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It all happened so fast that Terry could not remember pushing her way out of the grandstand or even stumbling over Betty Gorawlski. Nor was she aware of Calvin chasing after her into the infield. The moment had been broken into shards: Bobby plowing elbow first into Matty . . . Matty's body flying backward, his head smacking the ground . . . Matty shooting up from the ground, on top of Bobby, mouth fixed on the bully's fat pink face . . . Matty howling like a . . . like God knew what. |
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She went after him into the woods, leaving a knot of people around Bobby, who lay on the ground with a bloody towel against his face. |
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Voices swirled around her. Somebody said to get an ambulance. Another said he would need stitches. Another said something about drugs. Suddenly Betty Gorawlski's face filled her vision. "YOUR KID'S A GODDAMN ANIMAL," she screamed. "HE SHOULD BE PUT AWAY." |
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The words clanged in Terry's head as she pushed out of the crowd. Her son had shot into Magog Woods, and people were chasing after him. |
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When she got to the trees, she turned to Calvin. "Keep them back." |
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"Don't let them go after him." |
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She ran toward the woods behind the others. "Don't you touch him," she yelled to them. "I'm his mother . . ." |
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One man in black stopped and turned toward her. In the light she |
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