Halo Stone #3
But Greek let me know that we still had to beat Timmothy’s ass for fighting our brother. We could not do anything right now because they were suspended until Monday. Golden wasn’t in trouble from our parents since he did not start the fight. On Wednesday, our parents went to Virgina.
Ms. Latimore stayed at our house in our guess room. Golden was home with her, and he hated it because she had him crocheting and watching her judge shows. For some reason, she has had Golden doing that ever since we were six and she baby sat us for the first time.
Recess was over and I was on my way to art class when I saw Darius. He was at his locker getting some shorts from it.
“Hey dude. Sucks you aren’t in art class anymore.”
“Gym is better than that stupid art class.” He closed his locker and put his shorts over his shoulder and walked away.
Normally, Darius had some funny joke, or he’d make a fart noise with his mouth and make you laugh. This time, he just walked away and said nothing else. I just shrugged my shoulders and left for class.
“Today we will finish our clay sculptures. Remember to take your time, no pressure. All I want you all to get used to is using your hands. They are what makes the art come alive.”
Ms. Toll had all the boys in class loving art and everything that came with it. After her first day, I realized it was not just me that had a crush. But I was the one she called Hercules when we talked.
“How’s your sculpture coming along?” She sat next to me at the table.
I do not know what kind of perfume she wore but it smelled good. I went into our parent’s room and smelled every bottle mommy owns. But none of them smelled like Ms. Toll.
“I hate it and I wanna throw it.” I looked at mt T-Rex that I was trying to make and got annoyed.
“No. We are not going to do that. Remember, art is what we make it. Your favorite animal is a T-Rex, you can fix this.”
“It looks like a pony!” Marquees joked and made everyone laugh.
I was about to get up and go push him on his ass. But Ms. Toll stopped me.
“You are better than that My Hercules.” She whispered to me then she stood up and faced in Marquees direction.
“That was not acceptable behavior at all Marquees. Art comes from within, what you see may not be what Halo sees. Now, apologize for your outburst.”
Marquees looked like he had hearts coming out of his eyes. “Sorry Halo.”
“Very good. Now everyone, let’s continue working on our sculptures.”
I was determined to save my sculpture so I could rub it in Marquees’s face.
“Halo, class is almost over.” Ms. Toll came over and alerted me.
“But I’m not finished yet?”
“I know but you have an important class next. How about this, come after school is out and work on it. Anna has girl scouts after school today, right?”
“Yeah, she does.”
“Well, you can stay and work on it. I’ll drive you home afterwards.
I looked at my sculpture, and it was struggling badly. All I wanted to do was finish it, I just needed a little more time.
“Okay, I will come back.” I rushed out of class so I would not be late for the last one.
That class went by fast and I was happy about it. I let Greek know that I was staying after school and would have a ride home. He walked his girlfriend and Golden’s girl home.
When I got to art class the door was closed so I opened it and Ms. Toll was washing her chalkboard. The radio was on and I could hear DJ Foolish on WJLB. My parents loved that station and his voice was familiar.
“Hi Halo. Everything is set up for you at your desk.”
The steel door closed behind me. I put my bookbag on the desk next to mine. Then I sat down and went to work. T.I.-Dead and Gone came on and I rapped the lyrics.
“I thought you were my Hercules, now you’re my little rapper in the making?”
I laughed, “I do not want to be a rapper. Me and my brothers like T.I. he’s dope.”
Ms. Toll got up and came to sit next to me. “I like T.I. too, who else do you like?”
Me and Ms. Toll started talking about rap and I was surprised that we liked the same music. I picked up the tool so I could smooth the clay out. My sculpture was turning into the T-Rex from my favorite movie Jurassic Park.
“Let me show you how to smooth the clay properly. If you hold the tool the right way, then you will never mess up.”
I got nervous when she moved closer and grabbed my hand. We moved with the tool together and my T-Rex tail was the way I wanted it.
“See. Perfect.” Ms. Toll said low.
“Thank you.” I told her, I couldn’t wait to tell my brothers and friends that she touched my hand! I was done smoothing the tail and was about to put my hand down, but she still held it.
“Can I ask you a question Halo?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you a good boyfriend to Anna?”
“I walk her home, hold her hand, buy her chips on Friday and I make sure no one bothers her. That makes me a good boyfriend.”
Ms. Toll smiled and her hand let go of mine, but she stayed close to me. “That’s good, those are good things to do Halo. But what about how you make her body feel good.”
“My parents told me to wait until I’m older.” I looked down when her hand landed on my knee. It was soft and she moved it a little. I did not know how to feel but I know my body got warm.
“They are correct. Your parents, they are right. When you are older that’s when you will use a certain part of your body to make your girlfriend feel good. But there is another way to make her feel good. A way that you do not have to wait until you are older.”
“Really?” I became curious.
“Yes, really. If you want, I can show you. But you must keep it between you and me. No one can know because people will not understand how I am helping you.”
I thought about what she said and remembered one thing. “But me and my brothers tell each other everything. We have a pact.”
Her hand still rubbed my knee, and she put her other hand over her heart. “I like that pact I think that is a great pact to have. Your brothers will always be there for you. But me and you, we have something as well.”
Her tone reminded me of comfort that I got from adults who I trusted. Then her hand on my knee kept me safe.
“I am your Megara and you’re my Hercules. Both had secrets and a pact of their own. Do you think we can do the same, have a secret that we keep between us? Create our own pact?”
I did not know what to say, if Greek was here, I could look to him. I liked pacts and Ms. Toll was nice. She smelled good and I trusted her.
“Will it hurt? Not the pact but the secret. Will it hurt?”
She smiled and said, “Not at all, in fact it will make you feel good and me as well. All you have to do is listen to what I say and remember a few things. It is okay for you to let your body feel good. It may seem scary, but I am here with you, and you trust me. Right?”
“Right, I trust you.”
I watched her get up and go lock the door. When Ms. Toll came back, she told me to sit in her chair behind her desk. When I did, she followed me and got on her knees in front of the chair.
December 10th, 2008
When I closed my locker, Darius was standing behind it.
“What?” I asked because he just stood there looking at me like I took the last chocolate milk.
“Why are you still in art class?” He questioned me.
“Huh?”
“Art class! Why are you still there and I’m not!?” Darius got loud and I was confused about why.
“You left art class to go to gym. You said art was stupid, remember.”
What I said made him mad because he pushed me.
“You are not better than me!” He shouted then pushed me again.
Even though I do not know why he was so angry. I still was not about to let him push me, so I pushed him back.
“I am better than you! Your art sucks!”
Next thing I knew, me and Darius were fighting. I never imagined me and him would fight. Daruis only made jokes and made everyone laugh. Now we were in the hallway hitting each other and it did not stop until two teachers broke us up.