Chapter 11: Crisis

Joey, or Joe as he liked to be called then, invited me over to his place a one or two times a month still. Jane still came with me when I went over there. I wanted her along, she was fun, and she did not want to stay home by herself.

School had started couple weeks ago and we were over at Joe's house for the day and to stay the night. I was thirteen and Jane nine. Mrs. Milikan was more or less resigned to the fact that Jane was not going to have a surrogate mother daughter relationship with her without a fight, but she still tried. She used new tactics. Saying that Jane could not do what we did, not now that we were teenagers. It did not work. Jane just plain refused to acknowledge or give her any authority. If I said it was okay, its was okay regardless of what Mrs. Milikan thought. Joe's brother had left for college and she now focused on us.

We were outside just goofing around when a couple of kids, friends of Joe, came over. They were my age even if they were a little bigger than me. Joe was bigger than me too.

"Hey," they greeted us.

"Hey," Joe and I answered back.

I did not like one of them his name was Dave. He was kind of the full of himself guy that put everybody down. He was popular though. Dave did not give me that much trouble but I disliked him anyway.

"What's the deal with the girl," Dave asked with scorn in his voice.

Joe piped up before I could and said, "that's Brett's sister, she's okay."

"What in the hell is she doing anyway?"

Now Joe liked Jane, they were friends, but Joe wanted to be with the in crowd. Joe just said, "dunno."

That was the wrong thing to say. Dave must have took it as a green light to turn on his attitude on Jane.

"Why don't you get lost," he told Jane.

She just ignored him. I really did not want a confrontation with Dave. Being on his shit list was not a good place to be really. Hoping he would drop it if Jane did not aggravate him I kept silent.

"Shouldn't you be inside playing with dolls or something."

"I don't play with dolls."

"Well go inside anyway. Come back when you got tits."

That was about all I would stand for. I fired back at Dave, "shut up Dave. She isn't bothering anybody."

"Who asked you."

"You did, that's my sister."

"So."

"So, leave her alone."

"Fuck you pussy. I will do what I want. Go inside and play dolls with your sister you fag."

"Fuck off."

"Make me you pussy."

"I don't have to. You beat off every night anyway. Probably thinking about your Mom."

Dave jumped up and I stood up too. Jane got out of the way. She looked scared.

"I am gonna kill you asshole."

With that he blustered himself up and pushed me. Now I had not been in any fights before but had seen a few. I did however know how to fight.

Mr. G. used to box and taught me the basics. He taught us both what to do. How to avoid a fight, when to fight, and how to end it fast as possible. His first rule was to avoid it. The second rule was, if you can't avoid it you end it fast. He told us both not to waste any time slinging insults or pushing around or other hot-dogging. We were not roosters to circle each other and pose for the other. Hit them fast and hard. Usually, he said, they will not expect that. If you get nasty and mean and start in right away it intimidates them and gives you the upper hand. Do not let it turn into a wrestling match. Hit them in the nose, nuts, or gut. When they were down you kick them one last time just to let them know how bad an idea it was to mess with you.

With what Mr. G. taught me in mind I punched Dave right on the nose as soon as he pushed me. I did not break it, but it must have hurt like hell. He fell to the ground bleeding, screaming, and crying. I walked up to him and kicked him as hard as I could in the gut. He started throwing up and was a sight to see. I was not scared or nervous from the point he pushed me until I gave him a kick, I felt calm and coldly angry at him. After that, it got to me and I was upset and scared.

Joe and the other guy, Greg, were stunned. Dave was one of the tough guys and I dropped him like he was my sister. Jane looked like she was about ready to cry and I looked at her and opened my arms. She ran to me for a hug and did start crying. That calmed me immensely. Holding her and the fact she was upset and needed me never failed to calm me down. I said to Joe, "lets go."

"Yeah," he replied somewhat shocked still.

At Joe's, Mrs. Milikan saw that Jane had been crying and turned on the mother mode. She wanted to know if Jane was hurt and what happened. Joe told her that Jane was fine but that I was in a fight. He told her that Dave had picked on Jane and when I tried to stop him he started a fight and lost. She asked if I was alright and I told her I was and that was the end of that to my surprise. Mrs. Milikan was a good Mom and knew boys well. There was a good reason for the fight, I was all right, and the matter was dropped, almost. She used the fight to say Jane was to young to go around with us. We ignored her.

That would have been the end of it if Dave had not gone home and lied to his Mom about what happened. The doorbell rang about thirty minutes later and Dave's Mom was at the door with Dave in tow. Mrs. Milikan invited them in but she stayed on the porch. I was worried.

"Dave told me a boy here visiting Joe attacked him. Where is he."

"He is right here," she motioned to me where I stood holding Jane's hand, "and that is not what the boys told me happened."

"Well I want his parents' phone number."

"That's fine but what good do you think that is going to do?"

"He needs to be punished and apologize."

"Dave needs to apologize to his sister. He was picking on that girl there and he stuck up for her. He started the fight and lost."

"That's not what he told me."

"Well that's what these three told me. If you don't believe that go ask Greg, he was there."

"I'll just do that," she huffed and left.

"Don't worry you two, she is like that. We won't hear back from her, don't worry. Anyway, two boys fighting is not the end of the world, it happens all the time. Go in and watch TV or play Nintendo."