The Edge of Town (part2)

Pete Torres was Puerto Rican, big for his age, and a certified badass. He was also my best friend. He got the tough guy rep not from wanting it, but from having three older brothers who were bullies. Pete learned early that you either fought for yourself or you took a lot of crap…and Pete wasn’t the kind that liked taking crap from anybody. His attitude made him a target with the school principal and a legend to his peers. Although we were as different on the inside as our skin was on the outside, we hit it off and became comrades. We hung out at each other’s houses, traded comic books, and laughed at each other’s jokes. I never knew Pete to be afraid of anything. He was easily goaded into dangerous stunts just by the phrase, “I betcha can’t do that!” And after he accepted the challenge and lived to smile about it, Pete never dared me to do the same. He was content in seeing me shake my head in disbelief and admiring his devil-may-care personality. But, as I was to learn that hot summer, even the Pete Torres’ of the world are afraid of some things. And then there are people like myself, who are also afraid, but are foolish enough to tempt evil into showing it’s hideous face.

To be continued…