Chapter 25 - Prologue Part II
This is where I like to think everythin' started goin' downhill.
Well, yeah. I mean it was all shit to begin with, but this is where the shit actually hit the fan, so to speak.
I think you're just gonna have to get used to me cussin'. It's like a second language to me.
If I cared whether it was lady-like, do ya think I'd be doin' it?
Jesus, man.
Y-yeah, I'm...havin' a hard time wearing that jacket. As you can see I wore my denim jacket in today, even if it is in tatters. Just couldn't stand to...well, ya know.
Oh, Carrie? Yeah, I've known her since I started high school a couple years ago. I didn't really know any girls that I liked back-back in New York, but she was real eager to be my friend for some reason. We went to the same junior high, but we weren't in the same classes. Chrissy came along with her- they'd known each other since kindergarten, I guess.
So, I just kinda fell in with them. I ain't real close with any of the other hood girls, but we are friendly at school, at least. Obviously, since I let them cut my hair in the middle of class, right?
Yeah, my ears are fine. All healed up now. I like 'em. Maybe I'll get more sometime. Maybe even a tattoo.
Well yeah, I know I gotta be eighteen. Not like it matters much when you live on my side of town.
Describe how I felt? When?
Oh.
Well, I was scared shitless, I suppose. You ever have a shotgun pointed to your face with a drug addict at the trigger? I wasn't sure if I was gonna live or die there for a hot second.
Yeah, I said that for a reason. The Curtises keep their door unlocked for a reason. Barb-uh-Mrs. Mathews has worried about it in the past.
I've found myself on their couch so many times over the past five years, no questions asked.
It's-it's a pretty big deal that he locked it that night.
W-What kind of question is that? I told ya about the sleepover, didn't I?
No, I ain't fuckin' slept with Curly yet. For God's sake. And so what if I had? That's my business.
Oh, we can finally talk about the rumble now?
No, I don't know how that stupid kid found out-
Yes, I'm aware that he's dead. Honest to God, I could care less. He was mean and stupid and the world's better off without him. I ain't his friend- I ain't gotta honor the memory of some punk who beat up poor people for the hell of it. He's the reason most of us are in this mess.
Yeah, well, we've already established that I got anger issues. That ain't news to anyone. It runs in the family, if you haven't noticed.
Sigh.
Look, I'm sorry. You're right. He was just a kid. I know he wasn't much older than me. But he was still a - what's the word? - vindictive bastard. He wasn't just some perfect child who never did anythin' wrong. I get that he's human, but he was still a shitty one and you shouldn't just dismiss that, no matter what side of town you come from.
Nah, at this point I didn't really talk to his girlfriend. Just a few times inside the bathroom when her friends weren't watchin'. He couldn't have found out from her. I think he was the one who told her, actually. So, I assume he bribed the teacher- I dunno for sure, but that's all that really makes sense.
Oh yeah, give 'em a little bit of the green and they'll dance for ya. A rich kid like that would know. He had a ton of it- and secrets he wanted to know.
And outside my gang and Mrs. Mathews, he's the only other person who knew.
Yeah, that's Sherry Valance. Cherry for short.
Redhead. Porcelain skin. Not a zit on her entire body.
Ya know, a real...Soc.
She was pretty alright, in the end.
Yeah, she helped me out more than once, but I'll get to that later.
I thought I'd hate her, really. She just...looks the type, ya know?
I sure pegged her as a stuck-up bitch, but I think she'll grow on me. Seems pretty...what's the word?
Oh, uh, genuine. I guess.
She said she'd be my college roommate if I ever wanna go to college. Maybe it sounds kinda dumb- but I think I'd like that.
Oh, I dunno. You see many greasers go off to college?
Well, yeah. Up 'til this point in the story I wasn't real sure about her. What's that word she used? Hostile. She called me hostile towards her.
Lookin' back, I was pretty mean. I kinda regret it, now.
Alright, alright. You wanna hear this story or not?
Thank you. Lord.
So anyway, this is where I feel is the beginning of the end- and we're only halfway through.
Poetic, don't ya think?
The only problem was figurin' out when the last straw would be- and when he would turn me in.