{"id":6172,"date":"2014-07-02T15:06:37","date_gmt":"2014-07-02T21:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/?page_id=6172"},"modified":"2014-07-02T15:06:37","modified_gmt":"2014-07-02T21:06:37","slug":"the-king-of-green-street","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/?page_id=6172","title":{"rendered":"The King of Green Street"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sean Ealy<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Romeo King of Green Street wiped his hands on his grimy pants and plopped down in front of the meager fire to warm his bones. It was the damp that bothered him the most, made his joints feel like rusted springs and his head like it was stuffed with moldy cotton. But summer would come soon enough, and God bless it when it did.<\/p>\n

The camp had been quiet all day, save the sound of the critters in the bushes and the birds in the trees. Soon enough the others would return, and then Romeo\u2019s performance would begin.<\/p>\n

They called him Romeo because he had been a stage actor once with the Shakespeare Theater down in Ashland. They called him King because he beat Big Bubba with a tree limb until he bled from his ears. That was the way of it in the camp. One man runs the family until another man takes his place. Romeo had taken Big Bubba\u2019s mantle by sneaking into his tent while he was sleeping and clubbing him twice before he even woke up. There was a good chance Big Bubba hadn\u2019t even known who hit him.<\/p>\n

Next morning, Big Bubba was gone and Romeo\u2019s reign began.<\/p>\n

Scab was the first to come back to camp. He rode in on his banged-up Schwinn, hopped off and leaned it against a tree. Then he pulled a bottle out of the backpack cinched to the handlebars and handed it to Romeo. Romeo took the bottle, twisted the cap, sniffed the contents and then took a swig.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell now,\u201d Romeo said, tucking the bottle between his legs. \u201cThat\u2019ll pass.\u201d Scab nodded, scratched himself, and then shuffled back to his bike. He pulled his own bottle from the backpack and sat in the grass.<\/p>\n

Violet wandered in ten minutes later.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew pants?\u201d Romeo asked.<\/p>\n

Two paper grocery sacks hung from her fingers. Violet rummaged through one of the sacks and pulled out a dented can of green beans. She handed this to Romeo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey left the door open on the Goodwill donation box again,\u201d Violet said. \u201cRight there for God and everyone to see. Still had the tags on ’em. You believe someone would give away a perfectly good pair of jeans with the tags still on?\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo looked at the can of beans in his hand and grunted.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome church lady with big tits gave it to me,\u201d Violet said. \u201cEven got out of her minivan to hand them over. People were honkin\u2019 and cussin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat else you got in there?\u201d Romeo asked, lifting his chin toward the bags.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouldn\u2019t look me in the eye though,\u201d Violet said. \u201cThey never can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo pointed at the grocery sacks.<\/p>\n

Violet licked her blistered lips. \u201cThere\u2019s not much, Romeo. Just some dented cans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me see \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gotta eat too. Rooster\u2019s sick, so I\u2019m pulling down for both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got your token. Take the beans and let me be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo stood and Violet took a step backward.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me be,\u201d she said, but she bent down anyway and handed both sacks over.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a token,\u201d Romeo said, poking his hand into one of the sacks. He pulled out a box of Cap\u2019n Crunch and set it down next to his beer. \u201cI take care of my family, don\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

Violet tossed a glance at Scab, but found no help there.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a tribute,\u201d Romeo said. He handed back the sacks, then disappeared inside his tent. When he returned, he held an old pistol in his hand. He aimed the barrel at Violet\u2019s right eye. It wasn\u2019t loaded, but she didn\u2019t know that.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Romeo,\u201d Violet said. \u201cDon\u2019t gotta be that way. You took what you wanted, now let me be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA dented can of green beans,\u201d Romeo said. \u201cIs that all I\u2019m worth?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know it ain\u2019t like that,\u201d Violet said, almost in tears. She looked at the tent she shared with Rooster, and shame crossed her face. When she spoke again it was in a hush. \u201cI\u2019ll give you somethin\u2019 later on if you just let us be. Somethin\u2019 you like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo considered this and withdrew the pistol. His face brightened. \u201cAlrighty then,\u201d he said, tucking the pistol into the waist of his jeans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWass goin\u2019 on out dere?\u201d Rooster\u2019s voice was hoarse and full of phlegm, his last word cut off by a nasty hacking cough that shook the tent walls.<\/p>\n

Violet picked up the grocery sacks. \u201cNothin\u2019 darlin\u2019,\u201d she said. \u201cRight as rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBest be getting on to your husband,\u201d Romeo said. He watched her scurry like a mouse to her tent.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t gotta be that way.\u201d Munchy\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

Romeo spun on his heel to face the man, the hairs on his neck prickling. He reached for his pistol, but settled when he saw Munchy wasn\u2019t talking to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a prick,\u201d Lou mumbled. \u201cA moon dog.\u201d<\/p>\n

They came down the river trail, Munchy first and Lou hot on his heels. Rainbow walked at a distance behind them, her arms wrapped around her narrow chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cTold ya I was sorry, Lou,\u201d Munchy said. \u201cStop being a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo threw a dead branch on the fire. \u201cWhat you guys fighting over now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Munchy was tall and lean and had skin the color of Georgia mud and a beard like steel wool. He wore a green stocking cap, smashed down over his ears, and boots he had taken off a dead man. When he looked back at Lou, he grinned sarcastically, and his big teeth seemed to glow in the low light.<\/p>\n

\u201cLou\u2019s got his panties in a bunch ’cause I took a twenty while mindin\u2019 his corner,\u201d Munchy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwas my corner!\u201d Lou said. \u201cAnd you ain\u2019t give me that twenty back. Belongs to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou weren\u2019t there,\u201d Munchy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t see how that matters,\u201d Lou said. \u201cIt was my corner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were in the bushes,\u201d Munchy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking a piss!\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

Lou was wiry and mangy like a starving dog. His face was red and pock scarred, and when he yelled at Munchy the cords stood out on his neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cSettle down,\u201d Romeo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor three hours?\u201d Munchy spun around to face Lou, but his grin broadened.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you leave your corner?\u201d Romeo asked.<\/p>\n

Lou opened his mouth and then shut it again. The fire danced in Romeo\u2019s eyes, as if his soul were on fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cTakin\u2019 a piss,\u201d Lou finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGimme the twenty,\u201d Romeo said, holding out his hand.<\/p>\n

Munchy pulled it from his pocket, wadded it up and threw it to Romeo. \u201cDon\u2019t care much anyway,\u201d he said. His grin disappeared.<\/p>\n

\u201cAssholes,\u201d Romeo said. \u201cYou\u2019re not even like children. You\u2019re like monkeys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwas my corner,\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

Romeo had forgotten all about Rainbow.<\/p>\n

\u201cCold over there,\u201d Romeo said.<\/p>\n

Rainbow shrugged.<\/p>\n

He watched her for a moment. Two weeks ago when she had first appeared at camp her hair had been streaked with pink. Now it was almost entirely black.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think?\u201d Romeo asked her.<\/p>\n

Rainbow shrugged again, and dropped her eyes. She was a mystery; quiet, hidden, like her face was a mask. Romeo wanted to take a peek at what was inside, touch it, taste it, dismantle it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you have for me?\u201d Romeo said, turning to Lou.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was my twenty,\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou owe me double tomorrow.\u201d Romeo stoked the fire with a stick and returned his gaze to Rainbow.<\/p>\n

Rainbow pulled a package of white socks from inside her coat and tossed it to Romeo. Romeo caught it with one hand, surprised.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d he said. He laughed. \u201cTake note, you sons of bitches. Outdone by a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo broke open the plastic packaging and separated a pair of socks from the rest, and tossed them back to Rainbow.<\/p>\n

\u201cSocks fit for a queen,\u201d he said, and in the glow of the fire his grin looked carved like a jack o\u2019lantern.<\/p>\n

Violet gave him what he liked in the middle of the night, but he couldn\u2019t stop thinking about Rainbow.<\/p>\n

By early morning light, he had decided it was time for her to earn her way into camp.<\/p>\n

He built a fire and then rattled Rainbow\u2019s tent. She was already awake.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday you\u2019re with me,\u201d he told her. There was no one else awake yet. Sunday was their day off.<\/p>\n

Rainbow sat down at the fire. Her hair hung in her eyes but he could feel her looking at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to show you the best corner in town.\u201d Romeo said, flashing his best stage smile. \u201cIt\u2019s time you learn from the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rainbow nodded and Romeo searched for any sign of fear she might be hiding. He saw none, and he wondered about that.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t have to be afraid,\u201d Romeo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not,\u201d Rainbow said, and went back to her tent.<\/p>\n

The man in the cowboy hat stumbled into the Green Street camp babbling like a fool. Lou let the man sit down by the remnants of the fire Romeo had left that morning, and they all stood watching him with queer fascination.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think he\u2019s stupid?\u201d Violet asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cStupid?\u201d Lou said. \u201cYou mean like soft in the head?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, like that. Mentally disturbed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man in the cowboy hat waved both hands in the air and shouted at something unseen. Lou nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYup,\u201d he said. \u201cI think he\u2019s off his rocker.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think he\u2019s dangerous?\u201d Violet asked. She shot a glance back at her tent. Rooster was sleeping, but last night he had stopped breathing. It had only been for a few seconds, but it was long enough to make her worry.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah,\u201d Lou said. \u201cHe\u2019s harmless.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man in the cowboy hat stood up and jammed a long finger at the sky. \u201cYou don\u2019t tell me!\u201d he yelled. \u201cI tell you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe kinda looks like Superman,\u201d Munchy said, grinning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s dangerous,\u201d Violet said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRomeo ain\u2019t gonna like him much,\u201d Scab said. \u201cYou\u2019re a fool for letting him stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShoot,\u201d Lou said. \u201cHe\u2019s alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man in the cowboy hat spun around three times and then sat back down, crossing his legs Indian style. He beat on his chest with the flat of his hand and howled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like his hat,\u201d Lou said. \u201cI think I\u2019ll take it from him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lou stood and walked over to the man. He snatched the hat of the man\u2019s head and turned back toward the others, half smiling, holding the hat up for them to see. When he turned back around, the man was back on his feet, his face only inches from Lou\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cAaah!\u201d Lou said, taking a step back, drawing a snigger from Munchy. \u201cWhat\u2019cha doin\u2019 there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not an Indian,\u201d the man said, reaching out and pulling the hat out of Lou\u2019s fingers. \u201cI don\u2019t make trades.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just foolin\u2019,\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

The man put the cowboy hat back on his head. He turned his right hand into a gun, sticking his index finger out and cocking the thumb, and then he pointed it at Lou. He made a puffing sound with his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cPow!\u201d he said, and then he shot Lou with his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re all kinds of messed up,\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

The man in the cowboy hat smiled. He blew smoke from his finger and then he put his imaginary gun into an imaginary holster on his hip. He sat back down and began to hum the Bonanza theme song.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we gonna do with him?\u201d Violet asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet rid of \u2018im,\u201d Munchy said. \u201cBefore Romeo kills him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe won\u2019t do such a thing,\u201d Violet said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll put a bullet in the man\u2019s head,\u201d Lou said. \u201cAnd then he\u2019ll keep the hat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe let Rainbow stay,\u201d Violet said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRainbow has something that Romeo wants,\u201d Munchy said. \u201cTits and a warm hole. This guy ain\u2019t got any of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPervert,\u201d Violet mumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d Lou yelled. \u201cWhat are you pointing at?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man\u2019s face was tilted toward the trees. He clicked his teeth together and began to count.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s nice to have someone else around,\u201d Violet said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShoot,\u201d Lou said. \u201cHe\u2019s a fruit loop.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Violet\u2019s tent, they could hear Rooster cough. The sound was horrible, and Violet once again thought about last night. Truth was she would have left the camp a long time ago if not for Rooster. He was too sick to move, too sick to do anything but die.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Lou finally said. \u201cThis asshole can\u2019t stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man in the cowboy hat had turned his back to them all, so he didn\u2019t see Lou approach him.<\/p>\n

\u201cUp you go,\u201d Lou said, tugging on the man\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should be in bed,\u201d Violet said.<\/p>\n

Lou turned and saw that Rooster had come out of his tent. His skin looked like sour milk and he had vomited in his sleep, the contents of it now crusted down the front of his shirt and in his beard. His hair hung long and nappy. His arms were trembling. Violet rushed to him and put a hand to his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy god, you\u2019re burning up.\u201d She turned to Lou and the others, eyes wide. \u201cHe\u2019s burning up!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus help him,\u201d Lou said. \u201cAin\u2019t nothing we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t look good, Rooster,\u201d Munchy said. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s time to see a hospital bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey ain\u2019t gonna see him,\u201d Violet said. \u201cYou know what happened last time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease.\u201d The man in the cowboy hat pulled out of Lou\u2019s grip. His eyes were red and wet with tears. \u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease,\u201d the man said. He was bawling like a baby now, snot bubbling from his nose. He stumbled forward, wiped his nose on his sleeve, and then howled. \u201cPLEASE!\u201d<\/p>\n

Violet pulled Rooster closer as the man in the cowboy hat approached them. His face was all puffy now and slimy with snot.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll go away,\u201d the man said. He put his hand on Rooster\u2019s chest. \u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet go of my friend!\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuiet, Lou!\u201d Violet snapped.<\/p>\n

Rooster started into one of his coughing fits, but the man in the cowboy hat didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou gonna help him, aren\u2019t you mister?\u201d Violet asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be stupid,\u201d Scab said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease,\u201d the man in the cowboy hat said. He closed his eyes and he sucked in air. Rooster began to scream.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s hurting him!\u201d Lou yelled. \u201cHe\u2019s hurting Rooster!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Munchy said.<\/p>\n

The man in the cowboy hat pulled his hand away from Rooster\u2019s chest. He stumbled backward, and then he fell. His mouth snapped open and he puked up something that looked like crude oil.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see that?\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all seen that,\u201d Munchy said.<\/p>\n

Rooster had stopped screaming. His eyes rolled back into his skull and he would have fallen if Violet wasn\u2019t holding onto him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019d you do?\u201d Lou asked. He kicked dirt at the man in the cowboy hat.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop it!\u201d Violet said. \u201cLook at Rooster.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sores around Rooster\u2019s mouth were gone. The veins along his arms and neck were no longer visible, his skin no longer translucent.<\/p>\n

\u201cSick man okay now,\u201d the man in the cowboy hat whispered. His stomach made a gurgling sound and he threw up again in the dirt. \u201cSick man happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my god, Lou,\u201d Violet said. \u201cIt\u2019s a miracle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rooster put a hand to his mouth, and when his eyes rolled toward Violet his face lit up, as if he hadn\u2019t seen her in a very long time. \u201cBaby,\u201d he said. \u201cBaby, that you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s me,\u201d Violet said, wrapping her arms around Rooster and wetting his shoulder with her tears. \u201cIt\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man in the cowboy hat crawled back to the fire. He drew his knees to his chest and slowly rocked back and forth. His lips were stained black. He tilted his head to the sky and started to hum again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a miracle,\u201d Scab said. \u201cAnd Romeo\u2019s gonna be pissed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo found himself in a situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t want to,\u201d Rainbow told him.<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t going to beg. He had her pinned behind a dumpster, and he could take her by force, but he didn\u2019t want that either. He wanted to smash her face in, destroy the blank pools in her eyes that stared back at him, reflecting his own face. But he wouldn\u2019t do that either. He let her go, wiped the spit off his lips, watched as she stood, dusted herself off, and turned away from him. In one quick moment of defiance she had taken his crown.<\/p>\n

Romeo kicked a rock and then he stormed out of the alley. She would follow him, he thought. All the way to Green Street. And then he would humiliate her in front of the others. They didn\u2019t love her and they never would, not like they loved him. He would tell her to leave and they would agree, and then she would be gone.<\/p>\n

He turned down Green Street and once he was on the camp trail his thoughts were cut short by the sound of a man howling like a coyote.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell?\u201d Romeo began to run.<\/p>\n

Lou and Munchy stood next to each other, watching the man in the cowboy hat holler and flip his hat into the air. When Lou saw Romeo he hit Munchy on the arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cRomeo,\u201d Lou said, rubbing his chin. He whistled and rolled his eyes. \u201cYou\u2019re just in time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell are you talking about?\u201d Romeo asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the show,\u201d Lou said, and pointed at the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can see the man,\u201d Romeo said. \u201cWhat the hell is he doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBirdy birdy,\u201d the man said. He flapped his arms, stepped up on the tree stump and took a leap.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s trying to fly,\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou all gone mad?\u201d Romeo said. He could hear Rainbow clearing the trail behind him but he refused to acknowledge her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d Munchy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBirdy!\u201d the man with the cowboy hat bellowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho let the freak into camp?\u201d Romeo asked. He could feel the heat rising up his neck and into his cheeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s visiting,\u201d Scab said. He was sitting in the grass, next to his bike.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet rid of him!\u201d Romeo shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t,\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCuz he\u2019s a hero.\u201d Lou nodded toward the edge of camp.<\/p>\n

Romeo turned in that direction and saw Violet and Rooster coming up from the river. Rooster was walking without any help, and Violet was laughing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody better tell me what\u2019s going on,\u201d Romeo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBirdy!\u201d the man with the cowboy hat said. He jumped off the stump, landed, and saw Romeo for the first time. His mouth fell open and his eyes went wide. \u201cAggggg!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d Romeo asked the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgggg!\u201d the man said and fell on his knees. He bowed his head to the ground so that his face was almost in the dirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re scaring him I think,\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow hold on a minute,\u201d Romeo said. He approached the man slowly. \u201cJust hold on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo put his hand on the man\u2019s shoulder, and when he turned back to Lou he was grinning.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I was wrong,\u201d Romeo said. \u201cThe man\u2019s kneeling. See? He\u2019s kneeling before his king.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lou rubbed his chin but said nothing.<\/p>\n

Romeo patted the man\u2019s shoulder. \u201cIt\u2019s alright. I won\u2019t hurt you now. What you did for me was nice. A nice gesture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot for you,\u201d the man said, and bowed his head lower, kissed the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that you say?\u201d Romeo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot for you. Not for you. Not for yooooouuuu!\u201d<\/p>\n

The man shook his head violently. Then he pointed. Romeo followed the man\u2019s finger and saw it was pointed at Rainbow. She stood along the bushes, next to the trail opening, her arms wrapped around her chest, her black hair in her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cQueen,\u201d the man said. \u201cQueeeeeennnnnn!\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo hit the man then, connected clean with the square of his jaw, and the man flew backward with a bark.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet rid of him,\u201d Romeo said, looking from Lou to Munchy. Neither of them moved. \u201cI said get rid of him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRomeo,\u201d Lou said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do it,\u201d Romeo said. There was a bomb in his head. He could hear it ticking, and soon it would explode. The man was trying to get up off the ground and Romeo gave him a shove. The man fell on his ass and Romeo kicked him in the knee. \u201cLike that, asshole? Does it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave him alone,\u201d Rainbow said.<\/p>\n

The sound of her voice made Romeo pause. He pushed hair out of his eyes and glared at Rainbow over a hunched shoulder. \u201cFuck you,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo kicked the man in the ribs, heard something crack. He kicked him again, the fever in his head now a wild fire. The man bawled, tears dripping from his eyes like rain. Romeo rolled the man onto his back with his foot, and then put a knee in the man\u2019s gut.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave him alone, Romeo!\u201d This time it was Violet.<\/p>\n

Romeo hit the man in the face.<\/p>\n

\u201cLEAVE HIM ALONE!\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo looked up at Violet. She stood next to Rooster, his arm around her.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop beating that man,\u201d Violet said. \u201cHe\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThought you were sick,\u201d Romeo said, looking at Rooster, ignoring Violet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was,\u201d Rooster said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat man made Rooster better,\u201d Violet said.<\/p>\n

Romeo looked at Munchy and Munchy nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeen it with my own two eyes, boss,\u201d Munchy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpecial,\u201d Romeo said. \u201cThat what he is? Special?\u201d He grabbed a handful of the man\u2019s hair and slammed his head into the dirt. \u201cDon\u2019t look special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at Rooster,\u201d Violet said. \u201cHe\u2019s better. On account of what that man did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romeo wiped his face with the back of his hand. \u201cIt\u2019s a conspiracy. You\u2019re all messin\u2019 with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d Rooster said, nodding. \u201cHe — \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cLiar!\u201d Romeo shouted. When the king shouted everyone in his court trembled. \u201cYou\u2019re messing with me, Violet. All of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat man saved Rooster\u2019s life,\u201d Munchy said. \u201cLook at him, Romeo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re dead!\u201d Romeo yelled. \u201cYou\u2019re all dead! You\u2019re messing with me. Stop messing with me!\u201d<\/p>\n

He slammed the man\u2019s head into the ground again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m special,\u201d Romeo said. \u201cYou all forget that. I\u2019m special!\u201d He pulled a knife from his pocket.<\/p>\n

\u201cRomeo,\u201d Munchy said. \u201cDon\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Romeo wasn\u2019t listening. He popped the blade.<\/p>\n

\u201cTeach you a lesson,\u201d Romeo said.<\/p>\n

Something hit him then. Something hard. Romeo reached toward the back of his head where the pain was blooming, and his fingers pulled away slick with blood. He twisted around and saw Rainbow standing behind him, a large rock in her hand. There was blood on the jagged edge of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhaaaa?\u201d he started to ask, but then she hit him in the face and he dropped the knife.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re dead!\u201d Romeo said. Blood poured from his nose, making his shirt and hands slick. He found the knife lying in the dirt and reached for it. Something hit him in the eye. He blinked, and something hit him in the arm. He turned toward Violet and Rooster, saw Violet\u2019s arm go back, saw something fly through the air, and barked as it hit him in the neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop it!\u201d Romeo yelled.<\/p>\n

The others gathered around him. They all held rocks in their hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cMutiny!\u201d Romeo said. He picked up a handful of dirt and tossed it at the air between him and the others. Another rock zinged him in the mouth. This one came from Lou.<\/p>\n

Somewhere he heard a grown man crying, and then he realized it was him. Desperation rose from his chest like fire. He wiped his eyes and focused on the knife, then lunged for it. His fingers wrapped around it and all he wanted to do was slice the world open, watch it bleed. He spun around with the knife, growling, and Rainbow smashed him in the ear with her rock. Romeo gaped, stunned, and she hit him again and again until he fell, and his kingdom fell with him.<\/p>\n

The rock Rainbow held in her hand was slimy with Romeo\u2019s blood. She dropped it, suddenly sickened by it. She turned to the others, eyes wide.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll hail the queen,\u201d Lou said, dropping his own rocks.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy god,\u201d Violet said.<\/p>\n

Rainbow knelt by the man Romeo had beaten. She picked up his cowboy hat and placed it on his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody knows me,\u201d Rainbow said.<\/p>\n

One by one they came before her and knelt in the dirt. She still had Romeo\u2019s blood on her hands, and they were trembling.<\/p>\n

Violet was the last to come. She touched Rainbow\u2019s face gingerly, and then she too knelt. She was laughing, though, as she said the words. Laughing because the world was funny. Laughing because nothing made sense anymore.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll hail the queen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

And the queen began to cry.<\/p>\n

SEAN EALY<\/b> has been published in Under the Bed Magazine<\/i>, Fabula Argentea<\/i>, Rose Red Review<\/i> and Menda City Review<\/i>. Years ago, he discovered an ancient Hermes typewriter in the garage, and has been lost in the words ever since. Native Oregonian and avid Red Sox fan, you can find him on Twitter @SeanEaly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sean Ealy The Romeo King of Green Street wiped his hands on his grimy pants and plopped down in front of the meager fire to warm his bones. It was the damp that bothered him the most, made his joints … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":6170,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6172","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P15duy-1By","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6172"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6172\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6187,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6172\/revisions\/6187"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jerseydevilpress.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}