Live the Game by Robin Morris

Author:Robin Morris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robin Reed

18

“They initiated me,” I said.

We were on a walk with Bree. This time we didn’t bother to take the stroller. We only needed to go far enough away that we were sure no one was listening.

“What? When? Sam talked about a knock on the door.”

“During my work shift. They got me out to some empty building, I think it might belong to LADWP.”

“What was it like?”

“Stupid ceremony with torches and chanting.”

Bree ran forward, then stooped down to look at a crack in the sidewalk. We were under a tree, a kind that is common in L.A. It has a brownish-gray trunk and thick leaves overhead. It sends out big roots that often lift up and crack sidewalks. I’ve lived in L.A. all my life and never learned its name.

“Was there hazing, like a fraternity? Did they make you do anything?”

“Just make a bet.”

“Daddy, daddy!” Bree shouted. “What’s this?”

“What bet?”

“Just that I would be in the secret game for life,” I said. “And that they would kill me if I tell anyone about it.”

“Does telling me count?” Laila asked.

“Probably.”

“Daddeeeee!”

I went to Bree and looked down. “A bug.”

“Good bug or a bad bug?”

“Um,” I looked at Laila for help.

She shrugged. A bug expert, I’m not. It was about five inches long and had a lot of legs. Bree was fascinated by it.

“A millipede,” I said, picking the word at random from my limited bug knowledge. “Don't touch it.”

We stood over Bree for a while, saying nothing. She watched the thing crawl though the crack in the sidewalk and disappear into a hole in the ground.

“Okay, let’s go,” Laila said. We headed back.

Bree detoured around a broken section of sidewalk that had grass growing up through it.

“Not afraid of bugs, but still won’t walk on grass,” I said.

“That’s our daughter,” Laila said. “Are we still looking for day care places? An apartment? We haven’t for a while.”

“We’re both busy. And it’s hard to find a time when we’re both off work.”

“We have to do it. She’s growing fast.”

“Okay.”

Before we got back to the building, I stopped and touched Laila’s arm to make her look at me. “They mean it. Be careful. Keep your gun with you.”

Laila nodded. “Always.”

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