Page 6 of Halo: Tales Of A Hitman

“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.