Bobby was running late for his first day at his new school. He pedaled his bike as fast as he could, kicking up the gravels on the dirt road shortcut he had found on the weekend. Passing the grocery store put him on the last long stretch before he passed the neighborhood where the school was located. It also sent him past the town dump.
It bothered him when he first saw it and it bothered him even more now. He headed down that last stretch just thinking to himself, "Keep your eyes straight ahead and just don't look at it". The smell was awful and the sight of mounds of garbage made it that much worse. He pedaled even faster. As he came to where the best view of the dump was through the trees, he began to slow down. His pedaling slowed and he coasted to a stop. He wasn't sure why he stopped but he stood there with his bike between his legs and stared at the pile of garbage and filth through the trees.
The heap of trash almost seemed alive, the cool morning air causing the internal heat to rise and fog the air like breath. Bobby kept staring, thinking he saw it heave with each expulsion of steam. At the edge of one pile he spotted a huge rat looking around for food. That fits, he thought to himself. He watched the rate continue digging in the trash and slowly walking through the mess. Then Bobby couldn't believe what happened next. The rat stopped like it had found breakfast, dug a little into the trash and then, poof, disappeared! It must have found something it really liked, he thought. But he knew deep down the rat had not dug itself into the pile. It had been absorbed.
He snapped out of the trance and glanced at his watch. Now he definitely had to get going. He did not want to be late on his first day.
Bobby was used to moving to new schools a lot. His dad was a high level marketing director with a national company and that meant the family was moving every couple of years. He usually had no trouble adjusting and making new friends. Bobby always thought of himself as fairly likeable and generally got along with everyone.
He arrived on time, reported to the office he and his mom had been to the previous Friday and waited for his class assignment. "Well, Bobby," said principal Jeffries. "We're putting you in Miss Ward's class. She's got the smallest class and could use one more fine student." He smiled at Bobby but then wrinkled his brow a little. Bobby thought he might have a touch of indigestion but was about to find out what caused that look of uncertainty to come over the principal's face.
One thing this new school had that he hadn't run into before, though, was Don Becker. Don was the monster of the sixth grade, a bully since the day he walked into Crestwood Elementary. When Miss Ward found out last summer she would be getting Don in her class, she protested, but her previous excellence at handling problem students made her the most logical choice. Old Mrs. Waterton wouldn't be able to handle him and Mr. Barnes didn't have, well, the backbone for enforcing authority. She was stuck with him and would have to make the most of it.
Principal Jeffries brought Bobby into the room for introductions. "Boys and girls, I'd like you all to meet our newest student here at Crestwood, Bobby Nelson." The class all said "Hi, Bobby" with a few "How ya doin's" thrown in. Bobby smiled, waved to the class, took his seat and began to settle in when he heard a low, deep voice, lower than all of the other boys in the room. "Ah, fresh meat," it said. Bobby turned in the general direction of the voice. He didn't have to wonder who said it; the face of Don Becker made it clear he was originator of the comment. Bobby felt uneasy and rightly so.
The rest of the day was uneventful. Bobby made several new friends with ease and thought one of them, Larry, would become a close friend. They had much in common. Larry was also the first to warn him about Don. "He's a real wack job," Larry said. "Somebody said he tied a cat to a tree last summer and set it on fire. He broke Freddy Cavanaugh's nose last year and got suspended for a week. I think he's done something bad every year he's been here. Like I said, he's a real wack job. He'll probably give you some grief before it's over."
"Don't bother me," replied Bobby. "I've been picked on before. They all get over it after a while."
The boys headed out the door together at the end of school, running towards the bike rack. Just as Bobby was getting on his ride, he heard from behind him "Hey new kid!" It was Don standing there with his hands on his hips and a smirk on his face.
"Hey you," he yelled at Bobby again. "Look at me."
Bobby turned around and said, "Hey, I don't want no trouble."
"More than trouble lookin' at cha," answered Don. "I don't like new kids."
Larry moved in. "Hey Don, back off, will ya? Bobby's ok, just like us. Give us a break."
"Stuff it Larry. I got no beef with you, just don't like the new kid. I think maybe I ought to teach him a thing or two. Maybe make him whimper a little."
"Hey, don't pull that tough guy stuff with me," said Bobby. "Just leave ok? I'm heading home."
"Chicken boy, chicken boy," laughed Don. "I'll get you."
Don got distracted by something else and turned and walked off.
"Dork," said Larry. "But watch out for him. Like I said, he's a real wack job."
"Whatever," said Bobby. "Hey, you know the way I go home I pass this really weird looking dump. It's down towards the end that dirt road that goes through the woods. What's up with that place anyway?"
"It's been there forever, I think," replied Larry. "Old as the hills. I bet there's junk there from the dinosaur days."
"Well, I was by there this morning. The place seemed almost alive. I'd hate to have to be there at night."
"Then you'd better hit it," said Larry. "Since daylight savings time ended it gets dark here before you know it. See you tomorrow, ok?"
"Right," answered Bobby.
Forgetting all about Don, Bobby hopped on his bike and began the ride home. It was still a while until sunset, but the overcast skies made it seem later than it was. There was a brisk breeze too.
Bobby headed down the dirt road that would pass the dump not really thinking about anything other than he was going to like this new school. Most of the kids were okay. He thought about Don for a minute. Bullies are everywhere, he thought. Nothing special about him.
As he approached the dump, he could see a figure leaning against a tree by the road. He slowed down a little trying to focus on who or what it was. He slowed down even more. A shaft of light broke through the clouds and brightened the road. It was Don.
"Hey new kid. Just hold on a second."
Bobby stopped about twenty feet from Don. He looked around but they were the only ones there.
"I told you to watch out," Don said as he started walking towards Bobby. He reached in his pocket and pulled out what looked like a short piece of metal pipe. "New kids need to be taught who's boss around here."
Bobby dropped his bike as Don started to trot in his direction. He looked around for something to use as a weapon but there was nothing. Don was running towards him now with the pipe raised above his head and ready to strike. Bobby reached down and grabbed a handful of dirt and gravel and threw it at Don's face. It hit the target right on, stopping Don in his tracks. Bobby used the moment to lunge at Don, knocking him down and sending him rolling down the embankment towards the dump. Bobby raised up in time to see Don hit the bottom and roll towards the edge of the trash.
He got to his feet and started screaming at Bobby.
"I'm coming up there to kill you, you piece of." He never finished the threat.
Bobby stared in disbelief. Just like the rat this morning, Don suddenly disappeared into the heap of garbage. The rustling of rotting garbage and refuse was the only trace of anything ever being there.
Bobby thought he now understood. The dump was alive, he thought. Alive with all the garbage it comes in contact with.