(8.5k words, ~40 min read)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boomerang Arcade used to be a family-owned burger building called Belgian Grill House, constructed in 1911 by Gredd and Harriette Crutche (pronounced \u2018croosh\u2019) before burgers were a big deal. Brick and mortar held it up back when Winton was young and video games didn\u2019t exist and the same brick and mortar still supported it now. During the remodeling the owners and staff strung Christmas lights, pop-culture props, and boomerang decals to make the space feel cozier, darker and closed-in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The current owner, Martin Turner, had watched generations of gamers enjoy his business, from the arcade\u2019s conception in 1983 all the way to the present, 2000. He\u2019d replaced video games that broke and bought the latest ones (though there weren\u2019t any recent games due to the coming of the NES and playstation.) It seemed video games were becoming less of a trip into town and more of a stay-home pastime. Martin enjoyed the social aspect of arcade booths and how there was room for only one or two players at a time, how you needed to share and let others take turns and rejoice at other peoples\u2019 victories; It seemed to bring people closer than the games you could take home. It prodded the usually introverted gamers into a social event. Genius!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Open hours were from 9am to 6pm Mondays through Thursdays, and on weekends, noon to one in the morning. Five bucks to get in and you got to play all you wanted. Only the pinball machines needed cash once you were in. Martin\u2019s Saturdays and Friday nights were the busiest. Lots of teenagers and families. Sunday afternoons were prime outdoors days for some reason. It didn\u2019t seem to rain as much on the weekends, as if Pennsylvania wanted them to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The one person who hung around Boomerang Arcade was a homeless man named Randy James Baxendale at birth, but was called Teddy and nobody knew why. Teddy had been hitchhiking since the sixties, getting by on odd jobs and sleeping wherever. In his better days as a younger man, he was a stoner. His hitchhiking landed him in Winton where he decided the money came and went at a pace he could match and he settled. The alleys around the Arcade protected from the wind very well and there was always the dumpster left over from the family-owned grill palace that he could sleep in. The agreement was: Teddy minded his own business and stayed out of sight and Marty allowed him to stay in the dumpster. Everyone knew Teddy the Hobo. He used to be strange and outgoing, but the hitchhiking and small town must have taught him something because he became of few words and spent much of the day meditating next to Boomerang Arcade, minding his business perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blink had woken up earlier than usual, excited about the initiation. Jefferey, his older brother on the bottom bunk, was asleep; asleep unless he was making money or partying. Their dad was also asleep, working off nine shots of tequila, three Budweisers he wouldn\u2019t remember, and a cigarette. He was cleaning out the pantry of the old alcohol and got a little carried away. That kind of carried away was only a few occurrences from habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blink dressed. Geared up. He put on his New Balance tennis shoes, the ones he didn\u2019t mow in, and a long sleeve so his arms didn\u2019t look so skinny. Adjusted his glasses. Wiped them clean after a couple of breaths to cloud them up. He even combed his hair with his black, plastic comb. He didn\u2019t remember where it came from, so he liked to pretend it was from his mom. Then he took a step back from the mirror and looked at himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fucking nerd<\/em> would be what his older brother would say. Glasses, hair that he slightly cared for and a long sleeve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFuck you, Jefferey,\u201d Blink told the mirror and sighed. Those caustic words had a pleasant burn. Jefferey was mean to him all the time anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink was looking good, but sometimes he just had to convince himself of it. This was a special occasion, a special time. He was about to get into a club, the Astronomy Club. And one of the tasks was biking! He loved biking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink had pocketed his fishing knife he\u2019d found in a bush once when he and his dad were mowing the baseball fields. He was goofing off picking raspberries while his dad was blowing the last of the grass off the clay. He\u2019d then seen the fishing knife, almost perfect condition, in the bush. But even with his knife, he felt he was missing something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHm.\u201d This wasn\u2019t just a special occasion, this was a celebration. It was time to \u2018make merry\u2019. He thought about his dad, passed out in bed, a snoring noise like someone was attaching and ripping apart velcro for hours. That was how his dad celebrated. It seemed logical enough: strong drink for celebration. Mr. Mayer kept his older flasks in a box on the floor, a whole wooden box of them. Other people had photo albums, paintings, letters or baby clothes\u2026 the Mayers had flasks. Blink knew his dad wouldn\u2019t miss one for one day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He went to the pantry and looked the liquor shelf from top to bottom. He\u2019d tried several of the liquors in the past and decided they were nasty. But maybe when you share nasty drinks with many people, it makes it better somehow. He crouched and slid the box on the floor out and looked through the little metal containers. Most of them were neutral-colored, but Blink remembered there being one flask he always loved. With the leather cover and the pop-off cap. It was green and solid. He found it and lifted it up to his smiling face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNice,\u201d He tapped it. Still solid, though the leather was much drier now. He rinsed it and walked back to the liquor cabinet. It needed to be filled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wine didn\u2019t go well in a flask. He\u2019d never seen it in a flask before. Or heard of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tequila, maybe. But was there anything else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schnapps? Peach schnapps? Nah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scotch, nope. Something called Grand Trick. It was another wine, so nope. Champagne? Blink shrugged thinking maybe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beer? Too light. It didn\u2019t get you drunk. He\u2019d seen his dad and Jefferey drink cases of that without flinching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His eyes passed over the Fireball bottle and remembered its gritty taste. Yuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Krupnik. For the cold. He\u2019d had it a couple times. It cured your sore throat right up, yessir. Cured it like a landmine cleans a road: in one whammo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His eyes passed over the vodka. The Tito\u2019s label. That was what he was looking for. The highest amount of alcohol in this one at 40%. Yummy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thock.<\/em> The empty flask said as he placed it on the peeling, fake marble counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plup.<\/em> The mostly filled Tito\u2019s bottle said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink was too careful to spill. The same hands that had reeled in hundreds of fish could surely fill a flask without spilling, no problem. And he did it too. Not a drop missed. And he placed the bottle back exactly how he found it. Then he put the flask in his pocket, all eight ounces of vodka packed into the container, not even room to swish inside. He hoped it wasn\u2019t too obvious. Probably be mistaken for a wallet. Nobody would suspect. And who cared anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink went to the garage, opened it and hopped on his bike. Stood and built some speed with the pedals under his feet. He had an initiation to get to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three Astronomers waited on their bikes for the three initiates to arrive and discussed what games they were going to play. Each member carried ten dollars just in case one of the initiates<\/a> didn’t have money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They were now planning to do the biking part first and to meet at the Arcade. They\u2019d meet here first and then head to the Oceanside neighborhoods. They were called \u2018Oceanside\u2019 because they were the furthest east that neighborhoods in Winton stretched. Closest to the ocean even though they were still a good ways off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three to-be Astronomers arrived, Blink alone while Marshall and Mariah had met each other again on the way. Pretty, Langley, and Myles were on their bikes and explained the change of plans and led them to the neighborhood that was Oceanside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought that was a gated community,\u201d Marshall said. His dad sometimes complained about the gates and how slow they take when enforcement is trying to save lives. Only once did Officer Baker see someone clang right into the gate and send its aluminum bars flying outward. That was the last car chase he\u2019d been in and he relayed all of the details to his kids with vigor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is. But we just wait until a car goes out and head inside the backward gate. You can\u2019t take the other one because the car\u2019ll see you in the mirrors.\u201d Langley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMan, my dad has all the overrides. The gates all have overrides that let law enforcement and other emergency vehicles in. He could have helped us I bet.\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh well,\u201d Myles said. \u201cMaybe next time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve never really done anything like this before\u2026 are you sure it\u2019s like\u2026 legal?\u201d Marshall asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeck, we were only chased out once. We aren\u2019t hurting anything.\u201d Pretty said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIsn\u2019t it trespassing? Pretty sure it is. We\u2019re on private property without permission or allowance\u2026?\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, but they have the perfect curbs to ride on.\u201d Pretty explained. \u201cAll the other curbs are either rounded or they\u2019re too long or too short. There are some, one on Thunderbird Road and another on Thunderbird Circuit. Important distinction. The Circuit ends in a culdesac and Road didn\u2019t. Road had much more spaced-out houses and made bigger curbs. Wide, square curbs too. Perfect for biking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It made sense to Mariah, Marshall, and Blink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow\u2019d you find this place in the first place?\u201d Mariah said. \u201cI\u2019ve never been here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They were only a few blocks away, coasting along Main Street with Young Park on their right when Pretty answered: \u201cWe like to bike around. That\u2019s part of why we made biking half of the initiation. You guys seem pretty good already, but we gotta be sure. And heck, who doesn\u2019t like riding curbs?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah was already quite good at it. When there was nothing else to challenge you (her parents wouldn\u2019t let her or Robert get ramps), you make roads and bike courses out of chalk. She drove a 3-inch wide line without getting any chalk on it for thirty-three feet. Nobody she knew could do that. It took them forever to draw the two perfect lines of chalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marshall rode his bike a lot, but wasn\u2019t in the habit of challenging himself to many things that were new. He was a skilled rider, but he saw his bike as a tool, not so much a toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink was an expert rider. None of them knew it yet, but he could ride better than any of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The six kids found themselves trying to act casual and waiting by the exit-portion of the gate outside of Oceanside. While they waited, they chatted about The Iron Giant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSee, if we had a junkyard and a guy like Dean, we\u2019d have so much cooler stuff.\u201d Langley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease, junkyards are so dangerous. Metal and shit could stick you right in the arm.\u201d Myles said. \u201cYou could bleed out or worse, get trapped in a fridge and nobody would find you. Do you want to get trapped in a fridge, Langley?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d just want to have an Iron Giant,\u201d Blink said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHell-ck yeah,\u201d Pretty side-eyed Mariah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know, one thing I actually liked about Iron Giant was there wasn\u2019t some random girl that the kid had to fall in love with.\u201d Marshall looked at Mariah. \u201cNo offense. Have you seen it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She shook her head. \u201cI\u2019ve just heard a lot of boys quoting it and some of them joking that they cried for the scene where he blows up. Does he blow up? I\u2019ve seen what he looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not telling.\u201d Marshall said and looked at the other boys. They all motioned one by one that they were zippering their mouths shut. Langley made a show of locking his mouth up and snapping the invisible key in half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut I will say, it was an awesome movie. This kid Hogarth\u2026 is that how you say his name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHoguard.\u201d Pretty, Blink, and Langley corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHoguard. Stumbles upon this huge metal guy from space and the huge metal guy is really innocent and gets to learn about life and stuff. And in the end the Iron Giant has to fight the army.\u201d Marshall said. \u201cI won\u2019t say any more. You gotta see it, it\u2019s a really good movie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah was flattered that someone would think she\u2019d have the opportunity. And that someone didn\u2019t assume straight away that she wasn\u2019t into that kind of show. It sounded very interesting to her. But\u2026 \u201cMy parents don\u2019t really let me watch TV.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretty and Myles already knew this was the case. She was made fun of at school a lot for it. The boys knew this because in attempts to get closer to Mariah, they\u2019d heard some nasty things said to her, and other remarks and pokes. Exclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWeird that you\u2019d not be allowed to watch TV after all the stuff you see at school, don\u2019t you think?\u201d Pretty said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah nodded like she was tired. She\u2019d thought of this a lot. \u201cIt\u2019s dumb. And I\u2019ll probably never see it. Does the Iron Giant beat the army?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGuys, there\u2019s someone leaving now!\u201d Myles whispered and they all looked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, act natural.\u201d Pretty said. \u201cWe gotta let them go by and then drive once they start turning. So they don\u2019t see us. Uh, to answer your question, yeah, he whups the tar out of the army. Turns out he was a battle machine and he\u2019s like sixty feet tall. He just wrecks them with these huge blasters and cannons that come out of his arms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy favorite weapon was that disc that spun and the little fingers tapped and it shot like lightning,\u201d Blink said. \u201cThat whole fight was so cool. And fuck Mansley. Oh, sorry Mariah.\u201d He said that without sarcasm. He didn\u2019t want her to feel uncomfortable. Strange, usually he didn\u2019t care. But now he did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once Blink had started talking, Pretty watched the car leave. \u201cAlright, ready?\u201d And he took off, Langley close behind and Myles behind him. Blink and Mariah sped to catch up and Marshall slipped into the neighborhood with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The road was beautifully smooth and black. Not as worn as other neighborhoods. And the curbs! Oh the beautiful curbs! Tan concrete square curbs of all sizes. Built in 1996 by Huckles Construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWow, these curbs really are good.\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve never been here before,\u201d Mariah said, noting the larger houses and well-kept lawns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMe either. This is across town for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe came here a few times last summer because we wanted to do something fun. And that\u2019s when we found these perfect curbs.\u201d Pretty said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo what\u2019s the initiation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGlad you asked. Langley? Would you like to explain?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Langley took pride in being the fastest and strongest biker among the Astronomers and asked Pretty for the chance to head up the Biking portion of the Initiation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are three curbs that we\u2019re gonna have you ride. You get fifteen minutes to complete each one, but we think you\u2019ll have \u2018em done before that. Myles has a stopwatch on his watch.\u201d Langley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, shit, Langley I don\u2019t have my watch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI do,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cI got mine.\u201d A dark green Casio with orange decals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNice, then we\u2019ll use yours. Thanks, Marshall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan I go first?\u201d the watch-wearer asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure. The first curb is this one.\u201d Langley pointed to it. They had rolled up to two houses that were separated by about twenty feet. The driveways were separated by three times that much and that was how long the level curb was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, whenever you\u2019re ready, go ahead and start the stopwatch and get \u2018er done.\u201d Langley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bug saluted and Marshall started the stopwatch. Blink, Myles and Mariah watched Marshall get a feel for the curb and how it would ride. It was always the same thing: you didn\u2019t want to fall toward the grass, but you didn\u2019t want to kachunk off the curb either. It was that split second of no control that made the whole venture so difficult. The whole curb was a whopping sixty feet and he didn\u2019t think he could do it at first. But when he found he\u2019d made it over halfway on his fifth try, his hope was rekindled. Thirteen tries later and with nine minutes left, Marshall completed the First Curb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a quick whoop in celebration, Marshall said: \u201cThere are two more after this, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYep. Nice job. Alright, who wants to go now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will.\u201d Mariah said. She\u2019d never done anything like this. She\u2019d never broken into a gated neighborhood. She\u2019d never ridden curbs like this, but she had control. They\u2019d see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She pedaled up to the driveway to start the sixty-foot drive and straightened out. Aligned with the curb, about five inches across, and on one side there was the yard. On the other, the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She used the speed she had to keep the line straight and instead of Marshall\u2019s finesse, she kept her eyes ten feet ahead and trusted the rest of her body to feel that the wheels were still on the curb. Her second try was similar, and her third try was almost perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her fourth try was a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myles watched with interest. Curb-riding wasn\u2019t easy. In fact, he knew few kids who could do it well and quickly. Maybe they\u2019d made the challenge too hard? He was shocked that Mariah and Marshall were able to complete that curb in such a short time. It was almost like this was how it was supposed to be. These three were supposed to join the Astronomy Club, the same feeling he\u2019d felt in clearing when he offered them a chance at initiation. It was like a Greater Power was residing and making sure the Club was complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBlink, you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink didn\u2019t answer, he just started pedaling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Langley looked to Marshall. \u201cStart the stopwatch.\u201d The watch made a little deet as Marshall started it. Then they watched. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink was smooth and sure on the bike. It was satisfying to watch; he knew what he was doing. And he rode up on the curb, rolled along it, still pedaling like he was just taking a cruise down an empty highway, and on his first try, completed the sixty-foot curb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHoly crap.\u201d Langley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deet said the watch. Marshall\u2019s jaw had dropped. Myles wasn\u2019t surprised, more curious to see Blink complete the next two curbs that weren\u2019t exactly straight lines.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNice drive.\u201d Myles said. \u201cWe\u2019re ready for the second one.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretty had been biking around, trying out other curbs and glancing every few minutes at the initiation happening across the street from him.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe next curb is\u2026\u201d Langley looked at Pretty. \u201cPretty knows where it is. I always get turned around in here.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFollow me. It\u2019s my favorite.\u201d Pretty said. \u201cIt\u2019s over a storm drain. We call it the \u2018John Huckles\u2019 because there\u2019s this stamp in the concrete that says \u2018John Huckles 1989\u2019. Langley will show you.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n They rounded a few more corne<\/a>rs and even Blink who considered himself pretty good with directions was second guessing how to escape this maze of houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Langley pointed to a drain on the edge of one of the driveways. The curb began and curved at the corner where a large concrete drain, like a quarter-slot for sewer caps, was built. The curb rode about ten feet in a little curve to the corner and then there was a small concrete slab on top of the drain level with the curb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is your next curb to ride. You just gotta get onto the top of the drain. The first curb was the hardest. We don\u2019t want these challenges to be, like, impossible.\u201d Langley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll go first.\u201d Blink said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright.\u201d The five other kids watched Blink Mayer drive down the street a few yards and turn skillfully around. Then he rode deftly up onto the curb, glided down the thin alley of concrete and smoothly rode the curve onto the storm drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First try, again. Langley thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How it\u2019s supposed to be. Myles thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll go.\u201d Mariah said and started pedaling. Blink was balancing on his bike with one leg on the ground like he\u2019d claimed the drain covering. When Mariah started pedaling, he bunnyhopped off and joined the others. Marshall was still shocked at the fluidity of Blink\u2019s single attempts. An expert biker. Probably better than any of the Astronomers here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah only needed two tries. She didn\u2019t have enough lean in her pass on the first try, but on the second attempt, she almost slipped into the grass, but was able to pull it off and stop on top of the drain. She grinned at the boys. She was glad she was keeping up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marshall gave her two thumbs-up plus a grin and Langley was also smiling in approval. \u201cNice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marshall hadn\u2019t started his stopwatch for any of the attempts. He just knew they were going to pass quickly. Mariah drove off of the drain and headed to the line of onlookers sitting on bikes. As she moved, Marshall began biking as well, getting a head-start to complete the task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is how it\u2019s done ladies,\u201d Marshall said and started slowly. Just enough speed to go all the way without pedaling. Pedaling throws off the straight line. But if you have too much speed, you get a straight line and less control over where you\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marshall fell off his first try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNice one. Glad I know how to do it, Mr. Gentleman.\u201d Blink said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marshall gave Blink a smile and the finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink laughed. So did Mariah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She laughs at the weirdest times. I can\u2019t figure her out. Pretty thought. It was oddly attractive. She never doubted her femininity for a second, but she also didn\u2019t question her ability to do exactly what a boy could do. She was in no way better than the boys and she didn\u2019t act like it either. But Pretty was sure none of the boys here thought her any less than themselves. So what made girls different aside from what was between their legs? They were weaker. That was biological. But they weren\u2019t less important? If anything, they were more important. And a lot of them could do what boys do, but they just decided not to and found other things more fun. So maybe the difference was in the decisions? And it wasn\u2019t unfair? Unless the only way to find value in yourself was to lift weights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marshall took four tries total. His first three he made the same mistake of falling into the grass on the right side. He kept slipping off the curb and the second and third failures were met with encouraging remarks from the other five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This may have given him the fuel he needed to buckle down and focus on the wheel. Maybe he was looking at the wheels too much. He kept his eyes on the goal this time. Like Blink did. And that worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The five others cheered as he drifted onto the final concrete platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, I\u2019m psyched now. What\u2019s the last one, chief?\u201d Marshall said, biking off of the platform. He was looking at the Leader, Pretty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight this way, Mr. Baker, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019re you kids doin\u2019 on my driveway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of the young heads turned to look at a man on his porch. It was George Einfault, one of sons of the old guys (Grant Einfault) who chased Blink away from the Best Fishing Spot in Winton. But Blink didn\u2019t know this and neither did George. Right now, George was in a white tee and tan shorts. He looked like he\u2019d just gotten up from a mid-grade television show to yell at the kids outside. The first step toward becoming an old man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInitiation into the Astronomy Club.\u201d Pretty said back. He had stayed confident while the rest of the members and initiates felt a fire of panic in their stomachs when they were asked. They instantly remembered that this wasn\u2019t their neighborhood and they could get in trouble at any second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, part of the initiation involves riding curbs. We just finished this one and now we\u2019re headed to Allen\u2019s Street.\u201d Pretty pointed down the street. \u201cThat\u2019s the last one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n George gave a quick glance to where Pretty was pointing and looked back. \u201cQuit driving on my grass.\u201d And he went back inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFuck you too, fucking prick. Go fuck yourself, asshole.\u201d Pretty said, holding up a couple of middle fingers at the house Mr. Einfault returned to. He dropped them. \u201cSorry Mariah. C\u2019mon, let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the rest of the kids heard Pretty talk like that, they collectively felt safer and stronger. Nobody could tell the invincible Beau Lewis and his fellow Astronomers off, no sir. His merry men and their Leader would beat the ever-living fuck out of any asshole that came in their way. Even if that asshole was just asking you to get off his grass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t feel bad about swearing around me.\u201d Mariah said. \u201cI know they slip out sometimes. It\u2019s just that I don’t say that kind of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Langley looked at Myles. \u201cShe\u2019s kinda awesome.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah smiled. Pretty watched her and sighed happily.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe final curb is about as hard as the last one,\u201d Langley said as six bikes whizzed around the Oceanside neighborhood. \u201cWe put the hardest one first so we could see how dedicated you were. And we\u2019ve never done this before, so we also didn\u2019t know it was going to be that hard. Or how hard the test should be. Anyway<\/em>, this last one is down a pretty steep hill and has a couple of chunks out of it. We think there was either bed concrete used, or there was a wreck or something. And it\u2019s right up there. If you wipe out\u2026 that sucks. I did one time and you can still see the burn marks on my shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three initiates biked up the hill and rode down the hill, one at a time, like racers flawlessly rounding a bend in a hum like a beehive. It was a satisfying sight, three bikers, one after another whisking down the shorter curb. Each completed it on their first try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Langley, Myles and Pretty all started clapping and cheering for the finishing of the first half of the initiation. \u201cCongratulations, half-Astronomers.\u201d Pretty said before putting both hands on the handlebars. \u201cNow, for the final test, I sure hope you brought money, because we\u2019re heading to the Arcade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When they did arrive, each on their bikes, they parked them in the bike rack. Only Marshall locked his up. He could do it in under seven seconds, he’d become so efficient at it. The rest of the kids had much more trust in the honesty of the town and left their bikes as they were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The six bikers entered the arcade. It was darker, no windows, but that was part of the fun. They gathered up at the counter where Marty was. Nobody called him \u2018Martin\u2019; in fact, almost zero patrons knew since his nametag always read \u2018Marty\u2019 in a chipped cambria font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “One,” Pretty said, handing in the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myles stepped up next and handed his own. Then Langley. Marshall had his five ready next with his other hand tapping the quarters in his other pocket. Mariah placed a five-dollar bill on the counter and Blink did the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnjoy, gentlemen and lady,\u201d Marty said, gesturing openly to the arcade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks,\u201d \u201cThanks, Marty.\u201d \u201cThank you.\u201d \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They walked into the mess of flashing lights and video games. It smelled contained and stale, but filled with life and tasted like how neon looks. All of the kids took a second to breathe in the sounds and let their ears adjust. The blacklight overhead made Myles\u2019 Doc Ock shirt glow and stand out. When Pretty saw it, he looked at his own to see if his blank navy-blue shirt did anything cool like Myles\u2019. Nope. Just showed where some of the dandruff had fallen. He quickly swished it off and looked to see if anyone had seen that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myles rolled his eyes. As he looked around, he was tempted to walk up to the Galaga booth which was empty. Usually, there was a line to play that one, but nobody was there now.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretty seemed excited and wanted to jump into the games as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan we have like ten minutes to play and think about what games we want to play and then regroup and start the initiation?\u201d Langley proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Pretty said and looked around for a clock. Marshall slipped his coat sleeve up to reveal his watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne past one.\u201d Marshall said. \u201cMeet back here at one-one-one?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah.\u201d The Leader said. \u201cSee you then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myles and Pretty jumped for the Galaga and started tussling over it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah and Blink laughed inwardly at that and the rest dispersed. Blink followed Langley around; for some reason he felt safe around the tall, usually-hooded kid. Gentle giant. He followed the Bug until they reached Frogger. \u201cI\u2019ll play a practice round with you.\u201d Langley said. \u201cOr is that unfair for the grading? I think it\u2019s supposed to be more cold-turkey playing than that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, I just want to watch for now anyway,\u201d Blink said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He watched Langley boot up the machine and watched the little frog start crossing the street. All the blips and bloops and neon lights in the darkness made the arcade seem cozy, made everywhere seem like nighttime. It was hotter in here now that he thought about it. Blink tapped his pocket. Boing boing<\/em> went the metal flask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Full of Tito\u2019s vodka. Blink had tasted some before, his dad let him sip some. He\u2019d gagged on it, the stuff had made him nauseous, but then it went away. It wasn\u2019t burning like all of the stories he\u2019d read said. It was more like the alcohol had taken a running start and skidded all the way down his throat. He wondered if any of the other Astronomers had tried some of the Devil\u2019s Water. He bet Mariah Smith hadn\u2019t. As he watched Langley\u2019s frog hop onto an alligator and get snapped up like a Froot Loop, he started to wonder what possessed him to bring a flask of vodka in the first place?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celebration. That was why. It was a celebration that all of the Astronomers were together. It had just felt right. It was an experience they\u2019d have together, another thing that would bring them together because they needed to be together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDangit.\u201d Langley slapped the game console. \u201cI was doing alright, but I died so fast. Once I lose the first life, it\u2019s like my games are numbered. I can\u2019t do good if I lose the first life too early on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe games are always numbered. How else would you know the number of lives?\u201d Blink said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWise guy, huh?\u201d Langley said, but in his mind he was quoting a line from a Scrooge McDuck comic and grinned. The two relaxed and looked back at the screen. \u201cWell, I would ask you what your best game is, but I think you should keep that a secret until we\u2019re to play you, in case you don\u2019t beat us in our games,\u201d Langley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink saw the logic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marshall headed to Dig Dug. He thought he was good at it a while ago, but realized he wasn\u2019t all that good. He just excelled at the first five levels. He\u2019d rather strengthen the games he wasn\u2019t good at than practice the ones he was really good at (Tetris, Q*bert, Rally-x, and Pac-man) and then the ones he was semi-good at (Tron, Mortal Kombat II, Joust, and any of the pinball machines, though those bored him quickly).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah went directly to her warm-up game. She always started a Boomerang Arcade session with Donkey Kong<\/em>, didn\u2019t stop until she\u2019d beaten the first level, and then saw how far she could get from there. That was when she felt her gaming mode was finally activated. It was like warming up your voice with a certain song before singing all-out. She beat it on her second try before moving on to the Asteroids<\/em> booth. Nobody ever played that game; she wondered why because it was a lot of fun. On her way, she passed Langley and Blink watching him. She wondered if anyone thought it was a coincidence that they all were competent arcade game players. Maybe it was another sign of creativity. Maybe playing arcade games made the fraise stronger. Probably hurt it more than helped in the long run. But that didn\u2019t matter: the fraise was strong in all of them.<\/a> As she passed Blink, she felt something, a word. Celebration<\/em>. And it was accompanied by a little tickle in her throat that she\u2019d never felt before. A celebration that would bring all of them together. It was like the arcade was another excuse to have fun together. Whatever it was, she was glad she could be at the arcade. She wondered what Myles was doing seconds before spotting him looking over Beau Lewis\u2019 shoulder at the Galaga<\/em> stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ten minutes passed and the five other kids gathered around Marshall who was on the seventh level of Dig-Dug. He was on his last life when Blink and Langley completed the sextuplet and watched him die several seconds later when a dragon spat fire through a thin wall and killed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShiiiiiiioooot.\u201d Marshall remembered Mariah was around and restrained foul language. \u201cI thought that wall was thick enough to keep the fire away. Drat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, well, we got our first game to play. Who wants to play the Astronomers first?\u201d Pretty said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No takers at first. Then Blink raised his hand. Watching Langley\u2019s subpar playing gave him some confidence. \u201cI\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNice. Myles and I decided the first game is good ol\u2019 Pac-man up front.\u201d Pretty said. \u201cAnd Langley is gonna play you first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n All six of the kids walked to the booth in question. Langley hit the Two Player button and announced that he would be Player 1<\/em>. Langley almost finished the first level before he died and handed the controls to Blink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink showed no concern. He\u2019d played Pac-man enough to know a few things. He\u2019d read up on this game. He had observed his dad play on this very booth before. And apparently Mr. Marino next door had all of the records back in \u201895 before a power-outage wiped all of the scores. Mr. Marino told about the path that would work on the first and third levels pretty well, but the second one was supposed to trip you up. Blink had heard that all of the levels built on themselves pretty well, but he couldn\u2019t argue with the guy who\u2019d broken all of the Pac-Man records in Winton, Wilkes-Barre, and several machines around the Philadelphia Airport.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink made it to the fourth level before he lost his first life. The Astronomers were silent and Langley was jinxed. He died before he\u2019d reached and eaten fifteen dots. \u201cDamn.\u201d He muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink assumed the controls again and trounced another level before dying. They saw the apple added onto his growing stack of fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Langley had one life left and he lost it after beating the second level. \u201cDang.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The round was even shorter. Blink finessed the little yellow puck around the screen while Langley\u2019s skills seemed to falter. They were so atrocious, Myles asked: \u201cAre you losing on purpose?\u201d To which Langley shook his head in frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After beating the Bug, Blink killed himself and Pretty stepped up. \u201cAlright, that was impressive. But you haven\u2019t played me. We let you take Langley because he sucks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, dummy, watch your piehole.\u201d Langley said, grinning. He stepped away from the game and let the Leader take over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretty booted up another Two Player game, but this time he let Blink go first. Blink did worse, only scoring up to the beginning of the third level before losing his first life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretty was about to complete the second level before the ghosts (Inky and Pinky) trapped and killed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink passed another two levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretty died on the third level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink beat Pretty in the first round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood games,\u201d Pretty said, not meaning it. He wanted to win, to make the initiation a little more interesting. But Myles, who knew this was exactly how everything was to play out, was already riveted to the situation and watched intently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blink began a new game as Player 1 and as he passed level after level, the movement and activity from the kids behind him quieted. Even their breath seemed to fade. He was in a mode of focus. When he finally died, he saw that he was on the eighth level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the little yellow circle blipped into nothing, Blink looked at the Astronomy Club Leader\u2019s face. \u201cAlright.\u201d The curly-haired Astronomer said. \u201cMy turn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretty\u2019s sprite ran around the screen and chomped up the dots, all the way to the first orange before dying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the contenders only made it two more levels each on their last lives before the game had ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Leader leaned away from the game, defeated and at ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWelcome, Blink, our newest Astronomer!\u201d Langley nearly shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then the entire group, Marshall being the loudest and most excited, cheered and welcomed Blink as the newest member of the Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the quick cheer died down, Pretty shook Blink\u2019s hand. \u201cWell played. He\u2026 beat two out of three of us. So\u2026 Blink passed the first part. Nice work!\u201d Langley also congratulated the smiling victor. And then Myles who was also genuinely happy. More than that, he felt relieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretty said. \u201cBlink blazed through us in the first game we threw at him\u2026 didn\u2019t even have the chance to play him in any others, but I\u2019m going to after the other initiations. So, who\u2019s next?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll do it,\u201d Mariah said. She could have been more warmed up, but that was okay. She\u2019d pass if it were the will of God and if it wasn\u2019t then it wasn\u2019t. Either way, she was going down God\u2019s path. She wondered if any of the boys understood this: Following this path was how she\u2019d abolished her fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretty felt himself smile and his body become warmer. It was that little hibachi grill in his stomach that went ablaze and flared up in skinny leaves. While his stomach simmered, Myles proposed the first game. \u201cJoust.\u201d A game at which nobody could beat him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Langley and Pretty knew this and said nothing. Pretty was terrible at Joust. Langley had only beaten Myles thrice out of many, many attempts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah nodded, knowing where that booth was located, but let Beau Lewis and the other Astronomers lead the way. Her compliance must have had something to do with how she was raised. She followed because she was a girl? No, she was actively letting the boys lead because she didn\u2019t need to deal with those decisions. The women in the Bible were deemed the weaker vessels by God. \u2018But they weren\u2019t deemed the less important or scummier vessels.\u2019 Mariah\u2019s mom had told her and Robert. \u2018In fact, I think it\u2019s a sign that we\u2019re of great importance if we\u2019re needed to be protected by our menfolk. God put the men in charge of the leadership decisions so the women could worry about the important details.<\/a>\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was what Mariah Smith thought about on the way to the Joust booth. Myles wanted to play second. He wanted to see how good Mariah was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Langley stepped up. \u201cYou play this before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWant a quick practice match, just to warm up?\u201d Langley said, looking at her and then at Pretty who nodded the \u2018ok\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy does she get a warm-up?\u201d Blink asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause Joust<\/em><\/a> is a lot harder. Takes a lot more finesse.\u201d Langley explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It only occurred to Myles later that maybe Langley wanted to go easy on the only girl, but he shook that idea off: Langley had a truthful reputation and Myles would have known if he was lying. He also thought Langley needed the warmup match just as much as Mariah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soon, the ostriches on the screen were bouncing around stomping both enemies and each other until Langley, with one life, tapped the top of her knight and she popped out of existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAww, man,\u201d Mariah said. \u201cGood game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood game. Ready to play for real?\u201d Langley asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah.\u201d She wiped her hands on her jeans. The controls had been greasy to begin with, but only a sap would make that excuse. She readjusted her grip and watched Langley begin a two-person game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They began playing again, working together this time to kill the enemies. Their scores were the only thing that they were concerned about; beating the score of the other. Langley died early on and that meant trouble. Myles knew Langley lost a lot of confidence with the loss of that life. He even saw the Bug mouth \u2018fuck\u2019 to the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah\u2019s ostrich and knight were doing well, flapping along the screen, whisking across and through one side of the screen, appearing at the other and bopping the heads of the flying birds. She\u2019d turn them into eggs and flap through another lap to collect the egg on the next pass. She was in the zone now, until she killed the last bird. Then she and Langley began the next with their characters in a standing position in the middle. They were to work together again. Mariah wasn\u2019t looking at the score, but if she did, she\u2019d see she was twice as much as Langley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myles\u2019 mouth was flat, but the rest of his face frowned. It was incredible: like there was something bigger than themselves wanting the initiatees to win. Hmm. He looked over to Blink who was tapping his pocket and watching the game with interest. Myles sensed the flask. The alcohol. Tito\u2019s. From his dad\u2019s hooch. How do I know that? And that word passed his mind: Celebration. It was more than happiness, it was a bond that they were to have. Or so he\u2026 felt.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n When Myles felt the whole group relaxing, he refocused and saw that Langley had lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah had tripled the Bug\u2019s points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, let\u2019s go again!\u201d Langley didn\u2019t even look at her, but she could tell he was trying not to laugh. \u201cAnd let\u2019s switch controllers. Pretty sure being on this side messed with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s on.\u201d She started another game and they switched controllers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same thing happened to Langley. He lost a life early on and the entire game was ruined for him once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah beat him in a two-out-of-three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood game, wow.\u201d Langley said and offered his hand. Mariah shook it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot his ass kicked by a girl<\/em>,\u201d Blink sneered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, not just any girl,\u201d Pretty said matter-of-factly and instantly hoped nobody heard him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m up,\u201d Myles said. He stepped up to the controls Langley was using and wiped them off with his shirt. \u201cYour nasty sweat ain\u2019t gonna mess me up.\u201d He said, looking at Langley who grinned and let his eyebrows hop up and down on his forehead..<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI want a fair fight, lady and gent. No spittin\u2019, no fightin\u2019, no cussin\u2019, no ups-and-downs, no excuses, no buts, no \u2018if\u2019s, no\u2026uh…\u201d Langley almost said cock-shots <\/em>and reconsidered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, let\u2019s play, Mariah,\u201d Myles said. He didn\u2019t have the courage to look her in the eye. It was strange, being around her. Like she was some kind of long lost sister that he\u2019d been quite unkind to in the past and he felt terrible about. Now that they needed her and she was special like them, it was just\u2026 weird. Especially now that Pretty was getting used to her company and was no longer as afraid of her presence.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n