The Chrome Suite by Sandra Birdsell Page A

When he tried to touch her breast, she shook her head no. Instead, she reached down, pulled her skirt up around her waist, and closed her eyes. Nothing left for Mel to do but climb on. And then it was over.
    Mel hears Elsa step up behind him. Her fingers pluck something from his hair. Then she walks around to face him. She closes her eyes offering her mouth for him to kiss. Her pouty lips move towards his and his stomach heaves. He thinks wildly, I can’t do it. I can’t kiss her. Suddenly her eyes fly open, pale agates stare into his with a question. “Did you hear that?” she asks.
    Then Mel hears a voice too, calling out. His name.
    “It’s Jill.” Elsa turns and scrambles up the embankment. Mel runs after Elsa as she sprints among the trees. The soles of his shoes are too smooth, and he keeps losing his footing on the damp ground, stumbling and crashing into trees.
    “Mel!” Jill’s voice has become sharp with fear. Mel feels as though he’s knee-deep in water, trying to run, impeded by his awkwardness, and he wants to weep in frustration. When he reaches the edge of the park and climbs up onto the grassy hill, he’s red-faced and panting. Elsa is far ahead. He tucks his chin into his chest and runs, aware through the hammering of his heart that there are voices other than Jill’s. When he looks up he can’t see her, only boys on bicycles, riding in a circle. Elsa stops running and waits for him to catch up. Her eyes bulge with anger. “Tell them to stop.” Mel sees Jill in the centre of their circle, cowering, her head tilted at a crazy angle while the boys ride around her making clucking noises. Theyhave her by the hair. Mel feels the pain of it in his own scalp. He steps towards them, angry, his eyes fixed on the crouching form of Jill. They see him coming and brake to a stop. “Hey look! It’s Howdy Doody.” Jill tries to move towards him. She whimpers as they yank her back into place. They’re older, taller than he is, Mel realizes with a sinking heart. “Let her go. That’s my sister.” He spoke quietly. He almost said, Let her go, please.
    “Well, way to go! Howdy Doody has a sister.” The leader laughs, pushes out of the circle, and heads over to Mel. He rides at top speed, brakes at the final moment, and the bicycle slides sideways in front of Mel. “Make us stop.” Mel smells stale cigarette smoke. He can see the hairs in the boy’s nostrils, he’s that close. Mel swings, wanting to knock him off balance, but the boy is quick and has Mel by the wrist with one hand and slams him hard in the stomach with the other. Mel hears himself grunt as he falls backwards onto the grass. The bicycle thuds to the ground beside him and he sees a running shoe swing forward and he thinks, Oh God, I’m dead. The shoe stops inches from his chin and then comes down slowly. Mel feels the pressure of it against his chest. He’s pinned. Elsa’s legs flash by his head. Mel hears her scream at them, high-pitched, in German. “Hey you guys,” the voice above Mel says, “check it out, eh? It’s the Tasmanian Devil.”
    As Elsa runs towards the other two, their faces betray their uncertainty as they see the rage in her twisted features. Jill is freed suddenly as they back away from Elsa’s onslaught of words and her fingernails clawing at their faces. Mel lies still, not daring to lift his head but wanting desperately to know what’s happening. The pressure against his chest lifts suddenly as the leader swears and bolts away. Mel sits up. One of the boys is cupping his nose and blood runs between his fingers. Elsa grabs Jill and pulls her to her feet. The leader strides towards them, his fists curled at his sides. “I’ll show you what fighting dirty means.” Beyond them Mel sees anadult running in their direction. He jumps to his feet, waves, and calls out. The man waves back. “Here now! What’s going on over there?”
    The leader swipes at a dark hank of hair trailing across his forehead. He