Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die

"Johnny, Jonny, I'm gonna get you!" I squeal happily, my blonde hair trailing behind me as I run, trying to catch up with him. 

"No you're not Ellen, no one can!" He boasts, jovial, his brown hair flopping from side to side, his red t-shirt flapping in the wind, too big for his skinny frame. 

I chase him around the slide, and Henry, chubby and asthmatic, chases after me.  We go on like that for an hour, until I turn around and catch Henry.  We laugh and squeal and giggle, and Henry catches his breath.  Then Johnny comes  over, triumphant, and gloats about how he won and we were a couple of losers.  After disentangling ourselves and getting up off of the playground mulch, we brush ourselves off, Johnny still gloating, getting in our faces and laughing.

Trying to change the subject, I say, "Hey, how about we go on the swings?"  Henry nods, and we walk over, Johnny, still reveling in his victory, trailing behind.

When we reach the swings, Henry whirls around to face him, fury apparent on his face.  "Stop it, Johnny, we all get it.  You won!" 

But Johnny is relentless, wallowing in his playground glory.  He says to us, a grin of malicious glee contorting his face,  "Since I won, you have to do what I say."

Still oblivious to the things yet to come, Henry and I both say 'okay', thinking that it's just another game, like Simon Says or follow-the-leader.  But instead of a good-natured game, Johnny's wolfish grin twists upward even more, a sadistic smirk as he says, "You know, I would really hate it if I got my shoes dirty on the swings.  Would you two be a dear and lay under the swing set for me?  My mother would kill me if I messed up my new shoes."

Thinking that he is joking, I laugh, saying "Good one Johnny."  But he only stares at me, completely serious.  He means it.

Henry and I just stare at each other for a long minute, openmouthed.  We can't believe he would do this.  We are stunned and appalled.  We just stand there, until Johnny shrieks, "Move it!"

Henry, finding the courage to speak, says as calmly as possible, "Johnny, I think you've gone too far this time.  Stop."  

"Not a chance.  You'll do what I say or else."  Johnny replies carefully, barely suppressed malice in his voice, threatening.

"Or else what?"  Henry challenges, although his voice wavers slightly. 

That's when Johnny does the unthinkable.  He whips his hand out and grabs Henry by the throat, strangling him.  Impossibly, tiny Johnny is able to lift him off the ground. 

"Stop it, stop it!  You'll kill him!"  But Johnny seems to not even her my shrieks.

I try to knock him over, but he just brushes me to the side, and I fall to the ground.  By the time I get up, Henry is laying lifeless, eyes staring blankly, unblinking, staring at nothing, on the ground in front of Johnny's feet.  Johnny, panting heavily, turns toward me.  My blood turns to ice, and for a moment I am sure he will do the same to me.  Instead, he stays rooted to the spot, but says, "Never tell anyone about this."  There is a palpable treat in the air, unspoken but communicated nonetheless; 'or else'.  I nod, terrified.  "Cross your heart and hope to die."

I repeat the phrase, and run home, never looking back.