Prank Night by Symone Craven Page A

many wedgies he’s received during this school
year alone. He has the permanent burn running down his ass crack to
prove it.
    Lonnie, however, appears to
come out harmless every time. And Dennis can see why. The guy
approaches him, sticks out his hand and says, “I don’t think I’ve
ever seen you before. I’m Lonnie James-Osmet.”
    As Lonnie extends his hand,
Dennis cowers and nearly falls off his seat. He takes a deep
breath. “Dennis Burbur,” he replies. “Your friends were telling me
about you.”
    Lonnie pats Bobby and Nick
on the back. “Hopefully all good things,” he says.
    That’s when Bobby stands up
from the table. “Dennis, will you excuse us?” He nudges Nick in the
arm, who suddenly shoots up from the table also. “We’re gonna take
a quick lap around the cafeteria. Be back in 5.” Then the two of
them scurry away with Lonnie in tow.
    When they’ve reached a good
distance from Dennis, they begin to slow their stride. “Where were
you guys this morning?” Lonnie asks. “I thought we were all going
to blow off first period and get high in the park.”
    “ I forgot,” Bobby
replies.
    Nick just shrugs and
mutters ditto. “Look, Lonnie. Bobby and I have been thinking long
and hard. And we think that it’s not such a good idea for all of us
to be hanging out right now.”
    “ For prank night,” Bobby
says. “You understand, right?”
    Lonnie shakes his head. “No
I don’t,” he answers. Bobby and Nick are surprised to see Lonnie so
distraught. “I thought we were friends.”
    “ Don’t get us wrong” Bobby
replies. “We like being your friend.”
    “ It’s great,” Nick
says.
    Then, Bobby regains
Lonnie’s attention. “But, the thing is this: You’re not a big fan
of prank night. You don’t want to be a part of it. And we get
that.”
    “ It’s childish,” Nick spits
out.
    “ But,” Bobby says, pointing
to himself and Nick. “We have to do it so we don’t get pummeled by
the Reagan brothers.”
    “ Hold on,” Lonnie replies.
“This is all because of them? You should stand up to those two
jerks. The only reason they pick fights with everyone is because
they’re so insecure.”
    “ Right,” Nick says. “The
two of them definitely have some major character flaws. Regardless,
our asses get kicked every year.”
    “ But,” Bobby interjects.
“They don’t touch you. And they don’t touch you because you’re
technically a cool kid.”
    Lonnie smiles. “Thanks, but
I think you’re cool guys too. That’s why I hang out with
you.”
    Bobby and Nick give Lonnie
a piteous look. They truly like him, and not just for the benefits
of being his friend, which means free marijuana, a swim in his
pool, a chance to play basketball on his own private court. Lonnie
is genuinely one of the good ones. Bobby furrows his sad eyebrows
at first, reconsidering his decision. But, then Nick coughs
abruptly, bringing Bobby back to reality. He shakes himself
out of it. “This is hard to do,” Bobby says. “But, hey, let’s just
wait until prank night is over. Then we’ll talk.”
    They leave him there
without even saying good-bye. Across the quad he sees the Reagan
brothers laughing and having a good time. He storms over to them
and catches Mitch’s eye. Mitch grins and jabs his baby brother in
the rib. Kenny grunts at first and gives Mitch a threatening stare.
Then, he notices Lonnie and the same sneer appears on his face
also.
    “ Well, well, well.” Mitch
jumps from the statue’s plinth. “Lonnie James-Osmet, what a
pleasant surprise.”
    “ We were beginning to think
you were too good for us.” Kenny cracks his knuckles. “What brings
you over to our side of the quad?”
    Lonnie takes a deep breath.
He knows he can lose his patience easily; it’s one of the reasons
why he doesn’t cross paths with the Reagan brothers. “About this
prank night,” he says. “Can we just drop it?”
    The Reagan brothers glance
at one another, confused. “‘Drop it?’” Kenny