Beginnings

Beginnings

Buddy

During those days, the Rags would always seem to find themselves in some kind of trouble. Rags was the name of our gang. We were walking up to our hangout, the Graveyard. Now don’t let the name Graveyard fool you. We didn’t play in cemeteries. It’s an old deserted building that had become a second home to us and like us it had been abandoned at one point in time. It was the Bailey's greatest wish to tear it down. It seemed like the richest sole purpose was to steal the one thing we who had nothing could regard as precious. Why? I don't know. I wonder if it made them feel richer…

 My mind started to wonder about Noah. Man, I hoped the poor boy was alright. Then my mind started to turn towards her. She sat there undisturbed. Her black curls hung low on the side of her face. Her eyes twinkled as she smiled into the distance. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I know I said the same about Susan, Anne, and Ruth but this time it was different. When I looked at her I couldn’t see anything else. 

“Who’s attracted our poor buddy’s attention now?,” said Wes.

“Aw, it’s nothing. Just a little dust in my eye,” I said. He wouldn’t have understood. Weston’s idea of love was temporary. Can't blame 'em though. Around here, love would either end in divorce or the couple staying together unhappy . 

“How many times do I have to tell you, Bud? Women don’t want a sincere heart. They’re all just begging to get their hearts broken because they always run towards the guys who’ll hurt them,” he said.

He smirked and took a sip of soda. “Don’t give your full heart. In the end you're the only one who’ll get hurt.”

He wasn’t completely wrong. Ruth had left me heartbroken. Now that one was a heartbreaker. 

He said, “Listen don’t worry about it. I’m gonna go for a dance. You're gonna be alright by yourself.”

“Yeah, man.”

I went to get a drink. I stood there by the table deciding whether or not I should go back home for the night. My mind felt heavy but when I looked up there she was dancing. She swayed with the utmost grace. I tried to think of what her name might be. I was leaning against a tree. I thought of all the poetry I could write about her.

“You alright, Buddy?” Sunny said. She had been worried about me since the break up. I kept telling her I’m fine but she can’t help but worry. Sunny’s like the mom of our gang. Sunny was Dawn’s girlfriend. She had red hair, hazel eyes, and a bright smile. He was a lucky man because inside Sunny was a genuine heart. She had naturally curly hair that she left untamed. She’d always complain it was too wild to deal with.

“I’m fine, Sunny”

“I told you that girl was no good when I first laid eyes on her, Dawn,” she said. Now Dawn was my best pal. We had known each other since diapers. She walked over and sat down on his lap.

“A woman's instinct.” he said, “I say Buddy these women are scary. They can even foresee things before us.” 

“Not scary, dominant.” She smiled at him. 

I was about to go get Wes so we could go home when someone fell right into me. I looked down and it was her. She held onto my shirt tightly. Now that I was able to see her up close, I could see the details of her pale face. The indent in her thick lips, her grey eyes, and the freckles on her nose. 

Then I realized something. Something awful brought me back to reality. 

***

“Name. Darn, I didn’t ask her name.”

Dawn had tackled me then pulled me into a headlock.

“Still thinking about that girl. Stay focused, Buddy. We don’t know when they might attack.”

“I can take those guys with my eyes closed”

As we made our way to the Graveyard, everyone was gathered in the meeting room. It was packed. Everyone was here. Skip was in his wheelchair talking about giving those Bailey’s a good beating.

“Skip, I want you to stay behind and watch Jo,” Dawn told him.

Skip frowned.

“Come on Dawn. Let me go too. I promise I won’t get in the way. Tell him Buddy. Tell him I won't get in the way. I can help.” He looked at me and I shook my head silently.

"Sorry, Skip," I told him.

 When we found Skip he had been beaten up pretty badly. We saved him but he’s been in a wheelchair since. They call him Skip because he gets left out on almost all the events due to his legs.

“Aw, poor Skip,” Jo said. He put a hand on Skip's head and shuffled his hair around.

“Shut up, Jo. You scaredy cat.” Jo stuck his tongue.

Sunny came into the room holding a wet rag and a first aid kit. 

“We’re going to get you all cleaned up, Jo”

“Leave him be, woman. Let him wear his battle wound with pride.”

Ignoring him, she continued to wipe his face off. Dawn cleared his throat demanding the attention of everyone in the room.

“Everyone. I’m sure you’ve already been informed of the Bailey’s disrespect towards our gang. They’re trying to take away our home by kidnapping one of our brothers. The Bailey are spoon-fed spoiled brats who continue to try and take what’s ours. What we made for ourselves. What we earned.”

The room was quiet. The authority Dawn presented was practically beaming.

“Today we were all disrespected. And today we will take back what’s ours.”

The room was filled with cheer. As we made our way out the room, Skip, sat there with his head down and his shoulders hanging low.

“Come on, Skip,” I said.

His face lit up and we were on our way. 

***

The sky was black. The boys howled into the night as we approached Bailey territory. We were running into the night while I pushed Skip’s wheelchair. When we finally got to the Shadow Creek, the boys were hopping the gate. I had ran my hand through my hair and let out a sigh. We couldn’t hop the gate with Skip with his legs like that.

“I’m sorry, Buddy.”

“It’s alright. I think I have an idea.”

Dawn approached us from the other side of the gate. 

“What’s going on?” he said.

“It’s okay we’ll meet you there.”

Dawn cleared his throat and said, “Be careful.”

I started searching for the entrance. When I found found the opening. I pulled out my pocket knife and started picking the lock.

When we got through I noticed the ground was too rough for a wheelchair. 

I knelt down and said “Get on my back.”

A tear had rolled down his eye.

“I’m sorry Buddy. I just keep getting in the way”

“Don’t cry…. We’re family. We gotta stick together.”

I lifted him up and I ran. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to catch up to the gang. I finally slowed my pace when we got closer to Dawn.

“Look. Skip really came,” Ryan whispered. 

Seth came over and gave him a pat on the back.

Seth was mute. He was born that way. He was the brightest of us all, you could always catch him smiling.

Skip started howling.

Dawn nodded.

“Guess you need a new name,” he said

Skip smiled.

***

I saw lights. They had lit a fire. I could see Noah. He was motionless, tied to a tree.

“Look who decided to show up. Dogs always did have a sense of loyalty.”

“Shut it, Skit. We all know you still aren’t potty trained,” said Skip.

Skit’s face got red. It happened last october. Every year the Bailey Brothers and us were at war over new territory. Now that year things got a little out of hand.

Summer of 1934

“Hurry up, Jo,” said Billy.

“We’re going to leave you Jo,” said Ray.

“Wait for me, you guys,” said Jo.

He was running after us with one pants leg rolled up and his shoes untied. It was Spar week. This year was decided through a “friendly game” of  baseball. It was hot out. Sunny and Dawn had gotten there early. Sunny was in her schoolgirl outfit chewing gum. She was wearing a loose bun. Sunny was unique and refused go with the trends. She would always say “people should be their own versions of themselves” Dawn had a mitt on his left hand and was tossing the ball back and forth. He threw the ball at me and I caught it. 

“You’re late.”

“They were arguing again,” I said, “I had to sneak out through the back”

I ran my hand through my hair and looked up at the sun. My father hated my mom. I just don’t know why. I think the only reason they married was because of me. My father would get drunk every day since he got laid off. He would come home every night to start a fight at times he’d use force with so I’d have to interject. One time he hit me in the head with a wrench. I had gotten thirteen stitches and had a concussion but she never left him. I got her as far as the car door of Dad's red pick up truck before yanked herself out of my grip and sped back inside. I think she was afraid of being on her own. That’s why she’d smother me at times... she felt guilty. 

“These guys don’t stand a chance,” he said.

“Yeah…,” I said.

He gave me a small smile. That was Dawn’s way of comforting me.

We just do our best to forget and move on.

“We’re gonna take The Rocks and your red-headed bimbo,” Pip said.

This time Dawn stood up. He still stood hands on hips and retorted, “Keep at it, Pip and you ain’t gonna have a mouth to talk with you old chucklehead tool. I’ll drop ya flat out.”  

Pip sat down, quiet.

“What’s eatin’ ya, Pip,” joked Ryan. “Why’d you back out?”

Ryan mocked him and Pip was as red as a strawberry. No one dared to step up against Dawn. 

When the game finally started we were already 9:2. The Bailey’s were all sore, and claimed we were cheating. Boy, those were the days. Things were all going good. That is till Miss Gerber left the gate unlocked and Rocket got out. Rocket was her scrunchy pit bull she always kept near her. He was huge and mean. It happened when Skit, well, during this time he went by the name James, was attempting a home run. Rocket stood still heaving his chest appearing calm but in actuality he was preparing himself. That’s when he took two steps forward and started by barking demanding our attention and provoking our fear. We turned around in unison and remained completely still James however was still pushing to third base. That’s when Rocket got angry. He barked again.

“James,” said one of the Bailey’s.

 James still didn’t noticed him. I swear that boy was determined. Rocket began to dash right towards us.

We were gone. Kids were hopping gates, falling down, and pushing people over.

“Run, James. Run,” they said.

James turned around and saw Rocket coming right towards him. He started running towards the gate. Rocket was right on his tail. Right when James was hoping the gate Rocket bit off his shoe and James fell on the opposite side of the gate. Poor guy barely escaped with his life. Rocket charged at the gate and James flinched. When we were sure the danger was gone, kids surrounded him.

“You alright, James,” one said.

James was quiet. A strong odor had hit my nose. 

***

“Give Noah back or don’t blame us when you’re missing your two front teeth,” said Billy. He waving his fist in the air.

“Oh, yeah. Well bring it on, chubs,” said Pip.

The Bailey twins came out, Robert and William. They were sixteen just like me and Weston but could easily pass for nineteen. They were wearing matching outfits. They had blonde hair and a nose that turned up to the air, as if they smelled something bad. Their father owned the biggest hotel in Haleiwa yet they’d always try to trespass on our turf. Just last week they convinced their father to knock down our neighborhood grocery. Now it takes an extra fifteen minutes to get to the next store. He was the one who fired my dad. He used to be the hotel manager.

“Let’s make a deal,” said William. “Give us the Graveyard and we'll give you back Noah and let you keep your lives.”

“No,” said Dawn.

“I told you. You can’t reason with these kinds of people,” said Robert. “Too uneducated.”

He smirked. That’s when the fight broke out. People were swinging and yelling. I wanted to get my hands on that patsy, Robert. I punched my way through their followers and Robert lunged at me but I dogged. I grabbed him and gave him a good blow to his stomach and grabbed him by his overpriced coat. I looked around and saw most of the Bailey’s on the floor. I had witnessed Dawn give an epic blow to William but he still came back strong. Nose seemed a little crooked though.

“I’d advise you guys to leave if you still wanna walk on two legs,” I said.

They looked around at the states of their leaders and the all left. It would have been silent but there was snoring coming from Noah’s mouth. Everyone had begun to complain.

“That senseless fool.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“What a waste of time.”

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