D is for Dastardly Deed Avoided
Charlie was still puzzling over what Don had said , "Yep, I said you can pay me ten dollars for your share, but you didn't give me the money."
What had happened that he didn't pay Don the money? He was not the forgetful type, but this really had him puzzled.
He knew that Don would not ask him for the money, and anyway, it was over 23 years ago. But, he still wanted to know why he didn't pay Don.
Don had only asked for ten dollars from him because he knew that Charlie did not have as much money as him. Charlie knew the present cost much more.
Eventually, he forgot all about it. Some days passed when this niggling subject of owing Don the ten dollars crept up again.
"Hey, Charlie, do you want the sandwich or the pie?" Amita asked as they sat down to a small diner after their show. They decided to go for some home made pies and sandwiches instead of going for a huge dinner.
"Here's some money, get me a tuna sandwich and a slice of apple pie and tea for me, please." Charlie said, handing the money to Amita.
"No need. I need to pay you for the books you bought for me. I still owe you some and will pay you afterwards." Amita went off to join the queue for the food.
'I still owe Don the money.' He sat at the table, pulled out some napkins from the dispenser and started writing on them absentmindedly. He wrote the figure 10 over and over again, hoping at least the number 10 would jogged the memory.
A group
of giggling teenagers came in and were talking loudly.
"Did you
see the commotion this afternoon? Joe was trying to hit Con with that
stick just because Con was talking with his girlfriend. Luckily Mr.
Bartolomew came out and stopped them. He's in for it."
"He'll
get detention, most probably." Came another voice.
The voices
stopped talking when they were at the counter to order.
Charlie
looked at them, three young boys. Then it all came back to Charlie,
the name Bart and something to do with a stick. Ah…..
Twenty three years ago…..
A few days after Don had bought Charlie the book and the present for their mother's forthcoming birthday.
After school, Don came to Charlie who was sitting on a bench, waiting to walk home with him, "Charlie can you sit and wait for me. I need to see Bonkers for the Geography homework . He doesn't believe that I did it all by myself, that egghead. So I have to stand in front of him to tell him what I did. You wait for me. It won't take long." Before Charlie could say anything, Don ran off.
Charlie took out his book to read. He knew about the trouble Don had with the geography teacher, Bonkers, before. He was told to keep quiet and not tell their parents. Don said he could handle it. He did the previous time, but he had to stay back two hours to do extra homework.
Charlie hoped this time everything would be alright. The Geography teacher was not Bonkers. His name was Mr. Beaufort Botany, but behind his back, the students called him Bonkers. Don had another name for him, Effhead, but it was changed to Egghead when his mother caught him using the first name.
Charlie waited, and he stood up and walked about. He spied Bonkers' son, Bartholomew Botany, talking with a group of bigger boys. He walked cautiously towards the side and stood to hear what they were talking about.
He knew that Bart had a grudge against Don. They had some word slinging session over some girls. Bart told his dad, and that's when Don had trouble with Bonkers eh..Botany.
"So who's going to do that? You or you" Bart pointed to two taller boys. The two boys shuffled their feet."I did it last time, Hog, it's your turn."
"Hey why don't you do it yourself, Barty. Why are you always picking on Eppes?"
"I did it. I told my dad that he copied the geography homework, but now I need someone to sock it to him one more time, then we are even for now. I don't like to lose to Eppes."
"Alright just this one time, I don't want to be called up."
"That's why I wanted him to still be around when everyone is gone. Make sure you do it. I don't care how, and I don't want to be involved. After this, you don't owe me any more favors.." Bart went off with the other boy.
Hog hung around waiting. Charlie didn't know what he was going to do to Don. He cautiously crept up, and he saw Hog holding a stout stick.
"He's going to hit Don with that." Charlie then made a decision, and he went up to Hog.
"Hey Hog, I want to make a deal with you."
"Squirt, you better be off, or I'll give you the end of this." Hog said, swinging the stick around.
"You do that, and you'll be expelled. You want that?" Charlie said going nearer.
What he wanted to say to Hog must not be heard by a third party.
"You want to make some money without hitting anyone?"
"No, I have to do it." Then, he stopped and asked, " What money?"
"I'll give you ten dollars, and you do not hurt my brother."
It all came back to Charlie. It was quite funny too, now that he recalled everything.
He wondered why it was filed away until now. Maybe it was something he wanted to forget, but it was just another incident.
He waited for a little while more, and Don came running, and he told Charlie to hurry up because he had football practice.
"Did you have trouble with Mr. Botany, Don?"
"Nah.. I had Miss Chang stand by and witness, so that Egghead will have to let me go after I told him what he wanted to know, easy."
"That's good. Come on, let's go if you want to get to that practice." Charlie said pulling Don's arm, and they went off in a fast trot.
He remembered that night Don came home all bruised and said he had a collision with another boy during the game. Their parents were all concerned, and their mother quickly rubbed some ointment on his stomach and told him not to go to school if he was hurting.
Don did go to school, and he was holding on to his stomach. There were some visible bruises on his cheek.
Charlie felt safe for Don. He knew that Bart would think that Hog did it to Don.
He was not scared that Hog would repeat their conversation. They had made a pact not to tell anybody, and Charlie got Hog to promise not to hit Don or listen to Bart anymore. For that, he paid him ten dollars. He had forgotten that he had to pay Don for the present they were going to give their mother.
He thought it was better to keep Don safe from a beating.
He had prevented a dastardly deed from being carried out by Hog, and as both promised not to tell, he had conveniently forgotten all about that and the ten dollars he was supposed to give Don that day.
Don had bought him a book earlier on and he had managed to talk Hog into not obeying Bart to beat up his brother. He had felt very good then.
Present:
"Charlie…Charlie!"
"Huh? What?" Charlie swiveled his head at the voice.
"I'm been calling you from there," Amita said, pointing to the counter, "to help me with the drinks. What were you thinking so deeply that you did not hear." Amita was a tad annoyed for when she was calling Charlie and there was no reply, looks were directed at her.
"Sorry, sorry Amita. Just thought back when Don and I were in school some twenty over years ago."
"What? Something happened?" Amita asked as they carried their drinks and food back to their table.
"No, something did not happen, and I was very glad then."
"OK then, let's eat. Charlie, here's the money for the books. My treat this time since you paid for the show."
Charlie smiled at her and took the money.
He was wondering if he could tell Don now since it's been 23 years that he had made a pact with Hog.
'I wonder where is 'Hog' now. What was his real name?' Charlie pondered.
Maybe he
should ask Don what happened the first time Bart had him beaten.
Hmmm
getting curiousier and curiouser… like Alice in Wonderland.
Amita gave Charlie a funny look. She knew that he was up to something, but she also knew that he will not tell until he was ready.
Tbc.