Part 3

The Boy In The Red Shirt Part 3

Eli Susman

James and Phil flew through the halls of their big school to try to find their friends. The main buildings, the ones that James and Phil were on, were two story outdoor buildings. The hallways were made from the separations made by the classrooms. It was cold out, mainly because it was still morning. The smell of beach seeped into everyone’s noses and seagulls always flew overhead around the quad.

The quad was a big oval shaped grass field at the front of the school. All different kinds of students used the quad as a hangout spot during school.

Including James and his friends.

“Man fuck that kid.” James said to Phil as they turned to walk down the stairs.

“Yeah.” Phil said.

Phil was James’ best friend, though if someone heard them interacting, it wouldn’t seem as if they were close at all. All of their conversations were pointless and consisted of either an argument about a foolish problem, or James complaining and Phil simply agreeing. In this situation, it was the later.

“That kid really pissed me off Phil we need to teach him a lesson.” “It was your fault for letting him work with us.” Phil targeted James. James stopped walking and looked at Phil.

“My fault? How could you twist this onto me?” “You said he could work with us.” “I never said such thing.”

“You did, I clearly remember-”

“Come on let’s go.” James cut him off with a huff and started walking again.

Phil shook his head in frustration, but followed.

It was morning still, and the school had been let out for a twenty minute long break before their second of three classes started. The cold air stung their noses and James could barely feel his fingers.

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“Shit it’s cold.” Phil said.

James didn’t respond at first. He just kept walking towards the area their friends hung out.

“Yeah. It will warm up by lunch.”

“It always does.” Phil said confidently.

They finished crossing over the quad and went a little to the right until they were under a covering. Their group of eight kids were there. Some standing and others sitting on a bench.

Kenny

Jacob.

Larry.

Charlie.

Tom.

Tony.

Ezra.

Stefan.

“Kenny.” James said to get his attention. Kenny turned around and saw them. A smile quickly grew on his face.

“Show us the video man!” Phil said.

“We already saw it. But who was that.” James corrected Phil.

All the other boys got up until they were all standing around each other talking.

“Alright listen.” Kenny said. James and Phil keened their ears as best they could to try to hear in the loud hallway.

The hallways were always loud despite them being outdoors.

“This guy named Rudy Schlemian was in the bathroom while Tom and I were.” Kenny said.

“Yeah and as we were peeing, we noticed this dude was taking a look.” Tom added to the story.

James couldn’t help but smile.

“Look at what?” Phil said with a confused look on his face.

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Everyone looked at him, disappointed.

“The dude was trying to get a look of their junk dumbass.” Larry said. Phil let out one of his big bellowing laughs, “Oh bro. That kids nasty!” Everyone shook their head at him.

Phil was a tall kid with an awkward stance and a big face. His eyes were small, but his brain was even smaller. His laugh always seemed to make him sound like a trombone.

“So what’d you guys do,” James said to keep the story going, “Besides flush the queers face down the toilet.”

Everyone laughed.

“Nah bro. That’s all we did.” Kenny said.

“We weren’t gonna screw over the kid that much just for checking me out. I mean who could blame him.” Larry grabbed his crotch with a grin on his face and thrust his hips in the air like Michael Jackson.

“Let’s do something more to him!” James was getting excited, “What’d you say his name was again?”

Kenny responded, “Rudy Schlemian.”

James nodded and looked over at Ezra, who was casually sitting on their bench, not paying much attention to the conversation at hand.

“Ezra, you hear this?” James asked.

Ezra looked up, his face looked tired. He wiped his eyes then stood up.

“Hear what?” He said is a dazed tone.

“Isn’t a guy named Rudy Schlemian in our third period class?” Ezra thought for a second, “Yeah. I’m pretty sure he is. Why?” “We gotta beat the crap out of him.”

“Okay but why?” Ezra was used to these conversations. One, because this wasn’t the first time his friends plotted to beat a kid up. And two, because he was the biggest kid of their group, so anytime the conversation was happening, it involved Ezra.

“He did gross shit. And tried to molest Kenny and Larry. Or some shit like that.”

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Ezra shrugged his shoulders.

The bell rang.

Biiiiimg Biiiiing Biiiiing.

James and Ezra said a quick goodbye to everyone, then headed to History class. United States History.

As James and Ezra walked through the school to get to their History class, which was at the far back of the school, they talked.

“I’m confused what this guy did to you.” Ezra said.

“Well he didn’t do anything to me. He did something to Kenny and Larry.” “Then why aren’t they doing this shit.”

“Don’t worry about that. Walk faster, we’re gonna’ miss him.” James increased his walking speed and Ezra kept up.

The sun was starting to come out from behind the clouds slightly. Just not enough to make the cold day feel any warmer.

As they got closer to their class room, they keened their eyes for Rudy. He was always late to class. And they knew it.

Once they got to their class they knew exactly what to do. They leaned up on the right wall and waited. The classroom was a bungalow, which meant it was detached from all other classrooms. It stood alone.

A few minutes passed and still no Rudy. “Where is this guy?” Ezra asked, frustrated. “He’ll be here. Don’t worry.”

James said this, though, he was already worrying himself.

He knew in his head what he was going to do. He was going to talk shit to Rudy, and then beat the crap out of him. He and Ezra both knew the plan. Talk shit, beat him up.

James took a deep breath. Having been tricked and embarrassed by Kadin the period before put him on edge. Anger was built up inside him and he needed to let it out in someway. And in this situation the method was beating

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up a kid who did nothing to him.

Finally, a minute later, Rudy arrived. He meandered around the corner in sight of the bungalow in his usual sloth-like manner. James and Ezra looked at each other and nodded. Then, they both quickly walked over to him. He was just a few feet away and they wanted to intercept him before he got into the classroom.

“Rudy!” James called to him. Rudy turned, and when he saw who it was he turned to run. He knew their reputation.

Before he could go anywhere, Ezra grabbed his arm and pulled him around the corner and out of sight. Rudy tried resisting, but Ezra was just simply the stronger person.

“Guys come on, I didn’t even do anything leave me alone.” Rudy said. They were on the side of the classroom. Nobody could see them

James and Ezra where shoving Rudy around and ruffling his clothes. They pushed him against the wall and Ezra held him there. James began to speak.

“How’d it feel getting flushed down the toilet?” He snickered.

“You have nothing to do with this. Leave me alone.”

“I see your hair is still wet. At least you got a shower for the first time in months!”

“This doesn’t concern you, James.” Rudy’s voice turned deep and into a sort of demonic tone.

James and Ezra were caught off guard for a moment.

“Jeez that was creepy.” James thought.

“Let’s see what’s in this fags bag.”

Quickly, Ezra complied with his orders and swiped Rudy’s bag. It was black, with a single red stripe running down the middle. Plain, and to the point.

He tossed it to James, who instantly began unzipping it and going through

it.

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In a mocking tone James raided his bag.

“First we’ve got, a notebook and a folder. Wow you seem very into school dontch’a.”

Rudy tried to reach for his bag.

“Please, just give me my bag. I have stuff in there.” James laughed.

“No shit, and I’m gonna see the stuff you’ve got.”

Ezra still stood laughing at every exchange while holding the resisting Rudy.

“Next we’ve got, oooooo, is this your mug from ceramics class?” “James…” Ezra said, “Have some mercy.”

James lifted a grey and blue mug from the bag. Remarkably, it was perfectly sculpted.

He held if over the ground with his thumb and index finger.

Rudy was near tears.

“Boop.” James dropped the mug like it was nothing. It shattered on the floor.

“I worked two months on that thing you asshole!” Now, Rudy was crying. “Awwwe, look at the little baby crying.”

“Okay James enough. He doesn’t deserve this.” Ezra let go of Rudy.

James glared at Ezra. He walked deliberately to them. Only a few steps.

Suddenly, James swung his fist and nailed Rudy in the abdomen.

Ezra backed away, knowing very well that when James started hitting, it was turning bad.

Rudy, hunched over, charged at James. He had no time to react. Rudy crashed into James, and they rammed against the wall behind them.

James was furious.

“Was this idiot really fighting back?” James thought.

“Oh shit,” Ezra said to himself, “Nobody fights back against James.” James, being pinned against the wall, used all his weight and all his strength

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to lift the frail Rudy. He lifted him then turned and dropped him on the floor. There was a loud thud. Before Rudy could react to try something else, James kicked him with all his might on the side. Right on his rib cage. James was pretty sure he felt something move.

Again, James kicked him.

And again.

And again.

Rudy coughed, he barely could breathe and his body throbbed. He cried harder.

“Please stop. James please.”

James kicked him again. Before he could do anything else Ezra grabbed him and pulled him back.

“Don’t mess with my friends. And don’t mess with me…whatever your name is.” James said.

Rudy coughed.

“He doesn’t even know my name?” Rudy said to himself.

The bell rang.

“Come on James. Let’s get to class.”

James laughed.

“Look at this guy. Hah.”

James had a smile across his face. His shiny teeth snuck out from his lips. ‘Let’s go,” James said, “See you fifth period!” He and Ezra laughed as they

started to leave.

“Yeah…see you fifth period.” Rudy whispered under his breath so they couldn’t hear him.

They went around the corner and slipped into their classroom, unnoticed by their teacher.

They sat at a two person table at the back of the class. The table had two seats pulled up to it and was covered in scratch marks and discoloration’s. They sat down quietly.

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“That kid was such a dick.” James whispered. Their teacher had already began talking.

“There wasn’t a problem with him really.” James glared at Ezra. “Did you see what he did?” “I didn’t see him do anything wrong.” “He tried to fight back.”

“What did you expect him to do? Just sit back and let you beat the crap out of him?” Ezra said.

“Well yeah. That’s what most kids do. Kids like him at least.” “What do you even mean by that?” “By what?” James asked.

“‘Kids like him’ What does that mean?”

“I mean. He’s just a weird fucker. I didn’t expect him to try and fight back. That’s all.”

Ezra shrugged his shoulders.

“I hate hanging with Ezra, he’s so…he always analyzes things too much.” James said in his head.

They sat through the rest of class without a sound. The boys who usually talk nonstop, stopped. The class seemed ten times quieter without their noises. Their teacher lectured and the teacher gave notes. Through the entire period they didn’t speak to each other. And through the entire period Rudy never showed up to class. James nor Ezra thought anything of it. They didn’t know what was coming their way the next period.

Fifth period.

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