Seven Days in June(13)

Ty’s eyes focused on his notebook. He was painfully aware that Shane was referring to him. He’d been sent to juvie for missing a detention.

“You’re mad about it? You wanna fight? You’re not wrong. They’ll tell you you’re an animal, but you’re not. You’re a sane person reacting to an insane situation. And I know, ’cause I been you. It took me getting locked up three times by twelfth grade to learn the lesson that you’re gonna learn today.”

Shane paused, realizing he was talking so fast, his words were running into each other. “I fought, too. Just like you.”

Well, not exactly. Like Ty, “violent and unpredictable” had been stamped in Shane’s student file since grade school. Unlike Ty, Shane’s violence wasn’t about rage. He didn’t even fight to win. It was about hurting himself, soothing his self-destructive streak—to tear his skin, shatter his bones, gag blood. And that was what kept him shuttling from foster homes to group homes to finally nothing, because no one wanted to adopt a hollow-eyed, passed-over preteen Black boy with disturbing compulsions and an unsettling…beauty…that was weird on a kid so tragic.

“No one’s coming to save you. You have to do it.” Shane lowered his voice, wanting Ty to work hard to hear this. “Do not react to the school security officers. Do not fight. Stay low, work hard, graduate, and get the full entire fuck out of this city. And don’t come back until you’re in a position to help a kid like you. You understand me?”

Silence.

“Ty.” Shane stepped forward, smashing his fist down on Ty’s desk. The boy jumped. “You understand me?”

Ty nodded, shell-shocked. Shane was like his fun faux uncle. He’d never seen him be so serious. Hesitantly, he said, “I get so heated. I can’t stay low.”

“Yeah, you can.” Shane’s shoulders relaxed a bit. “Have faith.”

“Oh. Church.”

“I mean, if that works for you. But I meant faith in yourself. What do you like?”

Ty shrugged broadly. “I guess…planets.”

“Why?”

“I like…that there’s more out there. I don’t know. I like thinking about other worlds.” He was at a loss to describe something he’d never even thought about. “I…I used to draw the planets when I was a li’l nigga. Stupid shit.”

“Nice.” Shane pulled a Trident pack out of his pocket and popped two pieces into his mouth. Then he tossed one to Ty, who caught it with one hand. “There’s eight planets, right? I don’t remember all their names. Do you?”

“Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.”

Shane folded his arms across his chest. “When you wanna fight, recite them in your head. It’s called a mantra. A mantra’s like a magic spell for your brain, telling it to chill.”

“That’s dumb.”

“Is it? You like Game of Thrones, right?”

“No.”

“You taught yourself Dothraki. I’ve seen the inside of that notebook.”

Ty shrugged again, his chin disappearing into his neck.

“What does Arya do? When she’s in danger? She recites the names of people she wants to exact revenge upon. It’s her mantra, and it keeps her alive. The planets will be your mantra.”

Ty could barely hide his delight and mortification at being compared to Arya Stark, and his head sank farther into his neck, rolls of skin puddling up beneath his cheeks.

“You got a mantra?” Ty actually delivered this question as a question.

“Yeah.”

“What is it?”

“Mine,” said Shane simply. He did have one. It was a gift from a girl when he was a boy. And back when he really needed it to, it had worked.

He checked his watch. It was time to go to New York.

“You need activities,” said Shane. “Your science teacher told me you like astronomy. So I set you up with an internship at the Providence Planetarium. Also, every Friday at three thirty, you’ll be a science tutor for struggling students. And don’t forget, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.”

“Wait. You already knew I liked planets?”

Shane grinned and gave Ty a hearty pound.

“And you said you couldn’t name them all, but you just did!”

“Of course I know the planets,” said Shane, patting his jeans pockets, making sure he had his wallet. “I tricked you.”

Ty’s mouth opened.

“It’s your mantra, not mine. You had to say it out loud to give it power.”

“I’m clueless,” whispered Ty, in awe.

Shane chuckled a little. He’d miss Ty so much. He wanted to hug him, but his file said that he didn’t like being touched. Shane understood; neither did he.

He was headed for the door, when Ty’s voice stopped him.

“Do you…Maybe you need help? In New York?”

Shane turned to face him. “Help?”

“Can I go with you?” Ty’s voice was a shy mumble. “I could be your assistant.”

Shane’s shoulders slumped a little. “If you need me, I’ll come back. Anytime. For any reason. I promise.”

Ty blinked several times and slumped down in his chair.