Harmonyville

By Don Darrin

In the summer of 1986 in the rural town of Harmonyville, six adolescents battle for their town, first with an older group of kids, then with their growing nightmares. The younger Rebels' summers had always consisted of being attacked and picked on by the older boys (the Regulators) but a strange bicyclist disguising his motives sets forth an oncoming event that the Rebels have to prepare for. Promising to make the Rebels' nightmares end, the cyclist recites a chant that the Rebels worry will actually bring their worst fears to life. Using clues from their continuing nightmares, the Rebels prepare themselves the best they can for their upcoming battle, all while dealing with the Regulators constant hostility. Will their preparations be enough to save them and their town from the nightmares that are about to become real?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514486351

Don Darrin

Don Darrin was born in Bath, New York, and grew up in the small town of Pulteney, New York. He currently lives in South Pulteney. He loves nature and spends a good amount of time in the local forests and creeks. Don’s family is very important to him. He spends as much time with them as he can. Sports also play a big part in Don’s life. He often attends local high school sporting events, including basketball, tennis, and soccer. Don is a huge Syracuse Orange basketball fan as well as a Buffalo Bills fan. He loves watching Team USA Men’s and Women’s soccer as well as most summer and winter Olympic events. His heroes are his father, his mother, his brother, Michael Jordan, and Maria Sharapova.

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Copyright © 2016 by Don Darrin.

Cover photo by Samantha Darrin

Library of Congress Control Number:      2016906378

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5144-8637-5

      Softcover      978-1-5144-8636-8

      eBook      978-1-5144-8635-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 04/23/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1   The Gang

Chapter 2   The Gravel Pit

Chapter 3   The Regulators

Chapter 4   Camp Out

Chapter 5   Nightmares

Chapter 6   Battle Of South Creek

Chapter 7   POW

Chapter 8   Operation Hostage Exchange

Chapter 9   George And Abigail

Chapter 10   Nightmares Ii

Chapter 11   Mitchell Family Dinner

Chapter 12   Hide-And-Seek

Chapter 13   Party Time

Chapter 14   The Encounter

Chapter 15   You’re It

Chapter 16   The Visitor

Chapter 17   Nightmares III

Chapter 18   Awakening

Chapter 19   Warm Waterfalls

Chapter 20   Rebel Yell

Chapter 21   The Werewolf

Chapter 22   The Spider

Chapter 23   The Mudman

Chapter 24   The Gargoyles

Chapter 25   Abigail’s Ghost

Chapter 26   The Jestoric

Chapter 27   The Old House

Chapter 28   Cemetery Search

Chapter 29   Rail Riding

Chapter 30   Life At Home

Chapter 31   Sleepover

Chapter 32   War In The Town

Chapter 33   Discussions

Chapter 34   Consequences

Chapter 35   Harmonyville Diner

Chapter 36   Dirty Fun

Chapter 37   A Warning

Chapter 38   The Hundred-Foot Falls

Chapter 39   Every Breath You Take

Chapter 40   The Candy Store

Chapter 41   On The Run

Chapter 42   Saying Good-Bye

Chapter 43   Guard Duty

Chapter 44   Saturday Night

Chapter 45   The Day Before

Chapter 46   Moonlight Beauty

Chapter 47   Breakfast

Chapter 48   Daydreaming

Chapter 49   Full Moon

Chapter 50   The Aftermath

Chapter 51   Night Two

Chapter 52   The Wounded Battle

Chapter 53   The Six Fingers Of A Fist

Chapter 54   The Final Battle

About The Author

To Bob Thompson, Steve Webster, Chris Robbins, Joe Schuck, and all the Runnin’ Rebels of Pulteney.

CHAPTER ONE

The Gang

All kids love summer vacation. It’s a time when they can have fun and just be kids. Summer is a time for kids to live. Being a kid in Harmonyville during the summer of 1986 was going to be tough though. It would be tougher than any of the Harmonyville kids could imagine. Forget about all the fun of hanging out with friends. The struggle to live would be enough to occupy their time. They didn’t know that something unthinkable was about to happen that would make their summer life-changing, if they escaped it with their life.

Harmonyville was a small town in rural New York with a population of about five hundred. The town had a post office, a library, and one small diner. The nearest gas station was fifteen miles away in the town of Glenview. The children of Harmonyville all went to school at Glenview High School. They all knew one another. In a small town, you’re either a friends or enemies with the other kids. There wasn’t much in between. You didn’t have to like someone in order to be their friend, as long as you didn’t hate them. You learned to get along. Who else would you hang out with?

The parents of Harmonyville usually let their kids have all kinds of freedom. It was a small town; everyone knew everybody. Nothing would happen, right? Some parents were easygoing; others just didn’t have the time to care what their kids were doing. In one sense, as a kid, you learned to get along on your own in Harmonyville. If you couldn’t take care of yourself, all you had was your friends.

Being a child in Harmonyville was war. Not the type of war you couldn’t make it out of alive but the type of war that was hell, at least for the losing side. There were definite sides too—the older kids versus the younger kids. The older kids almost always won, but when they didn’t, it sure was sweet for the younger kids.

Every military unit has a leader. If the younger kids were a unit, their leader was Derek Cole. He was thirteen and almost always assembled his troops because he hated being home. It wasn’t easy because he lived with the enemy. His brother, Dustin, was the main informant for the older boys. Dustin always knew where to find his brother.

Their parents usually stopped any bickering that occurred at home. Tammy Cole was a secretary in Glenview. She was home every day by three, and the boys were usually nowhere to be found at that time during the summer. Michael Cole worked at a warehouse in the nearby town of Bradley Mills. He was rarely home because he sucked up all the overtime he could. Both were loving parents who just had no clue about the horrors Dustin and his friends put Derek through.

It was a sunny Saturday morning in June, and school was out for summer. The sky was blue with fluffy white clouds, the kind that always seemed to form shapes of meaningless objects. There was a light breeze that gently moved the lush green branches of the trees outside. The sounds of robins and blue jays bickering slightly penetrated the thin glass window in the Coles’ kitchen. Derek entered the room, ready to cure his boredom. He glanced around to see if there was any sign of Dustin. He didn’t see him; maybe Dustin was still upstairs. Derek picked up the phone and held the receiver to his ear. The cord struggled to cling to itself but let loose, freeing the tension and making it swing slightly, while Derek began to dial.

Who you calling, sweetie? Tammy asked. Derek was startled and dropped the phone. It fell as the cord stretched to its limit. There was a little thud when the receiver tapped the floor before springing back up a little. It bounced up and down like a baby in a jumper slowly coming to a halt a few inches from the floor.

Uh … Danny.

Why don’t you and Dustin just walk to his house?

Dustin? Mom, Dustin doesn’t hang out with Danny.

It’s a small town, honey. I’m sure you all could hang out and find something fun to do.

No, Derek said. Tammy looked at him in a disapproving way. I mean, I see Dustin all the time here. I don’t want to hang out with him today, so don’t tell him please.

Fine, Tammy said as she bent down and picked up the phone. But I don’t see why you couldn’t hang out with your brother more.

Mom …

Okay. Here, she said as she handed him the phone.

Derek peeked through the doorway as his mom walked away. There was no sign of Dustin, so he started dialing. He put the receiver up to his ear next to his short brown hair. He waited impatiently as the phone rang.

Danny Beckford was a smart kid. He was the one who came up with the few plans that actually worked against the older boys. He was an only child. His father, Larry, was a businessman who sometimes spent all week up in Rochester. His mother, Gail, was home all day, and Danny could only handle so much of her nagging. He was always happy when Derek would call to get the gang assembled to hang out. He was excited school was out even if it meant open season for the older boys to pick on him and his friends.

Danny was sitting on the soft blue couch in their living room watching television when his mom walked in.

Danny, did you clean your room yet? she asked.

Yes, Mom, I even took my dirty clothes to the hamper.

What are you doing today? Do you want to go to town with me?

No, I think I’m gonna hang out with the guys today, Danny replied. Even if he were home alone, it was better than going to Glenview with his mom. This way, he could avoid hearing her complain about the price of food and gas.

Suddenly, the phone rang, and Danny rushed to it like it was his savior, and it was.

Hello … Yeah, I’ll be right there. Okay. I’ll call Marshall.

Who is it, Danny? his mom asked.

Derek. I’m meeting him at the gravel pit. He pushed his finger down on the button to hang the phone up.

I wish you boys wouldn’t play in that awful gravel pit. One of these days—

I know. There will be a huge collapse, and we’ll all be buried, and nobody will find us. Mom, relax. We’re just kids being kids.

Okay. But I suggest you be careful if you ever want to become an adult.

Mom, I’ll be fine. Will you just go to town? I have to call Marshall.

Fine. I’ll go, she said as she headed toward the door. But be careful.

I will, Danny replied. He began to dial Marshall’s number.

Marshall Peters was a fun part of the gang, but usually, his mouth got them into trouble with the older boys. He wouldn’t back down and often spoke his mind, which unfortunately led to a lot of pain and embarrassment for himself and his friends. His father, Dave, was the local mailman, and his mother, Sally, volunteered at the library.

Marshall was home alone and had just finished a bowl of Froot Loops when he got the phone call from Danny.

Meet you at the gravel pit? Who’s all going so far? Marshall asked as he brushed his hand through his fluffy red hair, still feeling a little groggy from recently waking up.

Just Derek and me so far, Danny said. Will you call Nutter and Stan?

Yeah, I’ll call Nutter and have him call Stan. Dude, this is going to be fun. I’ll see you there, man.

Marshall hung the phone up and picked it back up. He began to call Nutter.

Nutter was the nickname of Patrick Tucker. He had asked for a nickname because the older boys had always picked on him the worst. He was heavy set, and they never let him forget it. Being heavy set and having the name Pat Tucker was just not cool. It wasn’t long before the older boys were calling him Fat Fucker. That’s when he asked his friends to give him a nickname. Danny came up with Nutter because Pat’s favorite thing to eat was a fluffernutter sandwich. The new nickname stuck instantly but didn’t help much. It wasn’t long before they were calling him Nutsac, Nut Licker, and several other names. It wasn’t much of a step up.

Nutter was a bit overweight, but he was also very strong. He was as strong as almost all the older boys. The only problem was that he was only strong physically. He had a soft mental shell, and a lot of the other kids’ picking went to heart. He was an only child. Diane Tucker did her best to raise him. Her husband had left them when Nutter was just a baby. Diane worked in Glenview as a bank teller. She was playing Yahtzee with Nutter, complaining about how much harder it was to get a large straight than a Yahtzee, but the Yahtzee was worth more. She could never figure that out. The sound of the phone ringing interrupted her complaining. Nutter ran to the phone and picked it up.

Hello?

Hey Nutter, Marshall responded. We’re all meeting at the gravel pit in ten minutes. You in, dude?

Mom, can I go hang out with my friends? he asked with his hand cupped over the phone.

Sure, sweetie. We can finish our game later.

Thanks, Mom. He uncapped the bottom of the phone. I’ll see you there, Marshall.

Nutter, can you call Stan? Marshall asked.

You bet your bacon. Bye.

He hung up and began to dial Stan’s number.

Stan Mitchell was closer to Nutter than anyone else. They were the two out of the group who got picked on the most—Nutter because he was fat and Stan just because he was a little wimpy. He was also slow, not in a mental way but at running, and for good reason. Stan often had to babysit his sister, Dana. She was twelve, and Stanley was fourteen, and both were capable of staying home alone; but their father was a little overprotective of Dana. John Mitchell couldn’t help but be a little overprotective of his daughter. He lost his first daughter in a car accident when Stan was just a baby. Melanie was four when she was thrown from the car despite having a seatbelt on. The crash had given Stanley two broken legs. They never healed properly and left Stanley with an awkward limp. It wasn’t that noticeable unless he tried to run. He couldn’t run very fast because of it and was often captured by the older boys.

John Mitchell was an insurance agent. His office was in Bradley Mills. Marcy Mitchell was a schoolteacher at Glenview. They were both out of town for the weekend, and Stanley was supposed to keep an eye on Dana. His father had told him that if anything happened to her, he would make it so Stanley wouldn’t be able walk anymore. It was a scare tactic that John Mitchell used often. John was rather harsh on Stan when he was growing up. It was almost as if he blamed Stan for his sister’s death. That’s how Stan felt about it anyway. John wasn’t physically abusive, but he knew what to say for Stan to take him serious. He and Marcy had never left the kids home for an entire weekend, so the threat to Stan of never walking again was the worst he had ever said. He wanted Stanley to know his sister was his responsibility.

John and Marcy had left Friday night. Now Dana was in her room playing with a yellow butterfly yo-yo, and Stan was watching television when the phone rang. Stan was watching the Twisted Sister’s video for the song We’re Not Gonna Take It. He sometimes got that song in his head when the older boys started to pick on them. He would think about standing up to them, and then he would wimp out and just take whatever they dished out. Sometimes it was easier that way. If you fought like Marshall, you could end up really getting hurt.

Dana, get the phone! he yelled to her.

Dana’s door opened, and her head poked out. Her long black hair lay gently against her shoulder. Why can’t you get it yourself?

I’m watching TV. Just get it, please.

She stood there a moment with her head tilted to the side in disapproval. Then she sighed and jogged out to the dining room toward the phone. Those guys on TV look like girls, you know.

I bet you wouldn’t say that to their face.

Dana picked it up and answered, Hello?

Dana? Hi. Is Stan there?

Nutter, what do you want?

Can I just talk to Stan?

I’ll try, but right now, he’s watching television. There are these guys who look like girls dancing around. He’s always watching them. She paused before continuing to tease. I think he likes guys, you know. Are you guys more than friends? Dana resumed with a smirk on her face.

Can you just tell him it’s me, please? Nutter asked politely.

Okay, Dana said as she put the phone down. Stan, it’s Nutter. You want me to tell him you’re busy masturbating?

Stan stared at her in displeasure. No, that’s all right, Dana. I’ll get it, then you’re gonna get it.

Yeah, as if I’m scared. She began to walk back to her room. As they passed each other, she swung the yo-yo out to do around the world. Stan ducked his head back to avoid it, and it missed him by a few inches.

Better hurry. Your boyfriend is waiting, Dana joked as she walked back into her room.

Hello, Stan said as he picked up the phone.

Stan, we’re all meeting at the gravel pit. Can you come?

I can go wherever I want. My parents are gone for the weekend, he replied. There was a pause as he remembered the thorn in his side. Oh crap.

What? Nutter asked.

It’s just that I have to keep an eye on Dana.

So make her come with you.

Yeah, you’re right. I’ll be there in ten minutes, Stan confirmed.

All right. See you there. Bye.

Stan walked over and barged into Dana’s room. Dana was startled as she looked up at him. She thought Stan was actually mad at her. Stan, I was only kidding. Besides, Dad will kill you if I get as much as a bruise.

Come on. We’re leaving.

Leaving where? she asked.

We’re going to the gravel pit.

Why do I have to go? Dana asked defiantly.

Because Dad would kill me if you get so much as a bruise, remember?

Fine! Dana said. But if I get bored, I’m going to bruise myself.

Dana, shut up. Now come on. I’m meeting the guys there in ten minutes.

CHAPTER TWO

The Gravel Pit

Danny was the first to arrive at the gravel pit. He waited for the others. This was a regular hangout for the guys. They sometimes brought their bikes to jump the hills. Other times, they would just hang out. As Danny waited, he threw rocks at the top of the pit. He liked to watch the walls of dirt collapse. He thought about his mother for a moment and how she always told him he would end up buried if he didn’t stop causing dirt avalanches. He didn’t take her too seriously though. It was fun to have that kind of power, the power to make a little wall of dirt just crumble from a well-placed rock. There was a soft wind coming from the west, and the temperature was mild and perfect. The morning sky was blue and clear of clouds. There were a few birds chirping and the slight rumble of a plane overhead.

Marshall was the next to arrive and Derek shortly after. They gathered in the bottom of the horseshoe-shaped gravel pit.

So what do you want to do today? Danny asked Derek.

I don’t care, Derek said. I just want to avoid my brother.

He doesn’t know where we are, does he? Danny asked.

No, I was careful. He wasn’t around when I called.

Good. I don’t want to deal with those goons today, Danny said.

Why not, dude? Marshall asked. I say we gather some rocks and go ambush their fort.

Are you crazy? Derek asked. It’s one thing for us to protect ourselves, but we don’t need to start something with them.

Derek’s right. We don’t want any trouble, Danny said as he rubbed his hand over his blond head.

Hey guys! Nutter yelled as he climbed over the edge of the cliff and slid down into the gravel pit.

Did you call Stan? Marshall asked.

You bet your bacon. He’s coming … but he’s gotta bring Dana.

What? Are you serious, dude? Marshall asked. I don’t want her hanging out with us.

Come on, Marshall. She’s not that bad, Danny said. She’s actually kind of cool.

What? Are you fricken’ in love, Beckford? Come on. She’s lame. Plus, she’s friends with Lisa Stark. The last thing we need is Joe Stark knowing where we’re at.

Joe Stark was the meanest member of the older boys group. He would do awful things to each of them. Not only was he the meanest, he was also the biggest. Lisa was his little sister.

She’s not lame. It’ll be fine, man. She won’t tell anyone where we’re at, Danny replied.

Hey guys! Stan yelled from the top of the pit. He and Dana crawled down and joined the rest of the gang.

Now that we’re all here, I have some business I want to talk about, Derek said. I’m not sure we should discuss it in front of Dana, but I wanted us to come up with a name for ourselves. We always hang out, and those assholes always come after us, so I feel that it would be fitting for us to actually have a name for our gang.

How about the Tigers? Nutter said.

Tigers? Marshall asked.

Yeah, the Tigers. Tigers are mean and vicious, Nutter explained.

Dude, if we call ourselves the Tigers, those assholes will call us the Pussies, Marshall said.

Dana started laughing at their lame attempt for a name.

Again, why is she here? Derek asked.

I’m sorry, Dana said. It was funny though.

How about the Twisted Sisters? Stan suggested.

Stan, are you fucking crazy? Derek asked. Joe Stark would love that because he would turn us into Twisted Sisters.

Good point, Stan said.

Hey, Danny said, how about the Rebels.

Rebels? Sounds tough. I like it, Derek said. Everyone like the Rebels? They all agreed. Good. Rebels it is.Well Rebels, it’s like this. There are five of us, just like five fingers. A finger isn’t that tough, but if you put five of them together, you have a fist. We stick together no matter what.

What about me? Dana interrupted.

What about you? Derek said.

You said five fingers. What about me? I want to be a Rebel.

No way! Marshall said.

Hold on, Dana. The rest of us will discuss this. Come here guys, Derek said. They all gathered on the other side of a dirt pile, while Dana waited for them to return.

Why can’t she become a Rebel? Danny asked.

Great. Danny Beckford is in love, Marshall teased.

Shut up, Marshall, Danny replied.

Gross, man. You like my sister? Stan asked.

No, I just think that we should let her be a Rebel.

Are you kidding? Nutter said. I worked hard to become a Rebel. We all did. We’ve all had our ass kicked several times by those jerk-offs, and that’s why we’re the Rebels. We can’t just make anyone a Rebel.

Nutter’s right, Derek said. We’ve all paid our dues. She can be a Rebel, but she has to pass a test.

What is the test? Danny asked.

I say we each come up with a task or challenge, and if she completes it, then she can be a Rebel.

Oh, dude, this is going to be fun, Marshall snickered.

The boys all returned to Dana.

Are you sure you want to be a Rebel? Derek asked.

Yeah, can I be? she asked with sparkle in her eye.

Sure, but in order to become a Rebel, you have to complete one task for each of us, Derek said.

Dana thought about that for a moment. She couldn’t imagine Stan or his friends could come up with anything too bad. She was pretty daring anyway, so she was up for the challenge. Fine. What are the tasks?

Danny, you go first, Derek said.

Okay. Uh … let me see.

Danny, what do you want me to do for you? Dana asked with a smile.

Um … Okay. I got one. You have to beat Nutter and Stan in a race to the other side of the gravel pit and back.

Hey! Why do I have to run? Nutter asked.

Shut up, dude. It’ll be good for you, Marshall joked.

Fine, Nutter replied.

Whenever you guys are ready, Dana said as she placed her hand on her knee and prepared to take off.

Nutter and Stan begrudgingly prepared to run also.

All right. You guys will run to the other side, touch the wall of dirt, and run back, Danny said.

Go! Derek yelled. Nutter started out in the lead followed by Dana then Stan. It wasn’t long before Nutter got tired, and his run turned into a jog. Dana and Stan both passed him. Stan was still running his hardest, but with his legs the way they were, there was no way that he would catch Dana. She had a comfortable lead as she touched the cool shaded dirt wall and headed back. Nutter gave up and started walking back to the start. Stan continued to the dirt wall but stopped after that. Dana ran back to the start with a smile on her face and her long black hair flowing behind her.

That was easy enough, she said.

Don’t get cocky, Derek suggested. You still have four more tasks to complete.

Yeah, and that one was from Danny who wants you to be a Rebel, Marshall added.

Nutter and Stan joined them now. Nutter was lightly panting.

Why didn’t you guys keep trying? Danny asked.

We couldn’t have caught her, Stan said.

Yeah, and I want to save my energy in case we have to run for real, Nutter added. You never know if those jerks are going to show up.

So what’s next? Dana asked.

Go ahead, Nutter, Derek said. What’s your task?

Okay, Nutter said, still catching his breath. You have to climb the steepest side of the gravel pit.

Nutter, are you crazy? Stan asked. If she so much as gets a bruise, my ass is grass.

Well, then I guess she can’t be a Rebel, Nutter replied.

Nutter, if she gets hurt, I’m gonna kill you, Stan replied.

Step aside, Dana butted in. Which side do I have to climb?

That one, Nutter said as he pointed behind her. Dana turned and saw the steep wall of dirt. It was about fifty feet tall, and the incline gradually got worse with the top being straight up.

Okay. Fine. She pulled a rubber band out of her pocket and put her hair in a ponytail. She paused for a second to collect herself then ran over to the hill and began to climb. It wasn’t fine though. She didn’t know if she could actually do it. If she fell from the top of the fifty-foot wall, she could get hurt real bad. She didn’t care though. Her pride was at stake. She wanted to show these boys that she wasn’t a prissy girl. Plus, she wanted to be a Rebel. As much as she picked on Stan, she still thought that he and his friends were really cool. She wanted to be able to hang out with them without question. She wanted to see what it was really like.

She had made it up most of the wall, but she was now at the last ten feet, which were straight up. She started to dig a hole for her hand to go in. She placed her hand in it and pulled herself up a little more. When she started to dig the next handhole, the top of the wall gave way.

Oh no, Danny thought. He remembered his mom saying he would one day get buried under an avalanche of dirt. Now it looked like that was going to happen to Dana.

She held on for her life as the dirt fell over her. Somehow she was able to power through it and stay on the wall of dirt. The path to the top was easier now because the straight wall was now just an inclined hill. Dana reached her hands up to the top and climbed the rest of the way. When she was on top, she brushed as much of the dirt off as she could.

She half climbed, half slid back down the hill into the pit, and walked over to the Rebels.

She shook her shirt, and a cloud of dust raised and caught Nutter off guard. He began to cough as Dana giggled a little. Next, she said.

Okay. I guess Stan is next, Derek said. What do you want your little sis to do?

Well, I know how she hates to get muddy, so I think she should stick her head in the bog for five seconds.

Stan, you’re an asshole! Dana yelled.

You don’t have to do it. I guess you could just not be a Rebel, he replied.

No, I’m doing it! Let’s go.

They all left the gravel pit and began to walk to the bog. The bog was an area above North Creek where the ground had a natural dip to it creating a small basin to collect water. This caused the forest in this area to be a nasty, mucky mess. The bog was about a foot deep today, and Dana absolutely hated to get muddy. She wasn’t a prissy girl, but this was her biggest fear.

Go ahead, princess, Marshall said. Bob for mud!

Guys, maybe we should have alternate tasks so she has a choice, Danny suggested.

Danny, you might as well marry her. Marshall laughed. You’re so soft, dude!

No alternate tasks, Derek said. She doesn’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to. She is the one who said she wanted to be a Rebel.

I can take it, Dana said. One of you needs to tap my back when my five seconds are up so I know I can come back up.

Danny can do it, Marshall said. He’s just itching to touch you.

Marshall, you’re just mad because Danny’s better-looking than you, Dana replied.

This caught Marshall off guard and silenced him for the moment.

Danny smiled. I’ll let you know when you can come back up, he said.

Good. I trust you, she said as she smiled back at him.

Dana found a dry, solid spot and knelt down by the muddy bog. The smell of the stale mud was nauseating. The air was not as fresh and clear here as it was in the gravel pit. The sounds of the chirping birds were replaced with chirping crickets and the deep calling of bullfrogs.

Dana took a deep breath and plunged her head down into the mud. Her ponytail flopped over her head and became submerged. Stan counted on his hand and signaled to Danny when the five seconds were up. Danny reached down and placed his hand on Dana’s shoulder and pulled her out of the mud.

Her head was covered with mud, and her hair was all tangled.

Dude, she really went for it, Marshall said as he laughed. Check out the Mud Princess.

Dana composed herself and wiped the mud away from her eyes and mouth.

You really want this bad, don’t you, sis? Stan asked.

Yeah, I’ll do whatever it takes, she replied. Can I go wash up? she asked.

That’s up to Stan, Derek said. It was his task.

Yeah, you can wash up, Stan said. He was surprised and somehow proud of his sister at this point. He knew how hard it had to be for her. It wasn’t just sticking her head in the bog. It was facing a fear.

They walked down to the creek, and Dana carefully took her shirt off without getting it too muddy. Now she was in a rainbow-colored bikini top.

Dana, what the hell are you doing? Stan yelled.

I’m going to wash my hair, but I don’t want my shirt getting wet. I’m wearing a bikini top. Relax, Stan.

Yeah, relax, dude, Marshall said with a smile.

Stan shot him an outraged look.

Dana pulled the rubber band out and let her hair loose. She plunged her head down into the water and rubbed it vigorously. The cool clear water turned to a light brown for a moment. She ran her fingers through her hair and made sure the tangles were gone. Then she pulled her head out quickly. Her hair flung through the air with drops of water flying off it as Danny stared in awe. Time seemed to slow down. He had thoughts of her as a swimsuit model at a photo shoot. It was like she was posing for the cameraman, posing for him. Dana’s hair came to rest on her back as the water dripped down off it.

I’m next, Marshall said. You have to do my task next, and you have to do it now.

Okay, Dana said as she wrung out her hair. What is it?

You have to make out with Danny for two minutes.

Marshall! Danny objected.

What? You made Nutter and Stan a part of it by making them run. I’m making you a part of it, dude. You know you’ll like it.

Fine, Dana said. Danny was surprised by her willingness. She didn’t hesitate. She just said fine as quick as could be. What do you mean by make out? I don’t want to get disqualified on some stupid stipulation.

By make out I mean that hands have to be wandering, and I want to see tongues.

The hands can stay above the clothes right? Dana asked.

They better stay above the clothes! Stan yelled. If not, I’ll be kicking Marshall’s and Danny’s ass. He was highly irritated with Marshall’s request.

Relax Stan, Marshall said. The hands can stay above the clothes, well, the clothes that she has on, that is.

Fine, Dana said as she approached Danny.

Are you sure about this? Danny asked.

Relax, Dana said. It’s not that big of a deal. It was a big deal though. She hadn’t really done more than peck a boy on the lips before. This was a huge deal for her. What she didn’t know was how big of a deal it was for Danny too.

She put her hand on the back of Danny’s head and guided his lips down onto hers. They began slowly with soft gentle kisses then slowly progressed. Danny could feel her soft lips, and it was wonderful. Their hands moved around, and their lips parted. This was something that Danny really did want. He would never admit it to the others because they would pick more. The last year, he had been attracted to Dana. He loved her kindness and wholesome look. He loved her pale skin. He loved her beautiful blue eyes that stood out with her black hair. She was only a year younger than him. He didn’t know how she felt about him, but she was always nice. He hated Marshall for doing this, but he really was enjoying it. Danny mainly had his hands on her slim waist and would occasionally move them to her butt. Dana had one hand on Danny’s face the whole time, and it was so soft and smooth. Her other hand remained on his chest.

Danny and Dana continued making out, seemingly entranced, until Marshall said the two minutes was up. Dana and Danny looked into each other’s eyes, and Dana leaned in one last time and gave him a peck on the lips.

I wanted to see a little more boob action, but that’ll do, Marshall said.

Grow up, Marshall, Derek said. She passed the test.

That wasn’t so bad, Dana said.

Speak for yourself, Stan said. If I ever catch you doing something like that again, I’ll kill you and the boy that you’re doing it with.

Relax Stan. It was harmless, right, Danny? Dana asked him.

Danny suddenly got a pit in his stomach. Maybe it was meaningless to her, but it wasn’t to him. Then he saw Dana smiling at him. It did mean something to her, didn’t it?

Yeah, harmless. It meant nothing, Stan. Don’t worry.

Okay. One left, and I’m a Rebel, Dana said.

Let me think for a moment, Derek said. Let’s head back to the gravel pit, and I’ll know by then what your last task is going to be. Dana pulled her shirt down over her head and straightened it from the bottom. She reached back and pulled her wet hair out from inside it.

They all headed back to the gravel pit, and Derek had it. He knew what her last task was going to be. Originally, when he came up with this task idea, he was going to come up with one that was impossible so Dana couldn’t become a Rebel. He changed his mind. She had impressed him by completing all the tasks asked of her without even complaining. Maybe she would be an asset to the Rebels. She was a very intelligent girl. Plus, she was friends with Lisa Stark. Maybe she could get information out of Lisa about Joe Stark.

Your last task is to leave a special delivery for Mr. Crowley. Marshall, Nutter, and Stan broke into laughter.

Special delivery was the term they all used for flaming bag of shit. It was a mean thing to do, but Mr. Crowley deserved it more than anyone. He was a mean old man who always yelled if the kids even walked on his lawn. He never even handed out candy on Halloween.

Where do I get the special delivery? Dana asked.

Well, that is the tricky part, Derek said. You have to leave a sample, but we can get the rest from Farmer Fred. Marshall, Stan, and Nutter began chuckling even louder.

I have to leave some? You want me to shit in a bag? At that, even Danny started chuckling.

Only if you want to be a Rebel, Derek said with a smile.

Can I do it without all of you around?

There has to be one witness, Derek said. Plus, I know from experience that you might want someone to hold the bag for you. The chuckling erupted into full-blown, uncontrollable laughter at this point.

Fine, Dana said. There was slight shock that she agreed, but the chuckling continued.

They all went to Dana and Stan’s house and grabbed a brown grocery bag and some matches from under the sink. Then they walked up Arbor Street to Farmer Fred’s.

I’ll be back, Dana said. She snuck into the horse barn and looked around. She could smell the mixture of hay and horse manure. She found a shovel lying against the stable wall. She grabbed the wooden handle and exited the stable. It would be easier for her to get some of the manure that was out in the open. She began to scoop a couple of samples from the pasture into the bag. The slight breeze wasn’t making it easy for her to hit the inside of the bag. It kept closing a little from the wind. It was about half full when she heard the screen door to Farmer Fred’s house slam shut. He was coming outside, and he didn’t like it much when kids were near his animals. Dana dropped the shovel and began to run with the bag. She joined the others, and they all started running.

You damn kids had better get out of here before I go get my gun!

They were all laughing and slowed down when they got a safe distance away.

Okay. Dana, now you just have to add your own sample, Derek said.

Danny, will you hold the bag for me? she asked.

Of course, she chose Danny, Marshall said. You might as well get a fricken’ room, you two.

Dana got a little angry and lashed back at Marshall. Danny was the one I had to make out with—thanks to you, asshole. Pardon me if I feel more comfortable with him now. I certainly don’t want my brother to see my ass. Who do you think I should choose? Marshall stared at her, shocked as she approached him. I think you’re just mad I didn’t choose you, she said as she shoved his chest.

Yeah right, he replied.

Ready, Danny? she asked.

Sure, he said. They walked across the street and into a vineyard row. Dana pulled her pants and underwear down and crouched. She didn’t really have to go, but she knew she could get some out. Danny looked only long enough to open