Of course, I went through Christmas, hearing the gospel singing at the church, as well as the party on New Year's Eve. I saw Dick Clark on TV with his rockin' New Years Eve.
After 1997 arrived, I was focused on training to fight those busters the gargoyles. Two of the Quarrymen- a man named Banquo and a woman named Fleance- actually fought them before.
"They don't fly," said Banquo, addressing us inside this dojo in Queens. "They can they are on flat ground, they don't haver the advantage of the air."
"They only have their superhuman strength," said George.
And then there was more training. I had to train with this jetpack thing out in this upstate farm- the Granitors would hacve to sell a ton of crack just to buy one. I was tethered to the grounsd the first time. It wouldn't be good if I ran out of fuel hundreds of feet in the air.
While that was going on, there were more rallies. The Quarrymen opened up this thing called a web site, where people who have a modem and a computer could read about them. We even sent Quarrymen to schools, giving students free coloring books.
I got to know some more people. I knew Lou and Chaz of course, and there was this other G named Jack Dane who was an OG from the 1950's. This dude named Wiseman designed the web site.
I did manage to spend some time in the 'hood. There was some kids in the court. They all heard about me becoming a Quarryman who actually caught a gargoyle.
"I heard some of the Ice Boyz actually joined the Quarrymen," said this boy in a Mets T-shirt who looked to be about eleven.
"Yeah, I know," i said. "I might even have to work side by side with Stretch's killer."
"That's wack."
"It's like how we allied with the Commies to stop Hitler during World War Two. You could read about it in the library."
"Uh, okay. Can we show you som0ething?"
The kids led me around the corner to an alley, an alley that had graffiti on its walls since way before I was born. The boy pointed at some graffiti.
SMASH SOME STONE, it said.
"That's what we'll do to those busters if they show up on Seville Street," said the boy.
"Seville Street's a gargoyle-free zone," said this girl who was about twelve.
"I like it," I said. "Smash some stone. when I was your age, I wanted to be a dealer. Not dealing crack in the alley, but dealing coke to all those celebrities and sports players and politicians and super models and rich people. I'd have been rich and protected.
"But now with the Quarrymen, I found my true calling. I will smash some stone"
"Smash some stone!" said this eight year old boy.
