story

I saw Jordan getting beaten up again, as I walked home from the store. I sighed and put my groceries down. Nobody would take them, and if they did, big whoop. I walked over, slowed by my crutches, and heard Jordan threatening them. “You’d better leave me alone, or my brother will come and find me. You don’t want to mess with my brother.” He said, sounding really scared. “Jacob, shouldn’t you be playing with boys your own size?” I asked, announcing my arrival. As soon as he saw me, he relaxed a bit. “Boys, lay off my little brother.” I said when I was about five feet away from them. “What are you going to do about it?” The biggest boy said, looking like he was definitely ready for an easy fight. “Boys,” I said in a reproaching voice, getting a bit annoyed, “hands off my brother.” Then the biggest boy said in a taunting voice, “Hey guys, she thinks she can make us leave her brother alone. Now where would she get the idea that she could take any of us in a fight? Especially when she's on crutches.” He was definitely asking for a beating, and my patience was wearing thin. Dangerously thin, at least for their worthless hides. Then one of the bigger boys kicked Jordan. “Whatcha gonna do about it?”  They were definitely asking for a fight that they couldn’t win. “Boys, if you don’t leave my brother alone, I’m not going to be very happy with you. I really would prefer it if I didn’t have to use force to get you to leave my brother alone.” I said a heavy note of annoyance in my voice. Then one of the biggest boys punched Jordan in the stomach. That snapped my patience to pieces; very, very small pieces. I lunged for the boy who had hit my brother, but strong hands grabbed my waist and pulled me back. It was Shane. “Shane?” I asked, dumbly, too surprised to say anything else. “Boys, knock it off.” He said in a demanding voice. They all froze. Then the leader of their little gang approached him. “You don’t have anybody to help you win the fight this time, Shane. What are you going to do about it?” The boy said, saying each word slowly, thinking that he was rubbing it in. “Don’t under estimate me. Or a girl on crutches.” He added teasingly, looking at me. “Yeah. Right. What threat does a girl on crutches prove to be?” The boy retorted. “I’ll whack you into oblivion, that’s what!” I snapped. Ever since I sprained my ankle on those stairs, nobody has given me any respect. “She’s not kidding either. She whacked me for a while after she got them. She blames me ‘because she sprained her ankle.” Shane said, trying hard not to laugh. “Shane, are you embarrassing Molly again?” A very familiar voice called from my right. “And here comes Jasper. With him here, you don’t stand a chance.” I said, a little bit smug. “Who’s Jasper?” The boy asked, doubtfully. Then Jasper came into view. “You mean Anderson?! He’s weak and gutless! You think he’ll prove a challenge to any of us?” The group of boys started laughing. Then my self control slipped. I sprang out of Shane’s arms so fast, that not even Jasper could grab me when I lunged to attack the biggest boy. I whacked him so hard in the head, that it knocked him unconscious. But not for very long. “Molly, you’re going to break those crutches from whacking people.” Shane scolded me, after the boy  was unconscious for a few seconds. “Molly, do we honestly need to get you a wheel chair instead of those crutches?” Jasper asked sounding very amused at my reaction. He was definitely having fun. The other boys didn’t know what to do, so they just stood there. The boy regained consciousness after about two minutes. “I wasn’t kidding when I said she’d whack you hard if you messed with her. Now let go of her brother.” Shane said, still trying to repress laughter. “Why don’t you make us?!” The boy retorted, obviously very unhappy about being knocked unconscious by a girl on crutches. “Because we were hoping that we wouldn’t have to.” Jasper said savoring the bemused looks he was getting. “Anderson, why don’t you run along home like a good mama’s boy?” One boy said, looking very proud of him self for saying this. “Because I’m not hiding anymore. I kind of got busted at school, so I’m not going to bother with blending in anymore.” Jasper retorted. He was looking like he wanted to flatten that kid’s face. “Oh yeah? You think you could take one of us? Prove it.” The leader said, looking smug. “Well, if a girl on crutches can take you out, I hope you’re not the strongest.” Jasper retorted, clearly having a blast with this. Well, that sure got the kid fuming. He was still leaning on a tree to keep his balance, so he sent forward the second biggest guy. A bemused look crossed Jasper and Shane’s  Faces when the boy approached Jasper. “Joshua? Should’ve known that you’d get into the wrong crowd if I didn’t help you train. Look at you, you’re bullying smaller kids. You were raised better than that.” Jasper said looking very disappointed. “Huh?” I asked Shane, wondering if he would know. “Joshua is Jaspers brother.” He said, clearing things up for me. “Again. Stalker.” Jasper muttered, sending Shane into a silent fit of laughter. “He’s your brother!?” The gang’s leader demanded, looking like he wanted to punch something. “Yes, I am. I’m also older than him and in charge of him while mom’s away. Go home. Now. I’ll talk to you about this later.” Jasper said an air of authority in his voice that made sure that you followed his instructions. “No.” Joshua said firmly as if to end the subject. “What was that, Joshua?” Jasper said in a mocking yet surprised voice. “Mom said the better fighter was in charge.” Joshua said in a next page 