The Battle of Jericho (11 page)

“Hey, Jericho,” his father said after all the gifts were opened. “Can you go out and get the newspaper?”

“Aw, Dad, it's cold out there,” Jericho complained. But he slowly got up and set his coffee down. He put his coat on over his bathrobe, stuffed his bare feet into a pair of his father's tennis shoes, and opened the front door. A blast of cold air rushed inside.

“Close the door, Jericho!” Rory yelled. “You crazy?”

But Jericho didn't hear him. For sitting in the driveway, with a huge red bow tied across it, was a bright red 1994 Pontiac Grand Am! He bounded across the deepest part of the snow, losing the tennis shoes in the process. But he didn't care. Screaming and jumping barefoot in the snow, he shouted, “You got me a car! I don't believe it! You got me a car! You're the best parents in the whole wide world! I love you! I love you! You got me a car!”

“Merry Christmas, Jericho!” his father called from the door. “And get back in here before you wake up the neighborhood and freeze your loud, silly self to death!”

Jericho ran back through the snow and into the house and hugged his dad and Geneva until they almost choked. He was so excited he couldn't breathe. Todd and Rory jumped and screamed in the living room, yelling, “Take us for a ride! Take us for a ride!”

“You never did get the paper,” Geneva said mildly.

“Oh, let me go get it! I'll do anything you ask! I'll go naked in the snow and then read it to you—even the ads!” Jericho felt as giddy as the boys.

“With clothes will be fine,” Geneva laughed. “And Jericho,” she added, “your mother helped with this. She was the real reason we were able to swing it.”

Jericho breathed a silent word of thanks to his mother and promised himself to call her back as soon as possible. He went back outside, found his father's shoes in the snow, got the newspaper, and stood there in the icy air, marveling at the wonderful little red car that sat in the driveway.

When he got back into the house, he was shivering with cold and excitement. “You know, Jericho,” his father began, “driving a car is a big responsibility. The dangers almost outweigh the freedom it will give you. We'll start off slowly with your driving privileges, and as you show you can handle the responsibilities involved, we'll let you drive more. Agreed?”

“Yeah, sure, Dad. Anything you say. I promise I'll be careful. I promise.” Jericho meant every word.

“You get one ticket and we pull the keys. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“Your grades go down, we pull the keys. Got it?”

“Got it.”

Geneva sipped her coffee, nodding through this exchange. “You know, Jericho,” she said finally, “I was against the idea of getting you a car at first, but you seem to have matured a little lately—I like the way you've taken
on so much responsibility in working with a strong, positive group like the Warriors. I'm proud of you.” Jericho couldn't believe his ears. Could she actually have complimented him?

“Thanks, Geneva. Really. I promise I won't let you down. Ever.” He almost felt like hugging her again.

“Can we trust you, Jericho?” his father asked finally.

“I will never make you sorry, Dad. Promise. For real. Can I go and just sit in it for a few minutes?”

“Go ahead,” his father chuckled. “But you might want to get dressed first.”

Jericho ran upstairs and was pulling some clothes on when the phone rang. It was Arielle.

“Merry Christmas, Jericho,” she said pleasantly. “Was Santa good to you?”

“Oh, Merry Christmas to you too, Arielle,” he said with excitement. “I don't know about Santa, but guess what my folks had sitting in the driveway this morning? A car!”

“You're kidding! A car? Jericho, that is so awesome!” He could hear the excitement in Arielle's voice. “What does it look like?”

“It's not new—I think it's a '94—but it's a Grand Am, and it's red and it's mine!” he said with glee. “Maybe they'll let me drive it to the New Year's Eve party next week.”

“Wouldn't that be awesome?” she said softly. “Wait till I tell November and Dana. Can you drive it over here this afternoon?”

“They've put all kinds of rules and regulations on my driving for now, so I'm not gonna make any waves. I don't
want anything to happen to mess this up, so I'll ask later.”

“I feel ya,” Arielle said. “I'll be here all day. Call me if they let you loose with the keys. I'm really happy for you, Jericho.”

“Thanks, Arielle. I'll call you later, and Merry Christmas!”

THREE DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS THE WEATHER
turned unseasonably warm, and most of the snow had melted. Jericho had been allowed to drive his car a bit—to the store for Geneva, to the post office for his dad, and to his friends' houses to show off. Most of the time, Todd and Rory were tucked into seat belts in the back seat, excited to be riding with Jericho no matter where he went.

“Are they gonna let you drive to the party on New Year's Eve?” Todd asked one afternoon as Jericho drove to Arielle's house.

“Yeah, Dad talked to me this morning, spelled out a list of rules and regulations about fifty miles long, and told me that as long as I'm careful, he's gonna let me drive.”

“Sweet! Can we come too?” asked Rory.

“Not a chance, Shorty!” Jericho laughed. Arielle must have been looking out the window, because
as soon as he pulled into the driveway, she, November, and Dana ran out of her house and over to the car.

“Hi, Todd. Hi, Rory. You little cuties,” November said to the boys as they rolled down the windows.

“You smell good,” Rory said to November.

She laughed with delight. “Your brother is the smartest little dude I ever met. He already knows how to talk to a girl!”

Jericho grinned and got out of the car. He gave Arielle a quick hug and noticed she was wearing the bracelet he had given her for Christmas.

“Nice car,” Dana commented as she walked around it. Dana drove her mother's SUV whenever her mother gave her the chance.

“Thanks, Dana. You want to kick the tires or check under the hood?”

“Don't be puttin' me down, Jericho. I know more about car engines than you do!”

“I ain't sweatin' you, Dana,” Jericho said with a grin. “I know you could probably take this engine apart and put it back together. I bow down to such power in a woman!”

“Just bow down to the power!” she replied. She laughed as Jericho waved his arms in front of him like he'd seen people do in an old movie about ancient Egypt.

While November chatted with Rory and Todd, and Dana sat in the driver's seat and turned on the engine, Jericho walked with Arielle to the end of her driveway. “They're gonna let me drive,” he told her excitedly.

“Sweet!” Her eyes glowed with anticipation. “Me and November went shopping yesterday and I got the sharpest
outfit. Tomorrow we're gonna get our hair and nails done.”

“You'll look good to me no matter what you wear,” he told her.

“That's why I like you, Jericho,” Arielle said. “You always know just what to say. Maybe Rory has been taking lessons from you!”

“Is Dana going to the party with Kofi?” Jericho asked.

Arielle glanced over at Dana, who must have decided to look under the hood anyway, for all they could see was the bottom half of her as she leaned into the insides of the car. “She says she'll be there. And Kofi said he'd show up. What happens after that is anybody's guess. It will be worth going just to see what happens.” She looked directly at Jericho and smiled. “But I'm going to be with you.”

Jericho grinned again. “I'll pick you up at eight Wednesday night. Josh and November are riding with us. What about Dana?”

“She told me that she's driving her mom's car.”

“Okay, that's straight. You girls are so tight, like you've known each other forever.”

“Not quite forever, but back in seventh grade some boys were teasing November about her name, calling her Turkey and other kinds of foolishness. She was crying, I was scared, and then Dana came out of nowhere and kicked their butts! Sent them running down the hall! She had just transferred here from Hazelwood, and we just clicked. She needed somebody to just be a girl with, and we needed somebody who wasn't scared of middle school! She's really gentle when you get to know her,” Arielle added.

Todd and Rory had joined Dana under the hood of the car. “What are we looking for?” Jericho heard Rory ask as he and Arielle walked back to the car.

“Whatever it is, it's dirty,” November chuckled.

“Looks good, Jericho,” Dana said. “You're a lucky dude.”

Jericho watched carefully to make sure that Todd and Rory's fingers were out of the way, then slammed the hood. “I guess I better get these two jokers home.” The boys climbed back into the car. “I'll see everybody on New Year's Eve.”

November and Dana went back into Arielle's house, but she stood in the driveway until Jericho reached the corner. He looked back in the rear-view mirror and saw her waving. It doesn't get any better than this, he thought.

THE WEATHER ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WAS COOL
and crisp, with no snow or ice predicted to make Jericho's dad cancel his driving privileges. Dressed in a new black suit with a red shirt and black tie, Jericho picked up Josh and November, then headed to Arielle's house. Arielle's mother took pictures, gave him the same warnings that his parents, Josh's parents, and November's mother had given him about driving safely and not drinking at the party, and finally allowed them to leave. Jericho sighed with relief and pleasure as he glanced over at Arielle, who looked like cotton candy in a pale peach dress.

“Lovely,” was all he whispered to her. “Lovely.”

She smiled and said nothing. The party was being held in a room at the Westin Hotel downtown. Jericho let the valet park his car, although he winced at the cost and the fact that somebody else was driving his car, even if
just around the corner. But he wanted this night to be special, so he, Arielle, Josh, and November walked into the lobby of the huge hotel, blinking a little, trying to act like they did this every day.

Standing in the lobby, dressed in a tuxedo, Rick Sharp greeted them warmly and directed them to take the escalator to the second floor where they'd find the room. As they glided up the escalator, Jericho tried to shake his misgivings about the club. It's got to be worth it, he thought. These dudes are first class. Arielle took his hand as they stepped off the escalator, and he walked proudly to the door of the party room.

Members of the Warriors of Distinction, all dressed in tuxedos, welcomed them and showed them to small tables around the sides of the room, which had been decorated with black and white balloons and gold centerpieces. Mr. Culligan welcomed them as well, then retreated to the shadows. A live band played music in the background and several couples were already dancing on the polished wood floor. Josh and November joined them right away, holding each other closely as they moved to the music.

Dana arrived then, with Kofi, and the two of them came over to their table. “Nice party,” Kofi commented. He wore gray slacks and a black leather sports coat. Dana was dressed in a striking black dress with one shoulder bare—the shoulder with her other tattoo.

“I see you two are speaking again,” Jericho commented.

“Got to, man. We're bonded, remember?” Kofi looked relieved and reached for her hand, which she didn't pull away.

Jericho noticed Eddie frowning at them. He walked over to their table and right up to Dana.

“Be careful what you wear out in public, little sister,” he said in greeting to her.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Kofi asked.

“She's got one shoulder half naked,” replied Eddie.

“I'm so glad you like my dress,” Dana told Eddie with a smile. Then she took Kofi by the arm and brushed past Eddie, ignoring him. Jericho could tell Eddie was angry, but this was obviously not the time to show it.

While Arielle went to get some punch, Jericho walked over to Dana and whispered, “Do any of the girls know you're a pledge?”

“You expected me to break the code of silence?” she whispered back. “Not until it's official.”

“I'm gonna break Eddie's face if he keeps messing with Dana,” Kofi said with quiet determination.

“I'll help you,” Dana told him with a fierce smile, “when it's time. I'm fine for now, but I have to admit, I'm glad to be with you tonight.” Kofi grinned.

“So, do you guys find out tonight if you're members of the Warriors of Distinction?” Arielle asked as she returned with two glasses of punch.

“Why?” Kofi asked her. “You plannin' to dump Jericho if he doesn't get in?” he teased. Arielle just rolled her eyes at him.

“Why you wanna dis me like that, Kofi?” Jericho said with a laugh. He turned to Arielle. “Tonight they give out the official invitations.” He tried not to put any special emphasis on the word “official.” “I'm not sure what happens after
that,” he said honestly. “Some kind of pledge activities—they keep it a big secret.”

“Yeah, even Josh's dad won't tell him,” Kofi added.

Josh didn't look as if he was worried about anything—he and November danced wildly in front of the band.

“You want to dance?” Jericho asked Arielle as they watched Josh and November.

“I can't do that,” she said, pointing at them, “but I can keep
you
busy!”

He and Arielle spent the next couple of hours dancing, talking with the Warriors, laughing, and sipping punch from the little goblets with “Warrior” stamped on the side. She was an excellent dancer, making him look better than he was on the dance floor.