1

C h a p t e r O n e

Jaris Spain turned numb when the girl tookher seat in American History I. Goose bumpscrawled up his arms like caterpillars. SereetaPrince was a honey-skinned beauty withglossy black curls making little halos aroundher face. Jaris had been in love with her sincejunior high. Now the feelings grew stronger.But Jaris was sure that he was no more to herthan the yellowing ivy plant in the classroom.She seemed to look right through him like hewas made of plastic wrap.

Jaris felt crushed. At times like these hewould remember some of his father’s bitter

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 1

sayings. He didn’t want to share in his father’shopelessness. But sometimes it came overhim like an onrushing darkness.

“The best dreams always get away,” Popwould say. “Just when you think you got it allmade, it crashes around your head.”

Ms. McDowell, the history teacher, cameclicking into the classroom on her red highheels. Most of the lady teachers at HarrietTubman High School wore comfortableshoes, but Ms. McDowell was a strikingyoung woman. She dressed fashionably. Andshe was one of the best teachers at the school.

“We’ve been reading The Grapes of Wrath

by Steinbeck,” Ms. McDowell said, “and nowwe’re going to watch the movie that was madeof it.”

“Isn’t that a real old movie where every-body is jumpy and stuff,” Derrick Shawcomplained, making a face. “Those jerky oldmovies give me a headache.”

“No, Derrick,” Ms. McDowell said pa-tiently, “it’s a well made movie.”

2

Outrunning the Darkness

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 2

“I’ve seen it,” Sereeta said, “but I’d love tosee it again. The director won an AcademyAward for the movie. It really makes Steinbeck’sbook come alive.”

Ms. McDowell smiled at Sereeta. “Thankyou for your comments, Sereeta. I’m sure thewhole class will get a lot out of watching it.”

Jaris couldn’t help but admire Sereeta’scool, confident voice. Even in junior high shealways seemed more mature than everybodyelse. When she glanced back for some reason,Jaris smiled at her, but she didn’t seem to no-tice. And then he felt foolish for smiling at all.He worried that she’d think he was an idiot orsomething.

Jaris figured she was looking at somebodyelse anyway.

After class there was a break, and most ofthe students headed for the machines. Jarisknew Sereeta’s routine. She’d always buy anapple or an orange and take it to the little patchof lawn by the bronze statue of Harriet Tubmanto eat it. Jaris kept a respectful distance until

3

Chapter One

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 3

she had bought her bright red apple. Jarisbought an apple too. He had no intention of in-vading her space, but he did walk slowly by asshe nibbled on her apple.

“These are really good, aren’t they?” Jariscommented.

Sereeta looked up, smiling. “Yes, sweetand crunchy.” Her light brown eyes sparkled.She almost seemed pleased to be talking toJaris. His heart took a wild leap.

“They’re really delicious,” Jaris said.“Yes, that’s their name,” Sereeta said.“Really?” Jaris asked. He didn’t know one

kind of apple from the next. “You mean theycall them that?”

“Sure,” Sereeta answered. She giggled alittle. Was she laughing at him for being stu-pid about apples. “Don’t you ever buy applesin the store, Jaris? They got these little stick-ies on them telling what kind they are.”

“I never noticed,” Jaris said. Sereeta wasso lovely when she was smiling, even if shewas laughing at him. Jaris wanted to stare at

4

Outrunning the Darkness

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 4

her, but he was afraid she would resent that.“Uh, Ms. McDowell sure was glad you saidgood things about that movie we’re going tosee.”

“Yes. The Grapes of Wrath,” Sereetasaid. She seemed to be looking past Jarisnow, at somebody else. Still holding her nowhalf eaten apple, Sereeta got up slowly, herwhole expression changing. “Excuse me,Jaris,” she said. She skipped across the grassonto the sidewalk, and Jaris heard her say, “HiMarko.”

“Hey babe,” the boy answered. “Chillin’?”Marko Lane was a junior at Tubman High

too. He was tall and broad shouldered with aflashy personality. Jaris thought he was a phony,but the girls liked him. Jaris had seen Sereetatalking to Marko before, but now she seemedreally excited to be with him. Jaris thought aboutthe lame conversation he had just had withSereeta, and he winced in embarrassment.

Jaris felt flushed and warm. Sereeta wouldprobably laugh with Marko about the whole

5

Chapter One

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 5

stupid conversation she’d had about appleswith this nerd who was coming on to her. Jarisstuffed his hands into his pockets so hard thathe almost broke through the bottoms of them.

“Hey Jaris,” Alonee Lennox asked. “Youokay? You look like your dog just died.”Alonee was cute and friendly, and Jaris hadknown her all his life. They made block build-ings together in Head Start.

“I’m okay,” Jaris answered. His voice wasgrumpy. He had a fine baritone voice, and hehad won some awards for regional speechcontests. But when Jaris was down, as heoften was, his voice rasped like his father’s.Like a rusty old hinge screeching for oil. Popalways sounded hoarse as if all his sorrowsand disappointments settled in his vocalchords.

“You sure seem down, Jaris,” Aloneepressed. “Gotta be something wrong.”

“Always something wrong, girl,” Jarissaid in a snarl. “Like Pop says, if it’s notwrong today, it’ll be wrong tomorrow.”

6

Outrunning the Darkness

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 6

Alonee laughed. “You’re being a drag!And just when I had this exciting news toshare with you. But if you’re too down in thedumps to hear it, I’ll just keep it to my ownself.”

Jaris couldn’t stay in a bad mood for longaround Alonee. She was too much like a littlekitten jumping on a ball of yarn. “Okay girl,what’s the exciting news?”

“Tubman High School is going to put ona new play by some lady from New York,”Alonee told him. “Seems like her brothergraduated from here a long time ago, and shefeels close to us. She wants to do somethingspecial for the school. Anyway, it’s a reallycool play, and there’s a part just right for youin there, Jaris.” Alonee was breathless whenshe finished.

Jaris laughed. “Girl, I’m no actor. What’reyou thinking of?”

“You got such a fabulous voice. You’vedone dramatic readings like Lincoln’s Gettys-burg Address. Gave me chills,” Alonee said.

7

Chapter One

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 7

“I’m telling you, Jaris, this is something youcan do!”

Jaris shrugged. Except with close friendslike Alonee, Trevor Jenkins, and Sami Archer,Jaris was shy. He was no actor. When he wasmaking speeches, he turned into a differentperson, but that was a far cry from acting.Still, maybe actors did that too, turned them-selves into the characters they were playing.“I’ll think about it, Alonee. You got a lot offaith in me.”

Jaris didn’t live far from Tubman. He rodehis bike or jogged home. He lived in a niceneighborhood of single-family homes withnicely kept yards. Still, in the past few yearshard times had hit a lot of the families. Sev-eral houses had been foreclosed. The win-dows were boarded up, and the lawns hadturned brown. But those houses were theexception.

Across Grant Avenue was a whole otherworld. People lived in apartments and therewas graffiti all over, on the walls, fences,

8

Outrunning the Darkness

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 8

everywhere. Gangbangers roamed at will.The Nite Ryders were the worst, but therewere smaller, deadly bands. Some of the kidswho lived across Grant attended TubmanHigh, but few graduated.

As Jaris jogged home, he thought about hisfather. It was Friday and that was always wor-risome. If Pop had a bad day at Jackson’s AutoRepair, he didn’t come right home. He stoppedoff for some drinks. Pop hated his job as automechanic, even though he was very good at itand he earned excellent money. He calledhimself a “grease monkey,” a name that alwaysangered Mom. She and Pop would argue andJaris hated listening to them. All evening theywould bicker, and late at night they would startyelling. So Jaris dreaded Fridays.

Jaris slowed down his gait and turned thecorner to his street. From this far off he couldsee the family driveway. Jaris took some deepbreaths. If it was going to be a good Fridaynight, Pop’s green pickup would already be inthe driveway. That would mean he had not

9

Chapter One

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 9

stopped for drinks. He would be sitting infront of the TV watching basketball. That wasgood, very good.

Jaris’s father was a tall, lanky man. Jarisfigured that when his father was his age, helooked a lot like Jaris. “We’re lean and mean,boy,” Pop would say when he was in a goodmood. He was an LA Lakers fan, and he gotreally excited when the team was on a win-ning streak. He was always a little sad thatJaris had no athletic ability. But then he oftensaid, “I was a football star and look where itgot me. They called me the ‘Little Terror’’cause I could carry the ball underneath thosebig men. But in the end I got busted, and myfootball dreams went down the john, right? Sodon’t sweat it that you’re not a jock, boy. Youwon’t get no gripin’ from me. No way.”

Pop had counted on a sports scholarship toget him into college. He was smart, but theyweren’t awarding as many academic scholar-ships in those days. So the career-endinginjury blew away all Pop’s dreams. “That’s

10

Outrunning the Darkness

XXXXX_ch01_001-019.qxd 10/7/09 1:52 PM Page 10

1

C h a p t e r O n e

“Hold on there, little girl!” LorenzoSpain called out to his fourteen-year-olddaughter, Chelsea. She was coming downthe hall, carrying her books. “ChelseaSpain, am I seeing things, or is my daughtergoing to Marian Anderson Middle Schooldressed like a Vegas showgirl?”

“Oh Pop!” Chelsea rolled her eyes andgroaned.

Monica Spain shouted from the livingroom. “What’s all the hollering about?”

“Monie,” Pop replied, “your daughter isabout to go to school without most of herclothes on.” Pop was shouting even loudernow. His son, sixteen-year-old Jaris, wasdoing some last-minute studying for an

UU10_ch01_001-021:UU10_ch01_001-021 5/7/10 3:14 PM Page 1

English test. Jaris sighed. He closed hisbook and looked down the hallway at hissister.

“Chili pepper,” Jaris pleaded, “pleasego put something else on. Don’t get Pop allriled up before he has to go to work.There’s enough stress for him down at thegarage.”

“Mom!” Chelsea screamed. “Pop’sbeing impossible again.”

Mom came down the hall, and shelooked from her husband to her daughter.Monica Spain was a well-regarded fourthgrade teacher at the local elementaryschool. Before she could say a word, herhusband demanded, “Where does this littlewildflower get these clothes? Monie, yougot no sense? You let her dress in trash likethis? You help her buy these clothes thataren’t fit for decent girls?”

“Lorenzo, calm down,” Mom re-sponded. “Trudy Edson took Chelsea shopping with her daughter, Athena. I gaveChelsea a hundred dollars. I had a late

2

WI LDF LOWER

UU10_ch01_001-021:UU10_ch01_001-021 5/7/10 3:14 PM Page 2

faculty meeting. I just couldn’t take herthere myself.”

“Trudy Edson and that daughter ofhers!,” Pop chided in a scornful voice.“You let those freaks dress our daughter?”

“Lorenzo, Trudy is not a freak,” Momasserted. “She teaches at a high school inthe district.”

“Ohhh!” Pop said. “That makes it alldifferent. If she’s a big shot teacher, thenit’s okay that she lets Chelsea buy trashyclothes.”

Jaris moved alongside Chelsea.“Please, Chelsea, change your clothes,” heurged. He hated it when his parents startedfighting. The argument always turned into aclash of wills between his tough-mindedconservative Pop and his more liberalmother. “Chili pepper, just go in your roomand put on something else!”

Chelsea turned around and headed backto her room, stamping her feet all the way.“This is so totally stupid,” she whined. “Idress like every other girl at school. I mean,

3

CHAPTER ONE

UU10_ch01_001-021:UU10_ch01_001-021 5/7/10 3:14 PM Page 3

why don’t we set up inspection like in thearmy so I can be checked every day?”

Monica Spain looked at her husband.“You’ve upset her so much,” she said.

“Oh a thousand pardons,” Pop repliedwith mock contrition. “I would never wantto upset our daughter when she’s goin’ outon the street with the whole front of hershowing like she’s doin’ a revue in Vegas orsomething.”

“Lorenzo, just get a hold of yourself,”Mom demanded. Lorenzo Spain workedas a mechanic at Jackson’s Auto Repair.He hated his job. As a boy, he haddreamed of using his athletic skills to wina scholarship. Then he’d go to college andperhaps be an engineer or some other typeof professional. But all his dreamscrashed with a sports injury. Now he wasoften in a dark, bitter mood. He was dis-appointed by how his life had turned out.Jaris worried about him. Sometimes thedarkness seemed to spread over the entirehouse.

4

WI LDF LOWER

UU10_ch01_001-021:UU10_ch01_001-021 5/7/10 3:14 PM Page 4

“I got to go down to that stinking garageand work hard all day with Jackson yellingat me,” Pop complained. “And all thatkeeps me going is you and having goodkids. If Chelsea is going down the drain,then what am I working for?”

“She’s not going down the drain, forgoodness sakes!” Mom objected.

Chelsea came back down the hall wear-ing a modest blue top and jeans. “I hopethis satisfies you, Pop,” she said. “MaybeI should wear a cape that covers me evenmore. I mean, wouldn’t it be horrible ifsomebody noticed that I’m a girl?”

“Oh, don’t you worry about that, littlegirl,” Pop growled. “Everybody can seeyou’re a girl. Just make sure you look like anice girl, not like that trashy Athena wholooks inappropriate.”

“Pop,” Chelsea cried, “don’t callAthena names. She’s my friend. I don’t insult your friends!”

“Who are my friends?” Pop asked. “OldJackson, my boss? He’s not my friend. He’s

5

CHAPTER ONE

UU10_ch01_001-021:UU10_ch01_001-021 5/7/10 3:14 PM Page 5

my enemy. I don’t hang around creepy peo-ple like you do, Chelsea. That Trudy Edsonwears so much makeup she looks like aclown. I think the next time I see her I’mgonna suggest she sign up for the circus.She can work with Bozo.”

“Mom!” Chelsea wailed. “Don’t let Popinsult Athena’s mom.”

“He’s not serious, sweetie,” Mom said,frowning so much that there were deeplines in her usually smooth brow.

“The devil I’m not,” Pop protested,grabbing his truck keys off the wall hook.He went roaring down the driveway, as healways did when he was angry.

Mom looked at Jaris and commented.“Your father really got out of the wrongside of the bed this morning.”

Jaris shrugged. He loved both his par-ents. He didn’t want to take sides, though inhis heart he usually agreed more with Pop.Mom had a kind of Pollyanna approach tolife. Jaris didn’t think her view squaredwith the real world. She didn’t know what it

6

WI LDF LOWER

UU10_ch01_001-021:UU10_ch01_001-021 5/7/10 3:14 PM Page 6

was like out there on the streets or even inschool. If a girl dressed as if she was askingfor attention, she sometimes got too muchof the wrong kind of it.

Chelsea usually walked to school withher friend, Inessa Weaver. Inessa was asweet, quiet girl whom Pop approved of.Now she was at the door, waiting forChelsea. “Is Chelsea ready?” Inessa askedMom.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” Chelsea boundedout the door and fled down the walk. Jarisoverheard her complaining to Inessa. “Popwas absolutely crazy this morning! I had onthis really cute top I just got at Lawson’s.I was so excited to be wearing it to school.Pop went bananas! He made me take it offand put this dumb thing on that I’ve wornforever.”

“That top looks cute on you, Chel,”Inessa remarked.

“It’s old and it’s blah, Chelsea groaned.“Everybody’s seen it a zillion times. Thenew top was so fierce.”

7

CHAPTER ONE

UU10_ch01_001-021:UU10_ch01_001-021 5/7/10 3:14 PM Page 7

Jaris didn’t have to leave for TubmanHigh for a few more minutes. He was alonewith Mom.

“Jaris,” Mom asked, “do you thinkChelsea’s top was so bad that your fatherhad to throw a fit like that?”

“Well,” Jaris replied carefully, “Chelseais really growing. Last year she was askinny little girl. This year she’s, you know,filled out some. And, well, the top was a little bit . . . uh . . . hot.”

“I didn’t think it was bad,” Mom insisted. “I see tops like that on all theyoung girls.”

“Mom,” Jaris told his Mom, “uh, theguys at school, even middle school, they’relooking at the girls and making cracks.I mean, they hassle the girls with jokes andstuff. Chelsea’s only fourteen. Next yearshe’ll be at Tubman. It’d be good if shecould, you know, hold off on the really sexyclothes.”

“You know, though, Jaris,” Mom coun-tered, “your father’s problem is that he still

8

WI LDF LOWER

UU10_ch01_001-021:UU10_ch01_001-021 5/7/10 3:14 PM Page 8

sees Chelsea as a child. He thinks she’s tenyears old and he can boss her around. She’sbecoming a young lady. She has to be allowed to make her own decisions.” Momdisappeared into the bedroom to get readyfor school, where she taught.

Jaris didn’t have to wonder whom Momwas talking to on the phone when he heardher voice in the bedroom. Whenever Momhad the slightest problem with Pop, shecalled her mother to talk about the issue.

Mom’s mother, Jessie Clymer, was anactive, sixty-eight-year-old retired real estate agent. She was in good health andwell fixed economically. She had neverliked Pop, even before Mom and Pop weremarried. Sometimes Jaris thought that hisgrandmother would actually be pleased ifthe Spains got a divorce. Jaris once heardhis grandmother lamenting how manyyears Mom had already “wasted” onLorenzo Spain. To grandma, Dad was anobvious loser. It would be a pity, GrandmaClymer had said, if Monica wasted the rest

9

CHAPTER ONE

UU10_ch01_001-021:UU10_ch01_001-021 5/7/10 3:14 PM Page 9