Page 32 - Contrast1997

walked to the bus stop, got on the bus, did son that was the first time I'd felt pain. Up

not pass go, did not collect two hundred until that moment the countless blows my

pounds. But I did open my mouth. Not too body took were just dull thuds. I was numb.

much, but enough. My body did not register the pain that these

"Temple Meads Station, please," I said. Four people, like a chorus line of butchers pound-

words. Four innocent words. Christ! I even ing a raw steak, inflicted upon it.

said please! I screamed. Managing, somehow, to raise

The bus wasn't very full. I was surprised. I my body from the ground, I lunged out with

guess most people live locally. The eight guys both fists in a direction my sight didn't share.

standing were probably going to the station When I opened my eyes I saw a small gap in

too. Why didn't they sit? There was plenty the circle and ran through it. It felt like run-

of room. Maybe it's a macho thing. Eight ning through thick woods. The branches and

guys. Youths. Boys. Teenagers. Why eight? thorns grabbed my face, my hair, my jacket.
Why did I count them? "Temple Meads Sta- Bristol's Monday night filled my vision. It was
tion!" announced the driver. I got up from dark and unfamiliar, but it was wonderful. I
my seat and joined the eight in exiting into wanted to be there. Only three of the gang

The inside of my chest was members pursued me. I ran. I ran fast. So
did they. The inside of my chest was a fur-

a furnace. My eyes stung. nace. My eyes stung. I could taste my own
I could taste my own blood blood and wondered if my nose was broken.
and wondered if my nose I made a mental deal with a God that I didn't
believe in that I would accept a broken nose.

was broken. Just let me live. Thoughts of school athletics
raced through my head. Still I ran. I hurt. I

the dark street. begged them to leave me alone. One of them
As the first fist struck the right side of my was swinging a big white stick and scream-
ing something. This gave me the adrenalin to
head, I remember thinking that this was ex- run faster.

pected and deserved. After all, I had sup- I ran down countless streets. From the pave-
ported the winning team, but not their team. ments, off the curbs, across to the other side
and back. I lurched around corners and
"You fucking cockney bastard!" passed shop windows where our reflections
I knew that I shouldn't have opened my matched us for pace. Eventually, the only re-
mouth on the bus, or at least I should've whis- flection was mine but I challenged it. We ran
pered. I was on my knees, somewhere in neck and neck. The finishing line was a door-
Bristol, and eight strangers were punching me way of a shop selling household items and
and kicking me. I wanted to shout out and furniture. We both fell to the ground. It was
cry for help. But I couldn't. I tried to cover painful to breathe, but I delighted in the fact
my entire body with my two worthless arms, that I still could. My body ached from both
but they always found unprotected areas. the beating and the chase. The blood from
I thought of a story I'd seen on the ten my nose had turned my shirt red and I won-
0'clock news. Was it Friday or Saturday? A dered what I would tell my father.
man had gotten beaten to death outside a
nightclub in some city, somewhere. I pleaded I left the sanctuary of the doorway and al-
with silence. My attackers continued to com- lowed my body to walk. A sign pointed the
pete for the best kicks. I looked up and pre- way to Temple Meads Station. I wondered if
sented them with a fresh target as my nose this nightmare was over, so I took off my
met the full force of their hate. For some rea- denim jacket and turned it inside-out. Put ting

30