When Ratboy Lived Next Door (3 page)

The last thing I wanted was to be nose-to-nose with that Merrill boy and his ratty old raccoon. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed that his raccoon
did
look like an old rat, and seeing as how I didn't know the boy's name, “Ratboy” sounded as good as any. Besides, it made me smile and I figured he owed me a smile.

It took forever to get supper over with. It would never occur to Nanna to just make a quick meal of sandwiches. She had set out fried chicken, mashed potatoes, milk gravy, last summer's canned yellow beans cooked in bacon, bread-and-butter pickles, cornbread, and her homemade grape jelly.

“And we've got applesauce cake for dessert,” she said as Daddy cleared the table.

Mother and Daddy groaned.

I couldn't take it. “Nanna, why can't we get a piece of pie or some ice cream downtown?”

“Because I could feed this family for a whole day on what dessert at the Oasis Café would cost.”

Daddy spoke up. “Well, now, normally I'd agree with you, but Lydia does have a point. We really should spend some money downtown if we expect other folks to. Maybe we could have that delicious cake of yours tomorrow.”

Nanna sniffed. “Fine. I'll just take it to the neighbors if no one in this family wants it. Save me work in the morning.”

Shoot! There was no way Nanna would forget about visiting the neighbors with a whole applesauce cake staring at her.

*   *   *

We set out about half an hour before sunset. Daddy walked in front with a blanket draped over one arm and the other arm out for Nanna to hold. I walked behind with Mother. She had a camera strapped around her neck and was carrying a pad of paper with pencils stuck in her pockets to write an article about the Free Show. Mother acted as if interviewing people tonight would be work, but I knew better. Her mood always perked up when she had a story in the works for her paper. It could be something as small as a water main breaking and you'd find Mother there, happy as could be, taking pictures of the mess.

“This looks like a good spot. Girls, give me a hand,” Daddy said, and tossed Mother and me each a corner of the blanket. We spread it out and he said, “Well, I'll leave you ladies now. I promised Sam I'd help him get the projector anchored in the window and such, since this is the first night.”

I sat on our blanket and watched folks wander in and out of the stores, visiting and buying what-not before dark, when the movie would begin. Moms and dads were herding their youngsters like sheep through town. The kids ran from one store to another, pressing their noses into the windows. But once they caught sight of the library grounds, they made a beeline for it. Soon the grassy lot was speckled with blankets like ours.

Mother hadn't sat down since we got there. She was trying to get a few shots with her camera before dark. I don't know why she bothered. All she could photograph was either folks sitting on blankets or the Laundromat. I knew they were using the Laundromat wall as the movie screen, but I couldn't see how a blank wall would make an interesting picture. Then Mother went around interviewing people, asking what they thought about the Free Shows.

Nanna just sat on our blanket and complained. “Well, they're going to have to put in some sort of seats here if they want me back, I can tell you that! How they expect people to sit on this old, hard ground long enough to watch a movie is beyond me!”

I looked about, thinking that anything would be better than sitting here listening to Nanna. I saw a group of little kids catching fireflies. I was too big for that. Then I saw a gathering of bigger kids.

“I'm going to see if Rae Anne is over there,” I said to Nanna and ran off, pretending I couldn't hear her try to stop me.

I was disappointed when I didn't see Rae Anne, but there were a few kids my age.

“Hey, everybody! Whatcha doin'?” I asked.

“Soon as someone finds a can, we're playing kick-the-can.”

When Junior Plunkett brought up a pork-and-beans can out of the neighbor's burn barrel, someone shouted to him, “You're it!” And we were off and running.

I hid behind the bushes in front of the library. I was almost the last person to be found. That worked in my favor, since Junior was getting tired of running back. We raced to the can and I kicked it a good one.

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in the back of my shoulder. When I looked down, I saw a small rock roll to a stop.

I turned around, and there was chubby Bobby Wayans with a smug look on his face. Even though Bobby and I had pretty much been enemies for three years, I still couldn't see him doing something as bold as throwing a rock at me.

Then I saw that Ratboy step out of the shadows. He was tossing a small rock up and down in his hand. It was just like that yellow Bobby to befriend the new kid. But then, making a friend of someone who didn't know him was about the only chance Bobby had of getting one.

I knew that if Bobby had thrown the rock, I could have taken him in a fight. Heck, I'd have laid odds Nanna could take Bobby. I wasn't so sure I could take Ratboy, though, especially with my knees and backside sore from earlier today. Still, it never pays to show your fear.

“I hope you don't plan on signing up for Little League with that arm,” I said. “I don't know what you were trying to hit, but I
know
you couldn't have meant to hit me with a rock.”

“I hit what I aim at.”

I looked around and made a face to the other kids as if to show how dumb that remark was. Then I put my hand on my chin and tapped it with my finger, pretending I was thinking real hard.

“Let's see. First he sends his pet rat over to climb up on me.” I looked at the other kids. “I reckon that was to get acquainted with me, don't ya suppose? And when that doesn't work, he flings a pebble my way. Do y'all think this boy has a crush on me or what?”

Everybody started laughing, and Ratboy probably didn't cotton to being laughed at. His ears got red and his face followed suit.

He bellowed, “You've got to be the ugliest…” He sputtered, trying to find the right word. “
Girl
 … I've ever laid eyes on. The only crush I've got on you is the one I'm going to give your skull if you don't pay up. You caused me to ruin my Popsicle today, and now I want my five cents for it.”

That got my back up. “Your filthy animal ambushed me, and you pushed me down. Now you expect money from me? I'll pay you when pigs fly!”

I pointed to Ratboy and said to the other kids, “If any of you see this pig hovering in the air, let me know. Then I'll think about giving him a nickel.”

The other kids made a circle around him. Someone said, “So fly, already! Heck,
we'll
pay you a nickel to see that!”

With the crowd distracting Ratboy, I slowly began backing away. Suddenly hands clamped over my eyes from behind. Little prickles of fear crawled up my arms. Ratboy must have someone with him. I yanked the hands away and spun around.

“Rae Anne!” I yelled, and pure joy washed over me as I hugged my best friend.

“Didn't think I'd make it, did you?”

“I kept my fingers crossed that you would. You sure are a blessed sight.” I noticed that she wore jeans, too, and hoped Nanna saw her.

“What're you playing?” she asked as she looked around me at Ratboy.

“We were playing kick-the-can, but it wasn't that much fun,” I said. “Oh, look!”

Lights flickered on the Laundromat wall. When
Buck Rogers
came on, almost everyone clapped.

I held on to Rae Anne's hand and we watched the ten-minute serial. It ended right at the good part!

“Well, that sure was a short movie,” she said.

“That's not the movie!” I told her. “Daddy said they're going to show ten minutes of
Buck Rogers
every week before the movie. That way, folks'll want to come back to see what happens next.”

Rae Anne stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. “Well, that leaves me out. You know my mom and dad won't come every week.”

“I'll memorize them and tell you every single thing that happens,” I promised. “What do you want to do before the movie starts?”

She held out her hand. “Papa gave me money. How about we go get some ice cream?”

We ran over to the projector. Sam Green was on the inside and Daddy on the outside of the window. Daddy's face had that wrinkled-forehead look he gets when things don't go quite right.

“Daddy! Can I have some money for ice cream?” I was practically hopping, I was so happy Rae Anne was there.

He didn't say anything, just handed me a coin.

I could tell this wasn't the best time to bother him, but all he'd given me was a dime. “Add another one and I'll be able to crunch potato chips on top!”

Daddy let out a sigh. He reached into his pocket and gave me all his change—another dime, a nickel, and three pennies. “You're gonna have to ask Nanna or your mom for anything else. I'm busy here, Ladybug.”

“Okay!” I gave Rae Anne a big smile, but I felt a little funny inside. He must really be having trouble with the movie because he almost always had time for me.

When Rae Anne put her arm through mine, though, I forgot all about Daddy and the movie. I looked up into the clear sky. The stars looked so bright and close I felt as if I could wave my arm and make them swirl around.

Smiling, I took a deep breath of the night air. I leaned into Rae Anne and said, “Isn't this the best night ever?”

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I was yanked to a standstill. Someone had sneaked up and grabbed me by my hair. I always kept my hair pretty short, so it didn't hurt as much as it could have. It was the surprise of it that scared me more than anything.

Rae Anne let out a cry of shock. It wasn't until Ratboy whispered into my ear, “Hold still,” that my fear and surprise turned to a blazing anger.

“Let go, you crazy hillbilly!”

I pawed at his hands. He let go of my hair and grabbed my arms, twisting them behind my back so tight that I went right to my knees. He was strong enough to hold both of my arms in one of his hands while he reached into my pocket.

What he wasn't counting on was Rae Anne. When I went down, he had to lower himself to one knee in order to fish around for my money. Rae Anne put her shoe on his rump and pushed him over.

She helped me scramble to my feet just in time to see Ratboy hold up a nickel and say, “I only take what's mine.” Then he threw the rest of the money at me and ran away. Just like that—as if he hadn't hurt me and nearly scared me to death.

I was so mad I reached down and grabbed some of the coins, hurling them after him. I wanted to scream but I couldn't. To my horror, great racking sobs came from me. I hate to cry. I'd do anything before I'd let someone see me cry, even someone I trust as much as Rae Anne. I sat down on the curb and rubbed my sore head until the tears stopped.

Rae Anne picked up the money. She was fired up from the fight, asking a blue million questions. “What was that all about? Who is he? Why would he do that just for a nickel?” And when I didn't answer right away, she said, “We have to tell your dad!”

I cleared the lump out of my throat. “No. I don't want to tell anyone and I want you to swear that you won't, either.”

“Lydia! You were attacked! We
have
to tell.”

“He moved into your grandma's house. I'm going to have to see him every day.”

“Oh, Lydia,
that's
who rented Grandma's house?”

“Yeah.” I wiped my eyes on my sleeve. “I don't want him thinking I run to my daddy every time something goes wrong. He'll call me a baby and never leave me alone. I'll handle this my own way.”

I had lost all taste for ice cream and the Free Show. This boy was meaner than a snake and had the strength to back it up. Just thinking about living next door to a bully made my throat feel tight and my eyes sting. I hated that feeling. It meant I was close to crying again.

We walked back to the library lot. Rae Anne slid down on the blanket where Mother and Nanna were sitting. I knew she wanted me to say something, but she was a good enough friend to keep quiet about it. Daddy was standing next to the blanket. He looked so tall and strong. I slid my hand into his and, without looking, he gave it a squeeze. I was glad he was staring at the movie. I got so much comfort from just being at his side and touching him that I didn't want him to ruin it by asking what was wrong.

Finally he said, “Well, we're going to have to call an emergency city council meeting to get more money. This setup just won't do it. We've got to find a way to mount that projector straight. Nobody's going to watch a show this way, even if it
is
free.”

I looked out over a sea of Maywood folks with their heads all tilted to the left as Gene Autry rode his horse, Champion, through the cracks of the Laundromat wall straight toward the sky.

*   *   *

“I'm tired.” I yawned as we walked into the kitchen after the show was over.

“Too much fun for one night, Ladybug?” Daddy asked as he knelt down to kiss my cheek. He was in a talkative mood now. People had enjoyed themselves and the merchants of Maywood had made money, even if the movie hadn't turned out straight. It would be a while before everyone went to bed. I just wanted to be alone.

“I guess so, Daddy. Good night.”

“Good night,” Mother mumbled as she pulled out a kitchen chair, not even looking at me.

I walked toward the stairs, when Nanna pulled me to her. I could smell the lilac perfume she usually saved for church as she squeezed me into her softness.

“Good night, baby.”

It didn't matter how stern or strict Nanna was with me during the day, at bedtime she poured all the love she had into her good-nights.

From my bedroom I could hear Daddy, Nanna, and Mother in the kitchen reliving the evening. To hear Nanna talk about the good time she had, you would have thought the whole thing was her idea. After all that complaining I'd had to listen to! I heard Mother once say that Nanna worked like a hot water faucet. You had to let the water run a long time before it got warm, but then it went straight to hot.