Close Out by Todd Strasser

to curse up a storm, swearing and threatening that he’d kill them, but Kai and his friends just kept pelting him. Finally the guy put his hands over his head and face and turned away, jogging up the beach until he was out of flying jellyfish range.
    He stopped and glared at them. “This ain’t over, dipshits.”
    â€œOh, no?” Derek said. “Then come on back.”
    Goldilocks stormed toward the parking lot, still wiping jellyfish off his face.
    Kai exchanged high fives with Derek and Everett.
    â€œWay to go, guys,” Kai said. “And seriously, thanks.”
    â€œAnytime,” Derek said. “That was fun.”
    â€œI’m lucky you guys had good aim,” Kai said. “He almost got me.”
    â€œNot a chance.” Derek pointed at a dead horseshoe crab lying on its back in the sun, with flies buzzing around it. “If he’d gottenany closer, I was going to nail him in the face with that.”
    Kai looked down at the dead horseshoe. Dead jellyfish may have been gross, but dead horseshoe crabs were beyond gross. And yet he had no doubt that Derek would have picked it up and smashed Goldilocks with it.
    By now Bean, Booger, and Lucas had come in to shore. Bean had Kai’s board with him. Shauna was still out at Screamers with Everett’s and Derek’s boards. “Dudes, that was crazy! ‘Attacker Repelled by Jellyfish Defense!’” Bean said, like he was quoting a newspaper headline.
    Everett and Derek squatted down and scrubbed their hands vigorously with wet sand to try to get the jellyfish slime off. Then they both dove into the surf and swam back out to the break, where Shauna was waiting with their boards.
    â€œAnyone else going back out?” Booger asked.
    â€œI hate to say this,” Bean said. “Even though this is the first time in a week that we’ve got waves, I think I’m gonna split. Something about seeing that guy here has kind of killed it for me for today.”
    â€œI know what you’re saying,” Kai said.“I’m thinking of packing it in and heading over to Teddy’s. I’m in the middle of a couple of projects.”
    â€œOkay, guys, catch you later,” Booger said, and picked up his bodyboard.
    That reminded Kai of something. “Can you do me a favor, Booger? When you get out there, tell Shauna to try to set up a little farther from the curl, okay? Like out on the shoulder of the wave. I think she’s starting too deep under the peak. And tell her not to forget to angle the board.”
    â€œSure thing, dude.” Booger headed back out.
    That left Lucas, Bean, and Kai on the beach. Kai and Bean were about to pick up their boards and go when Lucas said, “Wait a minute.”
    Kai straightened up. “Yeah?”
    â€œDid I hear you say something to that guy about Big Dave?” Lucas asked.
    Kai and Bean shared a look. Neither answered. But in a way, their silence was an answer.
    â€œSo what’s going on?” Lucas asked. “I mean, what was that about?”
    â€œHe had a bunch of boards that belong to Curtis,” Kai said. “So Bean and I took them back.”
    â€œAnd what’s that got to do with Big Dave?” Lucas asked.
    â€œMaybe you should ask your father,” Kai said.
    Lucas frowned, but didn’t say anything more. He picked up his board and headed for the water. Bean and Kai walked up the beach with their boards under their arms.
    â€œHow come you didn’t tell him about Big Dave?” Bean asked.
    â€œGotta have proof,” Kai said. “I mean, you and I both know that he was almost definitely involved, but why should anyone else believe us?”
    â€œHow’re you gonna get proof?” Bean asked. “Nobody saw him sell the boards to Goldilocks, and you know for sure neither of them would ever admit it”
    â€œYou never know,” Kai said. “Stranger things have happened.”
    Bean stared