The Freak: Part 4.

My day of revenge.

Based on a post by Senor Longo. Listen to the ► Podcast at Connected.

THE FREAK; Part 4

That happened much earlier that I had thought. She and Mr. Gleason were at the house at eight the following morning, arriving just before my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dave with my cousins. We left the house at 8:35 in three cars; Mr. and Mrs. Gleason with my parents and Angela, the cousins with Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dave, and my remaining two sisters with Barbara and me. Angela volunteered to get on line if necessary as we would be about ten minutes later due to picking up Eli.

Once down in the Village I turned right at the playground, the site of some really intense basketball games. So far as I knew, I was the only white guy to play there without hearing plenty of jibes and insults. Then again, there wasn t one other player who could keep up with me. After the playground I made another left and a right before pulling into Eli's driveway. Carole squeezed out from the back seat and sprinted up the sidewalk. The front door opened just as she arrived and Eli scooped her up into his arms.

Hey there, Big C; I hear you're in the wedding, too. Then he hugged her, giving her a big kiss. Carole loved when he called her Big C, especially because she was by far the smallest in our family. Eli greeted us as he pulled the seat forward for Carole and squeezed into the front passenger seat next to Barbara and me.

How's your back, Barbara? you'really look beautiful; unfortunately, there's nothing special about you Freak. Did you comb that head with an egg beater this morning?

At least I never had the stupidity to get a Mohawk.

Ouch! That hurt! But it really is an honor to be with you this morning. I think all the guys and their girlfriends are going to be there, too.

Barbara leaned over to kiss Eli's cheek and laughed. Jack told me about the Mohawk. Wow, is your mother strict!

Yeah, but looking at how some of the other kids behave I'm glad she is. They have no discipline; no self-control. I see nothing but trouble for most of them. It ll be too late by the time they finally grow up. Enough of this negativity; where are you going for your honeymoon?

we're leaving this afternoon for my parents bungalow. it's not much, but we ll have quiet and privacy.

More importantly, we ll have each other, Barbara said as she reached up to kiss my cheek. I turned left at the light onto White Plains Road and less than ten minutes later I was parking in the Town Hall lot. Angela was right there first in line with two couples behind her. We took her place with an apology to those behind us. They assured us it was not a problem and that Angela had told them that she was holding the spot for her brother. I gave her a hug as we took our place in line.

We hadn t been there five minutes when I heard a clamor behind us. All of my school friends and some of Barbara s; no doubt the work of Mrs. Gleason; walked in. I was proud when I saw that they were all in suits and dresses. I would have walked over to thank them, but the'door opened at that very second. Barbara and I walked in with Eli and Carole right behind us. I showed our license