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“They can’t just leave,” Thomas argued.
“Why not,” Joey shot back. “They joined on their
own. Why can’t they leave on their own?”
“Because they can’t,” Thomas answered quickly. He
could think of nothing else to say. It had always seemed
so obvious to him. It was in the constitution. It was the
law of the land. How could a state just quit the United
States of America once it had joined? It couldn’t.
The country would just fall apart.
“Oh good answer,” Peter interrupted. “You learn that
one in that school you went to?”
“Shut-up Peter,” Thomas said boldly. His face had
turned beat red and his arms had begun to shake. He had
had enough of this argument and these boys. For years now
they had been making fun of him and teasing him and picking on
him. He had never been able to fight back because there
was always more of them and they were all bigger. But now,
things had changed. Thomas was not only almost as tall as
them, but he also had experienced war. He had felt what it
was like to have people trying to kill him. Compared to
that, Bobby, Peter and Joey didn’t look so threatening
anymore. They just made him angry.
“Make me,” Peter challenged.
Thomas swung his fist as hard and as fast as he could. The
sudden move caught Peter off guard allowing Thomas to hit him
squarely in the nose. Blood started to pour down Peter’s
cheeks.
“You little...” Peter cussed as he lunged at Thomas.
“Get him Pete!” Joey and Bobby yelled.
Thomas dodged out of the way and Peter went stumbling into the
dirt.
“I learned a few things in the army,” Thomas grinned.
Peter got up and rushed again.
“Raarrr!” Peter cried.
Thomas dodged again but this time Peter was able to catch his
foot and knock Thomas off-balance. Then he jumped on top
of Thomas and began punching him in the stomach. Each blow
knocked the breath out of Thomas just like when he had almost
drowned.
The two boys continued to roll on the dirt together, trading
blows and yelling at each other. Joey and Peter stood by
and watched.
“Get him Peter, get him!” They chanted.
Thomas managed to wriggle free and stood up panting.
“Had enough?” He challenged Peter. It felt
really good to finally be able to hold his own against these
guys. At least the army had been good for something,
Thomas thought.
“No way,” Peter answered. He held his fists
in front of his face but his legs were shaky and he stumbled a
bit.
Thomas swung hard: a left and a right and another left.
Peter’s face fell back with each blow and then he fell to the
ground bruised and bleeding. Thomas stood over him
smiling. His arms were at his side and he felt great.
“Hey,” Joey said suddenly, pointing to the torn arm brace
that Thomas had been wearing. “Your arm is fine!”
“He ain’t wounded!” Bobby shouted.
Thomas looked down at his arm. It was perfectly healthy.
The only thing left of his brace was a few rags hanging from his
elbow. His stomach sank as he realized his secret was out.
“You lied!’ Peter said, wiping the blood off his face
and starting to sit up. “You ain’t never been wounded.”
Thomas started to back up, shaking his head back and forth,
unable to say a word.
“You liar!” Bobby yelled.
“Liar!” Peter and Joey joined in.
Thomas turned and ran. The secret was out. Everybody
would know and nothing would ever be the same again.
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