Chap 3: Cannibals
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Sore but exhilarated from a muddy game of footy. It was now dusk and the evening air dried the dirt on their clothing, but for once, Walter didn't seem to care. He talked rapidly, his face flushed. "That was so enjoyable! I got a goal I got a goal!"
"Yea good job Walt." Dennis laughed, smacking him on the back and causing him to lose his balance. "Who knew you had it in you?"
"I was so awful at first, but I think I got the hang of it. Did you see me when I kicked it all the way to the other side? Did you? God. It was so fun!" He clapped his hands giddily. "So BLOODY FUN!'
Walter continued to gabble as the three children limped back to their respective homes. Minnie parted early, as her house came before the two neighbors.
It wasn't until they had reached their houses, Dennis realized Walter had fallen silent. "Uh… you alright?"
Walter nodded, his black muddy hair flopping in his face. He clutched onto the fence tenderly as he pushed it open. "Thanks for not picking on me today." He smiled
Dennis shrugged carelessly but threw him a small smile before he disappeared into his neatly furnished house. It showed up his own house that was just as common as the others on the street, except for the fact that it was partly destroyed in some areas from various antics.
Striding through his own front yard, he was immediately hurdled to the ground by an excited and yapping Gnasher. "OW hey boy!"
"GNASH GNASH!"
Dennis pulled him off and ruffled the fur on his head. "What do you mean where I've been? I was playin' footy."
"GNASH!"
"With Minnie… and Walter."
"GNASH GNASH GNASH"
Dennis thick brow narrowed. "Can't you feed yourself? He strode into his house, his pet following meekly behind. His dad was relaxed in the easy chair, with a beer in his hand, watching tennis, while his mother was in the kitchen, slicing out coupons.
"You really shouldn't talk to your dog like that out in the street, people will think you're not right in the head." His eyes never deterred from the TV. Dennis rolled his eyes. "Ok, thanks dad."
"Alright love?" His mother smiled, folding up another coupon. "Food is in the microwave."
"Thanks." His glanced quickly to the left and the right to make sure no one was watching, and then he gave his mother a quick peck on the cheek.
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It was another beautiful sunny in Beanotown and adults and kids had gathered in park for a match between Ball Boy's team and Bash Street Kids. Dennis had showed up with Minnie, and they grinned side by side as the ref went over the rules.
"Ok. So no kicking. No punching. No teasing. No calling names. And no" he glared directly at Plug, "No pulling faces."
The ugliest boy in the entire world smiled sweetly and nodded. Danny, the leader of the Bash street kids stood with an air of authority before Ball Boy, whom just smiled and extended his hand. "Good game. Good luck."
His face twisted into a cruel smile. "Yea. Good luck."
And once the whistle blew, anarchy ensued. Dennis and Minnie, and everyone there, cheered and jumped in excitement.
"What did I miss? Oh. Oh god!" Walter squeaked as he watched the match in terror, "This is inhumane."
"Yea, isn't it great!" Minnie giggled. All of a sudden the whistle shrilled sharply through the court, the first one in 30 minutes. "TIME! INJURY!"
It was Toots, the only female of the entire class, a petite little thing but usually tough of nails. She was on the floor, clutching her face. "I'm fine" she insisted but tears squeezed out of her eyes nevertheless.
"I'm s-sorry Ball Boy breathed. "I didn't mean to kick a girl in the face"
"Why should it matter?" she snapped, but Danny jogged over nevertheless and helped her up. "You alright?" they could hear him mutter and she nodded but moved her hand, blood revealed to be all over her face. "It's alright. I just need a napkin."
"FINISH HER!" Minnie yelled.
Danny frowned and pulled her away by the hand, while the rest of the bloodthirsty crowd booed and moaned, their mood only elevated when the Ref blew the whistle, ordering for the game to commence anyway.
Dennis and Minnie bounced up and down, yelling and screaming as if watching a boxing match, and Walter mumbled something about going to check on Toots before edging away from the horrible blood fest.
They were seated behind the changing rooms, Toots held an icepack to her nose, the blood cleaned off her face. "I could have kept playing." She moaned, but Danny cut her off sternly. "No way."
And she glared miserably at her feet, neither of them noticing Walter approach them. "You alright Toots?" he asked nervously, and both their faces shot up with a surprised look. "
"Walter. What are you doing here?" Danny blinked
"Dennis and Minnie invited me." He smiled nervously, while they exchanged confused expressions. "Really?" they said simultaneously
"Y-yes." To be honest, although Walter was still beginning to feel easier around Minnie and Dennis, he was still terrified o f the Bash Street Kids. They reminded him of cannibals, ready to fight and beat anyone if it would make them laugh.
Danny's expression was firmly fixed on Walter, as if he were a father carefully supervising his daughters date. Often he took on that role of authority and responsibility, since he was self appointed leader of a roaming back of wild dogs. Toots on the other hand, while gently dabbing at her nose, grew a beautiful, pleasant smile that made her face look so pretty despite the blood and grit. "Thanks. I'm alright"
Walter blinked, surprised, not sure he had ever seen Toots smiling ever, especially not at him. She turned to Danny. "Maybe he could sub for me?"
And then to Walters even further surprise, he saw Danny blush deeply. It was an astounding sight. All of a sudden, individuals whom he thought withstood the test of fear and violence were displaying real human emotions.
"Yea right." He muttered.
"N-no thank you." Walter back away and she laughed softly, in a girlish kind of a way. "You're alright, Walt."
"thanks…?"
"I don't know why we always pick on you" she nudged Danny softly, unlike the way Minnie smacked against Dennis. "Do you know why?"
"Because he's soft?"
"Maybe… but so are you, really." She teased and Danny's frowned intensified.. "Shouldn't you be talking less and icing your nose?"
"Oh bloody hell, sorry teacher." She winked at Walter, "He likes to think he's teacher."
Danny folded his arms and looked away, ignoring them, as if he were too adult for the conversation. Walter found himself blushing deeply as Toots large pretty eyes bore into his. "I-I'm sorry about your nose"
"Ah its alright." She shrugged. "I've gotten worse than this. I don't' know why its such a big deal to him." She motioned to Danny, who frowned. "Toots. Shut up and ice your nose."
Suddenly, Dennis and Minnie appeared out of nowhere, "Oi Walter." Dennis yelled. "Get to steppin' the game is over." He looked over at Toots. "Haha good game Toots. You can't even handle a bloody bleedin' nose can ya?"
"I bloody well CAN!" she snapped. "Danny wouldn't let me play."
"That's right, because you're just a stupid girl." He laughed, knowing full well that it was the greatest insult one could bestow upon a person like Toots. Danny held her back before she could leap up and beat the crap out of him. "Oi, calm down Toots, he's only kiddin'!"
Dennis and Minnie shared cruel laughter as they walked off, pulling Walter along with them.
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Authors Note: HELLZ YEA! New chapter! I'm so productive.