"I ra-ra-reckon I ain't got no money, S-Sir," Freddy said, shuddering violently in fear.

His eyes turned down, embarrassed he had even been caught in the act. Freddy’s mom had taught him better, Freddy had known better. For most of the seven years Freddy had been around, all he had ever known was hard work and the want of something better. He watched how his ma and pa tried to make things work out for them, and he saw the tears at night even when they think he didn’t. Little boys know a whole lot about a whole lotta things. Freddy was wild and unkempt, but he was raised right, even if he didn’t have much. That’s probably why he felt so awful because he had just let them down. If it hadn’t been for stupid Billy getting him all fired up maybe this wouldn’t have happened. That’s right, it was Billy’s fault! Freddy recalled the taunts from yesterday. “Ya ain’t got squat Freddy. Your Ma and Pa don’t know nothin’ about nothin'. I triple-dog dare ya to make somethin’ of yerself if ya can.”