WARNING
Never Trust a Lucky Charm!
7
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
“HEY MAXX, WAIT up,” Lenny yelled down the hallway. School was dismissed for the day and Maxx was already halfway to the door. He wanted to find out more about this new kid. He was impressed and ready to throw himself at him after seeing the super-car he arrived in this morning. He figured Maxx must have a cool house and some sweet stuff too.
The town of Target was a pinwheel of dead end streets fanning off the tidy, organized business district that criss-crossed like a waffle. It was an in-between place, the kind of spot on the map that summertime tourists floating through described as quaint.
Lenny wondered where a kid like this could possibly live. He racked his brain. There wasn’t a fancy street anywhere that could match up with the lifestyle Maxx looked like he was accustomed to.
When he lived in Chicago every once in a while he got to see how the rich people lived. The enchanting sparkle de-iced his world and dissolved his clammy fear-sweats. One day, he promised him-self, life would be different. This wasn’t it. His hunger for affluence was a craving, especially when it was flaunted in his face, like now.
Could Maxx be his lucky charm he wondered? Maybe, but he would need to put a leash on him fast before someone else yanked his chain. He was pretty confident that he could get inside his head. He wasn’t sure why, but something about him reminded him of Lucas. He guessed that maybe it was because he looked like sort of a wuss. Whatever, it would be a snap.
He could see himself swindling this boy out of some of his goods and maybe even getting tight with his family to cash in on other things too. This could be a pretty sweet deal; this kid was like a winning lottery ticket just waiting to be cashed. Lenny smirked and set his sights on his new tidy-haired friend.
“Hey Maxx! Maxx wait up!” he yelled.
Maxx stopped and turned around. Lenny was catching up, bullying his way past anyone in his path.
Why was he in such a panic, Maxx wondered? He decided to wait.
With his target stopped, Lenny’s huge strides slowed to a comfortable stroll until he caught up. “So Maxx, my man… what did you think of your first day in 6B?” he tried to get things rolling.
That’s it? Maxx thought, then answered, “Oh, it was good.” He didn’t bother to mention that the game had weirded him out. “Hey, thanks for showing me around,” he continued, still wondering why Lenny had been rarin’ to catch up to him.
“Hey, no problem,” Lenny replied smoothly.
Lenny’s easy answer didn’t settle Maxx’s mind. It just dawned on him that he felt uneasy around him, he didn’t know why. Lenny had been nothing but nice. Why should he feel intimidated? He chocked it up to first day jitters and canned his feelings. After all, Lenny had been great, showing him around, introducing him to everyone. He felt like he owed him a better than average chance.
Suddenly they were mobbed by a crowd of students moving like a machine towards the door.
At the same time, lingering Nimmers holed-up in nooks and crannies and hanging from doorposts and lockers, stalked the students churning by. Could they be so lucky? It rarely happened. Suddenly some kids broke into a fight. More Nimmers saddled a ride.
A couple of seventh grade dawdlers slipped in between Lenny and Maxx. Lenny shoved his way back in and sealed the gap. Everyone jostled and bumped along the hall-maze. Finally outside, they were struck with the late afternoon apricot sun.
Lenny knew just what he was looking for. Still, his eyes zig-zagged around in a casual glance to scope out the area. He planned a lively speech to give Maxx the low-down on everything and anything he could think of that made himself a hero. He even went on a short, light hearted bragging spree about the kids he’d beaten up when he lived in Chicago. He made sure he kept the banter rolling along so that Maxx didn’t have a chance to cut him off and break away. He was sure the Bentley would be drifting in or already parked somewhere. Finally, he spotted the prize. His heart took off like a rocket. My carriage awaits! He announced to himself.
“So, which way’s your house,” he baited Maxx. “I’ll walk with you.”
“Oh, thanks, but I have a ride waiting for me,” Maxx replied.
“Oh… well… I guess I’ll just walk home by my-self then.” Lenny made sure he sounded disappointed. “I was hoping to get to know you more,” he added a whiny hint.
“Gee, thanks Lenny. You’ve been really nice to me today. It’s sort of tough starting a new school, but everything went really well,” Maxx told him.
Lenny didn’t answer. He made sure the silence was glaring.
“I can give you a ride home if you like,” Maxx finally blurted.
“Hey, that’d be great!” Lenny answered fast.
“Come on.” Maxx motioned toward his waiting car.
Charles had both of the back doors opened wide. The boys slid in from either side. Lenny breathed in deep. The smell of the leather interior made him feel like a champion. The spacious interior was like a plush living room. He snuggled back into the seat and sat up tall. The air conditioner cut the heat with a cool fresh breeze. On a day like today it was a true luxury but just like he was following a script, Lenny ordered Charles to put the window down anyway. Like the gentleman he was, Charles slid the windows down on both sides and stared into the rear-view mirror, wondering about the obnoxious boy with Maxx.
Surely this wasn’t the type of friend Heather Buckslinger was hoping for when she bargained with her husband over moving here.
Lenny’s head glittered with runway lights. He felt like a movie star. He was a one-man show. As the car sailed through the sea of kids bobbing past, he yelled and waved like a lunatic. He wanted to be sure every-one in range could see him riding in first-class style. He was such a nut-case that a rubbernecking girl fell off her bike and the car screeched to a dead stop.
Lenny was giddy when he told Charles his address and directions to his street. The Nimmer on his back was too. He was ready for some fun. Charles was driving quicker than usual today. Careening around corners jacked up the thrill. Maybe it was normal, maybe it wasn’t, but the wind whipping through the open windows was awfully fierce. The ride came to an abrupt end all too soon for Lenny.
There was no one around to show off to, and no one who cared when he hopped out of the limousine, back to the stark reality of his miserable house. The Nimmer leaned into Lenny’s ear and let out a mournful cry that shot into his heart. He wanted to make sure Lenny remembered no one was there for him. He did. And with that sad reminder his next move was already on the tip of his tongue.
“We’ll have to do this again sometime my man,” he leaned back inside the car to leave his flippant remark for Maxx. It wasn’t a request, it was a demand. He ignored Charles who was still standing outside the door.
Stepping away, he yelled over his shoulder, “I’ll meet you at school at the side door tomorrow.” There was no chance for Maxx to object. A giant leap up the first slab of the cracked concrete sidewalk sealed the deal. Lenny turned back for a quick pretend salute before bounding into the house.
Even with no whisper of a breeze the wire line above the sidewalk in front of Lenny’s house swayed. It was Radger catching his wind after he rocketed back here racing ahead of the car. His heart was still beating like a band when he screeched his approval at Lenny before he cut the film loose and sent it off. Another tidbit for Darkotika to study.
Below, Charles had a flimsy hope that he’d seen the last of Lenny. He hadn’t figured this boy out yet, but he had been around long enough to know trouble when he saw it and this kid had trouble scribbled all over him. Even his house seemed sketchy. This place felt weird. Mrs. Buckslinger wouldn’t be pleased either. For now he decided to stay out of it, after all this was only the first day.
Maxx could only nod his head and mumble a good-bye that Lenny couldn’t even hear. The Bentley sped away and out of sight.
The drive home had been too quick for Lenny. He s
till didn’t know where Maxx lived or why he had come here. He did find out though that Maxx’s dad owned several banks in the state of New York, so that explained the Bentley and driver all right. Maxx also told him that he had always gone to private schools up until now.
Inside the house aunt Clair was sitting stone-faced in the living room watching one of her favourite TV shows just like she did every day at this time. Lenny pushed himself past her heading for his room. Neither of them spoke. It wasn’t strange. They hardly ever talked. For them, it would be bizarre if they did.
Aunt Clair gave him a roof over his head and food for his stomach and not much else. Well, at least that’s what he thought. Actually, she gave him a lot more. And it wasn’t good. Not for anyone, especially not him. In fact, you could say it was bad. In fact, you should say it was bad, because that’s all that it was.
Lenny was thinking about Maxx and feeling miserable. What a spoiled kid, he thought. It was hard to like spoiled kids. Well, he didn’t need to like him anyway. And besides, if he wasn’t such a spoiled brat he wouldn’t be meeting up with him again tomorrow morning. Kids like him opened up opportunities. He sure wouldn’t pick a cream puff like this kid to be his friend… if he even wanted any friends.
The fun was over. Looking around his dismal bed-room, he caught sight of the crater in the wall where he punched his fist into it. Little plaster stones still lay in a neat pile where they had dropped on the threadbare carpet. No one would be coming to clean it up or fix it. He could care less.
He flopped across his bed and kicked one of his shoes high into the air. It clinked on the light shade, thumped the ceiling then torpedoed to the bed. The other one dropped off his foot to the floor.
He was antsy. His mind was tracing out his angle to stick close to Maxx. He would mark his territory before any of the others got any ideas about buddying up to him. Maxx had to believe he was a loyal and honest friend, so for now he would play the underdog and gain his trust. Let the games begin, he thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Lenny wasn’t the only one thinking up ideas of manipulation and control. Chief Wizard Caldron had been glued to the giant screen in the Darkology Center deep in the Kingdom of Darkotika. He was closely watching the events un-fold. He could have been there himself, but personally handling such activities was much too trivial for a wizard of his caliber and rank. He would interfere if necessary. For now Lenny was doing just fine.
“That’s right Lenny my boy,” Caldron growled slow and low, “you took the words right out of my mouth. Yes, do let the games begin. Ha! Ha! Ha!” he howled with wicked delight.
What a difference a day can make. Well actually, what a difference one can make in a day. It had started out like any other cookie-cutter day for Lenny De Villain until suddenly, two rare things had happened. Not only was he excited, he was the cause of excitement in the Kingdom of Darkotika.
Although fate had seemed to drop a gift in Lenny’s lap that day, it hadn’t. Actually, he had himself to thank for it. And although the hope for excitement seemed to glide in on a black Bentley with innocent young Maximillion Buckslinger, it didn’t. No, the hope for excitement today was concocted in the mind of young Lenny De Villain when he imagined a scheme of manipulation and control. Well what do you think the Kingdom of Darkotika would call this imagination of Lenny’s? Well… they call it witchcraft of course! Their specialty!
Chief Wizard Caldron let out a laugh like thunder, “Oh, I’m so excited!” he whooped. The air in the room hinted of a blue fog. It was wired with electricity. With his next roar came a spontaneous flash of lightening, “Way to go Lenny my boy. Way to go!”