Chapter 5: Wake Up Call

I open my eyes. Ouch, man...! That freak hit me with a rock... I look around. I'm on the ground as I was before. Same place. It's probably about midnight... so what happened? I sat up. My stomach churns. Blood is splattered all over the pavement. I see the body of the man, ripped . Literally, ripped. Like a lion's claws do to the hide of a zebra. His flesh ripped into like a knife to butter. His eyes are wide, staring lifelessly at me- he has no pupils. Pip is nowhere to be seen. I feel my heart speed up. My breath is quick. Blood is splattered on my clothes. A scream is building inside my chest. I look around and see a payphone. I... I don't know what to do! I... oh god... oh... oh no...! I... oh... god... I need to call someone! Anyone! I reach into my pockets. Empty! At a time like this? I look around again. Still no one. D-does... he... have any change? I hesitantly reached into his pocket. It was soaked with blood. I gag. But he did have change. About a dollar's worth. I pull it out of his pocket. It jingles in my hand. I open my hand and look at the blood-covered quarters. I feel sick. I close my hand and stumble up to the phone. I put in the change. Dammit! My hand is shaking so badly I can barely put the money in. I dial 9-1-1. The police operator came on.

"H-hello... help me please... some... someone's dead... I need help. I'm on the corner of Red Twigs and Jade Leaf... I need your help... please I don't know who..."

The operator remained calm.

"Miss I need you to stay on the line. Are you alright?"

"Y-yes... but this guy... is dead!"

I look down at the guy. I can't take my eyes off him. Like, he would spring up to life. I drop the phone. His hand moved. Moved! I- shit! A huge roach crawls out from underneath his hand. I heave a sigh. At least, it was supposed to be a sigh. I hear the police sirens. I guess it's their problem now. But- I look at his cadaver- where is Pip? He hasn't shown himself. Did he kill this guy? Could he...? I can see the lights. I stand there stupidly. What do I do? I wave. Wave. Seriously, I WAVE. Not like, "Hey over here!" but "Hello, there." "HELLO, THERE?" Jesus... what the hell am I thinking? The cars pull up to the curb. There are three of them with an ambulance. One jumps out of his car with a gun raised. I trip over my own feet. Ugh! I look stupid. The cop chuckles slightly. Then he sees the body. He lowers his gun, aiming it at me. I freeze. That scream that was building up...

"Step away from the body! Raise your hands in the air!"

And wave 'em like you just don't care. Always at the worst of times. I back up. inside me, yeah, well, it wilts. Is that the right word? Wilts? Like a flower, y'know? Well, anyways, I try and get up but, another cop jumps out of another car and levels her gun.

"Don't move!"

I sit still. A bead of sweat runs down my cheek. A third cop gets out of his car and walks cautiously over carrying his gun and a flashlight. He looked at the body then me. I try to look innocent, but he just shakes his head at me. I look down, like I did something.

They arrested me and brought me to the station.

"But... but I didn't do anything!"

The cop just sits there and rubs his temples.

"Where, again, do you live?"

"Sun Coast Apartments."

"Your age?"

"Fifteen."

I look at the tape record on his desk. Its rolling and I feel like throwing it across the room. I grind my teeth. He sees my frustration.

"I know this is stressful, so, let's hear your side of the story."

"You think I did it don't you?"

"No, no. But, we don't have any reason not to suspect you. Go on."

"I was having a really shitty day. You couldn't even imagine. So I'm walking home, right? And I hear this guy from school, Pip, begging not to be beaten up. So I look around the corner and there's some asshole shovin' him up against a wall. So I duck in a bush, 'cause well, Pip had been pissing me off and I didn't want to be beaten up. He punches him and I jump up for one reason or another-!"

"Was 'Pip' your boyfriend?"

He used his name like it was a gang name.

"Hell no!"

"Sorry. Please keep your voice down and refrain from using profanity."

"Fine! So, the guy punched him and I jumped up. He saw me and punched Pip again. Pip fell, I think he was out. So, yeah, he started coming after me. He said I was hot and all that shit- er... sorry. Yeah, okay... Well, Pip ran away. Fuckin' chicken..."

Why am I lying for him? The cop glares at me. I just shrug him off. What am I doing here anyways? I'm missing my shift! McDonald's is probably gonna fire me now.

"So I told him I'm only fifteen and he's all 'Oh I like 'em young' and I felt so sarcastic. I said something and he slapped me, y'know the slaps where they sting so bad you feel like, like, a truck just hit your face? One of those. Well I fell. He kneeled over me and grabbed me by the throat. So I spit in his eye. He let go and hit me across the other cheek. Pow! And he grabbed a rock and hit me on the head. I don't know what happened after that."

"You were unconscious?"

"Duh."

He rubs his temples again with more vigor this time.

"Fine then. Don't leave the county."

I leave the station. A cop gives me a ride home. It's a woman, she seems kind, well, for a cop. She smiles at me. She's one of those big, friendly, black women who always happens to smile at you whenever you glance at them. She smiles at me her bright red lipstick glints in the dawning sun. She starts passing me happy looks,

"So..."

I look at her despondently.

"You a'right? You witness' a murder, child. Any shock now?"

Hey, she's Jamaican.

"No."

I shoot her down with an 'I could care'. She seems discouraged. But only for a moment. Then she smiles at me. Mentally, I scream. I want to leave. Out of this car. I look up at the rear view mirror. She has all these stupid fluffy ornaments hanging on the mirror. I feel like a retard now. I hope she crashes. That way I can run out of the wreckage, all the way home- like pork. She looks at me through the corner of her eye.

"You know, child, Keys should not hide der feelin's. Be open. Express yer feelin's. T'ough you may no' know, five people out der you may no' realize exist, really care fer you."

I see Pip in my mind's eye. I shake my head. What the hell am I thinking? PIP? Why is he so special? Dammit! ...Keys. She said Keys. He said Keys, too, in Hall. How...?

"I know."

My head snaps in her direction. What... how...?

She slams the break. I fly forward. My forehead hits the air bag thing.

"Ow..."

"Sun Coast 'Partments! Out ya go, child!"

I didn't even tell her where I lived. I look at her badge: A. Godsen. I watch as she drives away.