out, the air feeling crisp as it settled over my naked torso and began to seep into my body.
I quickly put my flannel shirt back on covering up my pale skin, the warmth immediately returning to my body. Using my t-shirt I wrapped it around the dog’s head in a makeshift bandage. If nothing else once we got in the car it would hopefully keep the other boy from inspecting the dog’s wound perhaps creating more damage. Being ever so careful, I lifted the Labrador Retriever of the ground, grunting in the process when I felt a sharp stabbing sensation along my ribs from my earlier pounding. She had to weigh a good fifty five or sixty pounds, which is pretty heavy for a thirteen year old boy to be lugging around casually.
Gasping and catching my breath because the sharp pain had caught me by surprise, I waited a second or two before rolling my jacket around the dog. It was a bit awkward because she was wearing one of those harnesses the blind held on to while their guide dogs led them around. Being more careful now so I wouldn’t tweak my side again I lifted up the bundle into my lap and stood up wobbling a bit awkwardly until I caught my balance. Straightening up I made my way over to the boy.
“Ready?” I asked glancing down and watching as the other boy reached out with his hand waving around awkwardly in empty space until he was able to locate my leg before he slowly got to his feet never releasing the contact on me.
The dog was already getting heavy in my arms as I arched my back trying to relieve some of the weight when I felt the boy grabbing on to the back of my left arm just above the elbow. It felt kind of awkward for me, but I couldn’t wait any longer and started to walk down the sidewalk towards the street. If my brother didn’t arrive soon I’d have to set the dog down. As we cleared the walls of the building I could feel the cool air start to seep through my flannel shirt despite the fact I was sweating from the strain of holding on to the dog this way. It was literally like carrying dead weight as I tried to be as careful as possible.
Glancing over to the direction of where my brother would round the building I began to worry because I didn’t see his car yet. I was getting close to the street now and started to think I might have to set the dog down after all, but then to my relief I heard the tires of my brother’s car squealing as he rounded the corner just up the street. He was definitely breaking a lot of motor vehicle laws because he didn’t even stop and was speeding as he took the turn heading straight towards us. Just as I reached the end of the sidewalk my brother slammed on the breaks with the car coming to a screeching halt right in front of us. It barely came to a stop before he jumped out of the car half naked with his eyes spread wide open in panic as he glanced around looking for anything amiss.
The car coming to a squealing stop must have scared the crap out of the younger boy holding on to my arm because from the corner of my eye I saw him jerk and could feel his grip tightening up just above my elbow. My brother’s gaze settled on me and they flew open even bigger when he saw my face and all the blood on my clothes. I could see the panic in his eyes and started to say something because I could sense his fear for my safety, but he beat me to it.
“What the hell happened? Who the fuck did that to you?” He demanded before I could say anything as he walked around the car heading straight for me.
He immediately reached out trying to look me over, but since I was holding the dog in my arms he didn’t know what to do. “What the hell is that?” He asked in a rush not even noticing the other boy anymore since he was totally focused on me and how my coat was completely soaked in blood along with the shirt sending him into a bigger panic.
The dog was a complete mess and with her all wrapped up in my jacket it was difficult to tell she was a dog if you didn’t know what you were looking at; especially, with the guide dog harness added to the mix. “It’s a dog Johnnie and she’s hurt really bad.” I replied, the bundle in my arm getting heavier by the second as I tried to hurry things along. “Please Johnnie just…,” I started to say before getting interrupted.
“What the fuck is a dog doing at the school and who the hell is the kid?” He asked totally confused now because none of this was making sense to him.
“Fuck Johnnie, open the damn door, she’s getting heavy already. It’s not like I’m carrying a fucking Chihuahua.” I snapped making my older brother flinch, not to mention the boy who was still sniffling and crying, sending him over the edge now making me curse under my breath.
At least it got my brother moving as he opened up the back door for me. “Sorry Johnnie, it’s just…shit…this is so fucked up.” I sighed while my older brother scrambled around inside the back seat spreading out a blanket he had back there just in case since it was winter time. “S-she’s a guide dog and these assholes f-fucked her up Johnnie…,” I got choked up trying to explain. “It was awful…things got really nasty in a hurry. I didn’t see what they did to the dog, but they were beating up this kid…and…and…I had to do something.” I began to cry now myself because the memory of how they were beating up this defenseless kid was just horrible to watch and I couldn’t erase the image from my mind as I watched my brother scrambling out from the back seat.
“What?” My brother asked still totally confused as he tried to piece things together and stepping aside so I could try to get the dog inside.
Hesitating a moment I glanced at the kid who was still hanging on to my arm. “I…uh…you gotta let go now so I can put Maggie into the back seat. It’ll only take a second or two.” I added making a valiant effort to stay calm, but my voice cracked with emotions, but at least the boy understood and released me.
“What the fuck happened Frankie?” My brother asked more calmly now trying to piece things together, but obviously getting a bit pissed. “I mean, who the fuck would want to hurt a service dog for Pete’s sake and who the hell is this kid?” He wanted to know as I set the dog on the back seat and scooted back out.
“It’s his dog Johnnie, but we’ve gotta hurry now and get over to Uncle Joey’s Clinic. She’s hurt really bad and we need to hurry so let’s just go and I’ll explain it on the way.” I pleaded making my way quickly around the car to get in behind on the driver side so the kid could get in from the side I just put the dog in.
“Oh, shit, yeah, hurry up kid and get in.” My brother commanded briskly as he gave the kid a slight shove to get him moving.
All hell immediately broke loose because the kid went totally berserk making my brother yelp in surprise and back off. “He’s fucking blind you moron.” I snapped at my poor brother because it really wasn’t his fault since he still really didn’t understand what was going on as I quickly came back around approaching the other kid who was in an all out panic now.
The kid had just been put through hell and I’m sure he thought my brother was attacking him. Being blindsided like that by my brother where he was suddenly grabbed and shoved would have had just about most kids in a frantic state after an event like he just went through, but to be blind on top of it where he was totally disoriented was even worse. I felt a twinge of guilt for having simply left him alone like that as I approached trying to calm him down.
“It’s okay…please; my brother didn’t mean anything by it.” I told him soothingly seeing the boy calm down again once he heard my voice. “Here, let me help you get into the car, but we need to hurry now…for Maggie.” I added sincerely, the mention of the dog’s name seemingly snapping the boy out of it, and allowing me to touch and guide him over to the car.
“Shit kid, I’m really sorry about that…it’s just I still don’t know what’s going on.” My brother grimaced feeling awful about it, but also still totally disoriented with this whole thing at the same time.
It was then I noticed his state of dress, or rather lack thereof. He really must have immediately dropped everything to get to me once he heard the code phrase. He wasn’t even wearing a shirt, the subtle muscles along his torso hinting at the strength and power he possessed. He wasn’t insanely muscular, but he was very fit and unlike skinny little me he had just the right amount of bulk and it didn’t surprise me how all the girls seemed to swoon over him. He had just the proper amount of build for a boy his age and size. He was a handsome looking seventeen year old boy. He wasn’t big like that hulking Tank guy, but there was a deceptive powerful beast lurking just beneath the surface of my brother’s physique. I’ve only seen the beast inside of him unleashed a couple of times in my life and it wasn’t a pretty sight when he laid into someone.
Like me he had a very gentle kind of soul always going out of his way to avoid a fight. Over the years kids around here had learned not to mess with him. He was an overall good kind of guy, but not one to mess or trifle with because when he had to he could take people to task and hold his own no matter what the situation.
If this situation wouldn’t have been so grave I would have probably busted up at my brother’s lack of dress at the moment. Not only was he shirtless, but pant-less as well. He must have been putting on his football gear at the time the horticulture guy came running into the locker room to relay the safety code to my brother. At the moment he was only wearing those padded white pair of football girdle covering up his goods. He hadn’t even bothered with putting on socks, simply slipping into his shoes like a pair of slippers because his heel wasn’t even inside the pair of Nike sneaker’s he wore.
“Johnnie, let’s get going. I’ll explain everything on the way.” I told my brother sincerely as I helped the smaller boy into the car next to his dog.
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End of Chapter One: Blindsided
Coming soon Chapter Two: Sometimes Life Sucks
Synopsis Ch.2: Life just sucks sometimes as Frankie tries to cope with everything that has gone horribly wrong already today. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse that’s exactly what happens because while he sits at the vet clinic with the blind boy, his older brother sneaks away. The day is about to get worse and in a hurry.
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- Lady Marguerite Blessington, Countess of Blessington
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BLINDSIDED
Squeezing out the last squirt or two of piss and then shaking off, I tucked my adolescent sized dinger back into my underwear and zipped up before flushing the toilet and rinsing off my hands. Picking up my books I exited the boy’s bathroom and quickly hustled over to my locker so I could stash the load of books I was carrying. School wasn’t out for another hour here at Sornell Middle School, but I was allowed to leave ten or fifteen minutes early before the bell marking the last class hour rang. This gave me enough time to make my way over to the High School just up the block from our school. Today though, I was running a minute or two late, but I wasn’t worried about it.
Shoving my books into the locker and slamming shut the door I headed for the nearest side exit, the cool air feeling refreshing as I shivered and zipped up my jacket. It got cold early in the season around here in Minnesota, and with school now in full swing for over a month it felt as if summer had long been left behind already. It was overcast most days and windy, but I didn’t mind so much as I began to jog the short distance over to the high school for my afternoon advanced class session.
Even though I wouldn’t consider myself a nerd or anything, actually, quite the opposite since I seemed to be fairly popular in my school and relatively active in sports, I was in the upper percentile of most kids my age academically. My counselors at school had wanted my dad to give permission to skip a couple of grades, but he refused saying he wanted me to be a kid for as long as possible since life was too adult like in general anyway these days. I could tell many of the school faculty thought his decision was such a waste, but I had to agree with my dad because I enjoyed hanging out with my friends and just being a normal type of kid. I went out of my way not to look too smart in my regular classes and always kept my grades low key. Most of my friends already knew I was getting top grades, but since I was just one of the guys they never made a big issue over it, which suited me just fine.
Still, the school administrators, and some of my teachers, had pressured my dad so last year when I was in seventh grade he agreed to allow me to take advanced classes towards the end of the school day over at Sornell high school. He had compromised, but made it very clear any scheduling would not be allowed to interfere with my other activities at my own school. It actually worked out pretty good because I was still able to hang around with friends my own age and have a normal kind of life.
While the rest of my junior high friends finished up their last hour at the middle school I’d take the short jaunt over to the high school. It’s where my older brother, who was a junior there, went to school and where I took some advanced classes, which actually counted towards college credits. Afterwards, I would trot back over to my school just in time for my cross country training at the middle school. In addition to being on the cross country squad I was also on my school’s soccer team. I loved the solitude cross country running offered, but also enjoyed the interaction with my teammates that soccer offered.
Since my big brother was also heavily involved in sports it got a bit hectic at times around our house. My older brother was seventeen years old with top notch athletic skills easily earning him a starting position on the varsity football team even though he was only a junior, and it often conflicted with my schedule, but somehow we always seemed to manage. I felt for my dad at times because he couldn’t be in two places at once when our schedules collided, but my brother and I never made it an issue if he couldn’t get to one of our events because of any conflicts. He was a single dad after all, with my mom having left our lives long ago to pursue her own career and needs. I was only two or three years old when she left and I’ve only seen her a few times since. Anymore, she was a stranger or perhaps a distant relative than a mom, but what she lacked my father made up in spades. He worked just across the river at the big paper mill putting in long hours, but he always made sure to make time for me and my brother. Money was always tight for us, but it was the little things he did which really showed how much he loved us.
Even though my dad put in long hours, the city itself seemed to offer a kind of safety net for kids like us because of the family like feel of it. Sornell was nestled along the Mississippi River in central Minnesota about twenty minutes north of St. Cloud and felt like a small town rather than a city, providing a more intimate charm and stimulating environment. It was a quiet community, but it was growing with a population of just over sixteen thousand. It was a place where you knew your neighbors and all, but it was also big enough where you didn’t know everyone who lived there bumping into plenty of people you’ve never met before while out at the mall or any number of other places.
Inhaling deeply, the air felt refreshingly clean after being stuck in the stuffy Middle School building for most of the day. The temperature outside was already in the low fifties dipping down into the low forties at night. It hadn’t begun to snow yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we started seeing some start to fall here between now and the next couple of weeks. It typically began to snow around mid-October, but it wasn’t unusual for us to get some at the end of September either.
Taking a minute to stretch out my legs I began the short jaunt over to the High School deciding to take the direct route through the practice fields instead of walking on the sidewalk. The High School was just across the way and I could even see it from my school as I crossed our parking lot and drive padding my way now on one of the school’s practice fields. Our track surrounding our football field along with the baseball diamond and soccer field were actually located on the back part and side of our school building, but we also had a couple of smaller practice areas for other things across the street from our school where I now jogged. The open field area on this side of the building was between the high school and middle school with a few areas of clustered trees providing a small barrier.
The short run over to Sornell High only took a couple of minutes with me hardly even being winded when I finally entered the larger facility. I liked my brother’s school because it was more updated having gone through a lot of renovations a few years back. For all practical purposes it was now all new and modernized where our middle school still felt kind of dated, old, and sort of depressing at times. Still, unlike many of my other friends I actually enjoyed going to school. It didn’t have anything to do with my grades per se, but rather I simply enjoyed keeping busy with school activities such as sports not to mention having the daily interaction with my buddies, which did include plenty of girls too. I got along with most everyone, but then again I suppose having a knack for good grades along with being athletic did make it more enjoyable to attend school for me than it was for most of my other buddies.
At least the girls seemed to notice of me and I’d catch them staring at me sometimes as if sizing me up. There were occasions when their steady gazes did get annoying, but then again it wasn’t as if many of us guys didn’t do the same thing when it came to the girls. I was athletic with decent enough looks to warrant the scrutiny from the girls at my school. I wasn’t buff or anything like that, but I guess a guy could say I was pretty fit. It’s been a while since I’ve actually looked at myself closely in the mirror, but I always thought my body was kind of skinny with a lanky type of build. All that running kept me trim and lean with long legs and a stride perfect for competing in cross country.
Just before school started I got the typical sports physical so I could participate and join the various school teams and activities. According to my doctor I came in fairly average height wise for a boy my age with the man indicating I had grown into a respectable five foot five inch tall teen. I had wondered about my weight because I did look kind of thin, but he seemed to shrug it off saying I weighed around a hundred five pounds which was, according to him again, perfectly fine for a boy my age and height. I suppose it was better than being overweight.
Getting a physical was something I really didn’t care too much for, just like most of the other boys at my school. I mean, after all who likes to strip in front a virtual stranger and have him mess with your balls and pecker. That part was downright embarrassing. Not that I really had anything to be embarrassed about size wise down there. I wasn’t like packing a huge one or anything, but it wasn’t puny either. If anything I suppose if I had asked the doctor about it he probably would have simply said I was fairly average down there as well for a boy who was in the full swing of puberty. I guess when all was said and done, I was just an average all around thirteen year old teenaged boy, yet from all indications the girls seemed to like my looks.
I’d hear them talking to each other sometimes about me out in the hallways by their lockers at school or just hanging around in general. I’d hear comments like he’s so cute, he’s got lovely blond hair, I love his pretty blue eyes, or even the sporadic he’s so dreamy; however, what I saw when I looked at myself in the mirror was just another typical kind of guy. Their remarks often felt kind of strange and awkward; especially, when they’d drop the occasional he’s got a cute ass, or the truly embarrassing ones where they’d mention about the size of the lump between my legs.
Of course, just like what I’ve got swinging between my legs, all boys have different facial features too and I didn’t think my looks were anything I would characterize as special like many of the girls in my school were claiming. I suppose I did have soft features with a fair complexion, but this was slowly changing, becoming a bit more chiseled like you’d normally see happening to teenagers as they got older. At least I didn’t have a face full of zits like some of my other friends. Thank goodness the pimple gods favored my fair skin keeping me for the most part blemish free other than the occasional stubborn one that would pop up now and then.
Checking the clock in the hallway I noticed I was back on schedule because of the decision to take a run through the fields making up for lost time. At the moment there wasn’t much activity in the hallways with only a few teenagers milling around here and there since the high school got out earlier than the middle school. This meant most of the students were already on their way home. The kids hanging around now were there for whatever typical after school activities such as attending advanced classes like me or getting ready for sports practice like football, which is exactly what my brother would be up to at the moment.
My brother’s locker with my advanced class books in them was located in another hallway towards the other side of the building, so instead of going around I decided to cut through the open inner courtyard. I typically took this route not necessarily because it was shorter, but rather since I enjoyed the open atrium like area with all the different plants. It was well protected from the weather with three walls boxing the area in a horseshoe like shape providing enough protection from the elements and warmth where the plants seemed to flourish even when it snowed.
The school had a top notch horticulture club who maintained the area and in my opinion they did a bang up job. A few years back they won a grant for their proposal and innovative design to run an underground heating system all powered by solar panels. After receiving the award they immediately set out to implement their plan, placing solar panels up on the roof and running lines all the way down powering underground heating cables even during the winter months. Within a year their plants were flourishing with the garden taking shape into what it was today a few years later. Each consecutive year a new group of young budding horticulturists took over the tasks of maintaining the system and improving upon the design. They all worked hard and now everyone could enjoy the fruits of their labor. It had developed into a well known garden in the region with plenty of visitors taking pleasure in visiting it.
Taking the side door I grinned cheerily when it opened up to all the greenery with some flowers still in bloom, but my smile quickly disappeared when I spotted a knot of teens sitting on the nearby bench and table who were considered more of a nuisance and a bunch of thugs by most of the other kids here at the school. The courtyard had a few of these tables scattered around for students to gather and shoot the breeze, but these guys looked like they were out for trouble. Scooting on to the sidewalk I began to skirt around the outside along the sidewalk so I could make my way towards the other side when I noticed one of the kids start to move towards me.
I knew most of the teens at the school because of my brother, but I didn’t recognize this guy. He looked about a year or so older than me, but not that much bigger, which made me think the kid must be a freshman. There was something about the boy, which made the hair on the back of my neck stand up so I began to brace myself for some trouble. I wasn’t the kind of guy who went looking for a quarrel, but I could take care of myself just fine, not that much ever came my way. Even though a lot of the freshman and sophomore kids tended to get picked on a bit in typical fashion by the older teens, no one ever really much bothered me here at the high school. There was the usual playful kind of teasing and all, but nothing serious and it was mostly in good fun.
For the most part, like at my middle school, I got along with nearly all the kids at this school too. I suppose my brother’s popularity helped some in this regard and I’m sure he put the word out to the older teens not to bother me. He could be a bit overprotective over me, which was a tad irritating at times, but I don’t think he really went out of his way to make it seem like I was a little crybaby or something that needed to be coddled. He knew I could take care of myself, but he definitely didn’t want the older guys to get carried away with some of the typical hazing and stuff like they did with many of the freshmen and sophomores at the school. This kid who started to approach me wasn’t an older teen though, but he definitely looked as if he was looking for a confrontation.
When one of the older boys reached out shaking his head at this new kid I sighed in relief because I was still in a bit of a hurry and didn’t want to deal with any crap at the moment. Even though this other kid was a year older he didn’t scare me much because I could hold my own when necessary. The older teen who had intervened glanced my way and nodded his head by way of greeting while I returned it. I knew the guy and thought he was a decent enough sort, which often made me wonder why he hung around with this crowd because he seemed so different. I suppose one good thing was he tended to keep the other guys in the group in line most times so they didn’t get carried away.
Being forced to hold off didn’t seem to sit well with this younger teen as I watched him ambling over to another older boy. I didn’t recognize this other kid either and since he was new too I figured the two guys must be brothers or something. They did seem to have the same kind of features, but the older boy was a head taller than the younger one not to mention way more muscular and bulky as if he worked out or something.
The older teen was swinging around one of those smaller types of bats, taking swipes at woodchips he picked up from the landscaping as he tossed them into the air. It looked about half the size of a regular bat as he paused long enough to glance over towards me and then the other older boy who had intervened. The teen who I knew shrugged his shoulders as if to dismiss the event before chatting with the other boy about something.
Ignoring them I moved down the sidewalk forgetting about the incident making my way around the courtyard to the other side feeling a bit relieved when I was able to put some bushes and shrubbery between them and me, effectively blocking most of our view from one another. There was a doorway here leading into the main hallway again, but my brother’s locker was just inside the other doorway on the end of the building. As I rounded the last corner to head down the straightaway leading to the end of the building another smile spread over my features because I noticed a kid approaching from the other end of the sidewalk. I recognized the boy, but really didn’t know him since we’ve never officially met.
Ever since the start of this school year I’ve seen him with his dog at the high school about two or three times a week. One of those specialized city vans dropped him and his dog off out front by the street. The main sidewalk paralleled the street, but where the van dropped him off there was another paved walkway leading from the street right up to the school building and along this side of the courtyard we were now both walking on. When the timing was right our paths would cross for a moment or two as we walked by one another continuing on our own way. I never stopped to talk with him, but always said ‘hey’ as we passed each other. He had an adorable pale yellowish and cream colored Labrador Retriever that had the sweetest face. I was often tempted to stop and pet the dog, but wasn’t sure if the kid would appreciate it since the Retriever was one of those guide animals.
After coming across the boy a few times on my way to class I began to wonder why he was dropped off at the high school. I thought of asking him about it, but every time I started to do it I chickened out and simply said ‘hey’ to him instead. There was just something about the kid that made me think he was a tad shy and timid, forcing me to back off on approaching him. I suppose the kid being blind made me nervous too since I didn’t know anyone who couldn’t see. At least I thought he was blind since he had a guide dog and always wore those dark shaded glasses over his eyes.
The first few times I said ‘hey’ to him he didn’t respond back at all, but at least now he would flash me a small grin and give me a greeting of his own which was kind of nice. It was strange to feel happy about such a small thing, but the guy intrigued me for some reason. I suppose some of it had to do with him being blind, but mostly it had to do more with the mystery about him.
Despite the kid’s smaller size I also got the sense he was around my age, which made me wonder even more about why he was coming here to the high school since he definitely didn’t go to my school. Even if he was a year or so younger than me and in a grade or two lower I’d still know him if he went there. I also didn’t think being blind would prevent a kid from going to a regular school like mine. At first I thought maybe he was also one of those special education students who needed some extra help, but realized they wouldn’t have him coming all the way over here since all the schools in our city had their own programs set up for kids with special needs. Besides, we were the only middle school in our small city other than the private one, ST. Francis Xavier, but they only went up to grade six and I didn’t think he was that young. This meant he’d be going to my school and I’d know him, which added even more confusion into the mix.
After that I thought maybe he was one of those kids who had skipped a grade or two, like they wanted me to do, but I quickly ruled that out too. I knew most of the guys at the high school and I hadn’t heard anything about a younger kid attending classes here. In the end all I could think of was maybe he had a mom or dad who worked at the high school as a teacher, administrator, or some other staff position. It sort of made sense why he’d come here, but still didn’t answer why I didn’t know him from over at my school. Of course he was blind, but there weren’t any schools around here for the blind and I’m sure if he went to a regular school they’d be required to accommodate his needs. So now every time I saw him it began to nag at me that I didn’t know anything about the guy.
Watching the kid and his dog approaching me I had to chuckle to myself recalling how when I saw the boy for the very first time I actually thought he was a girl because of his long chestnut brown hair, slight frame, and soft features. The kid was an inch or so shorter than me and a good ten or fifteen pounds lighter. He was kind of small and thin, somehow managing to look even skinnier than me, with his long straight hair parted in the middle and hanging all the way down past his shoulder blades. With his fair features it only added to my first impression of the kid being a girl.
There was something kind of nice and pleasant about his looks though, and I’m sure the girls probably thought he was cute too. It made me wonder if he ever got those same kinds of comments I did from girls in general. He didn’t have any fancy expensive clothes, not that it mattered since I didn’t either, but the guy was always dressed sharp with a clean simple type of style. I kind of liked that about him.
Along with each confrontation I also began to constantly wonder about his eyes and what color they were behind those tinted glasses. He always seemed to have those dark shades on even when it was overcast like today. I knew he had his reasons since he was obviously blind or at the very least visually challenged, but it just seemed to pique my interests even more because they were always hidden away.
It took me a time or two before I could actually confirm in my own mind he was actually a boy instead of a girl. What finally validated my suspicions putting the matter to rest for me was the way he tended to move and dress along with the lump between his legs that pressed up against the guy’s jeans creating a rounded bulge. It wasn’t like a huge bulge or anything, kind of average I suppose for a kid his age and size. Not that I really went out of my way to notice that sort of thing on my friends or boys in general, but I guess it just sort of comes with the territory of knowing what was what in this regard.
It’s also not as if I hadn’t seen other boys around my age naked and stuff when getting changed since all the seventh and eighth graders were required to take showers after phys-ed class. Most of us junior high guys also tended to take showers after practice and whatnot for the various sports we participated in at our school. Of course some guys were a bit shy about that sort of thing, but no one ever said anything about it one way or the other. There was the typical teasing, ribbing, and all around playful bantering, but that was about it on the matter. Most times for those of us who got cleaned up after a sweaty practice we’d simply jump into the shower and do our thing without much ado about anything.
Now, as the boy and I got closer I hesitated for a moment becoming a bit alarmed about those thugs on the other side of the courtyard. Glancing over through the growth of plants and shrubbery they seemed occupied and were way over on the other side where I had just exited with plenty of obstacles in the way. I knew the boy would be entering the doorway on this side of the building so my anxiety quickly dissipated as we approached realizing we would cross paths just outside the door I had to duck into.
“Hey,” I smiled at the boy taking a quick glance down at the Labrador Retriever in her harness.
“Hi,” I heard the boy’s soft reply as we passed one another and I opened the door hearing it shut behind me while I made my way over to my brother’s locker about ten feet away just inside the entryway to the hall.
The grin on my mug didn’t go away as I began turning the tumblers on the locker. I quickly rotated the combination and opened up the door with my thoughts wandering back to the other kid, the smile getting even bigger on my features. I began to realize I kind of liked the boy even though I really didn’t know him. Sighing and shaking my head I reached inside and grabbed my books taking a moment to pause and stare inside my brother’s locker as I scrunched up my face in thought.
The kid and I have been saying hi to each other for over a month now and I didn’t even know his name, which was sort of strange really, so with resignation I decided when we saw each other again I would take a moment and at least ask him for his name. The next time I wouldn’t chicken out because it would be kind of nice to at least get to know him a little. Smiling at myself I slammed shut my brother’s locker and nearly jumped out of my skin because of the weird noise I heard at the very same moment. Even my insides began to crawl around for some odd reason. It was the strangest sensation because just as the door had slammed closed with the usual loud clanging noise it was as if there was a sort of higher pitched noise at the same time. It was difficult to describe and I wasn’t even sure if I had really heard anything, but I did get that awful feeling on the inside I usually got when something bad was going on along with the hair on the back of my neck standing on end.
My advanced class was just up the hallway on this side of the building as I turned towards that direction, but glanced over my shoulder at the door I had just entered. Frowning I just couldn’t shake the awful feeling inside my gut and without realizing it I had made my way towards the door and actually stepped back outside into the courtyard.
The blood immediately drained from my face at the horror unfolding in front of my eyes just up the walkway close to the other entryway into the building. Those thugs had surrounded the boy and weren’t just taunting him, but actually screaming, shouting, and shoving him about. That wasn’t the worst of it though because I saw that one kid who was about to approach me actually punching and smacking the blind boy around.
It was totally horrifying to see the look of utter fear on the younger boy’s face and as long as I live I will never be able to wipe it away from my memories as I watched in shock and disgust the fourteen year old teen actually landing a punch on the smaller boy’s chin. The blow was powerful enough to rock the long haired boy backwards into the arms of one of his tormentors who merely tossed him back into the center of the ring. The poor boy’s glasses had been knocked off as he stumbled forward flailing around his arms trying to deflect the oncoming assault despite being blind.
The kid was bawling with huge sobs wracking his body while tears streamed down his face, and I kept hearing him calling out for his dog, pleading for the assholes not to hurt her. The younger boy was being beaten by a bunch of older thugs and the only concern he had was for his own dog. I watched as the fourteen year old asshole once again swung his fist around landing another punch to the side of the long haired boy’s temple to the taunting jeers of his fellow bullies.
It was simply horrifying to watch the younger long haired boy crumbling to his knees as he reached out pleading for his dog while everyone crowded around him pushing and shoving him from every which way. “Please tell me where Maggie is…pleeeeease don’t hurt her.” He managed to get out just before he was slapped by the younger teen, which was forceful enough to jerk the younger boy’s head to the side.
The younger thug was jeering at the sniveling boy now. “Just shut up about your stupid dog already and take your beating like a man girly boy. Maybe after we get done teaching you how to be a man we can shave your head bald and get rid of all that girly hair.”
“Noooo! Maggie, please nooooo!” The smaller boy began to wail as he tried to defend himself when the knot of kids started to jostle and smack him around a bit roughly.
The boy was blind and it had to be totally disorienting for him as he tried to protect himself to no avail since he couldn’t see where the blows were coming from. Slightly off to the side I could see the older boy who had intervened for me shouting for everyone to stop, but he was being held off by the other older boy who I didn’t know. They were arguing, with the larger teen saying to the other boy who had interjected earlier that it’s his little brother’s business and to not interfere or he will get the same as the dog. I didn’t know what he meant, but it didn’t sound good as I saw the younger thug pull his fist back ready to strike the smaller boy yet again.
It never landed because he suddenly crumpled to the ground knocked out cold and to my surprise I was straddling over him as I reached down picking him up by the front of his collar and letting loose on him with several more punches. Without realizing it I had sprinted over and launched myself into the knot of kids letting out the most horrendous guttural sound I’ve ever heard in my life. I was absolutely livid and the blood in my veins were boiling as I laid into the fourteen year old brute with everything I had landing a punch right on his temple.
The fourteen year old boy had never seen it coming and it was immediately lights out for him. I was so stinking mad though I didn’t even realize what I was doing when I reached down to punch him several more times. I could see several kids bolting in different directions as I pulled my arm back to punch the other kid some more, but the blows never made it because I felt myself abruptly tossed several feet away landing on my back so hard I felt the air whooshing out of my lungs. It was followed immediately by a stinging pain along my left face and mouth that left me seeing bright pinprick lights flashing in front of my eyes. I could also taste the iron like flavor of my own blood where my braces cut the flesh inside my mouth.
“You fucking little shit will pay for blindsiding my little brother.” I heard a deep voice dripping with hatred and grumbling ironically considering that’s exactly what they were doing to the long haired boy.
The stinging pain to the side of my face was immediately followed by a gut wrenching ache as the air once again whooshed out of my lungs. My side throbbed now too and I couldn’t be positive since I was still seeing stars, but I was sure the older kid must have kicked me in the ribs while I was lying disoriented on the ground.
That’s when I heard another voice I recognized interjecting and cutting through all the confusion. “What the fuck are you doing, get off him Tank.” The older teen that had intervened earlier grumbled as I opened up my eyes and through a hazy fog saw the older bully, Tank, being pulled back.
“Back off Murph.” This Tank guy grumbled shaking loose the other teen. “Just because you’re my cousin doesn’t mean I won’t pound you to a pulp too if you get in my way. The kid is going to pay for what he fucking did to my little brother.” The big brute spat shoving the other teen away from him and thrusting that small bat into Murph’s chest for emphasis.
The slightly smaller teen shoved the bat away and looked furious now. “Fuck you Tank and your little brother. I told you not to mess with the Ammussa kid and to leave the blind boy alone. This is so fucked up and you are in for a lot of hurt messing with Johnnie ’s little brother. We are totally screwed too for messing around with that blind kid and his dog. Just grab your little brother and let’s go before things get even worse.”
“Fuck you Murph. I’m not going anywhere until I finish up my business here. You’re such a chicken shit and nothing is going to happen because when I’m through they’ll be too scared to point any fingers at us. Besides, I thought you said this kid’s older brother is only a junior. I’m not afraid of anyone at this school, much less some punk ass junior.” The big thug spat and started for me as I quickly scooted away still pretty shaken up from the quick but hard pounding I had received.
My stomach and ribs hurt like hell and I could hardly catch my breath, not to mention the side of my face was numb. Still, I wasn’t about to simply let myself get beat to a pulp without a fight as I began to look around for anything that could help me. I couldn’t see anything and I was starting to panic a little and sighed in relief when I saw Murph stepping between me and this Tank guy.
“I’m not afraid of you Tank and you may think you’re tough shit, but it’s nothing compared to what Johnnie will do to us for messing with his little brother; especially, with what happened a few years back. He doesn’t go out of his way to interfere with the stuff going on with his little brother, but if you push it too far it’ll get bad, and I mean really ugly Tank; that much you can be sure of. Johnnie may only be a junior, but there’s a reason no one at our school fucks with him including seniors. Just, let’s grab Tully and get out of here while the getting is good. Maybe this will all blow over, but I won’t let you hurt Frankie or the other kid anymore even if it means a pounding by you. I’m no pushover Tank and will fight back though, that much I can promise.” I heard Murph reply with conviction glancing over his shoulder real quick and wincing when he saw me wiping the back of my hand across my bloody lip.
I’m sure I probably looked pretty banged up because it sure felt like it. This Tank guy lived up to his name because in a couple of seconds he had managed to hurt me pretty good. I had landed on the ground pretty hard and knew I’d be feeling it, not to mention the punch to the face and the kick to my ribs and stomach. I ached all over and I was still feeling woozy and nauseous.
The big teen hesitated a moment squirreling up his face and giving his smaller cousin a hard gaze before focusing his attention over at me. Lifting up his arm he pointed the small bat at me and it was then I saw the red blood smeared all over the end of it my face going completely white at what this may mean.
Shoving it towards my direction the older teen looked hard at me and there was no mistaking the hatred in his cold eyes. “You say anything about what happened here to anyone including your older brother and you are dead meat. Get me.” Tank hissed staring at me grimly while I grimaced but didn’t say anything; except, to stare back at him just as coldly because now I was mad as hell.
It seemed to catch him by surprise, but he didn’t have time to react because Murph tugged on his arm and pulled him over towards his little brother who was still knocked out cold. “Holy fucking shit, he’s still out.” Tank grumbled a bit surprised as he easily lifted his little brother off the ground and quickly followed Murph through the side door.
It got really quiet all of a sudden; except for the sobs coming from the blind kid as he started crawling around and searching the ground for something. Wincing, I managed to stand up on wobbly legs and made my way towards the other boy. I spotted his glasses and winced again when I bent over picking them up off the ground.
“Here,” I managed to wheeze out and without thinking reached down lightly touching the boy on the shoulder.
The kid immediately recoiled scooting backwards and holding up his hands along the way trying to ward off any oncoming blows that would start raining down on him any second. “P-please no more. Please don’t hurt me and please tell me where Maggie is. She’s a good dog and wouldn’t hurt anyone. Pleeeaaasssse.” He began to sob even harder.
It was awful to see because he was pleading for his poor dog while also trying desperately to escape even though it was obvious he was completely disoriented now. A twinge of guilt wracked my insides for being such an idiot and scaring the poor guy all over again. I could be such an idiot at times and I felt horrible about it now as I tried to reassure the other kid.
“N-no, please…I-I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you and the other guys are gone now.” I spoke hesitantly, but in a soothing kind of tone as I knelt down to the boy holding out his glasses and waited for a moment before realizing what an idiot I was again. “I…er…here’s your glasses.” I stated, but again realizing how stupid I was because he couldn’t see them. “I…uh…here…I’m going to touch your hand with them.” I added tapping them against the back of his hand.
The boy flinched when I touched him with his glasses, but he managed to take them and put them back on. “Hey boy?” He managed to croak out nervously.
“Huh?” I asked not understanding.
“Hey boy…y-you say ‘hey’ to me all the time. It-it is you, right?” He asked guardedly while I nodded my head with it getting quiet for a moment or two before I realized I was being stupid again.
“Er…sorry…I keep forgetting you are blind, but yeah it’s me.” I responded and then yelped in surprise when the boy unexpectedly lurched forward wrapping his arms around me and holding on tight while more sobs and tears began to flow.
It rocked me backwards slightly forcing me to sit on my butt. “Please help me…pleeeeease. I need to find Maggie. They did something to her. It was awful. I heard a horrible scream coming from her before those guys started to beat me up. Why would anyone want to hurt her…she’s the sweetest dog ever. Oh my god, please tell me she’s not hurt. Please…help me…she’s one of the most important things in my life…she’s my everything. I’d simply die if something awful happened to her. Please.” He pleaded while hanging on to me his whole body shaking with a combination of fear, panic, and anguish which broke my heart as I began to look around trying to figure out what happened to his dog.
Then I saw it, the red splatters just a few feet away from the door along with his dog lying in a pool of blood. “Oh god, stay here.” I told the boy as I gripped his arms for emphasis before getting up on my feet and sprinting over to the prone dog lying on the ground between a couple of bushes.
“Maggie…,” I heard the boy’s whispered sobs as he began to crawl towards us making me frown because things didn’t look good.
The boy’s dog looked all messed up and I was sure she was dead. It was awful, the blood pooling around her and matting into the hair around her head and body. It looked as if the older bully must have taken his bat to her head and body with her tongue hanging slackly from her mouth. It was so nasty I just about threw up, but then noticed the dog was still breathing.
“Oh my god, she’s still alive…,” I croaked out, immediately kneeling next to her to get a closer look.
I wished I hadn’t done that because what I saw made me gag and nearly puke. It was like her skull had been cracked open and I could see her breathing had become labored. It was so bad I didn’t really know what to do as I kneeled there in stunned disbelief. Just then I heard the door opening up and I panicked for a second thinking those monsters had come back to finish the job. I sighed in relief when I saw another teenager stepping out his eyes bugging out of his skull staring at me and the dog and then the other boy crawling towards us. I’ve seen him in the garden a time or two tending to the plants so knew he was part of the horticulture club.
“H-holy shit…,” The other boy squeaked visibly shaken. “What the fuck ha…,” He began before I cut him off.
“Go get my brother…now.” I commanded something inside of me kicking into gear as I finally took charge knowing we needed to hurry.
“What?” The other teen gasped.
“My brother…Johnnie. He’s in the locker room getting ready for football practice. Tell him I need him to bring his car out by the street in front of the garden…hurry.” I emphasized with the boy starting to turn but pausing.
“I…uh…but the coach…he’ll be mad and your brother won’t just show up because I said so, no matter what I say.” He added with the fact of him knowing who Johnnie was and that we were brothers making me sigh in relief.
It’s strange how those sorts of things work out. I mean, the teen and I didn’t really know each other, yet we knew some things about one another. I knew he was in the horticulture club here at the high school and that he had a little sister who went to my middle school. I’ve seen his family around during various events and all, but didn’t really know them personally.
“Er…shit.” I grumbled because I knew the football coach had very strict rules and that my brother would be in trouble big time for just up and leaving even though practice hadn’t officially started yet. Thinking off the cuff I did the only thing I could think of, to use one of our family’s safety phrases. “Tell my brother the tiger is loose.”
“What?” The other teen asked perplexed because it didn’t make any sense.
It was a phrase that would let my brother know I needed him right away because there was danger lurking about. It was the quickest way to get my brother to simply respond with no questions asked. If the other teen would have to take time to explain things precious moments would be lost and from all indications every second now counted with the dog’s life hanging in the balance.
“Just tell him the tiger is loose and to bring the car. He will know what it means, but tell him to hurry…now run.” I snapped commandingly and pointed to the door with the other teen no longer hesitating and bolting into the hallway at a full out clip heading towards the school’s locker room.
“Oh god Maggie…,” I heard the blind boy letting out a sob because he heard the exchange making me wince a bit guiltily as my mind began to race with what to do.
Then something strange happened. It was as if a sort of calmness settled over me like a warm blanket, taking over my emotions. I knew the situation was bad and that I couldn’t let my panic get in the way or things would spiral out of control in a hurry. It was then everything seemed to fall into place as I calmly turned towards the blind boy who had crawled over only a couple of feet away now by simply keying in to my voice.
Taking a deep breath to settle my nerves even more I spoke calmly now. “Listen, you need to do exactly what I tell you now.” I began, sighing in relief when I saw the boy stopping and cocking his head towards me with his long hair in total disarray and hanging over his face.
“Good.” I nodded my head. “I won’t lie to you. It’s bad…really bad, but you need to stay put for now so I can do what needs to be done. We need to get…er…,” I paused trying to remember the name he used for his dog when it suddenly came to me, “…Maggie to the vet right away. My brother should be tearing down the street in his car any moment now. I’m going to wrap my jacket around Maggie and pick her up. She’s big though and looks kind of heavy so I won’t be able to help you. I guess the best thing to do is when step over to you just get up and hang on to me somehow and I will try to get us all over to the street. When my brother arrives I will put Maggie into the car and we can head over to my Uncle who runs the veterinarian clinic a couple of miles away…alright?” I posed providing him precise instructions, noticing the boy was listening to me carefully and nodding his head in agreement even though it was obviously killing him not to be able to come see to his dog.
It made me feel bad to force him to wait, but I knew he’d freak out once he felt all the blood and noticed just how bad his dog was at the moment. Focusing back on the poor animal I winced because it really was bad. Without hesitating I slipped out of my jacket opening it up and setting it next to Maggie. I was going to simply lift her into my jacket and wrap it around her, but I had to do something about her head. I slipped out of my red colored button up flannel shirt and then stripped off my gray and black colored t-shirt shivering when the cool air licked at my exposed skin. Even though this area was warmer due to the walls and heated ground, it was still cold out, the air feeling crisp as it settled over my naked torso and began to seep into my body.
I quickly put my flannel shirt back on covering up my pale skin, the warmth immediately returning to my body. Using my t-shirt I wrapped it around the dog’s head in a makeshift bandage. If nothing else once we got in the car it would hopefully keep the other boy from inspecting the dog’s wound perhaps creating more damage. Being ever so careful, I lifted the Labrador Retriever of the ground, grunting in the process when I felt a sharp stabbing sensation along my ribs from my earlier pounding. She had to weigh a good fifty five or sixty pounds, which is pretty heavy for a thirteen year old boy to be lugging around casually.
Gasping and catching my breath because the sharp pain had caught me by surprise, I waited a second or two before rolling my jacket around the dog. It was a bit awkward because she was wearing one of those harnesses the blind held on to while their guide dogs led them around. Being more careful now so I wouldn’t tweak my side again I lifted up the bundle into my lap and stood up wobbling a bit awkwardly until I caught my balance. Straightening up I made my way over to the boy.
“Ready?” I asked glancing down and watching as the other boy reached out with his hand waving around awkwardly in empty space until he was able to locate my leg before he slowly got to his feet never releasing the contact on me.
The dog was already getting heavy in my arms as I arched my back trying to relieve some of the weight when I felt the boy grabbing on to the back of my left arm just above the elbow. It felt kind of awkward for me, but I couldn’t wait any longer and started to walk down the sidewalk towards the street. If my brother didn’t arrive soon I’d have to set the dog down. As we cleared the walls of the building I could feel the cool air start to seep through my flannel shirt despite the fact I was sweating from the strain of holding on to the dog this way. It was literally like carrying dead weight as I tried to be as careful as possible.
Glancing over to the direction of where my brother would round the building I began to worry because I didn’t see his car yet. I was getting close to the street now and started to think I might have to set the dog down after all, but then to my relief I heard the tires of my brother’s car squealing as he rounded the corner just up the street. He was definitely breaking a lot of motor vehicle laws because he didn’t even stop and was speeding as he took the turn heading straight towards us. Just as I reached the end of the sidewalk my brother slammed on the breaks with the car coming to a screeching halt right in front of us. It barely came to a stop before he jumped out of the car half naked with his eyes spread wide open in panic as he glanced around looking for anything amiss.
The car coming to a squealing stop must have scared the crap out of the younger boy holding on to my arm because from the corner of my eye I saw him jerk and could feel his grip tightening up just above my elbow. My brother’s gaze settled on me and they flew open even bigger when he saw my face and all the blood on my clothes. I could see the panic in his eyes and started to say something because I could sense his fear for my safety, but he beat me to it.
“What the hell happened? Who the fuck did that to you?” He demanded before I could say anything as he walked around the car heading straight for me.
He immediately reached out trying to look me over, but since I was holding the dog in my arms he didn’t know what to do. “What the hell is that?” He asked in a rush not even noticing the other boy anymore since he was totally focused on me and how my coat was completely soaked in blood along with the shirt sending him into a bigger panic.
The dog was a complete mess and with her all wrapped up in my jacket it was difficult to tell she was a dog if you didn’t know what you were looking at; especially, with the guide dog harness added to the mix. “It’s a dog Johnnie and she’s hurt really bad.” I replied, the bundle in my arm getting heavier by the second as I tried to hurry things along. “Please Johnnie just…,” I started to say before getting interrupted.
“What the fuck is a dog doing at the school and who the hell is the kid?” He asked totally confused now because none of this was making sense to him.
“Fuck Johnnie, open the damn door, she’s getting heavy already. It’s not like I’m carrying a fucking Chihuahua.” I snapped making my older brother flinch, not to mention the boy who was still sniffling and crying, sending him over the edge now making me curse under my breath.
At least it got my brother moving as he opened up the back door for me. “Sorry Johnnie, it’s just…shit…this is so fucked up.” I sighed while my older brother scrambled around inside the back seat spreading out a blanket he had back there just in case since it was winter time. “S-she’s a guide dog and these assholes f-fucked her up Johnnie…,” I got choked up trying to explain. “It was awful…things got really nasty in a hurry. I didn’t see what they did to the dog, but they were beating up this kid…and…and…I had to do something.” I began to cry now myself because the memory of how they were beating up this defenseless kid was just horrible to watch and I couldn’t erase the image from my mind as I watched my brother scrambling out from the back seat.
“What?” My brother asked still totally confused as he tried to piece things together and stepping aside so I could try to get the dog inside.
Hesitating a moment I glanced at the kid who was still hanging on to my arm. “I…uh…you gotta let go now so I can put Maggie into the back seat. It’ll only take a second or two.” I added making a valiant effort to stay calm, but my voice cracked with emotions, but at least the boy understood and released me.
“What the fuck happened Frankie?” My brother asked more calmly now trying to piece things together, but obviously getting a bit pissed. “I mean, who the fuck would want to hurt a service dog for Pete’s sake and who the hell is this kid?” He wanted to know as I set the dog on the back seat and scooted back out.
“It’s his dog Johnnie, but we’ve gotta hurry now and get over to Uncle Joey’s Clinic. She’s hurt really bad and we need to hurry so let’s just go and I’ll explain it on the way.” I pleaded making my way quickly around the car to get in behind on the driver side so the kid could get in from the side I just put the dog in.
“Oh, shit, yeah, hurry up kid and get in.” My brother commanded briskly as he gave the kid a slight shove to get him moving.
All hell immediately broke loose because the kid went totally berserk making my brother yelp in surprise and back off. “He’s fucking blind you moron.” I snapped at my poor brother because it really wasn’t his fault since he still really didn’t understand what was going on as I quickly came back around approaching the other kid who was in an all out panic now.
The kid had just been put through hell and I’m sure he thought my brother was attacking him. Being blindsided like that by my brother where he was suddenly grabbed and shoved would have had just about most kids in a frantic state after an event like he just went through, but to be blind on top of it where he was totally disoriented was even worse. I felt a twinge of guilt for having simply left him alone like that as I approached trying to calm him down.
“It’s okay…please; my brother didn’t mean anything by it.” I told him soothingly seeing the boy calm down again once he heard my voice. “Here, let me help you get into the car, but we need to hurry now…for Maggie.” I added sincerely, the mention of the dog’s name seemingly snapping the boy out of it, and allowing me to touch and guide him over to the car.
“Shit kid, I’m really sorry about that…it’s just I still don’t know what’s going on.” My brother grimaced feeling awful about it, but also still totally disoriented with this whole thing at the same time.
It was then I noticed his state of dress, or rather lack thereof. He really must have immediately dropped everything to get to me once he heard the code phrase. He wasn’t even wearing a shirt, the subtle muscles along his torso hinting at the strength and power he possessed. He wasn’t insanely muscular, but he was very fit and unlike skinny little me he had just the right amount of bulk and it didn’t surprise me how all the girls seemed to swoon over him. He had just the proper amount of build for a boy his age and size. He was a handsome looking seventeen year old boy. He wasn’t big like that hulking Tank guy, but there was a deceptive powerful beast lurking just beneath the surface of my brother’s physique. I’ve only seen the beast inside of him unleashed a couple of times in my life and it wasn’t a pretty sight when he laid into someone.
Like me he had a very gentle kind of soul always going out of his way to avoid a fight. Over the years kids around here had learned not to mess with him. He was an overall good kind of guy, but not one to mess or trifle with because when he had to he could take people to task and hold his own no matter what the situation.
If this situation wouldn’t have been so grave I would have probably busted up at my brother’s lack of dress at the moment. Not only was he shirtless, but pant-less as well. He must have been putting on his football gear at the time the horticulture guy came running into the locker room to relay the safety code to my brother. At the moment he was only wearing those padded white pair of football girdle covering up his goods. He hadn’t even bothered with putting on socks, simply slipping into his shoes like a pair of slippers because his heel wasn’t even inside the pair of Nike sneaker’s he wore.
“Johnnie, let’s get going. I’ll explain everything on the way.” I told my brother sincerely as I helped the smaller boy into the car next to his dog.
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End of Chapter One: Blindsided
Coming soon Chapter Two: Sometimes Life Sucks
Synopsis Ch.2: Life just sucks sometimes as Frankie tries to cope with everything that has gone horribly wrong already today. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse that’s exactly what happens because while he sits at the vet clinic with the blind boy, his older brother sneaks away. The day is about to get worse and in a hurry.
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