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Samuel Clearwater, that’s who

“Brantley King,” I answered

“You got a lot of friends, Brantley King?” Samuel’s unruly sandy blonde hair fell forward into his eyes, and he brushed it aith dirt caked fingernails

“Nope” None of the kids in school were like arten While everyone else was learning the words to Old McDonald, I orried about how long I was going to have to wait until after dark to go houy my mom let move in that month would be ready to brawl

Being onI liked Although I was the biggest kid in school, I’d always host

Until I started getting in trouble

Then WE started getting into trouble together Preppy and I Two peas in a juvenile delinquent pod

“Me neither Wayworth,” Sae plaid shirt into his khaki pants, righting his suspenders that fell off his shoulders every few seconds He straightened his yellow polka-dotted bow-tie

“What’s up with the bruises?” I asked, pointing to his ribs

“You saw those, huh?” Sadness crossed over his face, but he fought back whatever he was thinking about and pursed his lips “Step-daddy froot only two issues Beer and h Me? Not so much”

I could relate Although I didn’t have one stepdad, more like a constant parade of men They all had different names, different faces, but essentially they were all the same

“Well, kid, I don’t think Tyler is going to bug you again” I started walking again, heading back towhere I could be alone In the corner ofup the steps into the school, clutching his jaw

Pussy

“That’s it?” Sa into my heels

“What else is there?” I ducked under the branch of a low hanging tree Samuel was easily a foot shorter than ot far enough away fro in my back pocket with the lastin my shoe