CHAPTER 22

Fighting Chief

“Out,” said Alex when Chief asked him where he’d been.

“Doing what?”

“Skateboarding.”

Chief looked at his watch. “Skateboarding at midnight?”

Alex shrugged.

“Who with?” said Chief.

“Kids from school.”

Chief stopped leaning on the car and stood up stiffly. “What else you been doing?”

“Nothin’.”

“You been drinking?”

“No.”

“Come here,” he said.

“What?”

Chief moved forward and grabbed him by the shoulders. He pulled him close. “I can smell it,” he said. “You taking drugs?”

“No!”

Grabbing him around the cheeks Chief looked into his eyes. Alex fought to get away but Chief ’s strong arms had him pinned. Alex lashed out, kicking him on the shin.

Chief pushed him away. His voice changed to the one he used at the gym when he had to keep the tough kids in line. “You wanna fight your dad now, champ? Well, come on. You’re old enough to drink, stay out late. Let’s see if you can whip your old man.”

Alex was opening the car door when Chief stung him with a jab to the shoulder.

“You can lie to your mother, can’t you champ? You think you’re a man now? Well, prove it.”

Alex threw a straight right at Chief ’s face. Chief instinctively leant back and the blow grazed past his nose. Alex started flailing punches at the body. Chief covered himself up with his elbows, but he didn’t fight back. Alex kept punching, some of the shots getting through, but still Chief didn’t retaliate. Alex’s arms became heavier and heavier — the punches turning into slow motion — and then they gave out, hanging loosely by his sides. Instead of giving him a beating, Chief put his big arms around Alex and held him close.

“Talk to me, son.”

“What do you care? You spend more time with Ben than you do with me,” Alex said, the tears stinging his eyes. “I hope you stay in Russia forever.”