September 9, Wednesday.

Jesus Jesus Christ. Oh shit. A scare tonight. Big scare. Danny, Comstock and me hellraising out around our neighborhood. Heaved a cherrybomb at a house. Went down to Bates' garden to get some tomatoes to throw. We started picking. I had a tomato in my hand. A light. Car light. No! Flashlight. Mr. Bates there with flashlight in his hand.

"What you boys doing? Hey!" We ran. Fast. Blackness streaking by. Gravel of the alley crunching loud as hell under three pairs of feet. We went on to Danny's and sat around talking. Worried. Bates could call Mom. She knew I was at Danny's with Comstock. And I was with Danny and Comstock during the pissing raid last summer, too. Christ. Then Danny's sister comes out: "John, your mom called and wants you to come home." Oh God!

When I got home Mom said, "Where were you?"

"At Danny's."

"The whole time, all of you?"

"Yes."

Then she said that Mr. Bates just chased two boys out of his garden. There was a little more talk and I think she very doubtfully believed me. Hell, she really doesn't trust me now.