Chapter 3: Hype Man
“Pleaaase let me go with you,” Jason begged for the umpteenth time as Will unwound the bandages, revealing the fresh scabs. The scrawny twelve year old was on his knees, palms clasped together.
“This look like fun to you?” Will asked, motioning to himself.
“It looks like a way out of this craphole,” Jason said without missing a beat. “I could do anything you want me to do. I’ll dig latrines, I’ll set up the tent. I’ll take night watch, I’ll taste food for poison. You can’t leave me here, man. When you’re gone, I’ll be the only boy here.”
“Hey!” Thomas, an eight-year-old boy protested.
“The oldest boy,” Jason hastily corrected.
“Come on, man, I’ll do anything. I’ll…I’ll be your hype man.”
“My what?”
“You know, hype man. When you talk about how great someone is whenever they’re not around so that they have an easier time conning the target or scoring with ladies.”
“Where’d you learn that?!” Will demanded.