HARK !

They shoot the boy with his pants down first. I don’t feel safe in this dumpster but it is all I have. It stinks in here. I don’t want to move, to breathe, but am forced to at least breathe. Imagined or not, it feels like maggots are crawling up my legs. Oh, god in heaven or tree elf, save me. Don’t let that bloody young man be tossed in here on me!

One motorcycle revs, roars. Garbage shifts. A voice, not yet mature, screams only, ‘Don’t please don’t.’ Two shots and quiet. I dare not twitch a finger. I can hear things, keep praying I cannot be heard. A shifting empty can, a broken piece of glass with a squeal from me and my worries will be over.

There is laughter, high voices, female voices. ‘Come on, Charlie, get it up. Now!’ A moan snakes into my space. ‘No, no. I can’t.’ And then I get it. The killers are girls, not yet women! ‘I can’t. Let me alone,’ Charlie cries. ‘You better had work on it. You’re going to do it to all four of us. We’re not kidding, Kid.’

‘Hey, Charlie, you may get a break. We are voting. Little Connie likes your measly looks and wants you for herself. We’re giving her a present, You. Pull up your pants and climb on her bike. She won’t bite you, yet.’ There’s rustling noise, footsteps, gagging. ‘Charlie, you’re repulsive. You’re lucky we’re not going to make you lick up your vomit. Wipe your mouth and get out of here.’ Give us up, one single word, believe me, you and your family won’t live to regret it.’

No whispers reach me. How can I tell if they are gone? A minute is a lifetime and a lifetime ain’t worth shit. It’s now or never! By wiggling my legs a little I sink lower, touch bottom and through the slime and plastic bags I can just reach the back of the dumpster, barely touch the top and wham, bam, I kick over a bag and hoist myself on it, do it again and I’m over. The two bodies are laid out next to each other, naked from the waist down.

Hallelujah, they left my car alone. I don’t hesitate to break a window with a rock, unlock the door, find my cell under the front seat and dial what I never expected to dial, 911. Sirens come from 3 directions. Police cars, ambulances, a meat wagon and the M.E. converge, destroy clues as they swing their cars onto the grass. Spotlights turn night into day. Two officers try not to get too close to me but manage to help me into an ambulance. When I’m not babbling like a loon, I cry, I cry. ‘Officer, there’s another boy who may be alive. A girl named Connie took him away on her bike. I think I heard 4 girls and they were going to have the boys rape them all.’

Just then my friends Bob and Ernie come in, plop on my sofa and ask for a Bud. ‘Go get it, I’m watching the end of Law and Order. It’s the best ever and boy is it explicit! Know what I am, going to do tomorrow?What kind of friends are you? You don’t even ask.’

‘Well, Schmuck, what are you going to do?’ /I’m going down to the Police Academy and sign up to be a policeman. After that, I’ll study, work and become a Lennie, a real Detective.’