Summary

In Chapter 7, Rufus hides in an alcove when the Gasser’s car races down the alley. Seven boys with Simon in the lead approach him. Each of them holds a weapon scavenged off the street. Simon accuses Rufus of talking to the police but he denies it. Rufus tries to get the gang to back down and when they don’t, he breaks the milk bottle and shoves a broken shard at Simon’s stomach.

Rufus demands the keys to the Gasser’s car. Simon informs Rufus there are 16 boys in his gang and other gangs he can call on. Rufus tells the Gassers to get in their car and he will leave their keys at the other end of the alley.

After Rufus returns home, he hears his mother praying about him. He quietly asks her if she was really married to Ernie Brown...