The gate closed behind them.

'And stay out!' shouted the old man. He sneered and spat on the ground.

Billy spat back at him through the heavy iron uprights of the gate. A bubble of saliva struck his tie, but he didn't even flinch.

'Stupid old goat,' snapped Billy as Dan stepped backward shaking his head. Old Man Barnes might be a stupid old goat, but even Dan knew that kids like them shouldn't talk to men like him that way. Dan's dad always going on about how Old Man Barnes had fought in all the big wars and was a hero. Saved who knew how many people's lives.

'Leave it, Billy,' he said, grabbing his elbow and trying to pull him away from the fence. 'Come on. Let's go home.'

'I ain't going nowhere,' said Billy. 'Not till I got my ball back.'

'Ball? What ball?' called Old Man Barnes. 'Oh!' He made a show of looking around the grass and spotting something. 'This ball?' He picked up his cane and made a stabbing motion. There was a pop, then a hiss. ...