By now the kids who had been playing in the water had stopped to watch the confrontation so Apple wanted to make a good show of it. "I forgot you're afraid of water, that's why you smell like a monkey cage every day." The kids erupted into laughter. With each giggle Tayshawn felt smaller and smaller. "I think this book could use a bath," he inched towards the water.
"Don’t," Tayshawn lunged for the book, but was stopped when Apple grabbed him by the front of his t-shirt.
"Shut up, punk. Matter of fact, I'm gonna wash you and this dirty ass book." Apple grabbed Tayshawn in a bear hug and lifted him off his feet. The frail boy struggled but Apple had a grip like a grown man. Apple forced Tayshawn to his knees in the water, letting it hit him in the face full blast. Tayshawn screamed and choked but Apple continued to hold him there while the other kids looked on laughing.
When Apple finally let him go, Tayshawn scrambled away from the water like a frightened rabbit. His hair was matted to his face and his clothes were completely soaked. What truly broke his heart was when he looked down and saw that the water had loosened the glue on his knockoff sneakers and the sole was coming apart. Tayshawn was hurt and he was angry. Laughter filled his ears from the children around him. He looked up at Apple's smiling face and a veil of red slid down over his eyes. The next thing anyone knew, Tayshawn had sprang to his feet and was on Apple's ass.
Apple was caught off guard when Tayshawn came at him like a feral cat, scratching, clawing and biting. He tried to grab Tayshawn by the throat but the smaller boy sank his teeth into Apple's hand. Two of the other kids grabbed Tayshawn from behind, allowing Apple a chance to compose himself. He delivered a vicious right to Tayshawn's jaw and followed with a left to his gut, dropping him. For good measure Apple gave him two kicks to the ribs. Tayshawn lay on the ground, in the fetal position, glaring up at Apple like a wounded dog.
"You crazy little mutha fucka. You don’t only smell like an animal but you act like one too. From now on, your name ain't Tayshawn, its Animal!"
"Animal, Animal, Animal," the kids all laughed and taunted.
Tayshawn got to his feet and ran away as fast as he could. Even as he entered the building he could still hear the children's taunting voices. "Animal, Animal, Animal…."
