Johnny Hangtime by Dan Gutman

Author:Dan Gutman [Gutman, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2008-12-24T05:00:00+00:00

12

THE ULTIMATE

After I finished doing the stunts for Great Adventure, I didn’t hang around to watch Ricky Corvette and Augusta Wind shoot their usual lovey-dovey scenes. I was anxious to get back home, back to my old bed. Sleeping in hotels and motels gets old after a while. Mom and I packed up Squirt in the trailer and pointed the old Maverick toward California.

It was December, and I was looking forward to Christmas vacation. I wouldn’t have to deal with Boris Bonner—or anything else—for three whole weeks. Walking home from school that day, I was feeling pretty good.

“Hey, Thyme!”

I turned around. It was Bonner. Nobody was around to bail me out, as usual.

“Gimme a dollar, Thyme.”

I stopped and faced him.

“No,” I said.

“All I find I keep, Thyme.”

I was sick of Bonner. I didn’t care about the rules anymore. I didn’t care about my contract. I didn’t care about doing stunts. As Bonner slid his hands into my front pockets, I reached my elbow back and slammed it against the side of his head with all the force I could generate.

I don’t think anything ever felt so good in my whole life.

It took him completely by surprise, knocking Bonner sideways and off his feet. He lay on the ground and rubbed his jaw for a moment before looking up at me.

“Big mistake,” Bonner said, getting to his feet slowly. “I might not see you over the holidays, so I’m going to have to give you a beating that will last you until New Year’s.”

Bonner advanced on me, churning his fist in front of him like a bag full of rocks. There was some blood on his right cheek.

I backed up a few steps so I would be able to plant my foot and get a good shot at him. Bonner must not have been much of a boxer, because instead of hitting me, he grabbed me in a bear hug and wrestled me on the ground.

We rolled around like that, trying to punch and choke each other. I got in a few shots, and so did he.

Suddenly, a car screeched to a halt next to us. I didn’t stop. I didn’t care. I wanted to do as much damage to Bonner as I could before anybody stopped the fight.

“Break it up, boys!” a familiar voice shouted, “Knock it off!”

Hopping out of the car was Roland Rivers.

He was much bigger and stronger than both Bonner and me, so he was able to separate us by force.

“You’re dead, Thyme!” Bonner shouted, as Roland pulled us apart. “Dead!”

I replied by saying some words I’m not ever supposed to say, but words you’ve probably heard around the schoolyard. I think you know what I mean.

Neither of us won the fight. I’d call it a tie. But Bonner strode away, swinging his shoulders as though he had whipped me good. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Are you crazy, Johnny?” Roland asked as he straightened out my shirt. “If word about this ever got back to Ricky Corvette’s

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