Initiation Day A tall, lanky sophomore named David Sheffield clutched a knapsack crammed full of books, like a man protecting his most prized possessions from criminals as he took long strides through the crowded hallways of Albany High. His small, frightened eyes darted from side to side as he hurried to his next class. Jim Hanson, a short, stocky senior, leader of the pack known as Black Death, watched him like a hawk circling his prey. He yearned for the taste of sweet victory his encounter with David would surely bring. He tapped John Roth, a stout gang member on the shoulder and whispered in his ear. He grinned and ran over to David, who stopped walking when he saw him approach.David tried to play it cool, hiding his fear as best as he could. "What's up?" "Meet Jim behind the tennis courts after school. It's real important." David nodded. "I'll be there." "Don't be late." John leered at him. "I'm always on time. See you later, John." He rolled his eyes. "Later, Sheffield." David walked to his English Literature class, wondering why Jim had singled him out. John headed over to the lockers where Jim and the Black Death's members stood to deliver David's reply. "He'll be there." "I knew he wouldn't disappoint me," Jim said, grinning. "Let's go have a smoke." Jim led his gang out to the deserted football field. The Black Death, sat in the center of the grassy area near the train tracks that ran alongside the school. Each of the twelve members removed a Marlboro and a Bic from their sleeveless denim jackets while they tried to agree on the task David must perform to become a member. Jim decided to make David stand in the middle of the train tracks that run alongside the school and not move until the nine-forty-five is about to hit him. No one had any say once he made up his mind. Now, David's fate was sealed. * * * At two-fifty-eight, David wandered over to the green fence that surrounded the tennis courts and waited. He expected fists to fly. Not his, he didn't believe in violence, besides, his scrawny arms were no match for his idol's massive biceps. Jim appeared at three o'clock. He spotted his latest recruit leaning against the fence, looking very anxious. David watched him approach. "What's up?" "I'm here to offer you a chance to join the Black Death." Jim grinned. "If you're up to it." "What do I have to do?" He frowned. "Prove your loyalty." "How?" David asked, puzzled. "Accept one of my challenges and win. If you lose, you won't live long enough to regret it. Meet me in the parking lot at nine o'clock tonight." Jim's long red hair flickered like fire in the wind. David nodded and turned to go. Not knowing what
the challenge was didn't worry him at first because he knew Jim expected to see him make a
fool of himself, but David didn't mind, because if he pulled the stunt off, he would Jim sped off in a black Thunderbird with a bumper sticker that proclaimed: IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY DRIVING, DIAL 1-800-EAT-SHIT! David started his navy blue Mazda 626, checking for traffic before heading home. Along the way, he grew anxious, wondering what Jim wanted him to do: Does he want to drag race, or will he make me stand in front of his car while he speeds around the lot and tries to stop before my face becomes a permanent part of his windshield? Does he expect me to beat the odds, or does he want the odds to beat me? Upon entering the house, David walked into the kitchen to answer the phone that had just started to ring. His mother called to see how his day was. He wanted to tell her the leader of the Black Death told him to meet him in the parking lot at nine o'clock, but David doesn't because he knew she wouldnt let him go if he did. The gang had a bad reputation; the police were after at least six of the members for armed robbery and the mutilation of several defenseless animals. Instead, he told her he got an 'A' on his last English Literature exam. David went up to his room and took a nap, during
which he had the following nightmare... David saw the train's headlight in the distance. A bolt of lightning flashed in the sky; followed by the roar of distant thunder. Then a deluge of rain began to fall. As the train sped down the tracks, the thunderclaps grew louder and louder, until they were deafening. David clasped his hands over his ringing ears, trying, with little success to muffle the maddening sound. He tried to run off the tracks and slipped. The nine-forty-five rushed up to him, the sound of screeching metal brought him to his knees... The front door slammed, waking him from a sound
sleep. His parents were home from work. He heard his mother whining because he forgot to
lock the door. His father told her to quit complaining. David rolled over to glance He went downstairs to see what's for dinner. His parents were serving Chinese food in the dining room. His favorite. He took his usual seat at the table. "Hi, Dad. Mom, can I go over to Peter's house after dinner?" "Why?" Mrs. Sheffield sipped her martini. "We have a math test tomorrow." "All right, but don't stay out too late." His mother smiled and set a full plate down in front of him. David nodded. "I won't." After dinner, he went back up to his room and
sat on the bed to think. He looked at the clock; eight-twenty-five. David looked out his
window while he told himself how lucky he was to be given the chance to join the Black * * * At eight-fifty-seven with minutes to spare, David pulled into the empty lot. He got out and leaned against the car trunk. Seconds later, a black Thunderbird sped through and came to a screeching halt inches from his legs. Jim cut the engine and hopped out. "Did I scare you, Sheffield?" "You caught me by surprise." David couldnt stop shaking. "You've got to calm down. A long walk should do the trick." They made their way across the deserted football field to the train tracks adjacent to the school, and started walking down the center. David stared at the starry sky while Jim reached into the pocket of his denim jacket for a Marlboro and his Bic. Caught off guard by the sound, David flinched when he heard the lighter catch. The tip of Jim's cigarette glowed like a miniature sun in the darkness. "Want a smoke?" He pressed it to his thin lips and inhaled. "No, thanks." David shouted, still watching the sky. Now, the stars were obscured by dark clouds. Jim shrugged. "Your loss is my gain." He blew a stack of smoke rings at his latest recruit, who was too nervous to notice. He tossed the butt onto the tracks, took the lighter out again and pressed the button, causing its butane flame to flicker; Jim held it up to his watch, which read nine-thirty-four before pocketing his lighter for the last time. "Hey, Sheffield." Jim tapped him on the shoulder. David stopped looking at the sky and stared at him. "Huh?" "I've got a proposition for you." He stopped walking. David stopped dead in his tracks. "What do I have to do?" "Stand here when the nine-forty-five comes. You can't move until the train passes the line I draw." Jim pulled a piece of chalk, stolen, no doubt, out of his jacket and made a mark on the left side of the tracks. "Don't move until you see the train. If you do, the deal's off." He stepped off to watch. David froze and looked around; he saw overgrown bushes and brown grass on either side of him. When the tracks began to vibrate, he stared at the white line inches from his feet for a second before looking up. "Do I have to do this?" David frowned. Jim snickered. "Do you want to be popular?" "Yes." His reply faded in the darkness. In the seconds that followed, David relived the dream he had hours before: He saw a bolt of lightning, followed by the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance as a torrential rain began to fall. David felt the vibrations before he saw the single head light rolling in a circular pattern in the distance, hypnotizing him as he swayed. His senses were attuned to the crickets chirping
in symphony with the croaking frogs. The smell of the earth mixed with the night air
reminded him of the summer he spent at Camp Little Foot, where his bunkmates threw dirt on
It's funny what you'll think about when you're so terrified you could shit in your pants. David shuddered and concentrated on the train. The train whistle shrieked as it approached, making his trembling legs shake so violently he wedged his foot between the tie and the abutted rail. The train was almost on top of him while he tried desperately to yank his foot out. David tugged at his leg, feeling as though everything was moving in slow motion, except for the train, still speeding towards him, like a bullet. Finally, with one mighty pull, his foot came out
of his sneaker just as the train passed the line Jim drew on the track, but there wasnt
enough time to move his leg off. As David felt the white-hot pain shoot up what was left
of his leg, he realized the gravity of his situation. Fascinated, he watched as the high
arc of blood shot from the artery in his severed leg. Jim watched him struggle to get
free, like an animal caught in a snare. "I thought you were smarter than that,
Sheffield! Did you really think I was going to let you to join the Black Death? Looks like
you just lost your April 2000 HofP |