We made our way to the sand dunes which were hidden right behind the park. There were always dirt bikes climbing the hills and kids sledding in the winter. There were also parties in the summer, older kids drinking and doing weed. It was nature’s amusement park.
The dunes were quiet that day, and we walked up and ventured into the forest behind.
Izzie lingered behind us. “Let’s go pick some blueberries,” she suggested. I was very hesitant to go forward but sisterly love motivated me. Being called fat was the ultimate insult, and he deserved what was coming to him.
As we neared a tree, Izzie jumped him, grabbed him from behind and shoved him to the ground. He could have easily defended himself, if only he had been prepared. “So you think I’m fat, hey? What do you think of me now, loser?”
She had her arms tight around him. He was struggling and making some progress when I jumped in and restrained him while Izzie cuffed him. She fiddled nervously with the cuffs, pulling him against the tree. I helped wrap his arms around the tree while she held him against it. He bit her, and she screamed at the top of her lungs.
“You slut,” he scoffed. “I hate you.”
He was cuffed.
Izzie fixed her ponytail which had completely fallen apart in the commotion. “Jimmy. This is because you called me fat. You deserve it,” Izzie told him, not wanting to seem like a complete monster. Then she wiped her face with the back of her hand, satisfied.
“Now one more thing...” she said, catching her breath. She turned to me. “Drop his pants....underwear too.”
Jimmy was scared. He was holding back tears. He was helpless, and I’m sure he didn’t want us to see him with his pants down. “C’mon, Izz. We’re friends,” he pleaded.
“No way,” I argued. “I’m not doing it.”
“You’re such a wuss, Abby. Sometimes I wonder why we’re even friends.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal, Izzie. You never told me about this part.”
“I don’t care. Do it.”
“You’re sick. I’m not doing it.”
Jimmy was still sweating bullets. “She’s right, Izzie. It’s sick.”
“I don’t care, she has to do it.”
I walked away. “I’m not doing it.”
“Fine, I’ll do it then.”
“Fuck,” I heard Jimmy wail, and I knew she had done it. I never turned back. I didn’t want to add to Jimmy’s humiliation or Izzie’s satisfaction.
“That’ll teach you to call me fat, skinny little loser,” Izzie scoffed and ran to catch up with me, but I outran her.
“Fine, you little bitch,” she called out. “We’re done.”
“Fine by me,” I bit back.
Apparently later that day, some older kids found Jimmy with his pants down. The gossip spread like a bad flu in January, and the news was all over the park. The cops had to be called in to free him. I’m sure it must have been completely humiliating for him, and I wonder if he carried this traumatic experience with him into adulthood. The punishment certainly did not fit the crime.
On the plus side, Izzie got caught and found herself in some serious trouble. We were both brought into the police station and both balled our eyes out. They let me off easy because Jimmy had told them that I was an unwilling participant. There was some talk about juvenile detention and a harsh scolding from her dad. She was also grounded for a month. I was secretly thrilled because she deserved it.
“I’ve never seen your parents so angry.”
Adele had given me permission to visit Izzie since I was the only one, whom in Adele’s opinion, who was not a bad influence. I really wanted to speak with Izzie because I felt so much guilt about the whole incident.
“Thanks for not ratting me out to the police.” Izzie said. “I appreciate it. I know you didn’t say anything… it was all Jimmy.”
“Of course I wouldn’t. We’re friends.”
And just like that, we made up. We were friends again.
Ever since that day, I’ve carried tremendous guilt. I shouldn’t have been involved. I should have called the authorities right away. They could have quickly rescued him without anyone else running into his helpless half-naked body wrapped around a tree. It would have saved Jimmy a lot of humiliation. But I didn’t. Why? Because I didn't want Izzie to be angry with me, more than she already was. She was my only friend after all. She was all I had.
