October 22, 1970

Dear Mr Keon

Did you have a Woolworths in Quebec? One time Rollie took me there and we went crazy on the spinning stools and ate french fries. Yesterday I was in Woolworths looking for a Batman mask to go with my Batman shirt for Halloween when someone with a John Lenin mask and jean jacket came up to me. I know who John Lenin is because Rollie said he was the best beetles and that Paul was a sissy. Who is your favourite Mr Keon?

Hey brother, what’s happening?

I knew the voice.

John Lenin raised his mask. I did not recognize him at first then he smiled. It was Rollie except his Castro hair was gone.

Your looking good. I miss my chinese connection Rollie said.

I stepped back because I was scared and did not know what to do.

Yo be cool, he said. I’ve always had your back, ain’t that right?

I nodded.

Didn’t I give you your first hockey cards, a viewmaster, your first dictionary?

I nodded hard this time. They were some of my best things.

Then he asked if he let me hang with him when nobody else would?

I nodded again but could not look up.

Didn’t I protect you when that jive talking Meany Ming chased you with a rake?

Then you killed her I said to myself.

It was almost like he could read my mind because he said things did not happen the way the newspapers said. She was supposed to be asleep but she snuck up on him and swung without seeing her. He said how was he supposed to know her head would hit the radiator. It was a accident. It wasn’t his fault. At least it’s not what he wanted.

I looked away and asked him what did he want?

A police man walked by. Rollie put his mask back on then pulled me beside some shelves with fake moustaches and beards. He lifted his mask again. I just want to go home. I need to see my family. Back to Maine, to some backwoods cabin and wait out the man’s war. That’s what I should have done in the first place.

I did not know what to say. I believed he was lying again.

I need your help Johnny.

This time I looked right at him. What can I do, I’m just a boy.

I left some stuff in your apartment.

What?

A small box.

Then what do you need me for just go get it yourself.

What are you crazy man. The fuzz is everywhere. I’m not stupid, I saw the unmarked cars parked by the house.

So maybe they already found it I said.

He said he did not think so because fuzz aren’t that smart and he did a good job of hiding it.

I did not understand and he saw that.

It doesn’t matter Johnny. If they had already found it then your mother would be in jail.

I froze. I told him I did not understand.

Just listen up Johnny. Between the legs of the radiator by the window is a loose floor board. Its in tight so you’ll need a hammer to drive in a screw driver between the boards. Like this. He looked around then pulled out a small nap sack with a tiny hammer and a long screw driver. He showed me what to do with it.

He said once I get the board out I’ll find a small box. It will get him home across the border and he can lay low until the stupid war in Nam is over. That’s all he needed.

Rollie always looks like he is having fun. He always smiles and laughs. But that time he looked very tired and wild like a rubbee. I wanted to be nice and say ok then I thought of the police and Barbra Twomanski and the principal and all the people who would be mad and would punish me by sending me to jewvee and away from mother.

I shaked my head and started to cry. I can’t I said. I can’t do it. I’ll get in trouble.

He pushed me into a rack of costumes. You’re going to do this. You know why?

I shaked my head.

He said Johnny if I get busted your mother gets in trouble.

So ask her to help.

Rollie laughed a little. Your old ladys a blast but she’s panicky. I can’t trust her like I can trust you. She’ll get herself busted.

No I can’t do it.

You have to. I don’t want to do this Johnny but if I don’t make it home I’ll say she is part of everything. He said he would tell the police that mother was the mastermind. That mother cased out Meany Ming’s place and besides her fingerprints were all over some hot items. Fingerprints don’t lie he said.

So he was ready to rat out mother. I shaked my head and started to cry. Not true not true I said.

He slapped me in the face. It did not hurt but nobody except mother ever hit me.

Knock it off. Stop crying he almost yelled. He pulled a Scooby Doo mask over my face but it was too big and it was hard to breath and the plastic was scratchy.

He said he paid our rent for months while mother lost at mah jong down the street and he paid for the other Johnny on top of the refrigerator. She never asked questions he said, but she’s not stupid. And you’re not either.

Not true not true is all I could say.

Maybe. But if the fuzz believe just 1 per cent of it your mother does time. You know what I mean by that? Jail he said and I would wind up living with some jesus freak honkys out to save the world. First no dad now no mom. I will have nothing. Think about it, he said.

I did think about it and wanted to cry more but kept it inside this time.

He looked around then lifted the mask and let go of me. Sorry Johnny he said. Its been a rough few weeks for me. Do me this big favor and we all get on with our lives. I promise. No I swear.

I looked around then nodded. Okay I said.

Now there’s a brother.

He made me repeat all the instructions until I got it right. It took me a few times because I was nervous.

Good. When you get it leave it behind the paint cans in that garage you hang at. I’ll know. He put the hammer and screw driver in a paper bag and told me to wrap my coat around it.

I got to split he said. There’s loads of heat around.

Then he went back to the street and was gone.

I did not know how he knew about my secret hang out. But that means he was following me and watching me. And maybe that really was him I saw in Catwoman’s yard the other night. So he knows where I am and what I am doing.

Before he went he handed me a pack of hockey cards like nothing had happened and Meany Ming was still alive and he was still my best friend and I did not have you to write to. But it is not like that any more.

I went home and mother was watching the news. I looked at the radiator but could not see the floor boards edges clearly because it was dark. Then I heard the news that police continue to look for the killer of Pui Ching Ming. They said the suspect is Roland Berry but he also has an alias of Roland Brown. They said he is part of a gang who were breaking and entering Rosedale homes for sometime. They did not know who the other gang members are yet but police should be notified immediately if you see him as he should not be approached because he is dangerous.

Roland Berry and his gang. What if he does say mother is part of his gang. What if he says I am because I have his hammer and screw driver.

Mother looked at me. She said do not be scared. Rollie is long gone. He is too smart to come back.

But what if he does I asked.

He has no reason to come back. If he is that stupid just stay away. Mother will get in trouble. We will get in trouble. Let the police catch him. You understand me?

If the police do catch him can we still get in trouble I asked.

Why? We have done nothing wrong.

She saw that I was not sure.

Do you know something you are not telling me?

I shook my head.

Just remember she said, do not talk to any body, do not do any thing stupid and stay away from trouble. Then we will be ok.

I nodded but I did not feel better.

I looked at the floor board but was sleepy so I brushed my teeth and went to bed.

I do not know what I would do if I did not have you Mr Keon. I need you now and can not wait for father to come back and give you the letters. So today I got all the letters from the basement and put them in a envelope and carefully printed your name on it and mailed them. I will keep writing until you write me back. Please write soon or come to 54 Henry street. Wait for mother to be at mah jong first.

Your friend,

Johnny Wong