From Keith To Two-Bit
Hardships hit everyone at some point in time. Two-Bit Mathews knew this all too well. The funny man at the tender age of fifteen had already gone through his fair share of the hell that is life.
Growing up, Two-Bit watched as his parents struggled to provide for the family. He wasn't rich, hell he barely had three square meals a day, but he was happy.
But, Two-Bit knows happiness can only last so long.
Living on this side of town, one learns quickly not to ask for things you know you can't have. On birthdays, Mom's homemade cake and a new shirt are luxuries. At Christmas, gift giving means card exchanging. And all other holidays or celebrations go quietly ignored.
Kids on this side pick that up quickly. But, Two-bit Mathews has never been a quick learner.
He had to beg for that goddamned Mickey Mouse costume for Halloween. He cried and yelled till his dad promised him he'd buy one. Two-Bit watched as his father backed out of the driveway in the beat-up old truck. Two-Bit remembered holding onto his mom's dress on the porch as she rested her pregnant belly on the railing.
Two-Bit's dad never came back.
He didn't run off on the family, he wasn't in jail, he was dead.
And Two-Bit knew it was his entire fault.
Police determined the death of Karl Mathews was accidental. His car crashed into a street pole in a car accident triggered by a heart attack.
But, Two-Bit knows his dad wouldn't have been in a car if he hadn't asked for the damn costume. Two-Bit knows his dad wouldn't have had a heart attack if he had been less of a stress inducing annoyance.
And Two-Bit has never forgiven himself.
He turned to alcohol and he turned to comedy. Thus, Keith Mathews became Two-Bit Mathews. He only had two parts to him.
He promised to never take life seriously. Because, he knew, life was too short.
So he smiled, and he puked, but those who know Two-Bit Mathews best, know they can always count on him to smile more than anything else.
Author's Note: Um, hi. I haven't been on this site for about 6 months. I haven't published anything in over a year. I'm sorry. A few comments and favorites that got sent to my e-mail reminded me. My life is just too much for me to work endlessly on a story. But, I want any of you who read any of my stories to know that I'm going to try. This little story is something I wrote on my iPhone and just flipped through the notes. So, I thought I'd post it on here. I miss writing like this—for fun—now, the only time I write is for English class. But, starting today that has to change. I don't want to sound corny but I hope this is something that carries on into adulthood for me. I think it's precious and maybe we'll all turn back in ten years and go "Damn, do you remember that one?"
