Protection   A Story by Kae Bender     © Copyright 1998 by Kae Bender

"John!"

"Why you give that boy such a no account name?"

"Named after his good fer nothin' father, if that was even what he was, for all the good that prick ever done me.... John!" The tone of her snarl warned the boy to answer promptly.

"Yes, 'm?" he panted, racing from the landing where he'd been trying to help Nitra print the cover page for her history paper.

Ester flipped a bill at the boy, "Run down to Martín's an' get me a pack."

Knowing better, he protested, "Aw, Ma. Why you try an' send me? Martín, he knows I'm underage."

"If you'd act tough an' not like you doin' somethin' wrong all the time, he wouldn't have no idea you be 15."

"Ma," John inadvisedly persisted, "I doan' look close to no 18 let alone 21. Whyn't you two go...."

The backhand caught him harder than the bad feelings between him and his mama's man. "Doan talk back to your mama, boy. I half a mind to take you apart, you sass off like that 'round me."

"No, Willie! I ain't sassin'. I talking truth. I cain't pass for no 21...."

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