este
Above: Jason Adams modern grabs
one to fakie at the Este (No Duhl) train-
ing facility. Photo by Lance Dalgart
Right: Over the top of the bench, Scott
Johnston bluntslides the whole thing.
Photo by Gabe Morford
"Mack! No!"
The Kid slapped Davis' hand down. "You cheated!"
"I did net! Who's next? How 'bout you, Luke?"
Ron screamed, "I'm next!"
"Okay, come on!"
"No! No more arm wrestling! I wanna spar!"
"Spar?"
"Yeah, spar! You say you know
karate? Se do 1. Let's spar!"
The Kid was shaken, but rose to his
feet, took a few steps away from the
table, and faced Rem. Shane slith-
ered in behind the Kid. Davis ripped
a board off the picnic table and
stood with it at the Kid's side. The
three formed a triangle around him.
The Kid looked nervously behind.
Shane regarded him with an intent
expression. The Kid turned to Ron,
who flashed a vicious smile. The Kid
turned to his side. Davis raised the
board into the air. There was a tense
moment of silence.
"Go ahead," the Kid said, address-
Ing Davis with the board.
Ron yelled, "Yer supposed to be
fightin' me!"
"I thought we were sparring?"
Davis swung the board. The Kid
ducked. The board slammed across
Ron's forehead; he dropped hard to
the ground, unconscious. Shane
leaned back on one leg and sent a
foot flashing. The Kid ducked. The
foot banged into Davis' temple.
Davis dropped the board and
charged at the Kid. At the same
moment, Shane was charging at the
Kid. The Kid stepped out of the way.
Shane and Davis collided. Davis
jerked to a frozen stop where he
stood. Shane flipped back through
the air and to the ground, where he
held his head with both hands, cry-
ing out in pain. Davis get his bal-
ance, put his head down, and
charged at the Kid again. The Kid
stepped aside. Davis smashed full
steam into the trunk of a tree. He fell
to his side, holding his neck.
The Kid sat down at the table.
Billy and Neal sat silently a moment,
stunned. Finally, Neal broke the
stunned silence.
"Why don't we get more beer?"
"What do we need more beer for?"
the Kid asked. "Why don't we just
drink the beer you guys have been
stashing in the bushes over there?
And, hey, what are you guys' real
names anyway?"
A chilling stillness followed on that
hot summer night in late August as
the participants contemplated what they'd experi-
enced. One thing was certain, the Park Gang would
never be the same again.
-Kenneth James Wagner
VAD-CLE
68 THER
69