Chapter 6:
June was trouble from the start. Not necessarily for us, but for herself and the Socs. Shing Hwa started going with Soda to the gas station. June finally persuaded Soda to let her stock the shelves. She stayed pretty quiet, but that was just 'cause no one would talk to her. She knew she wasn't wanted, but she worked hard so the boss was happy.
June and I walked over to the gas station one day after school. The Socs were hanging outside in a small group. They didn't notice us. However, they were talking loud enough that we heard them.
"Hey, they got a new employee," we heard Randy say.
"Yeah, that little Chinese girl," Billy joked.
"Whadda you say we teach her the rules in this city?" Randy asked with a sly smile.
"Send her back where she came from, Randy!" Mike said. At this June had heard enough. She stepped in front of them as they moved to enter the store.
"Hey!" Randy said. "Didn't I teach you a lesson last time?"
"As I remember it, I taught you the lesson last time," June said angrily. "And if you forgot it, I'd be happy to teach you again."
"Whaddaya want?" Mike sneered. "We ain't botherin' you."
"Don't pretend," she spat back. "You're going after her." She motioned toward Shing Hwa through the glass door.
"Yeah, and?" Billy said.
June squinted angrily at the three of them. "You go near her and I'll put your lights out for good!" The Socs laughed in her face.
"You got lucky last time, girl!" Randy said. "I could knock you out if I wanted. I was just going easy on you."
"Oh really?" she asked.
"Yeah, really. I'll prove it here and now." A small crowd had gathered during the conversation. No one was inside the store except Shing Hwa and the boss. Soda was hanging by the gas tanks. He looked like he was enjoying himself.
"Go on, do it!" he called over the crowd. June closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and put up her hands just like last time. Randy threw his fist right at her face. It should have smashed her nose, but she dropped to the ground and knocked his feet out from under him before it hit her. The crowd moved back a ways as he stood and glared at her.
"I ain't goin' down so easily this time!" he yelled. He ran at her like a bull, but she was too fast. She ducked out of the way and grabbed the arm that should have hit her. It looked so big next to her. She held it tight and spun around, almost dragging him off the ground. She released and he fell against the fence on the side of the building. He stood, but this time he didn't charge. He just stood there, like he was waiting for her. Then he started walking slowly toward her.
"Let's see you hit me," he said when he was within an arm's reach of her. "Just whack me as hard as you can." She looked him up and down, then closed her eyes and lifted her hands again. Then she opened her eyes. It didn't even look like she moved. Her arm whipped out and back, and next thing we knew Randy was lying on the ground moaning.
"Ahh…" he groaned. "What did you do?"
"I hit you," she said. "Right on the neck. Don't worry, you're not paralyzed. It's just the shock. I didn't injure you at all. But it does hurt when a flat surface hits your neck, doesn't it?" Randy kept moaning, but no one bothered to call the hospital. June had explained it pretty well. Soda came over and started shooing the crowd away. Eventually Randy stopped moaning and left, and Shing Hwa finally walked outside.
"What did you do to him?" she asked as we started home in her thick Chinese accent.
"What I said," June answered. "I hit him. Right there." She lightly put the side of her flat hand to the side of Shing Hwa's neck, then took it away. "He's just a big wuss." We laughed. June was definitely one of us. Two-Bit would have a hoot when he heard this. I smirked. This would be an interesting story to tell.