Catboy Read Free Page A

said.
    â€œNot crazy. You need to pick up some rocks.”
    He didn’t move.
    â€œNow!” I ordered.
    He bent down and picked up a rock.
    The three of them stared at us. At least we had stunned them into silence for a few seconds. I tried to decide if it was better to fire the first rock or wait. Yes, it was better to wait.
    â€œIf we run, I think we can get back to the hole in the fence,” Simon whispered. “We can still get away.”
    â€œIf we run, they’ll chase us or throw the rocks. Just stay here. Don’t move. Don’t talk.”
    â€œGood idea. If we don’t move, maybe they’ll forget we’re here and leave,” he whispered. “Maybe if we close our eyes, they won’t be able to see us.”
    Great. Sarcasm—just what I needed. They weren’t leaving, but at least nobody was throwing rocks. I glanced over my shoulder, hoping the cats had left. They were still there. In fact, more cats were there. I guess even cats like a good show.
    â€œOn my count, we all throw our rocks,” the big guy said.
    I tightened my grip on the rock in my right hand. It was a good size, a good weight. I could try to make it count.
    â€œAnd we all throw at Catboy,” the big guy said.
    I was surprised to see Simon take a small step sideways, away from me, opening up a little space between us.
    â€œYou, Asian kid, you can leave if you want,” the big guy yelled. “We only want Catboy!”
    I looked at Simon. He wasn’t looking at me. Was he going to take this chance to get away?
    â€œHurry up,” the guy yelled. “Get out of here. Hop on your rickshaw and run away!”
    Finally Simon moved. He bent down and grabbed another rock.
    â€œFirst off, I’m Canadian, and second, they don’t have rickshaws in Korea,” Simon said. “What are you, some kind of idiot?”
    I could almost see the guy’s nostrils flair in anger. “You two aim at Catboy. The Korean kid is mine. And he’s going to need a rickshaw to take him to the hospital. Throw on the count of three.”
    The other two boys nodded in agreement.
    â€œOne,” he said.
    â€œWe throw on two,” Simon said.
    â€œTwo!”
    I pulled my arm back to throw, and all three of them turned and ran away, disappearing behind a pile of cars.
    My mouth dropped open in shock, and I started to laugh. Simon laughed too.
    â€œWhat just happened?” I asked.
    â€œThey were probably afraid because I am Korean. They might have thought I would use tae kwon do on them.”
    â€œTae kwon what?”
    â€œThat’s Korean karate,” he said.
    â€œYou know tae kwon do?”
    â€œNo, but they don’t know that. They see an Asian kid, and they think maybe he knows stuff like that.”
    I shook my head. “It has to be something else.”
    â€œWhat else would scare them?” Simon asked.
    â€œMaybe they were afraid of me,” a deep voice said.
    I turned around. Standing right behind us, towering over us, was a security guard!

Three
    I staggered backward a couple of steps, as did Simon. The guard was tall and wore a uniform, black pants and a white shirt. He had a thick beard and a bright red turban around his head. He also held a nightstick.
    â€œWe were just cutting through on our way home from school,” Simon sputtered.
    I was so glad he spoke, because I didn’t think I could mumble out a word.
    â€œWe weren’t going to take anything!” Simon exclaimed.
    â€œWere you planning on stealing rocks?” the guard asked with a heavy accent.
    We opened our hands and the rocks fell to the ground.
    â€œTell me your names,” the guard ordered.
    â€œI’m Simon.”
    â€œAnd I’m…I’m Taylor. But we weren’t doing anything,” I said.
    â€œYes, you were,” he said. “You were protecting the cats.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI saw what happened. Those boys—those