Dar's Adventures in Space 1: Space Crazy Read Free

whipped his arm around, slicing Dar on the tip of his right ear. The sting of the blade got his attention, blood trickled down his face. Saying nothing over his pain, Dar balled up his fist and delivered a solid upper-cut to Krodus’s jaw. He disengaged, momentarily stunned.
    “Enough!” Dar barked. The blood continued to drip down his cheek onto his shirt. He reached up and felt the damage. The top third of his softly pointed ear was cut partly through. He debated about just yanking the flopping flesh and cartilage off, but figured maybe it could be saved.
    Krodus flipped the knife in his hand, then charged, the blade aimed at Dar. He had enough momentum that it didn’t take much for Dar to step aside and let the bully roar by. As he passed, Dar slammed his fists into Krodus’s back, dropping him face first into the dirt. Dust flew into the air as the bully hit. His knife bounced from his hand.
    Garnic turned to see the headmaster coming their way. “Dar!”
    Snatching the knife, Dar stabbed Krodus in the forearm. The bully bellowed.
    “Dar!” Garnic hollered again. “Come on!”
    Dar glanced up, saw the headmaster, tucked the knife behind his back, and ran; Garnic hot on his heels. They ran off school grounds and around a corner before stopping. “I don’t believe you did that!” Garnic said, almost out of breath.
    “I’m not gonna let that bully make sandwich meat out of me.” Dar touched his ear. “Great, he fucked up my ear.”
    “Your mother’s gonna be pissed!”
    He fiddled with his ear more. “She’s seen me beat up plenty of times, what’s new?”
    “Beat up, maybe, but not cut up.”
    “I’ll be fine.” Taking his tablet from Garnic, he headed home.
     

    Denrika stood looking at Dar. She’d just gotten home from work and saw some drips of blood on the kitchen counter. Going through the house, she tracked him down to the patio. He sat on a lounge chair, his right ear bandaged.
    “Now what happened?” she asked.
    “A fight, as usual.”
    “Who was it this time?”
    “Krodus, as usual,” he replied nonchalantly.
    She sat down next to him. “Is your ear okay?”
    “I dunno.”
    “May I?”
    Dar pulled his makeshift bandage off.
    “Oh, Dar!” She reached up and gently inspected the wound. “We should take you for stitches.”
    “Whatever,” he grumbled, trying to get his school work done.
    “You can’t leave it like that.”
    “Doesn’t hurt anymore.”
    “Yes, but it’s floppy .”
    He sat up. “So what.” Struggling slightly, he got up and went inside.
    Denrika followed him. “Well, at least there’s only a couple weeks left…Then you’ll be off with Gwog.”
    “Yeah,” he said softly.
    “Don’t you wanna go? All you talk about is the stars.”
    Dar stopped just short of his room. “I do, but I guess I’m a little afraid.”
    She put her arms around him. “You’ve lived all your life here with me on Erotis; you don’t know anything else…I can understand your fear.”
    “And the only friends I have are here—what few there are.”
    “Gwog said most of his crew are half breeds, I’m sure you’ll make new friends.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “Hey, your born date is next week; did you wanna have a party?”
    “Party?” he scoffed. “I got like one friend who would actually come. That’s not much of a party.”
    “No females at school?”
    “None that would come.”
    She kissed him on the forehead. “I’m sorry.”
    Dar wiggled from her grasp. “I’ll be fine, mother.”
    “Seventeen is an important date, you know.”
    “Yes, yes, I know. But no one seems to care when it comes to a half breed.”
    “Dar,” she said lowly, reaching up to gently touch his chevron shaped brow ridges.
    He decided to change the subject. “Tell me about my father.”
    “I’ve told you a hundred times about him.”
    “Tell me again,” he pressed.
    “Oh, all right.” She motioned to him. “Come sit out here with me.”
    Dar tossed his things in