Thunderbowl Read Online Free Page A

the Dogs. He had ordered a whole table full of beer. I started getting worried.
    Then I saw Ike pawing at her. At first she didn’t seem to mind. But I did.
    Now, Suzanne wasn’t exactly my girlfriend. And I was probably just one in along string of her favorites. That’s the way she was. But I didn’t trust anyone in The Dungeon. Guys came here to meet girls. Al called the place “the meat market.” And Ike was not among my trusted friends.
    I saw Suzanne start to push back from him. Ike wouldn’t leave her alone.
    â€œDrek, let’s take a break now. I need to take care of some business,” I said.
    â€œStewy won’t like it,” Drek answered.
    Al saw what I was worried about and backed me up. “Let Stewy twirl it in his ear.” Al announced our break. I unplugged my guitar.
    I walked over to Suzanne’s table, sat down behind the army of empty beer glasses. Suzanne looked like she’d had enough to drink.
    â€œHow are you, Ike?” I asked.
    â€œI was fine until you showed up,” Ike answered.
    â€œSorry to hear that,” I said.
    Suzanne started to giggle. Ike grabbed her wrist. Now what? I wondered.
    She was pulling back from him, but he wasn’t letting go. Man, I was getting mad. I knew I was about to get in over my head. I started to count my teeth with my tongue.
    â€œLet go of her, Ike, or you’ll be sorry,” I said. I was surprised at how convincingly it came out.
    â€œWho’s gonna make me?” he snapped. I suddenly noticed how much Ike looked like a caveman.
    â€œWe’ll give it a try,” said a voice from behind him. It was Al, the steamroller. Alongside of him was Drek.
    Ike was ready to blow. Al would have had him out cold on the floor in ten seconds. I could have just stood back and watched.
    Just then, Stewy walked up. “Every-thing okay here, boys?”
    I smiled. “Yes. Just fine, sir.”
    â€œGood, good. I like all my customers to have a good time.”
    â€œWell, we were just leaving,” Suzanne said in a slurred voice. She grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the door.
    â€œWhere are we going?” I asked.
    â€œWe’re leaving,” she said, fishing her car keys out of her purse.
    â€œHey, I’ve got to play another set. Besides, you’ve had a lot to drink. You shouldn’t be driving.”
    Suzanne gave me a look that could burn through concrete. “Well, I’m leaving. With you or without you.” She was wobbling as she walked away. I couldn’t let her drive off like that.
    I followed her to her red Trans Am and got in. As soon as I sat down, she leaned over and kissed me hard on the mouth. She stuck her tongue halfway down my throat. I thought I’d choke. But I can’t say I wanted her to quit.
    Just as quickly she pulled away from me. She fired up the car. “Watch this,” she said and put the car in reverse, pushing the gas pedal to the floor. We lost a year’s worth of good tire tread in thirty seconds as she squealed out of the parking space. Next she jammed the Trans Am into firstgear and tore out of there. I was sure we were going to get killed.
    â€œSlow down,” I yelled.
    â€œCome on, loosen up,” she answered. She was weaving a little and driving way too fast. “Bet you didn’t know I was a hotshot driver.”
    â€œNo, I didn’t,” I said. “Now cut it out!”
    â€œBut you haven’t seen anything yet.”
    We were approaching an intersection. Suzanne downshifted, cranked the wheel hard to the right and threw the car into a screaming full-speed turn.
    We almost made the turn, but the Trans Am slid over onto the other side of the road. A car was coming head-on. All I saw were the headlights. Suzanne cranked the wheel hard to the right. Too far. Now we jumped the curb and were speeding across somebody’s lawn. Straight ahead was a tree.
    Suzanne was pulling hard again on the