Ollie Chandler Collection by Randy Alcorn

Author:Randy Alcorn [Alcorn, Randy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-60142-493-8
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2012-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

21

Clarence arrived home early from the Trib. As he pulled into the driveway, Ty and three friends came walking out the front door. He sat in his car a moment and listened. Ty was animated, like Clarence hadn’t heard him in a long time. His voice cracked, oscillating between child and adult. Ty was fourteen years old, all elbows and knees, not yet grown into his ears. His body was awkward but lean and strong. As Clarence watched, Ty pulled out of his pocket a blue baseball cap and put it on. On the front was a capital B with an X drawn over it, followed by the number 187.

Clarence recognized only one of the boys, Jason, a kid Ty had hung with for years. Jason looked different now. He didn’t like the way any of these boys dressed. They had the look of bangers. But then, so did most the kids around here. Who could tell?

“Hi, Ty. Jason. Hey, guys,” Clarence said, trying to sound friendlier than he felt.

Ty barely acknowledged him. His friends grunted, making eye contact only long enough to send an unmistakable message—“Outta my face, old head.”

Clarence came inside and Geneva greeted him. They kissed. “I’ve had some of Ty’s friends over after school the last few days,” Geneva explained. “I figured if he’s spending time with them, we should know what they’re like. The key seems to be food. The more I put out, the more they come back.”

“They’re teenage boys,” Clarence said.

“It’s like the descent of the locusts. I put it out and it’s instantly devoured. The grocery bill’s goin’ crazy. Ty’s got the metabolism of a wolverine. I thought you ate a lot—you do eat a lot—but Ty leaves you in the dust. Jonah’s catching up too.”

“He’s growin’ up—almost twelve now. I still don’t think this is the place for him.”

“His place is with his family,” Geneva said. “You know, when Ty was with his friends, I actually saw him smile. It shocked me. I hadn’t seen him smile for months. Certainly not since the funerals. He’s got this big lopsided grin, you remember? He only seems to be happy when he’s hangin’ with his friends. I’m afraid we’re losin’ him, Clarence.”

“I don’t think we ever had him, did we? But we’ve got to help him. I won’t be beaten by a gang of young thugs.”

Geneva started to say something, but thought better of it. Clarence went to the telephone and punched a number.

“Ollie? Listen, you used to work gangs in L.A., right? I’ve got a family problem—you know, my nephew? I need some info on gangs. Would you mind walking me through some things? Yeah? That’d be great. Thanks.”

Maybe if I can understand his world better I can reach him before it’s too late.

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