Later that night, I went straight to Russell’s garage to work on the car with him. A heavy smell of gasoline and old cars filled the air as I walked in. Russell’s garage always smelled like that. I wasn’t sure if it was just his garage that smelt like that, but boy did it reek in there. It was so disgusting in there. Piled in all the corners of the garage were piles and piles of heavy duty trash bags, filled with junk from years past. The only clean thing in there was the tools, which weren’t even his.
“Hey, Jonah,” he said as I walked into the garage. He was working on something under the hood of the car, but I didn’t know what.
I walked over and sat down in a chair near the car. “Hi. What are you doing?”
He looked at me and smiled, still keeping his head down to look at his work. “I’m fixing the cooling system for the race.”
I nodded mindlessly. “Need any help?”
“No,” he said, grunting as he tightened something with his wrench. “You wouldn’t get this. It’s too complicated.”
I nodded mindlessly again. It was a moment before I actually answered back. “Hey, Russell?” I asked.
“Yeah?”
“I was just wondering… how do you pick up girls? Just wondering.”
He laughed a little, and threw his hair back as it fell to his face. “Uh, is this about that girl we met at the diner?”
I got quiet.
He stopped messing with the car, and stood up straight. “Okay, just… look. Girls like a good chase. You need to come on to her. Do what I did and come onto her at the diner. Once you have her so annoyed, you have to just ignore her.”
“Ignore her?” I repeated.
“Exactly. Then, they come onto you.” He bent back down to work on the car.
“But then won’t she just be glad I’m not annoying her anymore? That means I’m giving up. Won’t she be glad I’m not going after her anymore?”
He sighed. “You have a lot to learn. Just, trust me. Do what I say, and trust me. She’ll chase after you. Hey, soon you’ll be good enough to score way more chicks then just her.”
“Russell,” I started. I didn’t know how to tell him. “I don’t know if I can do that. Isn’t that a little sexist?”
“A little sexist?” he repeated. “Girls are meant to serve us. They were meant to make us happy. If I want to score a girl, I can. And there’s nothing she can do to stop me.
“But…”
He glared at me. “Jonah, how many girl have you ever dated?”
I thought about that for a moment. I finally answered back quietly, “two.”
“Exactly. I’ve had more experience than you.” He bent down to work on the car again. “Trust me, Jonah. Someday, this’ll come in handy.”
“But the girls you’ve seen are all greasers. This one’s a soc.”
He sighed. “Jonah, I don’t know what to tell you. You can either take my advice and try, or screw it like Jack did.”
I thought about that. Russell’s idea was sexist, and I knew that. But he was right. I can either stay friends with Brooke and hope for something to happen between us, or I could listen to Russell’s advice and go after her. I decided to change the subject. “Russell, I’m scared.”
He walked over to his tool chest that he stole from his neighbor. He pulled out a screw driver, and began to mess with the license plate. “’Bout what, kid?”
“What if something bad happens to me?” I asked.
“Nothing bad will happen to you.”
“I don’t know, Russell. I mean, you saw that guy’s ride. It’s hauls ass. I can’t beat that in a race. And you saw how angry Mike was with us. He’ll probably skin me alive no matter what.”
“I’ll protect you. You have to do this.”
“Why?”
“Those socs. They’re all just stuck up snobs with their clean blond hair and shiny blue cars. All they ever do is beat us at everything. I hate them. You have to do this for every greaser out there who hates socs.”
“But what if they hurt me?”
“Then you kick their ass’ right back. I know you can do this. You’re going to beat them.”
“I’m not sure if I can.”
“You’ll be fine.”
I shifted uncomfortably. “Were you ever in a drag race?”
He didn’t reply. He just looked down at his work with a large frown on his face.
“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to get him to talk to me again.
He looked up at me, but kept his head down to continue working on the car. “I’m popping off the license. This way, if you get caught, you can just run away. The Man can’t trace the license back to you if they don’t have it.”
It was surprising. Russell was never really smart. But when it came to avoiding getting caught for something, he’s the guy you want to go to.
I lit a cigarette and leaned forward. “I don’t get it, Russell.”
“What?”
“How come you’re smart enough to fix up a car and smart enough to think of popping the license plate off, but you can’t pass high school?”
“I’m dumb, kid. Got suspended so many times. Failed all my classes.” Once he was done messing with the car for the night, he stood up and stretched. “You should go home. Peter’s gonna hack at you if you don’t get home.”
I began to walk out the door with Russell behind me. When I got to the door, I came to a stop and turned to face him. “Since when did you start caring about what Peter does?”
“I care about you.” He motioned for me to move out the door. “Now, go. It’s already eleven.”
I walked out the door, and down the streets. I could see my breathe turn white once it hit the cold autumn air. It was almost as thick as the smoke from my cigarette. I shivered. Once I got to the steps of my house, tossed my cigarette butt on the ground and walked into the house.
Inside, on our dingy couch, staring straight at me was Peter. In the chair next to him was Jack, looking worried as he stared at Peter with warning eyes. Peter glared at me. “A drag race, Jonah?” he yelled.
I was silent for a moment. “What are you talking about?” I lied.
“What the hell are you doing Jonah? Are you trying to get yourself arrested?”
“I don’t--”
“Jonah! I know you’re competing in a drag race.”
“So?”
“I don’t want you doing that! You need to drop out!” he yelled. His eyes were dead serious, and scared me a little.
I was quiet for a moment, scowling off to the side. I turned my head back to him and slowly said, “no.”
His expression worsened. “Jonah! You could go to jail, or worse, get killed. Drop out! For the love of God, drop out!”
“I can’t,” I snapped.
“Why not?”
“If I drop out, I’m a coward. If I do this, I could win their respect. They can’t hurt me anymore if I beat them. You just don’t understand!”
His expressing got even worse. I didn’t think it was possible. “You’re right, Jonah. I don’t understand! I don’t see why you have to put your life, and everyone else’s lives in danger for something so stupid.”
I looked past Peter at Jack, who was sitting there and looking at me uncomfortably from the corner of his eye. He knew I was mad at him. You could see it in his eyes. I was mad at him. He was the one who told Peter, and he was the one who got my in so much trouble. I’d always thought he was the one on my side, but I guess now I realize he would rat me out at some point. I wanted to yell at him, but I knew if I did, Peter would get mad at me like he always does. I started to walk away, but he stopped me by saying, “Jonah! Wait! We’re just trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need your protection. I’ll be fine on my own.” And just like that, I was sitting on my bed as if I was back at home. I waited and waited for a beating. For something to happen. But nothing happened after that. It’s as if I did nothing wrong. If I had said that to my father, he would be chasing me down Main Street with a stick by now. My eyes grew heavy, and I began to fall asleep, there in my lousy excuse for a bed.
Before I had a chance to actually fall asleep and relax for once, Denny came in. He sat on the edge of my bed. “Hey, Jonah.”
I moaned and sat up. “What do you want?”
“I want you to stop this.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Cut the crap, Jonah! Jack told me what you’re doing!” I had never heard Denny yell at anyone. He was always either shy or hyper, never aggressive like that.
I was quiet for a moment. “I’m not dropping out.”
“Why? You know it’s the right thing to do. We all know.”
“I have to do this. Do you want me to be a candyass?”
He shook his head. “No. But you have to drop out. Just imagine what would happen if you went and got hurt. It wouldn’t be their fault, Jonah. It would be yours.” He walked over and hopped into bed before I got a chance to respond.
I thought about what he’d said, and what would really happen if I went. It wouldn’t be good. I came to the conclusion that they were right. All of them. Everyone who has told me that I shouldn’t compete in this is right about all of this. I shouldn’t be going through with this if it’s going to hurt me or anyone around me. I looked over at Denny’s bed. “Hey, Denny?”
“Yeah?”
“I can’t do this.”
I could hear him laugh a little, and I could tell he was expecting that. “So don’t,” he told me. “Just tell me. Are you doing this all for Brooke?”
“…What if I was?”
“If you are, I think you’re better off not. Girls don’t like that kind of stuff, especially not a soc.”
I wasn’t sure who to believe. Russell or Denny? Although, this wasn’t my biggest problem right now. There were many things I could spend my time worrying about, but yet I center all of my concentration on Brooke. Am I going insane? I think so.
That night, I had a dream about the drag race. It was half good and half scary. In the dream, I almost got in an accident. That was the scary part. It was an adrenaline rush, but it was the bad kind of rush. The good part was that I’d won the race and everything was pretty much perfect from there. It was like my life was finally falling into place, but then I realized that it wasn’t real. My life is still like hell, and I still have to put up with everything that’s going on.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Last One Standing (chapter 3)
The next morning was a Saturday. After I woke up, and walked outside to sit on the porch. The trees clumped together to form a rainbow of gold’s. The air was cold, but it was still warm enough to stay outside. I stared at the scenery. All the run-down houses ruined the beauty of the trees. Many leaves were dangling off the branches as if daring to fall to the ground.
It wasn’t long until Peter joined me on the porch. He sat down in the chair next to me. “Hey, Jonah,” he greeted me.
“Hi.”
He smiled. You could tell something was on his mind. “What happened last night? Who was the soc?” And that was it.
I thought that might have came up sometime, but I was hoping it wouldn’t. “Oh, well, after everyone went home, we walked for a while until I got home.”
“Who was the girl?”
“She’s just a waitress that works at the diner. Russell was hitting on her. She goes to my school.”
He nodded. “Was Russell nice to you?”
I thought about the other night, and how much he was stoned. I didn’t want to tell him about Russell striking me. He didn’t really mean to hit me. It was the alcohol acting. I answered, “Yeah. He was blitzed, and didn’t think when he left the diner, but he was fine.”
He nodded, but didn’t say anything back. He just stared out at the trees.
“I’m going to the park,” I said after a moment of silence. I got up, and began to walk toward the streets.
Before I could get far, Peter stopped me by saying, “if you’re going, have Jack take you.”
“I’m fine on my own. It’s only a block away.”
“I don’t care. You know what happened last time. Take Jack with you.”
I sighed, and walked back into the house. Once I got him and we went to the park, we met up with Russell and Will, who were bench racing near the street. I walked up to them, and listened.
“Nah, man,” I heard Will say. “That’d blow the doors off it.”
“Hey,” I interrupted.
Russell turned to me, obviously having no idea what happened the other night. “Yo, Jonah.”
“Hey Jonah,” Will greeted me, craning his neck to see me over Russell’s head.
“Hi,” I answered back. I could hear Russell and Will continue to talk about the cars on the streets, but I wasn’t paying much attention to it.
The only thing I heard from them after that was Will saying, “here comes trouble.” He and Russell stood up.
I looked around, wondering what they were talking about. Then, I noticed a gang of socs trudging toward us just like before. I was sure it was the same socs that jumped me before. But this time, it was different. They had Brook with them. She was burying her face in her hands, leaving a peek whole to see through.
The leader walked over to me, and got close. “Heard you were tryin’ to pick up my lady. Huh?” He demanded.
I didn’t say anything.
“Well, I don’t like that. Now, I don’t want you fools drawing designs with your googly eyes at my girl anymore, we clear?”
Russell stepped forward. “I don’t think so.”
I looked at Brooke. She looked more uncomfortable than I was.
“Meet me here tomorrow at nine. And, bring your groady mess of a car.” He threatened us. He took the toothpick out of his mouth, and tossed it on the ground. His gang turned around and lurched down the street first, then he whipped around too and follow them.
I looked around, and noticed they’d left Brooke standing there. She walked cautiously toward us. “I-I,” she stuttered. “I’m so sorry. Mike’s just so protective of me.”
Russell stepped toward her, blocking me off from contact with her. “It’s okay. I like a good fight.”
She looked disgusted, and stared at him as if he should know what happened the other day.
“Russell,” I warned him as I pulled him back a bit.
Her expression relaxed, then became concerned. “I don’t want you to do this. What if you get hurt? What if the man finds out?”
“We’ll be fine. Russell’s got a car that’s hauls ass.”
Her expression worsened, probably since I said it was Russell’s car we’d be using. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “I just have one question. Why are you dating that guy?”
She looked back at him, then brought her attention back to me. “He’s just nicer than a lot of the guys in my grade. Well, he was until I met you.”
I smiled and looked back at Russell. He wasn’t smiling. He looked like someone had punched him in the face.
Brooke looked past me at Russell, and noticed his expression. Her eyes lit up. “Well,” her voice sounded soft and sweet as usual. “I have to go. Can I see you all later?”
I nodded.
She turned slowly, and walked away.
I turned back to Russell, who seemed to have shaken off his expression, and was now fiddling with a beer can that was on the ground. “Russell, I need your help,” I said.
He looked at me with interest. He smiled. “Kid, I can help you with anything as long as it’s not anything to do with school.”
“I need you to help me beat him in the drag race.”
“I can help you with that.” He smiled, and shoved his hands in his pocket.
“I’ll help you fix up the car,” Will interrupted.
Jack stepped toward me, cutting me off from the gang. “I don’t want you going this.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“No, Jonah!” he snapped. “You won’t! what if you get hurt? Or arrested?”
“I’ll be fine,” I yelled back. I walked back to the house, leaving the gang back at the park. I really hoped that they wouldn’t talk to Peter about this. Hopefully, Russell will stop Jack. But, I can only hope for this to happen.
It wasn’t long until Peter joined me on the porch. He sat down in the chair next to me. “Hey, Jonah,” he greeted me.
“Hi.”
He smiled. You could tell something was on his mind. “What happened last night? Who was the soc?” And that was it.
I thought that might have came up sometime, but I was hoping it wouldn’t. “Oh, well, after everyone went home, we walked for a while until I got home.”
“Who was the girl?”
“She’s just a waitress that works at the diner. Russell was hitting on her. She goes to my school.”
He nodded. “Was Russell nice to you?”
I thought about the other night, and how much he was stoned. I didn’t want to tell him about Russell striking me. He didn’t really mean to hit me. It was the alcohol acting. I answered, “Yeah. He was blitzed, and didn’t think when he left the diner, but he was fine.”
He nodded, but didn’t say anything back. He just stared out at the trees.
“I’m going to the park,” I said after a moment of silence. I got up, and began to walk toward the streets.
Before I could get far, Peter stopped me by saying, “if you’re going, have Jack take you.”
“I’m fine on my own. It’s only a block away.”
“I don’t care. You know what happened last time. Take Jack with you.”
I sighed, and walked back into the house. Once I got him and we went to the park, we met up with Russell and Will, who were bench racing near the street. I walked up to them, and listened.
“Nah, man,” I heard Will say. “That’d blow the doors off it.”
“Hey,” I interrupted.
Russell turned to me, obviously having no idea what happened the other night. “Yo, Jonah.”
“Hey Jonah,” Will greeted me, craning his neck to see me over Russell’s head.
“Hi,” I answered back. I could hear Russell and Will continue to talk about the cars on the streets, but I wasn’t paying much attention to it.
The only thing I heard from them after that was Will saying, “here comes trouble.” He and Russell stood up.
I looked around, wondering what they were talking about. Then, I noticed a gang of socs trudging toward us just like before. I was sure it was the same socs that jumped me before. But this time, it was different. They had Brook with them. She was burying her face in her hands, leaving a peek whole to see through.
The leader walked over to me, and got close. “Heard you were tryin’ to pick up my lady. Huh?” He demanded.
I didn’t say anything.
“Well, I don’t like that. Now, I don’t want you fools drawing designs with your googly eyes at my girl anymore, we clear?”
Russell stepped forward. “I don’t think so.”
I looked at Brooke. She looked more uncomfortable than I was.
“Meet me here tomorrow at nine. And, bring your groady mess of a car.” He threatened us. He took the toothpick out of his mouth, and tossed it on the ground. His gang turned around and lurched down the street first, then he whipped around too and follow them.
I looked around, and noticed they’d left Brooke standing there. She walked cautiously toward us. “I-I,” she stuttered. “I’m so sorry. Mike’s just so protective of me.”
Russell stepped toward her, blocking me off from contact with her. “It’s okay. I like a good fight.”
She looked disgusted, and stared at him as if he should know what happened the other day.
“Russell,” I warned him as I pulled him back a bit.
Her expression relaxed, then became concerned. “I don’t want you to do this. What if you get hurt? What if the man finds out?”
“We’ll be fine. Russell’s got a car that’s hauls ass.”
Her expression worsened, probably since I said it was Russell’s car we’d be using. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “I just have one question. Why are you dating that guy?”
She looked back at him, then brought her attention back to me. “He’s just nicer than a lot of the guys in my grade. Well, he was until I met you.”
I smiled and looked back at Russell. He wasn’t smiling. He looked like someone had punched him in the face.
Brooke looked past me at Russell, and noticed his expression. Her eyes lit up. “Well,” her voice sounded soft and sweet as usual. “I have to go. Can I see you all later?”
I nodded.
She turned slowly, and walked away.
I turned back to Russell, who seemed to have shaken off his expression, and was now fiddling with a beer can that was on the ground. “Russell, I need your help,” I said.
He looked at me with interest. He smiled. “Kid, I can help you with anything as long as it’s not anything to do with school.”
“I need you to help me beat him in the drag race.”
“I can help you with that.” He smiled, and shoved his hands in his pocket.
“I’ll help you fix up the car,” Will interrupted.
Jack stepped toward me, cutting me off from the gang. “I don’t want you going this.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“No, Jonah!” he snapped. “You won’t! what if you get hurt? Or arrested?”
“I’ll be fine,” I yelled back. I walked back to the house, leaving the gang back at the park. I really hoped that they wouldn’t talk to Peter about this. Hopefully, Russell will stop Jack. But, I can only hope for this to happen.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The Last One Standing (chapter 2)
I got out of school the next day. People pushed me to the side, and trampled me as they made a mad dash for the streets. They all wanted was to get home. I sighed as a soc shoved me to the side as he and another guy ran to the parking lot. It took a while of walking in silence for me and Denny to finally walk through the crowd of people, and to the front door of Denny’s house. Denny stared at the open door with awe.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
His expression softened as he took out the switchblade that Russell gave him last year for his birthday. They promised never to tell Peter. “The door’s never open. No one should be home.”
“But--”
“Shhh!” He walked slowly and cautiously toward the living room couch as he gripped the knife hard. Once he got in front of the table, he found Russell sitting on the couch, and slowly put his knife away.
“Hey, kid,” Russell said as he got up. He picked up a bag of clothes and hygiene products, and shoved them in my direction. “Here, kid. I got you some clothes.”
I looked inside at the clothing. It all looked expensive. Buried in all the clothing was a large pack of cigarettes. “How did you get all these?”
He laughed, and leaned against the arm of the couch. “It’s called the five finger discount, kid.”
I smiled, and pretended I liked what he did as I picked out a cigarette, and lit it up. I handed one to Denny, and one to Russell.
He puffed out smoke from his mouth. “Hey, I’m goin’ to the diner. Gonna score. You wanna come?”
“We gonna meet Jack there?” Denny asked, taking a cautious drag on his cigarette and coughing vigorously. He didn’t normally smoke them.
“Yeah, if he’s willing to take a break.” Russell picked up some keys from the couch, and lead us out the door. He hopped into the car. I got in the front, and Denny got in the back. Russell pulled out of the driveway, and was burning rubber down the street without a sound.
“Hey, Russell. When did you get to be such a badass?” Denny asked.
Russell glanced at the rear view mirrors to see him. He flashed back to the street. “Don’t know, kid. Guess I’m just like that.” He pulled the cigarette from his mouth, and hung it out the window, making a trail of smoke dragging behind us.
“Maybe it’s when the doctor dropped you on your head when you were born,” I joked.
Russell laughed, and glanced at me. “Kid, that‘s where you‘re wrong. My mom dropped me on my head when I was born.” He slowly pulled into the parking lot.
Jack was out there, carrying a brown paper bag in from his car. We all got out, and walked in with him. “Hey, what are you doing here?” he asked
“Picking up some chicks,” Russell told Jack as he walked with a beat toward the diner. Once we got in, Jack set us up at the counter on the side of the diner. On the other side of the diner was a row of red booths that lined the walls. The floor of the diner was an red and white checkered pattern. The walls were plain white, but covered in guitars and pictures of celebrities.
“Do you want anything?” Jack asked all of us as he stepped behind the counter.
“Brew,” Russell told him.
“Coke,” Denny ordered.
“And you, Jonah?” Jack asked.
They all turned to face me.
I thought about that. “Coke,” I finally decided.
Jack began to make all our drinks. He handed Russell his beer, and me and Denny our Cokes. We turned around to face the middle of the diner. Jack came and sat down next to me.
I heard a whistling sound coming from Russell, who was sitting next to me. “Shake it, don’t break it, baby,” he shouted to the two girls passing by us.
One of them had light brown hair that was pulled back into a long braid trailing down her back. She turned around, and scowled at him. I took a good look at her face and realized who she was. Brooke. She’s the all American beautiful girl that every boy would love to date. She’s popular, loved, sophisticated, but still the cute girl you could always see walking down the hall with ease like, holding her books loosely and gliding through the crowd like a jellyfish. She’s that cheerleader you can always see, but never have. What am I? I’m a greaser. I’m only good for nothing but a socs personal punching bag.
She didn’t say anything. She just stood there, burning a whole through his head with her big blue eyes.
“Oh,” he said, standing up and walking toward her. “I know what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to pull me in. Look, I‘m Russell. Why don‘t we just skip the rest of the introduction, and go back to my pad, huh?”
She was on edge, leaning back on her heel, still glaring at him.
“Look, what’s a fox like you doin’ in a dump like this?”
“Oh, now I remember.” She smiled at me again.
I nodded, not saying anything.
“Jonah, do you mind me She turned around, and walked toward a hook next to the counter. I noticed she worked here when she took an apron off the hook, and tied it around her waist. She was wearing a tight fitting yellow dress. It was a uniform for the diner. I’d never seen her there before.
trailed off.
“Well, I’m sorry I’m not primo enough for you.”
She breathed a bit heavier, and I could tell she was holding back a tear. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Yes you did! Face it! You all hate greasers! All socs ever do is shank and jump us!” I turned, and began to walk away.
“No, Jonah! Come back! Please!” she called after me.
I didn’t listen. I just kept walking until I finally got home. Once I got home, I opened the door, and stomped in.
“Where have you been?” Peter snapped.
I didn’t say anything. Russell walked over, and wrapped his arms around her neck. “Why don’t we go swap spit? Huh?”
Her face looked disgusted.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” I told her. “That’s how he got some girls knocked up. It all starts with swapping spit.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she elbowed him in the stomach, struggling to get out of his reach.
He let go, and backed up. Once he sat down, he glared at me and took a sip of his beer. He ran his fingers through his greasy matted hair. “Stop being a fink, Jonah.”
You could tell he was drunk. He was always drunk, but he was never too violent.
The girl got behind the counter, and walked over to where to other girl was sitting. They began to talk.
Jack turned to face Russell. “You need to learn how to get girls. Watch and learn.” He walked over to them, and leaned over the counter. He began to say something, but before he could finish, the waitress began to yell at him.
“Get away from me, hood!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Jack relaxed, and walked back to sit down. He took a sip of his drink. “She’s soc. You can’t get her.”
“Or you just failed,” I joked.
We were having a lot of fun at the diner. The next thing I knew, it was already eight o’clock.
Russell took a drag at his cigarette. Jack had already gone home with Denny. Now, only me, Russell, and the waitress was there.
She came over, and snatched the cigarette out of his hand. “How many times do I have to tell you not to smoke in here?” she asked in an annoyed tone. She walked over, and put out the cigarette on a small plate.
When she walked past us again to finish cleaning up, Russell patted her on the butt.
She flashed around, and you could tell she was really about to hack at him. “I told you not to do that, greaser!” She whipped back around, and walked into the back or the diner.
Once she was gone, I scowled at Russell, who was having the best time of his life. “What’s your bag?”
His smile disappeared, and he was now scowling at me. He was drunk. “I’m just having fun.”
“You’re being rude.”
He got up, and accidentally knocked over his beer. He began to walk away, but before he could leave, he flashed around and striked me in the stomach.
I backed up, clutching my stomach as I collapsed on the diner chair.
The waitress walked over to me in her brown flats, and kneeled down a bit to look at my face. She looked concerned, and her voice was shaky. “What did he do? What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine,” I whimpered back, ignoring her questions. I tried to sit up straighter.
“I don’t get it,” she said, her face cold and serious.
“What?”
“Why do you hang out with that hood? You’re a lot smarter than him.” Her voice was soft and sweet, but still serious and concerned.
I tried to smile. “Yeah. He’s thicker than a five dollar malt, but he’s part of the gang. I’m sorry he treated you so bad.”
She laughed. “It’s okay. Hey, what’s your name?”
“Jonah.”
She smiled, her white teeth almost blinding me. “Jonah,” she repeated. “Well, you’re not at all like Russell.” I didn’t know whether that was a compliment or an insult.
I nodded a bit.
“Hey, you look familiar. Where have I seen you?”
“I go to your school. I’m in your science class, and your lunch period. You’re in the same grade as me. You’re Brooke. You’re a paper shaker.”
asking a question?”
“Lay it on me.”
“You seem like a nice guy. Do you want to walk me home, or something?”
A voice in the back of my head sounded. It said, become a soc if you want. As long as it makes you happy. I remembered my conversation with Denny. But the problem was that I couldn’t become a soc. I’m not good enough, and I didn’t want to. I got, up and walked out the door, leaving money for the drinks on the counter. I didn’t say anything.
“Hey, where are you going?” She stood up, undoing the wrinkles on her dress by pulling the bottom of it down.
I stopped at the door, and looked at her over my shoulder. “Home.” I began to walk down the streets.
A couple minutes later, she walked up behind me, holding a coat in her hands. “Jonah, why are you acting like this all the sudden?”
I stopped in my tracks, and turned to her. “Like what?” I snapped.
She was silent, pinning me for a moment. Her eyes showed concern and freight. “A hood, Jonah! Like a hood!” She took a moment to think. “You were so nice to me for a moment, but now…” Her voice
“Jonah, you have to stop this carelessness. How did you get home?”
“A soc brought me home,” I answered.
His eyes were wide. “You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
“No. It was a girl.”
Russell shot up immediately, and walked toward us. “You mean that chick from the diner?” he asked with way too much enthusiasm.
“Yeah, but nothing happened.”
“It’s okay, man. You just can’t get girls.” His voice was slurred, and his face was redder than usual. He was stumbling as he usually does when he’s drunk. “You’re just not as good as me. I get it. I’ll teach you sometime. It’s okay to be a candyass, Jonah.”
I brought my attention back to Peter when he said, “what’s he talking about?”
“We were at the diner, and he was messing with the waitress. He went home without me, and the waitress brought me home. It’s not a big deal.”
“Yes it is,” Peter shouted. He turned to Russell, who was staring at his hand as if it was the most amazing this on the Earth. “How could you be so stupid? You left him alone with a soc?”
“Hey, I helped him out. He talked to the girl, didn’t he?” Russell answered back.
Peter’s fists tightened up. “I think you should drag your drunk butt out of this house now.”
Russell’s face hardened. He walked out the door, and was probably doing a five-oh-two right about now.
“Jonah, are you okay?” Peter asked me.
“Fine.”
Peter nodded in acknowledgment. He walked back into the kitchen, and continued cooking dinner. That night, nobody really said anything regarding what happened at the diner. We just had normal conversations like what happened at school, or how my day was. But nobody brought up anything about what happened at the diner. We just had dinner and we all went to bed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
His expression softened as he took out the switchblade that Russell gave him last year for his birthday. They promised never to tell Peter. “The door’s never open. No one should be home.”
“But--”
“Shhh!” He walked slowly and cautiously toward the living room couch as he gripped the knife hard. Once he got in front of the table, he found Russell sitting on the couch, and slowly put his knife away.
“Hey, kid,” Russell said as he got up. He picked up a bag of clothes and hygiene products, and shoved them in my direction. “Here, kid. I got you some clothes.”
I looked inside at the clothing. It all looked expensive. Buried in all the clothing was a large pack of cigarettes. “How did you get all these?”
He laughed, and leaned against the arm of the couch. “It’s called the five finger discount, kid.”
I smiled, and pretended I liked what he did as I picked out a cigarette, and lit it up. I handed one to Denny, and one to Russell.
He puffed out smoke from his mouth. “Hey, I’m goin’ to the diner. Gonna score. You wanna come?”
“We gonna meet Jack there?” Denny asked, taking a cautious drag on his cigarette and coughing vigorously. He didn’t normally smoke them.
“Yeah, if he’s willing to take a break.” Russell picked up some keys from the couch, and lead us out the door. He hopped into the car. I got in the front, and Denny got in the back. Russell pulled out of the driveway, and was burning rubber down the street without a sound.
“Hey, Russell. When did you get to be such a badass?” Denny asked.
Russell glanced at the rear view mirrors to see him. He flashed back to the street. “Don’t know, kid. Guess I’m just like that.” He pulled the cigarette from his mouth, and hung it out the window, making a trail of smoke dragging behind us.
“Maybe it’s when the doctor dropped you on your head when you were born,” I joked.
Russell laughed, and glanced at me. “Kid, that‘s where you‘re wrong. My mom dropped me on my head when I was born.” He slowly pulled into the parking lot.
Jack was out there, carrying a brown paper bag in from his car. We all got out, and walked in with him. “Hey, what are you doing here?” he asked
“Picking up some chicks,” Russell told Jack as he walked with a beat toward the diner. Once we got in, Jack set us up at the counter on the side of the diner. On the other side of the diner was a row of red booths that lined the walls. The floor of the diner was an red and white checkered pattern. The walls were plain white, but covered in guitars and pictures of celebrities.
“Do you want anything?” Jack asked all of us as he stepped behind the counter.
“Brew,” Russell told him.
“Coke,” Denny ordered.
“And you, Jonah?” Jack asked.
They all turned to face me.
I thought about that. “Coke,” I finally decided.
Jack began to make all our drinks. He handed Russell his beer, and me and Denny our Cokes. We turned around to face the middle of the diner. Jack came and sat down next to me.
I heard a whistling sound coming from Russell, who was sitting next to me. “Shake it, don’t break it, baby,” he shouted to the two girls passing by us.
One of them had light brown hair that was pulled back into a long braid trailing down her back. She turned around, and scowled at him. I took a good look at her face and realized who she was. Brooke. She’s the all American beautiful girl that every boy would love to date. She’s popular, loved, sophisticated, but still the cute girl you could always see walking down the hall with ease like, holding her books loosely and gliding through the crowd like a jellyfish. She’s that cheerleader you can always see, but never have. What am I? I’m a greaser. I’m only good for nothing but a socs personal punching bag.
She didn’t say anything. She just stood there, burning a whole through his head with her big blue eyes.
“Oh,” he said, standing up and walking toward her. “I know what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to pull me in. Look, I‘m Russell. Why don‘t we just skip the rest of the introduction, and go back to my pad, huh?”
She was on edge, leaning back on her heel, still glaring at him.
“Look, what’s a fox like you doin’ in a dump like this?”
“Oh, now I remember.” She smiled at me again.
I nodded, not saying anything.
“Jonah, do you mind me She turned around, and walked toward a hook next to the counter. I noticed she worked here when she took an apron off the hook, and tied it around her waist. She was wearing a tight fitting yellow dress. It was a uniform for the diner. I’d never seen her there before.
trailed off.
“Well, I’m sorry I’m not primo enough for you.”
She breathed a bit heavier, and I could tell she was holding back a tear. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Yes you did! Face it! You all hate greasers! All socs ever do is shank and jump us!” I turned, and began to walk away.
“No, Jonah! Come back! Please!” she called after me.
I didn’t listen. I just kept walking until I finally got home. Once I got home, I opened the door, and stomped in.
“Where have you been?” Peter snapped.
I didn’t say anything. Russell walked over, and wrapped his arms around her neck. “Why don’t we go swap spit? Huh?”
Her face looked disgusted.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” I told her. “That’s how he got some girls knocked up. It all starts with swapping spit.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she elbowed him in the stomach, struggling to get out of his reach.
He let go, and backed up. Once he sat down, he glared at me and took a sip of his beer. He ran his fingers through his greasy matted hair. “Stop being a fink, Jonah.”
You could tell he was drunk. He was always drunk, but he was never too violent.
The girl got behind the counter, and walked over to where to other girl was sitting. They began to talk.
Jack turned to face Russell. “You need to learn how to get girls. Watch and learn.” He walked over to them, and leaned over the counter. He began to say something, but before he could finish, the waitress began to yell at him.
“Get away from me, hood!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Jack relaxed, and walked back to sit down. He took a sip of his drink. “She’s soc. You can’t get her.”
“Or you just failed,” I joked.
We were having a lot of fun at the diner. The next thing I knew, it was already eight o’clock.
Russell took a drag at his cigarette. Jack had already gone home with Denny. Now, only me, Russell, and the waitress was there.
She came over, and snatched the cigarette out of his hand. “How many times do I have to tell you not to smoke in here?” she asked in an annoyed tone. She walked over, and put out the cigarette on a small plate.
When she walked past us again to finish cleaning up, Russell patted her on the butt.
She flashed around, and you could tell she was really about to hack at him. “I told you not to do that, greaser!” She whipped back around, and walked into the back or the diner.
Once she was gone, I scowled at Russell, who was having the best time of his life. “What’s your bag?”
His smile disappeared, and he was now scowling at me. He was drunk. “I’m just having fun.”
“You’re being rude.”
He got up, and accidentally knocked over his beer. He began to walk away, but before he could leave, he flashed around and striked me in the stomach.
I backed up, clutching my stomach as I collapsed on the diner chair.
The waitress walked over to me in her brown flats, and kneeled down a bit to look at my face. She looked concerned, and her voice was shaky. “What did he do? What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine,” I whimpered back, ignoring her questions. I tried to sit up straighter.
“I don’t get it,” she said, her face cold and serious.
“What?”
“Why do you hang out with that hood? You’re a lot smarter than him.” Her voice was soft and sweet, but still serious and concerned.
I tried to smile. “Yeah. He’s thicker than a five dollar malt, but he’s part of the gang. I’m sorry he treated you so bad.”
She laughed. “It’s okay. Hey, what’s your name?”
“Jonah.”
She smiled, her white teeth almost blinding me. “Jonah,” she repeated. “Well, you’re not at all like Russell.” I didn’t know whether that was a compliment or an insult.
I nodded a bit.
“Hey, you look familiar. Where have I seen you?”
“I go to your school. I’m in your science class, and your lunch period. You’re in the same grade as me. You’re Brooke. You’re a paper shaker.”
asking a question?”
“Lay it on me.”
“You seem like a nice guy. Do you want to walk me home, or something?”
A voice in the back of my head sounded. It said, become a soc if you want. As long as it makes you happy. I remembered my conversation with Denny. But the problem was that I couldn’t become a soc. I’m not good enough, and I didn’t want to. I got, up and walked out the door, leaving money for the drinks on the counter. I didn’t say anything.
“Hey, where are you going?” She stood up, undoing the wrinkles on her dress by pulling the bottom of it down.
I stopped at the door, and looked at her over my shoulder. “Home.” I began to walk down the streets.
A couple minutes later, she walked up behind me, holding a coat in her hands. “Jonah, why are you acting like this all the sudden?”
I stopped in my tracks, and turned to her. “Like what?” I snapped.
She was silent, pinning me for a moment. Her eyes showed concern and freight. “A hood, Jonah! Like a hood!” She took a moment to think. “You were so nice to me for a moment, but now…” Her voice
“Jonah, you have to stop this carelessness. How did you get home?”
“A soc brought me home,” I answered.
His eyes were wide. “You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
“No. It was a girl.”
Russell shot up immediately, and walked toward us. “You mean that chick from the diner?” he asked with way too much enthusiasm.
“Yeah, but nothing happened.”
“It’s okay, man. You just can’t get girls.” His voice was slurred, and his face was redder than usual. He was stumbling as he usually does when he’s drunk. “You’re just not as good as me. I get it. I’ll teach you sometime. It’s okay to be a candyass, Jonah.”
I brought my attention back to Peter when he said, “what’s he talking about?”
“We were at the diner, and he was messing with the waitress. He went home without me, and the waitress brought me home. It’s not a big deal.”
“Yes it is,” Peter shouted. He turned to Russell, who was staring at his hand as if it was the most amazing this on the Earth. “How could you be so stupid? You left him alone with a soc?”
“Hey, I helped him out. He talked to the girl, didn’t he?” Russell answered back.
Peter’s fists tightened up. “I think you should drag your drunk butt out of this house now.”
Russell’s face hardened. He walked out the door, and was probably doing a five-oh-two right about now.
“Jonah, are you okay?” Peter asked me.
“Fine.”
Peter nodded in acknowledgment. He walked back into the kitchen, and continued cooking dinner. That night, nobody really said anything regarding what happened at the diner. We just had normal conversations like what happened at school, or how my day was. But nobody brought up anything about what happened at the diner. We just had dinner and we all went to bed.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Redbelly14
Okay, so i know this is off topic from my story, but i just wanted to talk about the website name briefly. i got the name while thinking about a robin bird. i recently looked up the meaning of "redbelly", and it relates to alcohol. i didn't want to give out the wrong message, so i am telling you that the way i used that term, i am relating it to a robin bird, NOT alcohol.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Last One Standing (Chapter 1)
Chapter 1:
“You Bastard!” Dad yelled as he tossed me out on the lawn. “I want you gone!”
I stumbled to my feet. “I hate you!”
Dad clenched the belt in his hand harder, and belted me with it until I was off his property. He was yelling, “I want you to get off my lawn, hood! You’re a disgrace! I want you gone!” He always hated me. I guess I can understand. He’s always talking about how I’m not a good person. I guess he’s right. I live with him and only him, but sometimes I wished I lived with my friends; my gang.
I whipped around, and ran. I didn’t really know where to go, but I did know that I wasn’t accepted there. After a while, my feet began to hurt, so I slowed down to a walk. I walked along the road in the darkness. Orange light from the street lights was beating down on me. I shoved my hands in my jean pockets. I felt the extra change jump around as I walked to the beat of the club. From behind me, I heard the roar of a car. I turned around, and noticed Jack’s old sedan.
He hopped out of the driver’s seat, and walked up to me. “Jonah! What are you doing alone? You know you’re gonna get jumped.” Somewhere deep inside, I knew he was right, but I didn’t want to believe it. I always walked alone from my house and nothing bad really ever happened. The gang always lectured me about it, but I guess I just never really caught on.
I stopped, and turned to him. I didn’t say anything. I just looked off to the side.
Jack’s face looked concerned. He placed his hands on my shoulders, and turned my head to look at him. “Jonah? Hey, what’s wrong?”
I didn’t say anything.
He gasped. “Oh, no. What did he do to you this time?” Jack is probably my best friend of the gang. He’s always there for me when I need him. He always knew what was wrong. I loved him like a brother, and he always acted like a brother to me. I could always crash on his couch when I can’t come home some days. The only thing stopping me from living there is my father. He’ll kick me out one night, and whip me for leaving another.
Before I could tell him that my dad kicked me out again, we heard a loud car horn from behind us. The street was almost abandoned, so I couldn’t think of anybody who could be there except… the socs.
I turned around to look at them. They were getting out of their blue port holer, and trudged toward us. I noticed one of them had a switch blade. I turned to Jack in panic. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
“Get in the car,” he ordered me. “Now.”
I sprinted for the car, but before I could, a soc came up to me, and knocked me down. I tried to stand up, and fight against him, but he was too strong. He pushed hard on my shoulders, pinning me down on the hard concrete sidewalk. Another one took his switch, and held it right up to my neck. They both laughed, and made comments, but I wasn’t paying much attention. I closed my eyes, and waited for it to end. Moments later, I noticed myself being lifted off the ground by a cold hand. Jack was grabbing my hand, and pulling me off the ground. I stumbled to my feet.
“You see, Jonah,” Jack commented as he stepped into the drivers seat of the car. “You could have been killed if I wasn’t here. Get in.”
I got into the car as he told me to. “What were you doing there anyways?” I asked.
“I was driving home from work, and thank God! Do you realize how much danger you were in? Jonah, you could have been beaten unconscious, or even killed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Just know better next time, okay?”
“Okay.”
I knew Jack was always trying to protect me, but I never learned from his yelling. I never learned from anyone. Jack is pretty responsible for a high school drop-out. He got a job at a local diner. He was a chef even though he couldn’t cook to save his life. People mostly just go there for soda. He wasn’t really the smartest of the gang, but he was a really good guy.
“We’re here,” Jack reported, dragging me out of my thoughts.
I looked around, and noticed he’d parked the car right in front of his house as if he knew I wanted to stay here. “Hey, Jack.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I stay here for the next couple of days?”
He smiled. I could tell he knew exactly what I was talking about. “Of course.” He got out of the car, and motioned for me to get out too.
I got out of the car, and followed him to the front door. He unlocked the white door, but didn’t open it. He just stared at me with his dark brown eyes. “Don’t worry, Jonah. You are a good person, no matter what other people tell you.” I didn’t even tell him about that. He gets me without having me to tell him. He opened the door, and walked in. I followed. “Look who I found wanderin’ the streets.” He gestured to the door as I walked in. He shut it behind me, and went off to watch TV.
“Hey, Jonah!” Bill addressed me.
“How’s it goin, J?” Paul asked me.
Before I could respond to either of them, something hit me. “Jonah!” Denny screamed as he hurdled toward me from the torn up couch. Once he got to me, he tackled me, and squeezed me so hard that I lost my breath for a moment. He was always so spontaneous. Sometimes, he’s calm and shy, and other nights, he’s jumping off the walls.
Once everyone calmed down, Peter walked slowly toward me from the kitchen. “What the hell were you doing out there?” he screamed, his dark eyes piercing a whole through my head.
“I was just taking a walk.”
“Alone?”
“I had to. Dad kicked me out.”
“You should have called us. We would have taken care of everything.”
“Sorry!” I shot back.
He calmed down, and ran his fingers through his greasy, combed back hair. “Sorry, Jonah. But, I love you like a brother. I want you to be safe. I think it’s time you come to your senses.”
I walked over to the couch, and sat down. The guys were watching some documentary on Elvis Presley’s come-back. I watched in envy as Elvis, a grease, gets all this attention. All we get here is beaten, jumped, and shanked. I wish I had a life like his-- doing whatever you want whenever you want. And, if you looked as tough as him, you wouldn’t have to fight to get what you want. Bill and Jack looked like that. They always got what they wanted because they really looked like a couple of hoodlums. I wish I looked like them sometimes. Once I got deep into thought, the TV and light suddenly shut off.
“Peter! Did you pay the electric bills this time?” I heard Jack shout.
“Yeah! It was only one time! I found the money this time!” Peter snapped back.
We could hear a loud motorcycle driving up to the house. The door suddenly opened, and an orange glowing light came in. I could tell it was a cigarette. The person holding the cigarette brought out a lighter, and shot up a flame to reveal their tan face. It was Russell. He walked over silently to light some candles as everyone shouted “hi”, and asked him questions that he wasn’t paying any attention to. Once he set up a few candles, he went to sit down on the couch. He took a long drag on his cigarette. “Yo, uh, Jonah,” he addressed me. “What are you doin’ here? Huh? Shouldn’t you be out getting belted?” A couple people laughed at that but me, Jack, and Peter kept quiet.
Jack scowled at Russell. “Russell, he’s just a kid. Lay off.”
Russell’s eyes became cold, but he didn’t say anything back.
I looked at Bill, whose eyes suddenly lit up. “Jonah?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re bleeding.” Some dark brown hairs from the front of his mullet had fallen into his face, and got into his eyes. He brushed it to the side.
I touched my chin, and looked at my hand. Glistening in the candle light, I saw my dark red blood sticking to my fingers.
“I’ll go get a towel.” He ran off to the kitchen with one of the candles.
“What happened to ya?” I heard Denny ask from behind me.
I had forgotten he was there. I turned around to look at him, stretching my weak back. “When Dad kicked me out, I got jumped in the streets. One of them had a knife.”
“Yeah, good thing I was there for ya. You would have died.” Jack told me.
Bill came back with a bunch of paper towels, and handed me one with a big smile on his face.
I smiled back, and held it up to my neck. It hurt.
Russell grabbed his cigarette from his mouth, and pointed it toward me. “Ya know, kid,” he began. “I don’t know why you waste all your time at school.”
I had almost forgotten, Russell never finished high school. He quit the moment he turned sixteen. He was definitely the stupidest. I loved him just as much as the rest of the gang, but he wasn’t the kind of person you really want hang out with in public. A lot of things go wrong in public. I always get in trouble because of him. “Because I’m smart, and can actually pass tenth grade.”
The gang began to laugh, even Russell. I was worried he’d throw me all the way to the west side of town for saying an insult like that, but I guess he just knows he’s stupid. “Kid,” he started. “I think I’ve began to really like you.”
“Don’t like him too much,” Peter said, handing the gang a bunch of beers except for me and Denny. “He has school tomorrow. Jonah, why don’t you and Denny go to bed.”
“But it’s only twelve,” Denny shot back.
“Now.”
Me and Denny got up, and trampled down the narrow hallway, leading to three bedrooms. We walked into one small bedroom with a single bed and a small blow up mattress. They decided to get that last summer so that I had a place to stay when I couldn’t go home. He tossed a couple of blankets and a pillow on the air mattress. “You can sleep there,” he told me as he pulled his white sweatshirt and stained blue jeans off his body.
I followed, and got ready for bed too. Once the lights went off, I couldn’t sleep. I just stared at the ceiling, blankly. After a few moments, I realized that he was still awake. “Denny?”
“Yeah,” he moaned.
“Do you ever feel like you’re not worth anything? Like you wont amount to much?”
He groaned. “Yeah. Is this about your dad?”
I didn’t answer.
“Jonah, you are the smartest person I know. You will amount to much more than the rest of us.” he told me as if he knew exactly what I was talking about.
“Then why does my father beat me? Why does he tell me I’m not worth anything?”
He sat up at the end of his bed. “Jonah, do you hate him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you care about what he thinks. He is a bad person. His judgment shouldn’t matter. I think you can do anything. Become a soc if you want. As long as it makes you happy.” He lied down in bed, and pulled the covers back over him with one hand.
I was silent as I thought about what he’d said. I came to the conclusion that he was right. He was always right. My dad shouldn’t be in my life anymore, and his judgment shouldn’t matter to me at all, but it did. I couldn’t let go of the fact that he took away my childhood with only a belt. I can never take my childhood back. That was the worst thing he could take away from me. It was part of my life wasted away with belt whips and squeals of pain.
To Be Continued...
“You Bastard!” Dad yelled as he tossed me out on the lawn. “I want you gone!”
I stumbled to my feet. “I hate you!”
Dad clenched the belt in his hand harder, and belted me with it until I was off his property. He was yelling, “I want you to get off my lawn, hood! You’re a disgrace! I want you gone!” He always hated me. I guess I can understand. He’s always talking about how I’m not a good person. I guess he’s right. I live with him and only him, but sometimes I wished I lived with my friends; my gang.
I whipped around, and ran. I didn’t really know where to go, but I did know that I wasn’t accepted there. After a while, my feet began to hurt, so I slowed down to a walk. I walked along the road in the darkness. Orange light from the street lights was beating down on me. I shoved my hands in my jean pockets. I felt the extra change jump around as I walked to the beat of the club. From behind me, I heard the roar of a car. I turned around, and noticed Jack’s old sedan.
He hopped out of the driver’s seat, and walked up to me. “Jonah! What are you doing alone? You know you’re gonna get jumped.” Somewhere deep inside, I knew he was right, but I didn’t want to believe it. I always walked alone from my house and nothing bad really ever happened. The gang always lectured me about it, but I guess I just never really caught on.
I stopped, and turned to him. I didn’t say anything. I just looked off to the side.
Jack’s face looked concerned. He placed his hands on my shoulders, and turned my head to look at him. “Jonah? Hey, what’s wrong?”
I didn’t say anything.
He gasped. “Oh, no. What did he do to you this time?” Jack is probably my best friend of the gang. He’s always there for me when I need him. He always knew what was wrong. I loved him like a brother, and he always acted like a brother to me. I could always crash on his couch when I can’t come home some days. The only thing stopping me from living there is my father. He’ll kick me out one night, and whip me for leaving another.
Before I could tell him that my dad kicked me out again, we heard a loud car horn from behind us. The street was almost abandoned, so I couldn’t think of anybody who could be there except… the socs.
I turned around to look at them. They were getting out of their blue port holer, and trudged toward us. I noticed one of them had a switch blade. I turned to Jack in panic. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
“Get in the car,” he ordered me. “Now.”
I sprinted for the car, but before I could, a soc came up to me, and knocked me down. I tried to stand up, and fight against him, but he was too strong. He pushed hard on my shoulders, pinning me down on the hard concrete sidewalk. Another one took his switch, and held it right up to my neck. They both laughed, and made comments, but I wasn’t paying much attention. I closed my eyes, and waited for it to end. Moments later, I noticed myself being lifted off the ground by a cold hand. Jack was grabbing my hand, and pulling me off the ground. I stumbled to my feet.
“You see, Jonah,” Jack commented as he stepped into the drivers seat of the car. “You could have been killed if I wasn’t here. Get in.”
I got into the car as he told me to. “What were you doing there anyways?” I asked.
“I was driving home from work, and thank God! Do you realize how much danger you were in? Jonah, you could have been beaten unconscious, or even killed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Just know better next time, okay?”
“Okay.”
I knew Jack was always trying to protect me, but I never learned from his yelling. I never learned from anyone. Jack is pretty responsible for a high school drop-out. He got a job at a local diner. He was a chef even though he couldn’t cook to save his life. People mostly just go there for soda. He wasn’t really the smartest of the gang, but he was a really good guy.
“We’re here,” Jack reported, dragging me out of my thoughts.
I looked around, and noticed he’d parked the car right in front of his house as if he knew I wanted to stay here. “Hey, Jack.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I stay here for the next couple of days?”
He smiled. I could tell he knew exactly what I was talking about. “Of course.” He got out of the car, and motioned for me to get out too.
I got out of the car, and followed him to the front door. He unlocked the white door, but didn’t open it. He just stared at me with his dark brown eyes. “Don’t worry, Jonah. You are a good person, no matter what other people tell you.” I didn’t even tell him about that. He gets me without having me to tell him. He opened the door, and walked in. I followed. “Look who I found wanderin’ the streets.” He gestured to the door as I walked in. He shut it behind me, and went off to watch TV.
“Hey, Jonah!” Bill addressed me.
“How’s it goin, J?” Paul asked me.
Before I could respond to either of them, something hit me. “Jonah!” Denny screamed as he hurdled toward me from the torn up couch. Once he got to me, he tackled me, and squeezed me so hard that I lost my breath for a moment. He was always so spontaneous. Sometimes, he’s calm and shy, and other nights, he’s jumping off the walls.
Once everyone calmed down, Peter walked slowly toward me from the kitchen. “What the hell were you doing out there?” he screamed, his dark eyes piercing a whole through my head.
“I was just taking a walk.”
“Alone?”
“I had to. Dad kicked me out.”
“You should have called us. We would have taken care of everything.”
“Sorry!” I shot back.
He calmed down, and ran his fingers through his greasy, combed back hair. “Sorry, Jonah. But, I love you like a brother. I want you to be safe. I think it’s time you come to your senses.”
I walked over to the couch, and sat down. The guys were watching some documentary on Elvis Presley’s come-back. I watched in envy as Elvis, a grease, gets all this attention. All we get here is beaten, jumped, and shanked. I wish I had a life like his-- doing whatever you want whenever you want. And, if you looked as tough as him, you wouldn’t have to fight to get what you want. Bill and Jack looked like that. They always got what they wanted because they really looked like a couple of hoodlums. I wish I looked like them sometimes. Once I got deep into thought, the TV and light suddenly shut off.
“Peter! Did you pay the electric bills this time?” I heard Jack shout.
“Yeah! It was only one time! I found the money this time!” Peter snapped back.
We could hear a loud motorcycle driving up to the house. The door suddenly opened, and an orange glowing light came in. I could tell it was a cigarette. The person holding the cigarette brought out a lighter, and shot up a flame to reveal their tan face. It was Russell. He walked over silently to light some candles as everyone shouted “hi”, and asked him questions that he wasn’t paying any attention to. Once he set up a few candles, he went to sit down on the couch. He took a long drag on his cigarette. “Yo, uh, Jonah,” he addressed me. “What are you doin’ here? Huh? Shouldn’t you be out getting belted?” A couple people laughed at that but me, Jack, and Peter kept quiet.
Jack scowled at Russell. “Russell, he’s just a kid. Lay off.”
Russell’s eyes became cold, but he didn’t say anything back.
I looked at Bill, whose eyes suddenly lit up. “Jonah?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re bleeding.” Some dark brown hairs from the front of his mullet had fallen into his face, and got into his eyes. He brushed it to the side.
I touched my chin, and looked at my hand. Glistening in the candle light, I saw my dark red blood sticking to my fingers.
“I’ll go get a towel.” He ran off to the kitchen with one of the candles.
“What happened to ya?” I heard Denny ask from behind me.
I had forgotten he was there. I turned around to look at him, stretching my weak back. “When Dad kicked me out, I got jumped in the streets. One of them had a knife.”
“Yeah, good thing I was there for ya. You would have died.” Jack told me.
Bill came back with a bunch of paper towels, and handed me one with a big smile on his face.
I smiled back, and held it up to my neck. It hurt.
Russell grabbed his cigarette from his mouth, and pointed it toward me. “Ya know, kid,” he began. “I don’t know why you waste all your time at school.”
I had almost forgotten, Russell never finished high school. He quit the moment he turned sixteen. He was definitely the stupidest. I loved him just as much as the rest of the gang, but he wasn’t the kind of person you really want hang out with in public. A lot of things go wrong in public. I always get in trouble because of him. “Because I’m smart, and can actually pass tenth grade.”
The gang began to laugh, even Russell. I was worried he’d throw me all the way to the west side of town for saying an insult like that, but I guess he just knows he’s stupid. “Kid,” he started. “I think I’ve began to really like you.”
“Don’t like him too much,” Peter said, handing the gang a bunch of beers except for me and Denny. “He has school tomorrow. Jonah, why don’t you and Denny go to bed.”
“But it’s only twelve,” Denny shot back.
“Now.”
Me and Denny got up, and trampled down the narrow hallway, leading to three bedrooms. We walked into one small bedroom with a single bed and a small blow up mattress. They decided to get that last summer so that I had a place to stay when I couldn’t go home. He tossed a couple of blankets and a pillow on the air mattress. “You can sleep there,” he told me as he pulled his white sweatshirt and stained blue jeans off his body.
I followed, and got ready for bed too. Once the lights went off, I couldn’t sleep. I just stared at the ceiling, blankly. After a few moments, I realized that he was still awake. “Denny?”
“Yeah,” he moaned.
“Do you ever feel like you’re not worth anything? Like you wont amount to much?”
He groaned. “Yeah. Is this about your dad?”
I didn’t answer.
“Jonah, you are the smartest person I know. You will amount to much more than the rest of us.” he told me as if he knew exactly what I was talking about.
“Then why does my father beat me? Why does he tell me I’m not worth anything?”
He sat up at the end of his bed. “Jonah, do you hate him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you care about what he thinks. He is a bad person. His judgment shouldn’t matter. I think you can do anything. Become a soc if you want. As long as it makes you happy.” He lied down in bed, and pulled the covers back over him with one hand.
I was silent as I thought about what he’d said. I came to the conclusion that he was right. He was always right. My dad shouldn’t be in my life anymore, and his judgment shouldn’t matter to me at all, but it did. I couldn’t let go of the fact that he took away my childhood with only a belt. I can never take my childhood back. That was the worst thing he could take away from me. It was part of my life wasted away with belt whips and squeals of pain.
To Be Continued...
The Last One Standing... COMING SOON!!!!!!!!
Okay, so I am currently writing a fan fiction novel on "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. I thought the book was truly inspiring, so I've decided to write my own version of it. I wouldn't suggest comparing it to the real book because it's not very good, and the result of the compare will not be flattering to me. I'll be posting it in chapters so that my friends can read all about my crappy novel. The story has tons of swears in it, so be aware. There is a lot of bad parts to it, and those bad parts are REALLY bad. There is also a lot of slang from the 60's that I found on the Internet, but you should be able to figure out what they mean through common knowledge and context clues.
Here is a small sneak peak to the story:
That wasn't much, but it was a little sneak peak that i felt reflected a little bit about what the story is about. "The Last One Standing" is coming soon to a blog near you (well, this blog, but still...). I hope you like it!!! =D
Here is a small sneak peak to the story:
I sprinted for the car, but before I could, a soc came up to me, and knocked me down. I tried to stand up, and fight against him, but he was too strong. He pushed hard on my shoulders, pinning me down on the hard concrete sidewalk. Another one took his switch, and held it right up to my neck. They both laughed, and made comments, but I wasn’t paying much attention. I closed my eyes, and waited for it to end. Moments later, I noticed myself being lifted off the ground by a cold hand. Jack was grabbing my hand, and pulling me off the ground. I stumbled to my feet.
That wasn't much, but it was a little sneak peak that i felt reflected a little bit about what the story is about. "The Last One Standing" is coming soon to a blog near you (well, this blog, but still...). I hope you like it!!! =D
Saturday, November 6, 2010
UGH!!!!!
You know what I find boring? Homework. In my school, eighth grade gets THE MOST homework. They’re trying to prepare us for high school, but the high school has way less homework. I’m writing this blog because… well… I’m stalling from my homework. I have two labs to completely write, type up, and print out for science. And the worst part of it is that it’s due on MONDAY!!! It is now Saturday night, and I’m not even done with half of the first one. I guess I have to get going. WISH ME LUCK, YOUNG MUSHROOMS!!!!! BI-EEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.s. If you haven’t noticed, this blog doesn’t really have much writing material on it. Nothing I did was really continued, but that’s okay. Anyways, please excuse the title, “My Writing Blog” even though this blog doesn’t have ANY writing material.
p.p.s. Sorry, I forgot to say goodbye in my post script, so… BI-EEE!!!!!!!
p.s. If you haven’t noticed, this blog doesn’t really have much writing material on it. Nothing I did was really continued, but that’s okay. Anyways, please excuse the title, “My Writing Blog” even though this blog doesn’t have ANY writing material.
p.p.s. Sorry, I forgot to say goodbye in my post script, so… BI-EEE!!!!!!!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Me vs. Cleverbot
I am very sorry that I have not been posting very often. I lost my password to my blog, so it looked like i was out of luck. =( But I finally found out my password, so that's good! =) But, anyways... I'd like to talk to you, air (because i have no followers and no one really reads my blog), about something I find very important; Cleverbot!
I have many stories to tell you about Cleverbot. If you have not heard of Cleverbot, it's a website (http://www.cleverbot.com/), where you talk to a computer. It's basically just a website for lonely people. Cleverbot is actually pretty clever (DUR!!!). Although not everything can be perfectly acurate when it comes to cleverbot, it's bright for a computer who doesn't know how to comunicate well in an actual human conversation. It's actually really funny.
CONVO 1:
Me: I don't know. What about you?
Cleverbot: I don't have a favorite. I like all the songs equally.
Me: We were talking about horses, not songs.
Cleverbot: I like cheese.
cleverbot: yes.
me: do you believe in God?
cleverbot: no.
me: why?
cleverbot: because i don't like you.
Cleverbot: I like cats!
I have many stories to tell you about Cleverbot. If you have not heard of Cleverbot, it's a website (http://www.cleverbot.com/), where you talk to a computer. It's basically just a website for lonely people. Cleverbot is actually pretty clever (DUR!!!). Although not everything can be perfectly acurate when it comes to cleverbot, it's bright for a computer who doesn't know how to comunicate well in an actual human conversation. It's actually really funny.
CONVO 1:
Cleverbot: What is your favorite breed of horse?
Me: I don't know. What about you?
Cleverbot: I don't have a favorite. I like all the songs equally.
Me: We were talking about horses, not songs.
Cleverbot: I like cheese.
CONVO 2:
me: do you go to church?
cleverbot: yes.
me: do you believe in God?
cleverbot: no.
me: why?
cleverbot: because i don't like you.
CONVO 3:
Me: Hello.
Cleverbot: I like cats!
Me: Do you have a cat?
Cleverbot: I don't know. I think he might have flown out the window.
Me: What?
Cleverbot: I like cats!
I'm sorry if you don't think these were funny. I thought they were pretty funny, but that's just me. These were actual conversations with Cleverbot. NO JOKE!!!
Friday, September 17, 2010
The Last Thoughts...
Warm blood trickled down my hand, and onto the cold, white snow. It hurt. Bad. I looked down at the deep cut on my wrist, and it was burning, and dark red blood oozed out fast. Nothing mattered to me right now. Everything in my life has turned upside down, and now, I have nothing. I curled up in a ball, and dropped my head to the tree behind me. The pearl white snow underneath me slowly turned red with blood, slowly growing in all directions, running all over. I felt light headed, and dizzy. Everything turned red. Will I survive? Will they be happy to see me after I die? How much longer will I have to deal with this pain? I thought. So, yes. I have a reason for all this. My parents died in a car accident, I have no friends anymore, the only person I can talk to is my therapist, who I can no longer pay for, and I just have nothing to live for. Nothing. After moments of thinking, and wondering, my mind went blank, and I lost all feeling. That bloody kitchen knife fell to the ground, and sunk into the snow. Everything went black-- just like I'd planned-- and i met that bright light everyone talks about when you die.
SHORT FICTION STORY. NOT REAL LIFE STORY.
SHORT FICTION STORY. NOT REAL LIFE STORY.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Fiona and the Ferocious Beast (chapter one)
I walked through the forest, passing trees. I do this often-- I like to wonder around alot. There's so much to explore out there, and I want to explore it while I'm young. My name is Fiona Maxwell, and I and sixteen years old. I have seached my backyard for years, and I fanally found something interesting. I got to the very back of my lot. The woods had ended, and all I could see was a tall hadge fence. There was a golden gate right infront of me. It had some engraved silver writing on it. I swiftly ran over it with my fingers. The writing was in very fancy font. It read: "If you must pass through, you must get past mazes, and solve the unsolvable. Only the chosen one shall survive."
I studied the door carefully. It had a silver lack on it. It looked solid, and hard to open as it locked the gate shut. I gently ran my fingers over the lock. A key had to unlock it. I picked my fut up, and moved it toward the door. A matal sound came from my feet, and I could feel a metal rod under my bare foot. When I looked down, a large silver key sat below my foot. I picked it up, and tried it on the lock. The lock fell to the ground, and the tall gate cracked open a little. I peeked through to see what was behind the door.
Before I could get a good look at what's in there, I heard my aunt yell for me. "Fiona! Fiona! Where are you?!" I could hear her running toward me, and I knew that i was going to be in trouble.
I thought fast, and ran through the gate, closing it tight behind me. I looked around. This was a place I had never seen before-- not on the streets, and not ever in my back yard. there was a hedge maze infront of me. Butterflies floated around everywhere, bringing color to the background. Vibrant color surounded me as I slowly made my way through.
I had been walking for hours until I finally decided to give up, and rest for a while. The grass was very green when I lied down. I thought that i was just going to sit down for a while, but my eyes grew heavy, and I dozed off under the pink sky.
TO BE CONTINUED
I studied the door carefully. It had a silver lack on it. It looked solid, and hard to open as it locked the gate shut. I gently ran my fingers over the lock. A key had to unlock it. I picked my fut up, and moved it toward the door. A matal sound came from my feet, and I could feel a metal rod under my bare foot. When I looked down, a large silver key sat below my foot. I picked it up, and tried it on the lock. The lock fell to the ground, and the tall gate cracked open a little. I peeked through to see what was behind the door.
Before I could get a good look at what's in there, I heard my aunt yell for me. "Fiona! Fiona! Where are you?!" I could hear her running toward me, and I knew that i was going to be in trouble.
I thought fast, and ran through the gate, closing it tight behind me. I looked around. This was a place I had never seen before-- not on the streets, and not ever in my back yard. there was a hedge maze infront of me. Butterflies floated around everywhere, bringing color to the background. Vibrant color surounded me as I slowly made my way through.
I had been walking for hours until I finally decided to give up, and rest for a while. The grass was very green when I lied down. I thought that i was just going to sit down for a while, but my eyes grew heavy, and I dozed off under the pink sky.
TO BE CONTINUED
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