Chapter 11A – The Track of the Storm - Sunday July 16, 1995

Written by Charles Well <charles.well@yandex.com> and Sarge AKA Aldric <pietar_the_fearless@yahoo.com>

(C) 2018)

The original Kids of Indian Spring (KOIS) story by Jonas Henley can be found here: https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/young-friends/kids-of-indian-spring/

Also see map.pdf and Springer Families.pdf

This story is about sex between boys and is therefore a total fantasy. It was written by an adult for the entertainment of other adults. No children or animals were either involved or harmed in the writing of this story. Please leave now if you are not supposed to be here.

Writing the continuing saga of the Kids of Indian Spring has become a real community effort. My co-author on this chapter was Sarge AKA Aldric. His ideas, drafting, hard work, and constant support in too many areas to mention made this chapter possible. A special thanks also goes to Mike for help with editing and proofreading.

Please consider a donation to Nifty for allowing us to have this resource to share our stories. To donate go here: http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html

Comments or suggestions may be directed to either of the authors mentioned above. We welcome feedback from readers. It's the only payment we receive for many hours of hard work.

Note from the Authors

The following Chapters – 11, 12 and 13 - are almost entirely the work of my very skilled and dedicated co-author Sarge AKA Aldric. He volunteered to take on the enormous task of bringing closure to the Kids of Indian Spring series of stories originally created by Jonas Henley. Throughout his extensive writings in the Kids of Indian Spring, the Mackey Chronicles, the Dawson Exclusion, and Sweet Water Boys, Jonas Henley created a culturally rich imaginary community in semi-rural America inhabited by compelling characters and enthralling plot scenarios that captured the imagination of many readers. However, Jonas never quite completed any of the stories and left a multitude of future possibilities and unanswered questions. Like many, I thought of this as an unfortunate state of affairs, and I decided to continue the KOIS saga myself. But daunted by the skills demonstrated by the original author, I took the easy way out and placed my emphasis on a character Jonas barely mentioned – Sandy Jacobs. That provided me with wide latitude to write Sandy's story.

However, it took the bravery and skill of Sarge AKA Aldric to take on the real task of completing JH's "unfinished works." That is what you will read in Chapters 11, 12, and 13. My involvement here was limited to editing, proofreading, providing suggestions and ideas, and some small sections of writing. Thank you Sarge AKA Aldric for your dedication and perseverance for taking on this task. I hope you will agree with me that he has done a brilliant job and creates an ending to the story of which JH would be proud.

Charles Well


The purpose of this story is to provide some closure to the entire Indian Spring stories. Jonas Henley, who wrote all of "The Kids of Indian Spring," (KOIS) left many ideas undeveloped. Charles Well, principle author of the continuation of Jonas' work in "Sandy Jacobs," (SJ) closed two of the biggest ones, the White Party and the Selection Ceremony, however there are still others that I wanted to close in order to complete the story that Jonas began so very long ago.

If you haven't read KOIS, that's fine, you won't need to in order to understand this story. If you have read it, all the better; and hopefully my ideas are what Jonas would have written. I am in close contact with Charles Well. I wrote portions of SJ, and provided support, ideas, and proof reading to those stories. Now it is my turn to take the lead, although Charles Well has provided considerable support to this story. This work will deal less with the Mackey family; some will appear--they must to close the threads. But large parts of this deal with the non-Mackey kids Jonas created just to give them a second voice.

It wouldn't be a story without Kelley Tucker and Sandy Jacobs. But while the story revolves around those two, I also needed to keep it entertaining. To do that, I used many of the kids who played minor roles in KOIS. Those kids have secrets and dreams and hopes. And accounts of their lives will interplay with the main story line.

As I wrote these additional chapters, I had ideas for how the plot would work and how to get to the ending. However, as I wrote, I found that more and more, the story wasn't about Kelley and Sandy. Malcolm McEwen needed to be developed, and before I knew it, the story was about him. His life will finally be disclosed – not just to you readers, but to him as well.

This realization reminded me of a quote, and it took me a while to find it, but here it is:

"It's a funny thing about stories. It doesn't feel like you make them up, more like you find them. You type and type and you know you haven't got it yet, because somewhere out there, there's that perfect thing -- the unexpected ending that was always going to happen. That place you've always been heading for, but never expected to go."

Steven Moffat, Executive Producer, Doctor Who

That quote describes perfectly how the narrative that begins here was created. I can only hope that when you reach the end you will agree that Malcom's role in the story is the "perfect thing."

Sarge AKA Aldric


2:00 am, July 16, 1995, Old Knot - Insanity Reigns

The figure dressed entirely in black emptied the 5 gallon can of gas slowly as he moved back and forth along the bleachers at Old Knot. These very same stands where the large audience of preteen and teen boys had sat only some 18 hours before. But the place was deserted now and eerily quiet. He hadn't arrived in time to witness the debauchery he knew they would have engaged in, but in some ways, he was glad. The figure knew there would be no one around at this hour to witness his actions and that was disappointing, but the Lord saw all and he was comforted by that.

A sudden flash of lightning raked the dark and foreboding cloud-filled night sky. The storm had been raging for hours now - the worst he'd ever seen. And the figure guessed there was still more to come that night. It seemed as if the heavens had been ruptured by the evil it had witnessed. However, this temporary break in the weather was a god-send and would enable him to complete his task.

When the gas can was empty and both sets of bleachers had been sufficiently doused, he returned to the little red kid's wagon he had stolen earlier in the day from the front yard of a nearby house and picked up the first mason-jar of shine he had liberated less than an hour ago. He launched it at the closest outbuilding – the main bathroom and shower facilities. There were 10 jars in total – sufficient to drench the stage area and all the other facilities in this place of evil with the volatile liquid.

The next step was the cleansing fire of purification. The figure lit the taper on the first of the long cloth-wrapped sticks he had gathered before and threw it at the bleachers on the right of where he stood. The purgative flames immediately shot skyward with a ferocity that didn't surprise the dark figure. He was involved in God's work after all and the Lord looked after his disciples and missionaries. He could hear in his head the voice of omnificence praising him for his actions and he knew he was ushering in a new era; God had chosen him to lead it.

There was lightning all around, and the winds were picking up. Soon it would be raining again, but by then the fire's work would be complete. With a last look around, he moved to his place of hiding. Several hours ago, there had been men in the woods, but they weren't looking for him. They were carrying out acts of petty larceny and damage. The figure knew that what he had done would be blamed on them. No one knew he was here. No one would come looking for him.


7:00 am, July 16, 1995, Kelley Tucker's house

Twelve-year-old Kelley Tucker woke up after a very restless night. By more luck than anything else he had managed to survive the Choosing Ceremony unscathed. He knew that his decision to stay would gain him respect from some of the Mackeys, but since he hadn't had to suck a dick and wasn't made a bottom, most of them would still treat him as an outsider.

There had been a terrific storm during the night, and his nine-year-old brother Ashton was curled up in Kelley's bed with his legs draped over him. Ashton hated storms and frequently came to his room when they occurred. He stirred as Kelley tried to move from under him.

"A storm is coming," Ashton mumbled from under the blankets.

Kelley wondered what he was talking about, the storm had already passed. His brother had gotten in bed with him because of it.

"You can stop it, but not by yourself," Ashton continued. "You will need help. But first you gotta save yourself and defend a brother fighter." Then he rolled back over and was quiet.

Kelley was confused. How could he stop a storm? And defend a brother fighter? What did that even mean? He pulled the blanket back and looked at the little kid. Ashton was still definitely in the land of Nod. Had he started talking in his sleep? He'd never done that before. Or was this something more?

Kelley dressed and left his room with the intention of going outside to check on damage from the storm. His dad was on the phone in the kitchen.

"Slow down," his dad said. "How do you know the storm didn't do it?"

Kelley paused, debating if he should eavesdrop on his father or walk into the room and let his dad see him.

"Axes?" his dad asked. "Are you sure?"

Kelley decided not to listen in without his dad knowing he was there. He stepped into the room and the man nodded at him.

"Look, I don't know what can be done. There isn't any evidence that Matthew had anything to do with it other than make threats. I can't help you with this at this time, I've got other problems to deal with." There was a pause before his dad said,

"Wait, say that again about Jonathan Parker." After a short pause, his dad continued. "The whole place is going crazy. I'm not even sure I can stop the development from taking place. To be honest, I'm not sure I even want to anymore."

Hal Tucker listened for a second longer and then said his goodbyes and hung up the phone.

"I'm sorry you heard all that, but I'm glad you showed yourself instead of standing behind the wall and listening in," he said to Kelley. He pointed to the floor, where the morning sun was shining. "Your shadow," he said.

Kelley saw that his dad had known he was there and was very glad he'd made the decision not to eavesdrop.

"Dad, you can't give up. I don't want to move. I like it here. I just have to try and make some changes to how people treat each other."

"I'm sorry Kelley, but it just doesn't seem like I can win. You made a decision at the ceremony yesterday that could have been disastrous, but you got lucky. However, maybe Ethan and Ashton won't have your good fortune. And you wouldn't believe the morning I've had. The phone has been ringing off the hook for the last hour. Some of the Mackey's are insisting that Matthew Corbin destroyed a still in revenge for what happened to little Matty at the Choosing. Another call said that someone, probably Mathew, also torched all the bleachers, stage, and outbuildings at Old Knot. It's just too much. Corbin's fighting Mackeys. And now I just heard Jonathan Parker wants to start a Near-Springer bottom Choosing Ceremony. It's all just too much."

Hearing the defeat in his father's voice was bad enough. Kelley also sensed that his father's decision was not deceptive. He really was planning on giving up and letting it all turn to shit. He headed for the door without saying another word or having any breakfast, but his father called him back.

"Kelley, wait. I'm sorry. It's just been a horrible day and it isn't even past eight in the morning. If the C.I.A. (Community Integrity Association) loses, and I'm afraid it is going to, the first family to be affected is ours. The waterpark will be right on the edge of our property. But consider this; they will need our land, and if the State will allow it, I can sell it for enough to move into town and I'll get more work. Our life will be better."

"Maybe better for you and mom, but not for me. Or Ethan or Ashton. Or our friends. I hope things work out, and I won't disrespect you for giving up. I know how hard you've fought this. But I'd like Indian Spring to stay just the way it is." He hung his head, not wanting to look at his father just then, and continued to the door.

***

Kelley made his way to Casey Harris's house. He got there just as Casey was putting his stuff in the back of his dad's car to return to school. Mr. Harris stepped forward as Kelley approached.

"I don't think Casey wants to talk with you," he said.

But Casey came around from behind the car.

"I'll talk to him dad. It won't take long." Casey headed down the driveway, away from his dad.

"We're done, you and me. I don't want you to come over again and I'm not going to be coming to your house when I'm home from school."

"What?" Kelley said, rocked by the anger he sensed from Casey. "Why? You got what you wanted."

"I thought I was special. Someone different. It wasn't about the fucking, I thought it was because it was me. But I found out that my dick was just another piece of meat to go up your ass."

"Casey, I don't know what you're talking about. I think you're confused."

"I'm not confused and I now know that I didn't mean anything special to you," Casey said. "I know about the Bowers kids. And the Mexican kids. And Cole Haley. And who knows how many other kids you let fuck you. You lied to me, just to get me to fuck you. I'm going back to school and I don't want to see you again."

Casey turned and walked up the drive. Kelley had no idea what to do. "Who told you about this?" he asked. "I can explain; I think you heard things out of context."

Casey paused, and then turned. "Sheldon told everyone at the council meeting during the Choosing Ceremony yesterday. He knows about all the guys that have been fucking you. And he threatened to tell everyone in Coolspring if I didn't walk away. But he wasted the threat. Once I knew the truth, I merely went through the motions. I didn't care if you stayed or came with me. For me, the end result would be the same."

This time when Casey turned, he ran back to the car and got in. His dad joined him and started backing down the driveway. He hid his head beneath the window as the car passed. But Kelley had sensed more than anger from the boy. He also had felt the deep hurt in Casey's soul.

Not sure what to do, Kelley returned home. Ethan was just getting on his bike.

"I'm going to Stevie's," he said as Kelley walked past.

"Have fun," Kelley responded, his tone flat. He saw that his father was just getting into the car.

"I'm going to try and stop Jonathan Parker from doing something stupid," the man said. "Get in if you want to come."

Having no better plan, he got in. During the short ride to the Parker house, Kelley remembered the conversation he and his dad had a short time ago. He recalled something about Jonathan Parker making Near-Springers bottoms. But that made no sense now that he thought about it.


8:00 am, The Carrigan House

Stephen Carrigan woke with a start. There had been a terrible storm last night, but now the first rays of sunlight were just coming through his bedroom window. But that wasn't what had woken him. The night had never cooled down, and the humidity had risen to the point where it was already stifling.

He could hear Andrew snoring on the other side of the room and remembered last night before they'd gone to bed. Andrew was eleven and had witnessed the blowjob he'd given to their cousin Mark Mackey. Andrew begged him to give him one too.

"Just once, I promise," Andrew had said. "I've never had one. And next year, when I go to the Choosing, I'll pay you back, I promise."

Stephen had not been made a bottom, in fact he was never in danger of becoming one, and he had no obligation to provide services of any kind to Andrew. By prior agreement, Andrew hadn't voted for him since his protection vote wasn't needed. And he'd been punched in the stomach by Tolley.

Twice Stephen told his brother no. But Andrew had persisted, and finally he relented. His brother had a small dick, but his first hairs were coming in. And he shot. Not as much as Mark of course, but it had been an intense orgasm for the kid. But the memory of that wasn't what had disturbed his sleep either.

What had woken him was the discussion taking place in front of the garage, not far from the open window of their bedroom. Stephen could hear his dad and Mark's dad, Uncle Holden, talking. Fearing it might be about him and the blowjob he'd given Mark, he listened intently.

"Matty's really pissed about what happened to little Matty," Uncle Holden said. "He's talking about bringing in a bunch of people and burning every house in Indian Spring to the ground and letting the State have it all."

"You don't really think it'll come to anything as drastic as that, do you?" Stephen's father, James, asked. "I mean, I understand why he's mad. Eli had no right. But he's not going to come in here and start destroying stuff. There'd be a war if he tried. An actual shooting war."

"A lot of Mackey's think he's already started it. There's those who are blaming him for what happened at Old Knot. You know the place has been completely torched and he's the obvious person behind it. Not him personally, but some of those goons he has in that construction business of his. All I know is something needs to be done. Eli is blaming Darrell and Hiram, and they say the whole thing was Eli's idea and they didn't know about it until it was too late to stop him. The Mackeys are choosing sides, and it's getting explosive."

"Maybe Hal could help. He usually does when we need it," James said.

"I called him and didn't get an answer. I went to the house. Nobody is there. Not Hal, not his wife, none of the kids. Hal's nowhere to be found."

None of this was about him, so Stephen got out of bed. It was too hot for clothes, so all he put on was a white tee-shirt, a pair of shorts and socks and shoes. He wanted to get his bike, but it was in the garage and he didn't want to face his dad right then. Or Uncle Holden for that matter. He wanted to go somewhere where Mark wouldn't find him. He knew Mark would be over to ask him why he said Miguel's name at the ceremony yesterday. What an idiot he'd been.

Making sure Andrew was still asleep and wouldn't follow him, Stephen left by the front door. He got out to the road without his dad or Uncle Holden seeing him and turned right with no definite destination in mind. He just wanted to be gone before Mark came looking for him.

The blowjob he'd given Mark had been too expertly given, and the look on his cousin's face when it was done told him that he knew that too. And Mark had said he would be by to talk about him and Miguel.

As he walked along, he remembered he and the brown-skin Mexican boy had started, early in the year before school had even let out for the summer, just a month before his 12th birthday. He and Miguel were with ten-year-old Rich Parker in the back of the Parker's house, and Miguel needed to pee. The three boys lined up in front of a tree and had a sword fight with their piss. Rich had looked down at Miguel's dick and giggled, making Stephen look where Rich was looking. Miguel's dick looked strange. The purple head was covered with skin.

"You're, uh, unsubscribed," Rich had said.

"Unsubscribed?" Miguel said. "What the hell is wrong with you gringo? I'm uncircumcised, not what you said."

But he said it without malice and the three of them laughed.

"Do you, uh, I mean, how..." Stephen knew what he wanted to ask but couldn't say the words.

"You mean how do I do la puñeta? What you call the jack off?"

"Yeah," Stephen said. And to Stephen and Rich's total surprise, Miguel showed them how. He pulled the skin back as he rubbed his dick to get it hard. They watched in stunned silence as Miguel's fist pumped up and down on the shaft until four bursts of thin white cum shot out the tip.

"Now let me see how you two do it," he said.

Stephen was embarrassed, but Rich tried his best to copy what he'd seen Miguel do. After several pumps, Rich stopped. "I guess I have to be older," he said. "Caleb shoots a bunch. I've seen him do it lots of times when he thinks I'm sleeping."

Rich looked at Stephen and said, "Your turn. Show us."

Stephen gave in. He got himself hard and jacked off, finishing with about the same amount of cum the Mexican kid had shot. Just then they heard Caleb calling for Rich to come back inside the house.

"Come on Stephen, we'll go to my house," Miguel said. "I want to show you something else."

The something else turned out to be blowjobs. Miguel went first, using his tongue to excite Stephen beyond anything he'd experienced before, and when he shot, Miguel didn't spit it out. He swallowed it all and he didn't ask for one in return.

The next day, he did it again. And again, didn't ask for turn abouts. But Stephen had felt guilty. So, that time he returned the favor. Miguel gave him instructions on what to do and how to do it. After that day, he and Miguel had exchanged blowjobs many times.

And then there had been the times with Miguel's brother Vincent.


8:00 am, The Parker's House - The first Springer Bottom

Caleb Parker was having the dream again. Only it wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare. Three weeks ago, his father, furious that he'd repeatedly had sexual encounters with Joey Vargas, had sent him and his brother to their uncle Roger's house in the country. For him, it was to be for `enlightenment.' He was to allow his cousins, and their friends, free use of his ass and mouth. His father had hoped that he would come home `cured' of his disease. But if not, he had promised he would not punish him for his desires. He remembered his father's words:

"It's for your own good, Caleb. You don't seem to be giving any heed to the end point of these indiscretions of yours. You need to see what it can be like if you don't get a hold of yourself. If you love it, then I won't stand in your way of doing the same here. If you hate it, then you'll see why I put my foot down and do not allow it."

His cousins, Stephen, who was 13, and Andrew (12) had made him drink a gallon of cum and each had fucked him twice. In addition, Stephen had two other friends over, one who was fourteen and had a dick that was over 5" long. When that entered the tight ring of his ass he'd nearly cried in pain.

Rich had not fared much better. He had to allow Andrew and his cousin's best friend Tyler Cross to fuck him, one time each. The boys were both 12, just a little more than a year older than him. And it was the first time Rich had ever taken anything up his ass. He was there for punishment, and that was what it had been. His father insisted that he had lied, when in fact he had not.

Caleb slept naked, he had for years when it was warm. He felt his father shaking him roughly and opened his eyes to unbelievable confusion. He saw that his brother and the older Hudson boy were in the room too. Gunner was the same age as he was, fourteen, but stronger and taller.

"Tell me the truth son," his father said, "Did you have sex at the swimming pond last Friday with boys again?"

"No, dad," he lied. He hadn't planned it, but he'd stupidly made a bet and lost. But everyone who was there agreed to never tell. His dad hadn't been around, so how could he know? Caleb knew that Miguel wouldn't tell. He'd been the one to make use of him.

"You're lying to me," Jonathan Parker said. "I thought that sending you to your uncle's house would have ended this foolishness, but obviously I was wrong. But I promised you I wouldn't be angry. I'm only punishing you for lying. I know the truth."

His father pulled off the sheet that was draped over Caleb and physically hauled him out of bed. Caleb still had a boner from the dream, and he heard Gunner laugh a bit when he saw it.

"You are going to go with Gunner and do what he tells you to do," his father said. "I won't tolerate your lying, and I'm less than pleased with your persistence in this perverted desire of yours. I know that seems to be a bit more accepted around this community, but it has never been so in this house. Furthermore, you are not aware of what kind of consequences such behavior brings. The Hudson boys are going to deal with your punishment for me, and at the same time give you what you want."

Caleb shivered even though the morning was hot. "I'm not lying dad," he said. "Please don't let them strap me."

"Oh, that's not what they are going to do," his father said. "No, you are not to be strapped. You like boys, and I said I wouldn't punish you for that. Do you know what Mackey's do with their boys?"

"No sir, I don't know much of anything about Mackey's. None of them will tell me anything."

"Well, I suspect that's a lie too, but it doesn't matter. They have a thing where they take all the boys who are twelve and bend them over. It's called a Bottom Ceremony. You ever hear of a Mackey being called a bottom?"

"No sir," he lied. No matter how much the Mackey's thought their secrets were kept, there was always some boy who would tell just a bit. And over time, those bits added up to a pretty good knowledge of what happened every July 15.

"They have all the Mackey boys come and vote and select the ones they think will make the best bottoms. I want you to think about that today. Gunner and Silas Hudson are in charge. They have decided on how to best punish you. I strongly recommend you do what they say, because if you don't, I won't hesitate to send you back to your uncle's house for the rest of the summer." His father stepped back and nodded to Gunner. "He's all yours."

Caleb was horrified and confused as 14-year-old Gunner grabbed his arm and pulled him, totally naked through the house and out to the tree just beyond the backyard. There, he saw 13-year-old Silas Hudson place a thick blanket over a thick branch that ran horizontally from a large oak tree. It was just below waist high, and the boys helped him to bend over it.

"You know what your dad said about the Mackey ways? Today, you're going to do that, only there won't be any need for voting. You're the only candidate. Today, you become the Springer Bottom. To be used by any Springer boy under the age of 16. The first one ever. Springers are going to use you. Everyone who wants to. Starting with Rich. You will stay here like you are until we say otherwise or else we'll have to tie you down," Gunner said to him.

He saw that there were four pre-staged posts pounded into the ground. Something was seriously wrong here – even beyond what the Hudson boys were doing. Gunner was generally a good kid, prone to some pranks and foolishness, but never something like this. It was as if an evil being had taken his place.

"No, please," Caleb begged as his 10-year-old kid-brother, Rich, was pushed into the backyard and ordered to strip.

He and Rich had argued a lot before they were sent to their uncle's, but what happened to him there had changed how he thought of his older brother. He hated their dad, and began supporting his brother instead of fighting with him.

Caleb was sure it wasn't Rich who had told their dad what happened at the pond, especially since his younger brother had given Miguel a blowjob that same afternoon. He wondered if his brother would really fuck him or run off.

"Don't do it Rich," Caleb said.

"Silas says I have to. He said it will be fun, and that you'll like it. I think it will feel good, but I don't think you will like it. You like older boys, not kids like me." Rich walked around and ducked under the tree branch to where he and his brother could see each other. He spoke low enough that Gunner couldn't hear what he was saying. "I lied to dad about Miguel. I told him nothing happened. Somehow, he knows I'm lying. He told me that he's going to find a suitable punishment for me too. And that when I'm twelve, I'm going to be bent over this limb just like you unless I stop lying to him about you."

"So, what are you going to do?" Caleb asked.

"I'm going to do what Miguel did. And then Gunner said I have to go and find other Springer boys who want to use you and invite them over. That's part of my punishment for lying for you. I think after this I have to stop protecting you. I hope is okay, because I really don't want to do it. But I'm going to or dad might send me back to Uncle Roger's house and I'll do anything to avoid that."

Rich crawled out from under the branch and a moment later Caleb felt his brother's hands separating the twin cheeks of his rear end. And then he felt the kid's 3" long dick trying its best to penetrate the tight ring of his ass.


8:30 am, Sandy Jacob's House

Sandy Jacobs was just finishing breakfast. He'd broken up two arguments between Chase and Stevie already that morning. Stevie had enjoyed the blowjob his brother had given him last night, and now wanted another one. Sandy put them out of his mind. He was trying to listen to the conversation taking place in the driveway between his dad and Jebediah Mackey.

Sandy knew that the two men were on opposite sides of the development issue. But they weren't arguing. It was more of a discussion. And from what Sandy could hear, it wasn't even about the development plan. It seemed to have something to do with things stolen from the yards of Deep Mackey families and left in areas generally considered Near Mackey neighborhoods. When Sandy looked out the front window, he saw a bike he was sure belonged to Sean Mackey laying on the grass next to the driveway.

"Sounds like someone is trying to stir up trouble between the deep and near Mackey's," Sandy heard his dad say. "Bad enough that Corbin's are threatening war with the deep side."

"I'm putting my money on Matthew Corbin for the missing chickens and the stolen bike, but I know him," Jebediah said. "I don't think he'd resort to torching Old Knot. But you never know. I'm guessing he's pretty pissed about Eli and little Matty."

"Stolen chickens?" Sandy thought. Who would steal chickens? And why? And did he hear right? Did Mr. Corbin threaten to burn Old Knot? He continued listening as he finished his breakfast.

"Who else could it be?" asked Sam Jacobs.

"What about another Corbin?" asked Jebediah. "You said you spoke to Jack and Katherine last night?"

"Yeah, they were concerned for Chris. But I know Jack really well. There's no way he would ever do something like that. Besides, he blames Michael and Harry for not protecting their brother, not the Mackey in general. You remember Jack as a kid? He had no problem using the bottoms back then. No definitely not him."

"What about the missing chickens at Eric Jr.'s place? You don't really believe the Cormack's stole them, do you?" asked Jebediah.

"Of course not. That's more likely to be another Mackey. I'm not saying who, but some people lost some big money when Frankie's middle kid saved the Tucker boy."

"Yeah, that makes sense. But it seems you can't trust anyone now." said Jebediah.

"But I promise you, none of my kids took that bike."

"I believe you, stuff like this is turning up all over the neighborhood. I'll convince my son that your boys had nothing to do with it," Jebediah said. "We don't need any more division right now. Things are tense, and this could explode into some real serious crap if someone doesn't find a way to blow out the fuse. If you could just delay discussion on the park for even a week it would help."

"I'll, uh, okay, that seems reasonable. I'll see if I can convince Elijah to support a short delay."

"Good luck with that," Jebediah said. "Elijah only cares about himself and his family. My brother has been a pain in everyone's ass since we were kids. Look, I'll take this bike back. It has Sean's name on it under the seat so I know it belongs to him. I hope he'll believe me when I explain to him that none of your kids stole it. Sean is a good kid, but he said that he got the shitty end of the stick for the check marks. He had to do two of the oldest kids, and your boy got off easy. He's not mad about it, in fact he said they parted as friends, but it's still in the back of his head so you might want to say something to Brad. And we don't have any idea who really took his bike and put it in your yard. You'd best be ready for more trouble."

As yet another argument between his youngest two brothers erupted, Sandy made his escape. Chase and Stevie were going to have to work out their differences themselves. From what he had just overheard, it appeared that there was trouble elsewhere in the Spring that needed to be stopped. He was pretty sure his dad wasn't going to be able to convince Elijah to delay any plans since the things going on only made it easier for Elijah to get what he wanted.

Jebediah was backing his truck down the driveway when Sandy finished dressing and came outside. He could see the bike in the back of the truck. Mr. Mackey nodded at him before driving off.

"Dad, can I talk to you about something?"

His dad appeared worn out, and looked like the last thing he wanted to do was talk right then, but he nodded his head. "Do you and Sean Mackey spend much time together?"

"A little, but not much, mostly only when Tolley is with him. "Did Uncle Jeb say someone was going to burn Old Knot? And something about chickens?"

"Not going to, someone did the burning already. Jeb saw the flames from his house late last night, and he's been up there already this morning. Everything was destroyed. And it wasn't due to the storm – a can of gas and bottles of moonshine were used to set the fires. The broken remains of Mason jars were scattered all around the place, along with the gas can and a wagon belonging to one of the Cormack kids. And then some chickens that Evan Jr's youngest two kids were raising to make some money went missing. The kids swear they closed the hatch on the coop, but it was found unlatched and empty this morning. They're saying someone stole them."

Sandy knew 11-year-old Henry and 13-year-old Glen Mackey and felt sorry for them. Glen was in his class at school and was always complaining about not getting any pocket-money. But Sandy had something else on his mind just then.

"I wanted to talk to you about the development plan," he told his dad.

"Sandy, that's not something for you to be concerned about," the man explained in exasperation.

"It is Dad. I know we could use the money, but I don't want to leave. I want to change things here. I'd like it if you would at least consider how my brothers and I feel about Indian Spring as you move forward. It would really change things."

"Is that your brothers I hear yelling inside?" his dad asked.

"They've been fighting like cats and dogs since they got up. I gave up trying to separate them. But about the development..."

"I'm sorry Sandy, but right now isn't the time," his father said. "I've got to go break this up before they break something or hurt each other. What the hell has gotten into everybody today?" His dad took off for the house with a swift walk, leaving Sandy alone without any further hope for discussion.


8:45 am, The Parker's House - The First Springer Bottom

Kelley was glad Ethan wasn't here. He wouldn't want to see the longing look his brother would give to the naked boy bent over the tree branch just beyond the Parker's back yard. It was hard to see him from the house, but as they had approached in the car it had been easy to take in what was happening from the street.

His dad and Mr. Parker were arguing. Caleb's father was saying it wasn't Hal's business how he raised his son. "You've been to Choosing Ceremonies before and never tried to stop them. Why is this any different?"

Kelley's father tried to explain all the differences, but Mr. Parker countered each argument. "Besides," the man said, "I never told them to do this. I asked the Hudson boys to find a suitable way to make Caleb realize lying has consequences, and I guess this is what they came up with."

Rich was standing next to Kelley, and when the two adults weren't looking he reached out and grabbed Tucker's crotch.

"I thought so," he said as he let go of the boner he'd felt. "You want a go with my brother. Go ahead and take it. I'm supposed to be out finding other kids to use him anyway."

Kelley was hard, and didn't know why. He felt sorry for Caleb.

"I'm not interested," Kelley said.

"Come on Kelley, let's go," his father ordered from behind them. He was already moving towards the car, walking with long strides, a rarely seen signal that he'd lost an argument. Kelley hurried to catch up with him.

When they got to the car, Kelley said, "I'm going to visit Sandy Jacobs if it's okay, dad?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Tell Ethan to stay away from here, okay?"

"Yeah, I will," he said. "I'll make sure he understands too."

***

Stephen Carrigan suddenly woke from his day dreams when he heard Rich calling his name. The nearly 11-year-old boy was running towards him.

"You can't come over today," Rich said. "If you do, the Hudson's will strip you and bend you over next to Caleb. Gunner says if Caleb wants to act like the Mackeys then he can become the first Indian Spring bottom, but only for Near-Springers. My dad didn't stop them."

"What the hell are you talking about Rich?" Stephen asked. Rich pointed into his back yard as he steered Stephen back towards the Upshaw house.

There, just behind the end of the Parker's back yard, was fourteen-year-old Caleb, naked and bent over a fallen tree with his legs spread.

"What the hell is going on?" Stephen asked.

"My dad beat the hell out of him the first time he found out that he and Joey Vargas were doing stuff together. The next time we got sent to my uncle's house where he had to do stuff with our cousins and their friends." Rich didn't mention what he'd done on that fateful weekend.

"Then he found out Caleb did it again just a few days ago," Rich continued. "Instead of beating him, he had Gunner and Silas come up with a punishment. I'm supposed to go and find all the Near-Springers and invite them over to fuck him. Is that what happened to you yesterday?"

"I can't talk about that," Stephen said. He couldn't take his eyes off of Caleb. Then he felt Rich's hand grab his boner through his shorts.

"Yep, I thought so," Rich said. "You're hard as a rock. But you're a Mackey so you can't have him. Kelley Tucker was there too, and he was hard. But his dad won't let him go over to Caleb. Mr. Tucker was trying to get my dad not to do this to my brother."

"Wait, Mr. Tucker is here?" Stephen asked. "My dad and Uncle Holden are looking for him. There's some kind of trouble brewing and they think he can help. I've got to go and tell him."

"They just left, maybe you can still catch them. My dad ordered me to be the first to fuck him, and I'll fuck you too if I get the chance. It felt really good, although I don't think Caleb thought so. I didn't think he'd mind since he's had Joey's dick up his ass a bunch of times."

"I just want to talk to Mr. Tucker," Stephen said, turning away from Rich and heading back towards the front of his house.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Rich said as he followed. "I like you, but you're heading into trouble. My dad is really mad, and he means what he says. He and Mr. Tucker argued about Kelley being there, and Mr. Tucker said something about how he'd saved someone from some guy named Wayne, which made my dad's face get even more red."

"Wayne Mackey," Stephen said, remembering the story he'd heard long ago. "Back when they were my age, Wayne almost made a Near-Springer a bottom. Wayne had his dick in some guy named Jonathan's butt, but was forced to pull it out before he could fuck him. Mr. Tucker was able to keep Jonathan from becoming a bottom."

Then Stephen saw the strangest look on Rich's face and put it together.

"Wait, don't tell me your father's first name is Jonathan?" Rich nodded. "Shit. I never knew."

Stephen let Rich pull him back the other way, past the Upshaw house and then Hudson's until they were nearly at the driveway to the De La Cruz house.

"Who's that?" Rich said, pointing to someone who was as close to the De La Cruz property line as one could be without being on or over it. Stephen saw it was his cousin Mark. And up on the porch, Miguel and Vicente were sitting. Vicente was holding a baseball bat.

"That's my cousin," Stephen said. "I've got to go and talk with him. You go up and visit with Miguel, okay?" As Rich continued up the driveway, Stephen went over to where Mark was waiting.

"Did he force you to suck him?" Mark asked as Stephen came up to him. There was anger in his voice.

"Never. You have it all wrong. Completely wrong, it didn't happen like you think." Stephen began telling him what really occurred. He paused, mid-sentence, as Miguel, Vicente, and Rich walked past, presumably heading towards the Parker house. He hoped not, but he could see the tent in the older boy's shorts.

When Stephen was done explaining, Mark didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"I guess that is why the older one got pissed when I asked the Mexican kid the same question I asked you," Mark said. "Did he know what you and his brother did together?"

"Probably," Stephen said. "Miguel and Vicente do a lot of stuff together. And I've done stuff with Vincente too. I don't think Miguel knows about what I've done with his brother. I've never talked to him about it. And I don't want to talk with you about it either."

Mark considered it for a second. He wondered how far Stephen had gone. He wondered if his cousin even knew what could happen to Miguel or Vincente if there was Carrigan cum in Near-Springer asses. Did Stephen know about those old "first-use rules" the Mackey had? But such discussions could wait.

"Let's go home."


8:50 am, The Jacobs' House - Rules, Rules, Rules

Stevie Jacobs was just sitting down to breakfast when Ethan arrived. Mrs. Jacobs provided him a plate too, and even though he'd eaten before leaving his house, he decided the walk had made him hungry and dug in.

"Before you go out, you are going to go up and apologize to your brother," Mrs. Jacobs ordered as the boys finished eating.

"Me and Chass have been arguing," Stevie explained to his friend in a whisper. "I got a blowjob from him last night. He really hated doing that. So did Brad and one of our cousins he really hates. I teased him about it; that's why I have to apologize."

Sandy had made Chase Jacobs give blowjobs to Stevie, Brad, and Ron Mackey, for his role in the `Famous Five' incident at the Choosing Ceremony yesterday. Sandy insisted that Chass needed the practice in preparation for what he had to do with Tolley Mackey. The oldest Jacobs brother had seen what happened at a Choosing to a kid who started with checkmarks before the event even started. Cal Brewer had ended the day as a Mackey bottom and even run fowl of the Magic Number because of it. Sandy was determined Chase wouldn't suffer the same fate, so Tolley needed to be happy with the blowjobs Chass owed.

Ethan and Stevie went to the room he shared with his brother, but Chass pretended he was sleeping and refused to be `woken up.' Stevie just mumbled,

"Sorry bro. I was mean. I don't know what came over me. I just felt something deep inside making me want to hurt someone. And I know you hated doing that and I did it just to psych you out by saying that. But I don't know why I did it. I just had... it's crazy. Real sorry, man."

Chase didn't move or say anything, and Ethan and Stevie let him be.

Once they were outside, Stevie asked, "What did you think of the ceremony? You and Chass looked kind of stupid standing there naked along with all the other ten-year-old boys. But I enjoyed it."

"It wasn't bad," Ethan said. "Embarrassing with all the kids in the bleachers laughing at us. But fun. Too bad I'll be eleven when you go on the choosing list. I'd have a lot of fun making sure your butt was greased."

"Yeah, I think I'd enjoy that too. Maybe too much." Stevie sighed. "But maybe yesterday will be the last choosing ever. Things are changing. And Sandy wants to do away with the whole thing. He thinks it's bad. He's going to run for Junior Council as soon as he is old enough."

"Maybe it would be for the best," Ethan said. "I want to tell you something, but I'm not allowed to. If you told anyone, even your brother or your parents, it would be real bad for me."

"I won't tell," Stevie said with interest. "Pinky swear." He held out the little finger of his right hand and let Ethan wrap the same finger over his. "I swear not to tell anyone what you're about to tell me." They let go and he added, "So who fucked you and why can't you tell me?"

"Not me," Ethan said with both disgust and fear. Stevie saw the change come over his friend and stopped making jokes.

"It was my brother. And Cal Brewer. It happened at the White party. And Cal did everything he could to hurt Kelley—not physically, he'd have gotten his ass whipped if he'd tried. But mentally. He fucked him as hard and long as he could, and kept saying things to piss him off. And I think he was going to fuck me."

"I thought you wanted that," Stevie said. "I've seen Cal's dick, he isn't that big."

"I wanted him to once, but Kelley kept making me stay away from him. Cal wasn't a Mackey then. But at the party, it was a different Cal than I'd ever seen before. He was mean. And he didn't want to fuck me just to do it. I think he wanted something more. I think he planned on going to the council and saying he'd done it. That's what he did to my brother."

Stevie was surprised to see tears running down his friend's cheeks. "I was wondering how Kelley got put on the list. If it hurt you that bad, maybe we shouldn't, you know, do stuff. At least until you feel better."

"No, with you, it's good. But Brewer..."

Stevie saw that Ethan's face was white and his hands were shaking. He rolled over on the grass and hugged him tightly. Not a sexual hug, but a comforting one. It lasted for over a minute before Ethan calmed down.

"So, I guess you'd like to end the choosing ceremonies too," Stevie said. "I can see why after what you just told me. And no, I will never tell anyone else. We pinky swore."

"I don't want them to go away. Maybe the rules just have to change." Ethan sat up. "Can you get some paper? We can write new rules and give them to Kelley and Sandy and convince them to get the youth council to change them."

Although Stevie was very dubious about this possibility, he ran into the house and came back with several pieces of paper and a few pencils. The boys each made their own list, and then they compared. They picked the ones they both liked the most, and each of them made their own list from those. Their final lists had one difference.

1. All Springer's participate, not just Mackey.

2. If a boy doesn't want to participate, his parents can exclude him, but he is then prohibited from having any sex with any Springer until he is 16 years old. (To get around the rule, he can nominate himself a selectee regardless of his age, but he will then serve for the next 6 months).

3. There would be 2 ceremonies a year, and boys selected only serve for 6 months, although a boy can elect to be in both ceremonies if he wants. The selected boys should be chosen based on the month they turn 12: Jan-June for the first ceremony; July-Dec for the second.

4. The boys chosen get fucked at the end of the ceremony, but they get to choose from who.

5. Checkmarks still apply.

6. No secret rules, every Springer boy gets told the rules on his tenth birthday.

7. A chosen boy can allow or not allow any boy to fuck him, but they have to provide oral sex to boys within 2 years of their age (10-14 years old). (Stevie's list had the difference. He wanted to allow boys 12 and under more freedom to fuck the selectees — he argued that it had to be fun for family, friends, and enemies).

8. No more protection votes. Every voting person gets one vote. 1 of every 5 selectees is chosen by vote total, rounded up.

9. Selectees can make deals to keep people from voting for them, but any such deal must be recorded in the Mackey records to ensure there are no tricks (the detail of the deal does not need to be disclosed, only the two boys need to go to the council and state they have reached an agreement for one not to vote for the other.) The boys understand that the most likely arrangement is that if the boy is selected anyway, the boy (or boys) he made a deal with get to fuck him at the ceremony.

10. A parent cannot keep a boy from participating if the kid wants, or doesn't mind being on the list (this allows them to have routine sex if they desire). The boys know that this will be a tough nut to enforce.


8:55 am, The Parker's House - Family Ties

Visiting his grandfather each summer was always interesting for 12-year-old Stanly Butler. Even though he lived a good 20 miles from Indian Spring, he knew a lot of the traditions and some of the names. His grandfather, Wayne Mackey, had told him endless stories about `the old days' and how he'd been about to make a Springer named Jonathan Parker a bottom. The first time Stanley had heard about it, he didn't believe the story, but his mother, who was not the least bit angry that her dad had told him about such things, said it was true.

His grandfather was one of the few Mackeys who lived in the lower part of Indian Spring, the area occupied mostly by non-Mackey families. Stanly knew who the Parkers were and where they lived. And from the stories he and his twin sister had heard about that day, they carried the hatred of all Parkers and Tuckers that their grandfather had given them.

He'd been visiting his grandfather for a week now, and meeting some of the boys who's names he knew. His grandfather had given him two specific warnings – the first to not let anyone know he was a Mackey; and the second was to not go anywhere near the woods on Saturday. The old man had been pretty graphic about what could happen to him if he, being 12, were to end up in the wrong place on July 15.

Last Friday his twin sister had been dropped off at grandpa's house, and that afternoon he took her with him to the swimming hole.

Saria (named for their mother) had been party to some of the stories Grandpa told, and was more than interested in seeing boys skinny dipping. It was because of her that he would not be able to do that that day, but that turned out to be a good thing.

Caleb and Rich Parker along with one of the Mexican boys, Miguel, and Joey Vargas were there last Friday, using the rope swing, and having a good time. He and Saria hid in the tall grass and watched without being seen. She'd asked him twice to sneak down and steal their clothes, but it was too dangerous. They were about to leave when the boys lay back on the bank to sun themselves. Having a perfect view of four totally naked boys, one of them a teen, made Saria decide to stay a bit longer.

"You lost the bet, Caleb," the Mexican boy said. "You gonna pay up?"

Caleb looked around but didn't see Stanly and Saria even though they were close enough to hear every word.

"You can't tell anyone," Caleb said. "If my dad were to find out, there's no telling what he'd do."

"I'm not going to tell anyone," Miguel said. "If I get asked, I'll lie. So will Rich and Joey, right guys?"

"Sure, Joey," Vargas said. Caleb's brother nodded in agreement.

"Shit, okay," Caleb said. He got up and went to his pants and got something out of a pocket.

The Butler twins watched wide-eyed as the Mexican kid used what Caleb had handed him to rub it all over his dick and then smear even more in Caleb's ass. It was just what Grandpa Wayne had told them about, only these weren't Mackey boys.

Right out there in the open, Miguel got on Caleb's back and rode him, moaning on occasion. Then, in one push that almost knocked Caleb face-first into the sand, the Mex kid sang out one loud note and then wrapped his arms around the older boy's chest as his ass tightened and loosened four times.

"Let's get out of here," Stanly said. "I'm going to make sure his dad knows what we just saw."

"Why," Saria asked as they quietly moved away from the water.

"Because the Parker boy will get into trouble. Grandpa got cheated by a Parker when he was a kid. Getting that kid into trouble will help make up for it."

The next day, the day he had to stay well away from the woods, he waited until he saw both Parker boys leave and then knocked at the door. Saria was with him.

When Mr. Parker answered the door, he told what he'd seen the day before, and how much it had upset his sister and him.

"Are you sure it was my boys?" Mr. Parker asked.

As they'd practiced, it was Saria who answered that question, giving an extremely accurate description of what the boys looked like, including, `down there.' And she'd made sure to say that even Rich's penis was sticking straight out as he watched what his brother was letting the Mexican kid do.

"Who are you guys," Mr. Parker asked with an even tone although the anger was easy to see on his face.

"Stanley and Saria Butler," Stanly said. "We're visiting some people my mother used to know." It was the truth, and Grandpa Wayne had said that nobody knew his daughter had married a man named Butler, so it wouldn't mean anything to Mr. Parker.

"Saria was right upset, Mr. Parker," Stanly said. "I'm not sure if we should tell mom or not. It might freak her out a bit to know what we saw."

"It's probably best if you don't, but that's your decision," Mr. Parker said to them. "Caleb and Rich will be suitably punished. Thank you for telling me."

***

Now that July 15th had passed, 12-year-old Stanly Butler was trying to find a way to ditch his sister and go and see what punishment the Parker boys had gotten. Anything he could bring back to his grandfather would be of great interest to the old man after the way he'd been cheated back when he was 12.

No matter how many ideas of a punishment he'd thought of, none of them came even close to what he saw when he reached the house. Caleb Parker was naked, bent over a tree branch. A boy he didn't know had his shorts around his ankles and was fucking the teen.

"You're Stanley, right?" Mr. Parker asked. Stanley jumped, he'd been so absorbed watching what was taking place in the backyard he'd never heard Caleb's father walk up.

"Uh, yeah, Stanley Butler. I was just passing by and I saw, I mean..."

"I can see what you saw. Caleb likes this, you proved that too me when you told me what you had seen along the stream. Would you like to try?"

Stanley turned his head, his eyes bugging out. "You mean like that kid there? Do that?"

Mr. Parker nodded.

"Yes sir," he said. "Yes, I would really like to try that." His eyes weren't the only thing bugging out.

"As soon as Jason Lucci is done it will be your turn. How old are you?"

"I'm twelve, sir. I hope that's not too young."

"No, after Jason, it will be good. He's thirteen, and decently hung, and I don't want Caleb to get hurt. Did you or your sister tell your parents?"

"No, we, uh, it was too embarrassing, so we didn't."

"Well, it probably will be best not to tell them about this either."

"No sir, I won't."

He'd heard about it. He'd seen it. But there was no way either of those prepared him for what it felt like to stick his dick into a boy's bum. He drove straight in and pumped three times before he had the most wonderful cum he'd ever had.

When he was done and pulling his pants back up, he turned and saw Mr. Parker talking to Rich.

"His name is Stanley and he's just visiting people his mother used to know," he heard Mr. Parker say. "That's why you haven't seen him around before."

Stanley didn't want to meet Rich and have him ask questions, so he just waved goodbye and left heading in a direction away from his granddad's house. He couldn't wait to get there and tell his grandfather what he had seen and done.


9:00 am, The Road to Sweetwater

Angry with his dad, Sandy left the yard, with an idea building in his head. Maybe a way to stop the trouble between the clans. It probably wouldn't work. Who would listen to a kid? On the other hand, sometimes people listened to youngsters when they wouldn't pay attention to other adults. Sandy knew he wanted to establish "a name" in the Mackey community as a leader, and if he could pull this off, his reputation would be assured. Besides, he had a very strong premonition that unless something was done soon, the infighting in his community would only get worse. However, he needed to go to Sweetwater first. A boy he knew had a brother with a driver's license and a car. And the brother owed him a very big favor.

He passed Stephen Carrigan and Mark Mackey as he walked, surprised to see them up so early. He wondered if there was something going on between the two of them after what had happened during the ceremony yesterday.

"I'd stay clear of the Parker house," Stephen said to him. "The Hudson boys - Gunner and Silas - started a Springer bottom process, starring Caleb. They threatened to bend over any Mackey who tries to stop it. I don't know if they'd consider you a Springer or a Mackey now. Maybe you'd get to fuck Caleb, but maybe not."

"They can't do that," Sandy said. "Make up their own bottom ceremony."

"It's already happened. Tucker's dad was there talking to Mr. Parker to put a stop to it, but it looked like even he was losing. Unless you want to take a chance to get a quick fuck in, I'd stay clear. Rich Parker is rounding up Springer's to come and have a go at his brother."

"Did you guys?" Sandy asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.

"No!" Stephen said emphatically, and Sandy knew there was something more going on in the boy's head.

"It's a Springer bottom ceremony," Mark explained. "Mackeys are not invited."

"The whole idea is insane," Sandy said. "It is more than insane. And I can't believe that Gunner Hudson is part of it. He just isn't that evil. Is everyone going crazy today?" Stephen just shrugged his shoulders, and he and his cousin went on their way.

Not wanting to even think about that right then, Sandy continued heading south. Five minutes later, he met up with Kelley near the road to Coolspring. Sandy was surprised. He figured Tucker would be pleased as punch at the outcome of the Choosing Ceremony, but instead he looked like his dog had just died.

"Hey, what's up?" Sandy asked. "You don't look so good."

"The storm kept me up most of the night," Kelley said.

"Yeah, it was vicious," the dirty blond responded. "It woke me up too. But listen, there's trouble with the Mackeys. Did you hear? Someone burned Old Knot to the ground? A real bad fire, and definitely deliberately torched. Uncle Jeb was out there with some of the other adults early this morning. He could see the fire from his house late last night before the storm put it out. They found an empty gas can, a kid's wagon stolen from the Cormack house, and a bunch of broken moonshine Mason jars among the ruins. Whoever did this was pretty determined nothing would survive. And it's not just that. A bunch of other weird things happened too. Like Sean Mackey's bike somehow ended up on our front lawn. A still was destroyed and other stuff too. But I think I know where it begins. I could use your company, if you want to come along," Sandy suggested.

"Shit. There's trouble in every corner of Indian Spring," Kelley said, looking up for the first time. Near Springers are acting crazy too and my dad's about to give up on protecting the community. What makes you think I could do anything to help? Our dads are part of it you know. On opposite sides."

"Yeah, but my dad is going to try and delay the talks about the water park idea for a while. And I've already spoken to him about how I feel. I don't want the development to go through any more than you do. I'm not sure my dad was listening, but I'll talk to him again when he calms down. I want to stay here, but I want to make changes. I plan to run for council and I'd like it if you did too. I remember what you did for me at the sleepover. You stood up to Hardin. And maybe because of that I'm free of him."

"I don't think the council can fix what's broke in Indian Spring. In case you haven't heard, the Corbin's have apparently declared war on the Mackeys. And there's trouble starting with some Near-Springers too."

"You're right, the big problems are not going to be solved by the council. That's why I'm headed to the city. You got anything better to do right now?"

It brought a brief smile to Kelley's face. He'd already forgotten his father's instruction to tell Ethan to stay away from the Parker's. "I guess not," he said. "But it's a long walk. Like 15 or 16 hours. Or are we hitching a ride?"

"Better than that. I've got a friend with a car in Sweetwater," he said. The two of them headed into town.

"Where in the city are we going?" Kelley asked when they entered the town of Sweetwater.

"Mathew Corbin's house," Sandy said.

"Shit, I don't want anything to do with Matty."

"Matty's a full-fledged Mackey now, same as you. That means you show respect for him, not that he will do the same to you. Besides, we're not going there to talk to Matty. We're going to talk to his dad."

"Double shit," Kelley said. "He's more likely to chase us off his property with a shotgun than talk to us."

"Could be," Sandy said. "But I've got to try anyway. You still want to come?"

***

Kelley followed Sandy up the driveway of a nice-looking house on the outskirts of Sweetwater. An older red car was parked on the street in front of the house and two boys, one about their age and one several years older, were in the back, shooting baskets at a regulation-height hoop.

"Tucker, this is Willard and Cade," Sandy said. "And this is Kelley Tucker. Cade is an old friend of mine, and his brother, Willard, is 17, and he owes me a favor."

"What do you need?" Willard demanded. Kelley didn't think he looked all that interested in paying back whatever favor was owed.

"We need a ride to the city," Sandy said. "Actually, a small housing development on this side of down-town."

"That's still like 50 miles," the boy complained. "I don't owe you that much."

"More like 35," Sandy said. "And, I could always ask your mom to take us."

It sounded to Kelley like a threat, and it must have been because the boy backed down some. "How about some money for gas? Fifteen bucks."

"That's insane," Sandy said. "Four dollars."

They agreed on nine and Willard pointed to an older red Dart with rust on the fenders. When they got in, Tuck was surprised to see it had a four-on-the-floor. Willard drove fast, but shifted expertly and worked his way smoothly through traffic. When they got close, Sandy directed him to the street and said they'd be 10 or 15 minutes.


To be continued...