The Hum Read Online Free Page A

as he turned away from him. He began to wonder if he’d made a statement with the rolls of pennies. Obviously, it wasn’t a big enough statement to keep Wayne from wanting a rematch though.
    The rest of the week—it had to be the longest week of his life—Kevin barely slept or ate from the fear creeping its way into his chest. He spent the majority of his free time doing pull-ups from the rafters inside the barn, as well as punching some of the bales of hay stacked throughout. He felt silly doing it, but true fear wouldn’t give him a minutes rest. He couldn’t get his mind off the upcoming fight, his nerves making it hard to focus on his homework and his weekly reading assignments.
    Kevin had never been in a real fight before, and he didn’t have the slightest idea what to do. From the fights he’d seen at school, he knew the smart thing was to get in the first punch, and pray for the best. He was like the child version of Rocky training to beat the giant Dolph Lundgren, at least that’s the way he viewed his brother Wayne.
    When Sunday afternoon came, his parents excused themselves for their routine nap, and he pulled on some sweats and a long shirt. He had no idea how things would end for him, but he knew the area around the barn had some pretty big rocks lying around, so he hoped his choice of clothing would help soften the blow. He was preparing for the worst, praying for the best. If you can take a little break from sending everyone to hell, God, would you please keep Wayne from killing me?
    He hadn’t seen Wayne since they’d returned from church, and as he stood, leaning against the barn, Kevin hoped with everything in him that his brother wouldn’t show. He even began to justify the older boys not showing in his own head. Maybe he forgot all about it. Maybe he decided to let it go. Maybe he even…..
    Kevin’s thoughts were cut short as Wayne rounded the corner of the barn with that same look of hate in his eyes.
    “I’m surprised you even came out little brother. I thought I’d have to drag you from your room. Do you think all those pullups you’ve been doing will help you?”
    His heart was beating so loud he was having trouble even talking, and the fear inside him made Kevin feel like throwing up. But something pushed him forward, nevertheless.
    “I’m here,” was all Kevin managed to get out.
    “I’ve been looking forward to this all week long. Are you ready for your beating?”
    Managing to get his weak knees to move his body forward, Kevin got within two feet of Wayne and said, “What…What happened, Wayne? We used to be close; you used to be different. Did I do something to you?”
    “I grew up! You can’t be a baby all your life, little brother! Now, that’s enough talk; let’s go!”
    Putting up his fists just like he’d seen the other boys on the playground do, Kevin waited for Wayne to do the same. As soon as Wayne brought up his, Kevin paused to take in how much bigger they were than his own. Snapping out of his short trance, he quickly rushed in and planted a right hook across Wayne’s left cheek. The blow temporarily stunned the older boy, but when he came rushing in and plowed his head into Kevin’s stomach, the younger boy couldn’t help but wonder what went wrong. I struck the first blow; shouldn’t someone be coming out to break up the fight now? That’s the way things always ended on the playground, right?
    After getting pelted with a few lefts and rights to the head and stomach—Wayne was careful not to hit him directly in the face, because that would be hard to explain to mom and dad—Kevin somehow managed to roll Wayne off of him. Seizing the moment, he quickly jumped on top of the older boy and grabbed him in a headlock. Holding on for dear life, Kevin squeezed with every ounce of strength in his eight-year-old body.
    With his muscles giving out, Kevin finally heard Wayne mutter, “I…I can’t breathe. You…You win, just let me go. Please.”
    Kevin could