The Clique

Steve sees Clarence and does not want him to cross the street. He can see it in Clarence’s eyes. He wants to run. If he does cross the street then what Steve has plans for is not going to work. Today is payback. He is still furious from the suspension and beating from his dad he took because of that stuttering asshole.

Clarence is thinking that something is different this time. What are they up to now? His mind flashes to the suspension and the apology and the look on Steve’s face when he had to apologize. It is more like disgust and fury that Clarence saw, not remorse nor was it apologetic. He continues his way down the sidewalk. As he is walking he notices Tracy and Denise looking up and down the street. They look at him from time to time as well. Something they have never done before. Clarence is getting more scared than usual as he gets closer to the group.

As he gets closer, he notices that Steve is on an opposite wall than usual, too. Steve has that same look on his face as the day he was suspended. Clarence thinks he is fixing to pee on himself because he is so scared. Why couldn’t have Mr. Johnson just let it go, Clarence thinks to himself. He wants to bolt and run. He looks to the street but decides that traffic is too heavy and he would rather not wind up under a car. After all what is the most they can do, he wonders. He wants to run so bad. Instead he continues down the sidewalk looking straight ahead, gripping his books a little tighter and walking a little faster. He walks past the alley without bothering to look at any of them, especially Steve. He does not hear or even notice Steve coming up behind him. Tracy and Denise watch a little more closely up and down the street. “Where are you going you stuttering dumbass?” Steve says.

Clarence’s blood runs cold and stops where he is at. “Jjjjust pppplease llleave me alllone. I havvven’t done anyth-th-thing to yyyyou. Wwwwhy dddo you do thissss tttttto me? Ttttto make yyyyyou ffffffelll bbbetter about yourselvvvvves?” Steve tells him just before grabbing him around the neck, “I feel pretty damn good right now,” and drags Clarence into the alley and around the corner where no one can see or hear him. Before he is dragged round the corner Clarence sees Tracy and catches her eye. There is a look of terror in them, and something else. Clarence knows he is in trouble. He tries to break free from Steve but is not strong enough. Steve just tightens his grip more and slams him against the wall and Clarence begins to cry. Steve’s friends are starting to look a little nervous except Darryl. Tracy has come to where they are at from where she was at the corner. She can actually see the fear on Clarence’s face. “Maybe we shouldn’t do this Steve,” Tracy tells Steve.

Steve’s spits back through clenched teeth, “Shut up Tracy. You are in this too.” He turns back to Clarence, “Well, well, well, we got us a crier here. Clarence I think we can help you with that st – st – stutter of yours.”

Clarence starts to plead, “Ppppplease llleavvvve me allllone. Iiiiits nnnot mmy fffffault ththat IIIII stuttttter. I jjjjjust wwwwwwannnna gggo home, Ppppplease!!!!!!” He yells thru the tears. Steve slaps him.

"Shut up you tard. You got us suspended because you’re stupid. I got beat till I was almost unconscious because of you.” Steve tells Clarence

"Bbbbecause of mmme? How ddddo…”

He is cut off by Steve again. “You ain’t going anywhere today. Like I told you, we’re gonna help you with that stuttering problem you have. Today is payback.” Then the beating began.

All Clarence sees in the beginning is Steve’s fist hitting him in the middle of the face. His eyes immediately water and he does not see anything else. He feels only immense pain. All of Steve’s friends then jump in on Clarence. He tries to yell but he is hit again and again. He tries to fend off his attackers but is hit in the arm with a pipe that shatters the bone. He is kicked in his mid-section, his chest, his stomach. He tries to yell again but is kicked in the face and it makes a sickening crunch. Over and over he is beaten. His ears are ringing but he hears and, barely, sees one person trying to stop them. She is trying to get in between the mob to stop them from hurting him anymore. “Stop it! You all are going to kill him. Leave him alone!” Tracy yells.

Steve yells back at her, “Then leave now. You knew what we were going to do,” and Steve kicks Clarence again and the pack is on Clarence again. Tracy pleads with Steve, “Please stop this. He has had enough. Look at him.” Clarence is a bloody heap, has wet on himself and is unconscious. Steve looks at all of them. “No one can ever know we did this. It’s our word against his. We came from school to hang out like we usually do and heard something around the corner. We walked around the corner there and saw a guy running down the alley and this guy lying like this. We don’t know it’s Clarence Carter till we get to the hospital. The police will want to ask us a few questions and take us down there. I swear anyone goes against me and you will deal with me. Are we all agreed on the story?” They all nod in agreement.