Romiette and Julio (16 page)

Romi nodded. “I knew you’d pick that one.” She reached for one of the black puppies. “Come here, puppy. Oh, you’re so soft. I can’t bear to part with them, Julio. I want to keep them all, but six dogs is too much even for me, the dog lover. And my mom is about at her limit. I was the one who convinced her to let Mandy have one litter before we got her spayed. So what shall we call your little one there?”

“How about Taco!” suggested Julio as he let the little dog run.

“Perfect! She’s the same color as a little taco shell!”

Both were quiet for a moment, watching the puppies romp and roll in the grass. Finally Julio spoke. “Your mom seems really nice. I can tell the two of
you are really close. Do you think your mom approves of me?”

“She liked you—I can tell,” Romi assured him. “And she smiled that ‘I know what’s going on’ smile at me. She knows me pretty well.”

“Does she approve?” Julio wanted to know.

Romi thought for a moment. “She doesn’t disapprove. She trusts me.”

Julio frowned, remembering the words that had passed between him and his father. “I had a big argument with my father last night.” His father’s words and stiff refusal to change still made Julio angry.

“About what?” Romi asked gently.

Julio sighed. “You. Me. Life. Fear. Stuff like that.”

“Why about me? He doesn’t even know me.”

“I know. That’s what I told him. But he’s set in his ways, and he is afraid. We left Texas because of fear.”

“I’m not afraid of fear, Julio,” Romi said clearly. “Your father will learn to understand.”

“I hope so.” Julio sighed. “We don’t talk very well together.” They closed the gate to the dog pen and carried the puppy into the house. It seemed content to rest in Romi’s arms, and never looked back at the family it was leaving. Julio looked around at Romi’s house. “You have an awesome house,” he remarked. “I didn’t think it would be this—”

“Big? Yeah, it’s pretty big,” Romi admitted. “We moved here about five years ago. I don’t think about it—it’s just home.”

“It reminds me of my grandfather’s house—big and airy and full of love.”

“The grandfather with the seven wives?” teased Romi.

“Only one at a time!” retorted Julio. “Will you walk me halfway home, Romi?” he asked. “This has really been live, and I don’t want it to end yet.”

“Sure,” she replied, “let me get my jacket. Look, Taco fits in the pocket! Have you got food and stuff?”

“Yeah, I bought puppy chow and we found an old blanket. Little Miss Taco here is even gonna sleep with me!”

“I’m not gonna even
touch
that line!” Romi laughed. “Let’s go.”

Julio stopped by the door. He looked directly into Romi’s face. She met his gaze with a smile. “I like your smile,” he said quietly. “And you’re very pretty when you laugh.”

Romi tried not to blush. She didn’t want him to know how much like Jell-O her insides felt. “I have got to keep you around,” she quipped. “You make me feel good!” She tried to change the subject. “It’s a cool day, but you can tell spring is coming. You’ll like it here in the spring. Everything is pale green and yellow, and even the air smells good.”

That made Julio think of home. “You ought to see Corpus Christi in the spring,” he countered. “Things grow there that Cincinnati hasn’t even discovered yet! You’d love it—full of color and brightness, just like you!”

They headed out the door and into the cool sunlight. It was March, which meant it could snow, or it could be seventy-five degrees. But the day was brisk,
and their jackets felt good. A hint of green dusted the ends of the branches. They walked quietly, in front of a long bank of trees that led to thick woods behind. They took turns holding the puppy, laughing as she chased leaves when they put her down.

“I like to walk this way,” mused Romi. “This area is called London Woods. It’s what’s left of what was probably acres of forest back when the world was young. It’s all the developers left when they built these houses. I like to come down here in the summer and listen to the trees.”

“Do the trees talk to you, Romi?” asked Julio seriously.

She didn’t seem surprised by his question. “Yeah, you know, they do! You know what I mean. I like the breezes and the silence.”

“I can feel the magic in the air and the breezes too,” Julio admitted. “But that’s just not something you tell the kid who sits behind you in history class. It’s the kind of thought I usually keep to myself.”

“I knew you’d understand,” said Romi. “There’s so little left of natural stuff in the world.” They looked at the trees together and listened as the branches whispered. “Destiny says you are magical and passionate. She’s into star signs. You believe in that stuff?”

“It’s hard not to believe when Destiny’s around!”

“She’s a trip, for sure,” said Romi, “but she keeps the ride interesting.”

“She’s a lot like Ben,” Julio replied. Both of them are kinda free-spirited in their own way. It’s hard to fit either of them into an ordinary box.”

“You got that right.” Romi smiled. “It’s nice having company for my walk.”

“Do you often walk down here by yourself? Are you sure it’s safe?”

“It’s only a couple of blocks from home, and I usually have Max with me.”

“Max the wonder dog? The watchdog that hugs the robbers first and barks later?”

“I see you’ve got Max’s number,” Romi laughed. “But at least he’s good company for a walk in the woods.”

“Better than me?”

“No, you’re better, because you don’t stop and pee on every tree.”

“I could, if you like.”

Romi giggled. “No, but thanks for offering.” They laughed and had almost reached the halfway point—where Romi would leave Julio and go back home.

Julio glanced behind them. “Hey, Romi, do you see that car? It’s driving awfully slow.”

She turned to look. “I’m not sure. Wasn’t it behind us on the last block?”

“I think you’re right. Let’s hurry up. My house is still a couple of blocks away. We’ll go there. I’m not letting you walk home alone.”

“Julio, they’re following us. I can’t see in the windows—they’re blacked out.”

“It doesn’t look good, Romi,” said Julio, but then he tried to ease her fears and said,“but it’s broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon. We should be OK.”

“But there’s nobody out, Julio. Nobody walks anymore. And that car is still there!”

“Just keep looking straight ahead.” They walked faster and tried not to show their fear. “Should we try to find a pay phone?”

“There’s one about two blocks down, but there’s nothing here but trees and woods.”

Just then the car stopped. The four doors of the black Cadillac opened at the same time. As if on cue, four purple-hooded youths eased out of each door simultaneously. They slammed the doors shut in unison as well. It was well rehearsed, and as intimidating as they meant it to be. They walked slowly toward Romiette and Julio. They all wore dark shades, and none of them smiled. They did not speak—they just stared. Only the puppy seemed unconcerned by the scene unfolding. She was asleep in Julio’s pocket.

Romi was frightened, but refused to let it show. She whispered, “What should we do, Julio?”

“Relax,” he whispered back. “Don’t act scared.”

“I’m not that good an actress!”

Finally the tallest boy spoke. It was the same one who had threatened Julio in the bathroom that day. “What’s up, man?” he said to Julio, looking at him as if he were gutter trash.

“Nothing much,” Julio replied, his voice steady. He was more angry than frightened at this point.

“You in trouble, Romiette?” the purple-hooded boy said to her. “Yo’ mama know you out with this foreigner?”

“Mind your own business, Terrell!” Romi retorted.

Julio could barely control his anger. “You’re the one who’s gonna be in trouble! Me and Romi ain’t got nothin’ to do with you!”

“Shut up, Tex-Mex,” Terrell replied.

“Leave us alone, Terrell,” yelled Romi. “Who I walk with is none of your business!”

“I was just checkin’ on your safety, Romiette,” Terrell replied slowly. “I just want to tell you that it might be safer to walk alone, you know what I’m sayin’, instead of walking with whatever trash is blowin’ on the street, you know what I’m sayin’?”

“Don’t you threaten her!” Julio was ready to fight.

“And what you gonna do about it, Tex-Mex? You can’t beat us. And we checked with our boys in Texas and found out you ain’t in no gang. You ain’t got no protection at all now, man.” Terrell knew he had the upper hand.

“I ain’t afraid of you!” Julio yelled. “Just watch me wipe you all over this street!” Julio knew he would get destroyed, trying to fight four boys at once, but his anger had taken over his reason, and he hated feeling weak and helpless. He wanted to protect Romi and he wanted to hurt those purple-wearing thugs. He lunged toward Terrell.

Julio was met by the barrel of a gun in his stomach. He inhaled and stood very still.

Terrell grinned with victory, but no laughter was in his face. “Hey, look at Tex-Mex! Tryin’ to fight me! Back off, Tex. Fists ain’t no match for the steel of this gun here.”

Julio backed slowly away from the gun. His reason
had returned suddenly. His anger remained, but he was no fool. “You can’t do this!” Julio declared. “I’ll fight
all
of you!”

Romi, trembling and quiet, hoped Julio wouldn’t try.

Terrell waved the gun at both of them. “Don’t even try it, Tex. We packin’. All of us. So just stand there in the dirt and listen. This wasn’t planned to be no killin’, but it could be. Don’t make this be more than it’s s’posed to be. You know what I’m sayin’? Stay away from Romiette, or we’ll hurt you. That’s a promise. And Romi, if you continue to hang with Tex-Mex here, we can’t promise to protect you anymore.”

“I don’t want your protection!” she shouted. “Just leave us alone and crawl back in the hole you came out of!” Terrell laughed his humorless laugh and breathed his hot breath directly in Romi’s face. She didn’t flinch as he stared. She just looked at him with eyes of anger and frustration. Then, with one swift lunge of his arm, he pushed her down into the dirt.

“Oops, there goes the neighborhood!” mocked Terrell. “Looks like Romi tripped and fell! Better be more careful, Romiette. This is a warning. We don’t play.”

Julio could take no more. “Don’t you
touch
her!” he shouted. He tried again to lunge at Terrell, but the other three Devildogs stepped in and held Julio back.

Terrell put the gun in Julio’s face. “Don’t make me use this,” he warned. “We outta here. We done said what we had to say.”

They walked slowly back to their car, knowing they wouldn’t be chased or stopped. They opened the four doors together, slid into the seats, and closed all four doors in unison. They drove off in a clutter of dust and road debris, tires screeching. Then all was silent.

Romi was crying now.

“You OK, Romi?” Julio asked gently.

“Yeah, I’m fine, but I’m scared enough to pee, and mad enough to spit!”

“I’d like to do more than spit. Why are they sweatin’ us?” Julio could still smell the steel of that gun in his face.

“Let’s get out of here, Julio. Just take me home, please.”

“Sure, Romi,” Julio replied. “You know, the only one who never noticed a problem was little Taco here. She slept through the whole thing.”

She took the dog out of Julio’s pocket and stroked its soft, silky head. The softness and calm security of the puppy soothed Romi, and gradually her heart stopped racing.

“Do you think we should we tell your parents, Romi?” Julio asked. He was still furious—partly at what the gang had done to their afternoon, and partly at his inability to fight back.

“If we tell my dad, he’ll call the police and put it on the news. We do
not
want any public attention given to this. Their payback wouldn’t be done in the brightness of a TV studio,” Romi reasoned.

“And if we tell my dad, that would just give him
reason to make sure we don’t see each other. He thinks everybody is somehow involved in a gang. He read it in the paper somewhere.” Julio sighed.

“There’s got to be a way for us to work this out ourselves, Julio,” Romi said without much conviction. “If we go to the police, it’s only a matter of time before they get one of us for it.”

“You’re right. I’ve seen it happen in Texas. Kid goes to police one week. Next week same police find that kid dead,” Julio said soberly. “We have to figure out a way to stop them without involving the authorities.”

“But how, Julio?” Romi moaned.

“I don’t know, Romi. Not yet.” Julio frowned. The wind had turned cold, and the sun had disappeared behind the clouds.

“They all had guns, Julio!” Romi whispered.

Both were silent as they walked back to Romi’s house. The puppy, unconcerned, slept soundly in Romi’s arms.

—Good evening. It’s six o’clock on Channel Six, and this is the news. I am Cornell Cappelle, and with me is Nannette Norris. Good evening, Nannette.

—Hello, Cornell. I like your tie. In the news tonight, your taxes are going up, the temperature is going down, and we’ll have a report on the new ride coming to King’s Island, which goes both up and down.

—Thank you, Nannette. Also tonight we will begin our special report on teenage gangs in our cities. Who joins these gangs? What danger do gangs pose? And what is the potential for gang violence here in Cincinnati?

—Surely we don’t have to worry about gangs here in Cincinnati, do we, Cornell? We’ve taught our kids to “Just Say No!” We’ve got great kids here. But other cities—they don’t seem to be quite as lucky.

—That’s part of what we’re trying to find out, Nannette. Our city is certainly not immune. In other news, we’ll look at the problem of the buildup of nuclear weapons in Third World countries, and the problems caused by this recent move to increase nuclear proliferation.

—And I’ll have my report on the problems of too much peanut butter in our diet, as well as an interview with a farmer who found a frog with two heads.