The boy lay bleeding in the rain. He was sixteen years old. He wore a bright purple silk jacket. Across the back were the words, THE ROYALS. The boy’s name was Andy. The name was written with thin black thread in the front of the jacket. It was just over the heart, Andy.

He had been stabbed ten minutes ago. The knife had entered just below his ribs. It had torn a wide gap in his flesh. He lay on the sidewalk. The March rain washed away the blood from his open wound. He had known pain when the knife had torn across his body. Then a little relief came when the blade was pulled away.

He had heard a voice saying, “That’s for you Royal!” He heard footsteps hurry away in the rain. Then he had fallen to the sidewalk. Holding his stomach, he had tried to stop the blood.

He tried to yell for help, but he had no voice. It was raining harder. There was an open hole in his body and his life ran red. It was 11:30 PM, but he did not know the time.

There was another thing he did not know. He did not know he was dying. He lay on the sidewalk and he thought only: THAT WAS A FIERCE RUMBLE. THEY GOT ME GOOD THAT TIME. But he did not know he was dying. He would be frightened had he known. He wished he could call for help. But there was only a bubble of blood when he opened his mouth to speak. He lay and waited, waited for someone to find him. He could hear the sound of car tires far away.

He wondered if Laura would be angry. He had left to get a pack of cigarettes. He had told her he would be back in a few minutes. He had gone downstairs and found the drug store closed. He knew that Alfredo’s on the next block would be open. He had started through the alley. Then they had jumped him. He could hear the faint sound of music now. He wondered if Laura was dancing, wondering if she missed him. Maybe she thought he wasn’t coming back. Maybe she had left and gone home. He thought of her face, the brown eyes, the black hair. Thinking of her he forgot his pain a little. He forgot that the blood was rushing from his body.

Someday he would marry Laura. They would get out of this neighborhood. They would move to a clean place and have kids.

He heard footsteps at the other end of the alley. He lifted his cheek from the sidewalk and tried to call out.

The man came down the alley. He had not seen Andy yet. He walked, leaned against the building, and then walked again. He saw Andy and came toward him. He stood over him, watching him and not speaking.

Then he said, “What’s the matter, buddy?”

Andy could not speak. He could barely move. He lifted his face a little. Then he smelled alcohol and knew the man was drunk.

Then man was smiling.

“Did you fall down, Buddy?” he asked. “you mus’ be as drunk as I am.” He grinned.

It was 11:40.

The man studied Andy. “You gonna catch cold here,” he said. “What’s the matter? You like layin’ in the wet?”

Andy could not answer. The man tried to focus his eyes on Andy’s face. The man squatted beside Andy. “You like a drink?”

Andy shook his head.

“Nevermind,” the man said. “You’re too young to be drinkin’ anyway. Should be ‘shamed of yourself. Drunk and layin’ in a alley, all wet. Shame on you. I gotta good minda calla cop.”

Andy nodded. Yes, he tried to say. Yes, call a cop. Please call one.

“Oh, you don’t like that, huh?” the drunk said. “You don’ wanna cop to find you all drunk an‟ wet in a alley? Okay, buddy. This time you get off easy.” He got to his feet. “This time you lucky,” he said. He waved at Andy. “S’long buddy,” he said.

Wait, Andy thought. Wait, please. I’m bleeding.

“S’long,” the drunk said again. “I see you aroun’.” Then he went off down the alley.

Andy lay there and thought, Laura, Laura. Are you dancing?

A couple came into the alley. They were running from the rain. The girl had a newspaper over her head. Andy lay and watched them run into the alley laughing. They stood in a doorway, not far from him.

“Man, what rain!” the boy said. “You could drown out there.”

“I have to get home,” the girl said. “It’s late, Freddie. I have to get home.” There was a long silence. Then the girl said “Oh.” Andy knew she had been kissed. He wondered if he would kiss Laura again. It was then he wondered if he was dying.