Ab e in Ar m s by Pe g i De i t z Sh e a
CHAPTER ONE What s your name, boy? He stares into the mirrored sunglasses. Words don t come out. I ll tell you mine, then you tell me yours. What s behind those mirrors? All he can see is himself. What s inside that camouflage uniform? My name is Grant. See, it s easy. Now tell me yours. He finds a voice. It comes out: James. Earth to Abe! Huh? What? I told you to say my name, Abe, Monica insisted. I love how you say it, like we re in a café in Paris. Abe parted her curtain of thin braids and found her ear. Moan ee cah, he said and felt her shiver in his arms. Monica yanked the car seat lever, and next thing he knew, he was lying on top of her. Giggling, she rubbed
2 abe in arms his shaved head as if it were a crystal ball. Whoa! he said, doing a push-up. He rolled back onto the driver s seat and gripped the steering wheel. What s the matter? Monica asked, still lying flat. Abe glanced over. A mile of creamy nougat skin stretched from her low ride jeans up to her pastel yellow shirt. It was the first thing he d noticed about her body at the indoor track meet. The girls uniforms looked more like bikinis. It wasn t fair. How could a guy concentrate on hurdles with all these flashing belly buttons and flexing butts? Monica sat up straight, the seat clanging upright. She straightened her clothes and asked, Abe, don t you like me? I do! A lot, he replied immediately. Then, how come you don t wanna hook up? Abe shrugged. I just want to take things slow. Monica muttered, If we go any slower, we ll be in reverse. Abe sighed then put his arm around her. He drew her close and kissed her on the forehead. Come on, Abe, she coaxed. That s the way my little brother Jermaine kisses me. Gimme me some of that fur on your chin. She threw her arms around his neck, pressed against him and sealed his mouth with her lips. He kissed back, but when her hand wandered south, he blurted, I can t! I m sorry. It s not you, Monica, really. It s me, I m sorry. Monica slipped away from him, and straightened her clothing. I should be getting home, she said quietly. I thought you wanted to go get coffee or something.
pegi deitz shea 3 No, I don t think that s a good idea anymore. Abe muttered, I m sorry. Me too. In silence, they waited for the defroster to clear the windows. Abe then drove out of the park and headed toward the Vernon Heights section of town. Even though it was below freezing, it was still Friday night. Guys crowded the lit-up sports complex, basketballs slapping the tar and clanging on rims. Girls, all puffs of steamy gossip, huddled and bounced, trying to stay warm on the sidelines. Cars throbbed with cranked up bass. Abe, wait. Let me off here, Monica said. When Abe threw the car in park, Monica got halfway out. She took a deep breath and asked, Abe, are you gay? Abe s stomach clenched. What? Cause, if you are, it would actually make me feel better. You know, like it s not personal, not about me. I m not gay! Well, Monica hesitated a moment, I heard some things like you and Niko Niko s my brother! Monica shrugged. Not by blood. Everybody knows you re from Africa. This is unreal! Monica, you can t believe Abe banged his fist against the steering wheel, then punched the roof of the car. Monica jumped away, her eyes wide, and ran off. For a few moments, Abe watched her, now smiling with her friends. Suddenly, they glanced back at him and laughed. God, he hated being laughed at
4 abe in arms Laughter is stabbing them, ripping them apart, a pail over their heads, banging against a wall in a school. Steven cries, James clutches Steven s hand. What had Dr. Carlson told him to do when the horrors of Liberia came flooding back? Quick! Leave the scene, do something physical, productive, safe, go play soccer. Abe gunned the engine of the silver Camry and peeled off. Screw Monica! He drove to the high school, hoping Niko was up for a game of pool. Good timing. Crowds were bubbling out of the basketball game. The girls team must have won again. Everybody was jumping, screeching, waving their red and gold varsity jackets like lasso ropes. Vernon High had one of the best girls basketball teams in Maryland. The crowd always contained at least one recruiter from a top college program like Tennessee, Texas, Duke or Connecticut. Good there was Niko. With Maria, damn it. This was beat Niko hanging around with girls, leaving Abe to fend for himself. Niko was becoming a real player. Look at him, laughing. Why was everybody always laughing? laughing, having a good time, messing with people before killing Remove yourself from danger, Carlson had told him. Think positive. You re in a race, you re winning. Abe drove to the south side of the school and got out. He climbed the fence and started running on the track. It was hard as cement in this weather. He