THE SCARY EXHIBITION

 

 

            Jody was suddenly regretful of his decision to accompany the Forresters and Oliver to Kentucky, horse-trading. He couldn't believe his predicament: the Forresters were actually urging him to disobey Penny and drink liquor with them, and even Oliver was taking their side. And now, worst of all, Pack had just grinned and said, "Do we got to pour it down you??"

            In staggering disbelief, Jody stared up at him from where he'd flopped tiredly on the ground. "You wouldn't!"

            Arch and Pack grinned broadly at each other, and accepted Jody's doubt as a dare. They moved in on him together.

            "No! Oliver! Buck! Help!" Jody screamed piercingly as they both knelt, one on each side, to lay hold of him. Arch pinned the fragile arms with powerful hands, and draped one large log of a leg across both delicate boy-legs. Pack seized a handful of blond hair to pull the head back, as his other hand brought the jug near.

            After one more scream, Jody decided that he'd better shut up, or he'd make their task even easier. He clamped his lips tightly closed against any more intimate exposure to the whiskey, whose smell he found foul. He'd never before been this close to it.

            Pack laughed knowingly. "Wanta make it more of a challenge, eh? We'll handle you. But you might be sorry you brung this on yourself!"

            Buck and Mill-wheel joined their brothers in surrounding Jody. Mill-wheel held his head still, and Buck's big hand gripped Jody's jaw from below, using thumb on one side and index finger on the other, to apply pressure at the point where upper teeth and lower teeth met. With his pressure, they no longer met. The jaws were forced apart. Jody issued a panicked shriek.

            "Do this look familiar?" Buck teased.

            "You seed us do somethin' similar to your pa once, eh?" Mill-wheel taunted with a grin.

            "Oh stop! Don't hurt him! Please!!" Oliver begged.

            "We ain't hurtin' him, Oliver," Mill-wheel said over his shoulder. "He ain't in no pain."

            "But he's terrified! Don't fear matter?!"

            "Hit'll be over right quick," Buck said nonchalantly.

            Pack poured the liquor down him, assaulting the boy's senses. Jody choked and sobbed. His tear-blurred eyes spoke silently of an emotional agony of terror.

            Starkly observing the boy's anguish, the four Forresters all released him at once, and Pack put aside the jug. Oliver rushed to comfort him.

            It had been a long time since the Forresters had heard Jody cry like a baby, but they heard it now.