Sticks & Stones Page #5

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I went through it,

and I survived.

And so will Joey.

They'll manage, okay?

- I'm going to the Principal's.

- Don't even think it, Bookie.

Come on, he'll only

mess things up.

- What then?

- Go to your locker.

What's he gonna do?

Knife you in broad school light?

Come on.

Follow me.

- Citizenship in Athens.

The democracy of Athens opened

participation in government

to all citizens.

However, citizenship was

a privilege reserved

for relatively few people.

Only men over the age of

18 could become citizens,

and except under

special circumstances,

a man became a citizen

only after his father had

already been a citizen.

- Hey, where you guys going?

- Home. Come on.

- I'm supposed to get

picked up by my mom.

My exam, remember?

- So what?

You want us to stay

and hold your hand?

- Hey, why are you such a jerk?

- Probably 'cause my dad left

the house when I was 10,

after throwing one too

many right hooks.

How's that?

- I'll stick around.

I got a few minutes.

- All right, I'll hang.

Chicken sh*t.

- So, what time are you

supposed to be there?

- Half hour.

Four.

I don't know why I'm going.

I'll be miserable there

for the rest of my life.

- You're going because you're

more afraid of your parents

than you are of Hayes.

- Hey, Reuben.

Glad I caught you.

- My mom.

She can't pick me up.

- Yeah, she's probably

getting her mustache waxed.

- How am I gonna get there now?

- Walk?

- You guys wanna walk with me?

- Sorry, Bookie.

I gotta get home and

babysit my siblings.

I'm late already.

- Joey?

- I gotta get home to

let the plumber in.

Sorry, man.

Hey, hey, why don't you run?

You'll be there

before you know it.

- Yeah, Bookie.

Hayes isn't around.

You'll be okay.

- You think so?

- Yeah.

Hayes lives in the

other direction.

You'll be fine.

- All right.

Wish me luck?

- Good luck.

- Break a nut.

Buck says he collapses

before he turns the corner.

Should be okay.

- Yeah. He'll be all right.

- Dude, I can't join them.

I'm not going.

And don't ask me any questions.

I don't wanna hear

a word about it.

- Okay.

- Oh man, my dad's home.

He's gonna kill me.

- Nonsense. Just

tell him you forgot.

And don't say a

word about Hayes.

You know your psycho dad.

He'll freak.

And Bookie, don't forget

my English homework, okay?

And my math.

And my biology.

- What do you mean, you forgot?

- I forgot.

- You never forget anything.

How could you forget this?

You've been studying

for it night and day.

Did you forget?

- Paul.

- Yes, I know.

I'm going to ask a question.

I would like a straight answer.

Did you forget?

- No.

Mom was supposed to pick me up.

- Well, you could've walked.

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