Allan was the last to board the bus. He wasn’t alone on the bus anymore. The only seat left open was the seat he left with his belongings. Allan glanced at the sea of faces and realized he was the odd man out, and he gulped.
As Allan walked to his seat, many young eyes gazed upon him. Allan sat, reached into his bag, and pulled out a Chicago Cubs hat, placing it low over his eyes. He sunk into his seat. The Superfly bus driver started up the engine, and black smoke exhumed.
The bus exited Hyde Park, moved south around Lake Michigan, and made its way toward northern Michigan.
Sitting directly behind Allan were Mayhem and Demarco. Demarco, a cheerful fourteen-year-old, stood out with his pudgy build, sharp mind, and impeccable style. For the bus ride to camp, he wore black-framed glasses, a Cuban hat, and a guayabera.
Yvette and Stephanie were sitting across the aisle and a row back from Allan, they giggled when Mayham grabbed Allan’s hat off his head and threw it.
“Cubs? You can’t wear this here,” declared Mayhem.
“Give me that,” Allan insisted.
The hat sailed to the front of the bus.
Smitty, often called Smelly, moved close to Allan, handed him his hat back, and sat. Smitty was a thirteen-year-old black kid wearing a poorly cut sleeveless t-shirt and a gold chain, and he had food on his shirt and mouth. Smitty always had something on his shirt and mouth: toothpaste or food from his last meal. Smitty stared at Allan for an uncomfortably long time, then wet his finger and stuck it in Allan’s ear.
Allan was startled and swatted Smitty’s finger away.
“Are you nervous,” Smitty gave him another wet willy.
Demaro yelled, “You did that twice in a row with the same finger? That’s disgusting. Let me sit there, Smelly.”
“Smitty!”
“I need to talk to him. You can have that seat over there, next to Stephanie. But you may wanna wipe that toothpaste off your mouth,” Demarco suggested.
Smitty looked at the girls, wiped his mouth, and then looked back at Demarco. Demarco returned an encouraging smile, and Smitty left to change seats.
Demarco moved next to Allan, “That was easy.”
Allan smiled nervously.
“What are you doing here,” Demarco asked.
Behind them, Stephanie rejected Smitty, and he changed seats again.
“My grandfather sent me.”
“Is he mean,” Demarco asked.
“No! He’s my best friend,” Allan shot back defensively.
“Okay, okay. Take it easy. I mean, who would do this to you on purpose?”
Mayhem leaned in from behind, “I remember this one summer, we had this kid from the suburbs. I don’t think he ever made it home.”
“What do you mean he never made it home,” Allan asked.
“Shut up, Theodore,” Demarco quipped.
“Mayhem!”
“Shut up, Mayhem! I’m Demarco, Allan. Don’t be scared. If you want to know what to do, I’m the one to watch.”
“Oh really,” Mayhem asked.
“I’m Allan. If you want to see a kid have the worst time ever, I’m the one to watch.”
“Oh, we will.”