Sticks & Stones Page #2

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I love you, Dale.

See you in the morning.

- Right.

- Reuben?

Is something wrong?

- No.

- Are you sure?

- They canceled our

baseball league.

- They did? Why?

- Because you're buffoons.

That's why.

Everything this city

does turns into a mess.

Look at the parks.

Look at the police

and the schools.

They can't even afford

to buy their own books.

And that's why we're

getting you out of there.

Are your ready for

your entrance exam?

- Yeah.

- Good.

- But why do I have to go?

- Because you do.

- Yeah...

but why?

- I'll tell you why.

Because I was never

given an opportunity.

And because I'm working too hard

to see you wasting away in some

broken-down public school.

- But...

what about my friends?

- Your friends?

Huh.

Well, Reuben, your granddad

moved us when I was your age,

and I made new friends.

So you'll make new

friends, all right?

You make friends

wherever you go.

That's life.

- I have no desire to

go the creepin' school.

And he says I have no choice.

He won't even reason with me.

- Then screw him.

Don't go. I wouldn't.

- I can't do that.

- Sure you can, Bookie.

Tell him to take a hike.

That's what my mom

told my old man.

He never came back.

The a**hole.

And then again, if

that don't work,

you can always do what

that kid in Wichita did.

- Oh, and what was

that, Oh Wise One?

- Blow 'em away.

- Let's play some ball!

Been such a long time

Since I've felt this good

Beginning to wonder

if I ever could

I know it sounds crazy

But I feel my luck is changing

Yeah, I'm back again

- You're going downtown, Finley.

Downtown.

- Stee-rike!

Next time. Next time.

Dos!

Greeting the

future face to face

We're back in the race

You might think that it's over

I got news for you

Don't be so quick

to count me out

'Cause it's never over

'Til the walls

come tumbling down

I'm out of luck

Thrown it all away

Yeah, back in the race

Get cooled off

Livin' life like

there's no tomorrow

Back in the race

To take a chance

Greeting the

future face to face

We're back in the race

- Home run! Home run!

Stop the presses!

I just dinged one off the

great Joseph Finley!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

- It was foul.

- No way, Book.

That was a home run,

fair and square.

- My condolences, but it

went left of the tree.

- Yeah, well that oak

tree is fair, you puke.

- That's not an oak.

It's a Monterrey

Pine, you pukette.

It's foul.

It always has been

and always will be.

You know it.

- Aw, go home and

molest yourself.

- You guys, let's

just give it to him.

- Nah, give him nothin'.

If I can strike lightning once,

I can strike it again.

Fetch.

- You fetch.

You hit it.

- You're in the outfield.

- You hit it.

- You said it was foul.

- So what?

- I'll go get it.

- No, no, no, no, Joey.

I'll go get it.

- No, no, no, no, no.

I'll go get it.

- Shoot.

- Somebody lose a ball?

- It's ours.

Thanks.

- Anytime.

Take care.

- Yeah.

Yeah, bro, you too.

He ain't a bad guy.

- By the way...

which one of you guys called

me an a**hole yesterday?

You know, I'm just curious,

'cause usually I like to look

the limp dick in the eyes.

But hey, I just wanna know

who's been calling me names...

behind my back.

I'm not gonna hurt anybody.

Scout's honor.

You know what?

I don't ever wanna see

you guys here again.

Find somewhere else to play.

- Look, we don't

want any trouble.

If you want us to

do your homework

or make your lunch

everyday, you got it.

- You called me an

a**hole, didn't you?

- It was me.

- No, I said it.

- Now I know it was

you, you fat coward.

Do you have any idea how fat

and stupid-looking you are?

Huh? Do ya?

Greasy, four-eyed

mound of blubber.

How do you live

with yourself, huh?

Piggy.

I asked you a question, Piggy.

Do you have any idea how fat

and stupid-looking you are?

Huh? Do ya?

Huh?

Answer me!

- Yes

- Yes, what?

- Yes, I do know how fat

and stupid-looking I am.

- I feel a whole lot better.

- Are you happy now?

- Excuse me?

- I said, "Are you

happy now, a**hole?"

- You dumb

- Ah!

- I think it's time

somebody taught you

a little something

about respect.

- Eat sh*t!

- Oh, not a bad idea.

- No! No!

No!

- You wanna be a hero?

- No!

- Here's your reward.

You now have something

to wash it down.

- No!

No! No! No!

- Joey!

Joey!

- See you in school, champ.

- Joey, are you okay?

- Your arm.

- Hey!

Hey!

Where you going?

Oh, honey.

Look at...

oh sweetie.

How'd your hair

get all wet, huh?

- Cockroach?

Did one of your water balloon

fights get out of hand again?

- Tell me what happened, Joey.

- Yeah, Joey, tell

me what happened.

- Would you just get out?

- Come on, sweetie,

tell me what happened.

You don't have to

be embarrassed.

- I'm okay.

- Okay. You sure?

- Dr. Finley?

Dr. Finley?

- I'm right here.

I have to take this, okay?

Just one second.

I'll be right back, okay?

You know, sometimes

I just wanna.

Okay, I'm here

Uh-huh. So how are

the contractions?

Yeah, mm-hm.

And how many centimeters

is she dilated?

- Go to hell.

- What'd you say, you

- Hey, hey, guys!

Guys, come on!

Sorry.

You know, brotherly love.

Dr. Frank, can I

call you right back?

Just one second.

I'll call you right back.

- Time you learned

a little something

about respect, Cockroach.

One of my buddies

recognized your puny mug

from the field yesterday.

Don't go near it!

I'm warning you!

You're just a little bug who

thinks throwing a tennis ball

against the wall is baseball.

It ain't.

It's babyball.

- Joey? Dale?

- Smarten up.

- I wanna talk to you.

- Mom, I didn't touch him.

I didn't...

- I want to talk to you.

Joey, your brother's

just a great, big bully.

And someday, somebody

his own size

is gonna set him straight,

and I hope I'm there to see it.

Honey, until then though,

just ignore him or something.

Don't provoke him.

It just plays into

his hand, okay?

Sweetie, it's gonna be okay.

Honey, I promise,

everything will be okay.

You just take your time.

Take all the time you need.

And then when...

when you're ready,

you just come down

and have dinner with me, okay?

Be waiting downstairs for you.

You know, sweetheart, this is

all just part of growing up.

And sometimes it just isn't fun.

I love you.

I'm gonna take care of Dale.

Dale?

Dale?

Get outta your room and come

down to the kitchen now.

They're at each other

night and day now,

and I don't know what

we're gonna do about it.

- Honey, they're brothers.

I went through it,

and I survived.

And so will Joey.

They'll manage, okay?

- I'm going to the Principal's.

- Don't even think it, Bookie.

Come on, he'll only

mess things up.

- What then?

- Go to your locker.

What's he gonna do?

Knife you in broad school light?

Come on.

Follow me.

- Citizenship in Athens.

The democracy of Athens opened

participation in government

to all citizens.

However, citizenship was

a privilege reserved

for relatively few people.

Only men over the age of

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