A Map of the Dark. John Dixon

and stopped at the counter behind Omsted and the other guys.

      Little Lee whispered, “Where’s your mask?”

      “I’m wearing it,” Chuck said.

      Dale took Little Lee by the arm and said, “Let’s get outta here.”

      Omsted said, “Hey, squirt.”

      Rusch said, “I thought you weren’t trick-or-treating.”

      “I’m not. I came in to rob the place.”

      Dale dragged Little Lee a few steps backward.

      Omsted and Rusch and Carner laughed.

      Mr. Giese leaned over the counter and yelled, “You what!”

      The older boys looked at the younger boys. Little Lee looked at the floor. Chuck grinned at Omsted.

      “You came in to what?”

      Little Lee looked up and said, “Trick or treat?”

      Carner laughed.

      Rusch roared.

      Chuck stepped up beside Omsted and said, “Trick or treat my ass.”

      Omsted clapped Chuck on the back.

      Mr. Giese said, “That’s it,” pulled a telephone from under the register, and put the receiver to his ear. Before he could dial, Chuck reached over the counter and knocked a rack of gum to the floor. Omsted whooped, Rusch howled. Carner grabbed a handful of gum and ran out the door, knocking Little Lee into the postcard rack. Mr. Giese tried to dial but he was watching the boys and his fingers kept missing the holes. Omsted and Rusch grabbed handfuls of gum. Chuck made a grab for a candy bar but Giese dropped the phone and grabbed him by the arm.

      “Let me go, you fuck!” Chuck yelled.

      Mr. Giese’ mouth fell open and he let go of Chuck’s arm. Omsted grabbed Chuck by the back of his jacket, spun him around and pushed him towards the front of the store, knocking over Dale who was trying to pull Little Lee out of the broken postcard rack.

      Rusch and Carner were hiding in the doorway of the doctor’s office. They jumped out screaming when Omsted and Chuck ran past. Rusch had Chuck’s candy bag. It was torn open, and Chuck’s pirate mask was smashed on the ground. Rusch was stuffing the candy into the pouch of his sweatshirt.

      Omsted slapped Chuck on the back, yelling, “Trick or treat my ass!”

      The door to the drugstore flew open. Dale and Little Lee stumbled out, and the door banged shut behind them. They stood together on the sidewalk, glaring at Chuck. Carner and Rusch stopped laughing.

      Chuck said, “What are you looking at?”

      Dale said, “He called the cops.”

      Omsted said, “The cops don’t even know who he is.”

      Little Lee said, “I know who he is.”

      Omsted said, “Then if the cops find out it’s gonna be your problem, ain’t it?”

      Little Lee ducked behind Dale. His hands began to shake.

      Dale said, “We’re going.”

      Chuck said, “Be sure you take cowface with you.”

      “I’m not a cowface!” Little Lee yelled. His bag rattled, and his head and shoulders began to shake, too.

      Rusch said, “What’s wrong with him?”

      “He’s Putzie’s brother,” Chuck said.

      Carner said, “It figures.”

      Rusch said, “He’s as ugly as his brother, too.”

      “My brother ain’t ugly,” Little Lee said.

      Chuck said, “Your brother’s a retard.”

      “Ignore him,” Dale said and began to drag Little Lee across the street.

      Little Lee pulled away and yelled at Chuck, “He ain’t too retarded to beat you up!”

      “Your brother ain’t beating up anybody—”

      Carner hollered, “Danger! Danger!”

      “My brother can pound you all to pulp!”

      “Your brother ain’t making anybody into pulp! Your brother’s gonna be pulp!”

      Omsted said, “Squirt—” and grabbed for Chuck’s shoulder.

      “Omsted’s brother’s gonna kill him in Legion Park tonight!” Chuck yelled.

      Everybody froze.

      Rusch hollered, “Shit!”

      Little Lee shouted, “You’re a liar!”

      Rusch lunged at Chuck, but Omsted had already pushed him hard against the drugstore window and was holding him by the throat.

      Lee shook so hard that candy flew out of his bag.

      Mr. Giese yelled, “I called the police!” The lights in front of the drugstore went off.

      “Tell him it was a joke,” Omsted hissed at Chuck.

      Chuck made a gasping noise and pulled at Omsted’s hand on his throat.

      “You’re coming over there with me and telling your little friend you were making a bad joke.”

      Omsted spun Chuck around, grabbed him by the collar, and marched him over to Little Lee. Rusch and Carner followed close behind. Little Lee dropped his candy bag, covered his head with his arms, and shouted, “Leave me alone!”

      Omsted said, “Your friend wants to talk to you.”

      Dale moved closer to Little Lee and said, “He ain’t our friend.”

      “You’re gonna listen anyway,” Rusch said.

      He pushed Dale off the curb, grabbed Little Lee by the neck and pried his arms away from his head. Little Lee screamed. Carner went out to the curb and looked up and down the street.

      Rusch clamped his hands on Little Lee’s shoulders and said, “Shut up. Nobody’s hurting you.”

      Little Lee stopped screaming and started to sniffle.

      Omsted said, “Squirt’s got something he wants to tell you.” He shook Chuck by the neck.