The knock on the door of the yellow house came easy to me. I had to knock fIve times before anyone heard it. The TV was blasting.
The door opened. Brian’s surprised look made that moment worth it. His left eye was still purple. I knew then he gave me my blue and purple marks on my face. “What do you want?” He tried to sound tough.
“I need to talk to BB.” I pushed my fear away. I held the image of my father in my head and let my anger control my mood.
Brian opened the door wider. He stepped to the side and yelled, “BB!”
I could see Snake and Bulldog walking around inside, and Candy was flirting with Kaden. BB made his way around the small crowd and walked up to the door. He was bigger than a couple of years ago. He looked like he had aged more than just two years. He must have been twenty-two but fat was beginning to form under his chin, making him look almost thirty.
His arms still looked like two bowling balls every time he flexed. He liked to flex. It was working. His sheer strength made me second guess why I was standing in front of him. He looked me up and down and smiled. “So you must be TJ. I recognized you from your messed up face.” A roar of laughter spilled from behind him. BB was blocking my view, but I heard Kaden’s voice. I just stood there and put on the best tough look I could pull off.
BB’s eyes narrowed, “What do you want?”
“I’m ready.” I stuck out my chin and held steady.
“For what?” BB kept staring.
My eyes didn’t move. “You already gave me a beating in. Doesn’t that mean I’m in the gang?”
BB suddenly laughed. He repeated to the guys what I had said, and then they were all laughing. In fact, BB was laughing so hard his eyes started watering. I just stood there with my heart racing. After a few minutes he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me into the yellow house. “Come in! I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time.” He shoved me down on the couch next to Kaden. A bruise on Kaden’s hand confirmed his role in my beating. But it didn’t seem to bother Kaden. He was smiling too. Candy was sitting on the other side of him with her arm around his neck.
“See, I knew you’d come around.” Kaden spoke like we were long-lost friends. I just smiled and pushed down my need to puke.
Brian handed me a Coke. “If I remember right,” he said. I nodded, opened it, and took a sip. It felt good.
“So you want to be part of the Hillside Vipers?” BB took a sip of beer as he settled back on the other couch. The TV was still blasting.
“Yeah!” I took another sip. A few more guys walked out of the back room to see what was going on.
“Why?” BB held his beer on his knee.
I started to shift my body but stopped. I didn’t want to look uneasy. “Because Kaden said you look out for each other. I’m tired of looking out for myself.” I hadn’t actually lied. It was half way true. I was tired of looking out for myself. BB saw the truth in my eyes.
The big man nodded at Brian to turn off the TV. The only white boy in the room moved quickly and silence filled the room. “Okay, TJ. You have to earn your way in.” BB smiled. “This doesn’t involve pissing on any packages either.” Everyone laughed. I forced myself to join in, even though that memory reminded me how weak I really was.
I nodded and finished off my Coke. “What is it?”
“You’ve got to beat down someone.” BB’s voice was serious.
“Who?” I asked as if it were no big deal.
“Someone who shouldn’t be on our turf,” BB spoke clearly.
“Where do I find him?” I asked.
“Or her?” Candy laughed.
I felt my stomach turn, but I held my eyes steady. BB looked at Candy and told her to shut up. Then he looked back at me. “The Church Street Pit Bulls like to come through our turf. They try to take a short cut to the bowling alley. Watch for the sign of a Pit Bull and take one down.”
I paused a minute, feeling stupid. But I had to ask. “What sign?”
The guys laughed a minute before BB answered, “They wear these stupid dog collars.” I nodded remembering seeing some guys with dog collars hanging outside my elementary school on Church Street.
“When?” I asked knowing the answer.
BB smiled. “We got nothing better to do.” He stood up and headed for the door. “Let’s go hang out at the bowling alley. The rest of the guys in the room nodded, but Candy protested a little. Kaden kissed her, and she smiled and joined the guys as they walked out the door.
I put down my empty can and followed the Hillside Vipers. The cool breeze felt good on my bruised face. My whole body still hurt. I wished I had at least waited a few more days before I had the bright idea to join a gang.