Rick's Past
This was it, he was now boarding the SS Anne. This was it, he, Pietz and Winnie were moving to England. England! Why? Why him? Why couldn't he just stay in America with his friends? Because, Rick it's my story, I have what I want….Anyways Jake and Riley were there waving to him. He waved back, and yelled, though he couldn't be heard above the cheers of the other people but they knew what he said, "Bye! I'll miss you two! And especially you Riley!"
Jake snickered, he knew that they liked each other it was too obvious. Then he coiled back expecting a slap from Riley but there was nothing, He opened his eyes and looked around, "Riley? Riley?!"
But Riley was no where to be found. He looked around and even went on board, just when the ship left port!
~~~~where Rick is~~~~
"Doc, why we moving to England anyway?" Rick asked putting on his hat and gloves. Dr. Pietz turned to him.
"Because, I'm getting homesick and two, England has better pay for the doctors, and nurses," he said. "Where are you going?"
"I'm go see the other kids on board!"
"I'd be careful Rick, they're mostly prejudice pricks of upper class men."
"Even the first class that we're in?"
"Definitely them."
"Oh, well then I'll check out third class."
"Take you ticket with you, and don't loose it! They can steal it from right under your nose."
"Don't worry doc, if they steal it they'll be over board, ticket less!" Then Rick left.
~~~~~Third Class part of the docks of the ship~~~~
Third class got the stern side of the ship. Rick eagerly went over to a group of ten boys who were gambling.
"hey boys what's the stakes?" Rick asked casually. The boys looked at him, seeing Rick in gloves with the fingers cut mid way, poor looking shoes, a dirty long coat and a dirty shirt with collar open they found him to be a third class passenger so accepted him.
"Right now, we're up to twenty dollars," a slim tall boy of the age 11, with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes said.
"Hmm, I'll gamble thirty dollars."
The boys looked at Rick with shock.
"Th-thirty?" The tall boy, Jason, said with dis belief.
Rick nodded and put in a twenty and a ten. Jason shrugged and rolled the dice for himself. Six.
"Damn! So close!" He said.
"Lemme have a role." Rick took the cup and dice and rolled. Seven! "Oh yeah! I'm the man!"
"Hey! I think you're cheating!" A fat round boy with brown hair and brown eyes said. He was taller than Rick and a lot wider than Rick too. The boy must have been about ten.
"Oh? But when someone else wins would you think they cheated also?"
"Yeah, no one can win practically!"
"What about yourself? What if you won? Then wouldn't you be blamed for cheating?"
"Of course not! I would have won by the fair way!"
"Ah, but you my dear non-friend, don't understand. There are no fair ways, so I guess I win the money unless anyone has any more to gamble?" Rick looked around everyone except the large boy and Jason shaking their head. "Ah, so only two challengers?"
"Yes, only two, Harold and me against you!"
"And you are?"
"McCarran, Jason McCarran," he said.
"Alright, how much you going for?"
"Forty," he said placing the last of his money on the pile. Rick looked at Harold.
"And you?"
"Forty-five," He said placing the last of his money on the pile.
"Alright gentlemen, I'll go for sixty then," Rick said placing a ten and fifty on the pile. Not even half of his money in his right pocket alone. There was a gasp. No one had ever gone that high. Rick took the dice and cup and handed it to Harold. "Ladies first."
Harold, not knowing he was just insulted, took the cup and dice and rolled…..*drum roll for fx please*….nine!
"Damn it!" Harold cursed and shoved the cup and die to Jason. Jason took it and rolled…..Six!
"Fuck!" he said and tossed Rick the cup and die. Rick rolled, another seven!
"Bloody hell, that was damn luck! I never done that well before," He took up the money and stuffed it in his pocket. Then Harold grabbed his collar roughly.
"You little cheat! I know you was cheating! Admit and I'll make your death painless!"
"Well death is always painful Harold the Glutton, now let go of my collar or I will be forced to hurt you," Rick said casually, too casually for Harold's taste. He punched him in the face, well tried to anyway. Rick moved his head to one side and kicked Harold's huge stomach. Harold let go of Rick in pain and doubled over. Jason just looked at the pathetic kid crying on the ground. He turned to Rick and held out his hand in sign of peace.
Rick shook his hand.
"I'm glad you knocked him over," Jason said, his Irish accent now coming through. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time now. He's such a crybaby really. Only acts tough to get what he wants."
"Yeah, well, I dealt with people like him at me old school."
"Really? Where you from, kid? And what's your name?"
"Chicago, Illinois. My name is O'Connell, Rick O'Connell."
"Heh, I been there once, just passing through to catch a ride on this ship."
"Oh? You an orphan?"
"Tch, not really, I ran away from me drunk pa. I didn't want to stay with him in America anymore. Nah, I was bound home with me Ma in good ole Ireland. Then I got news she died of pneumonia, so I'm just going to travel the world see different things."
"Hmm, a runaway, I think I may join you in that, McCarran."
"Why so?" McCarran said leaning on the rail looking out to sea and the place that was Free, but home to a horrible drunken father.
"Well, I'm orphan, I can't remember me own parents at all. I was adopted by a Doctor, sos I got it good, but I don't like it."
"Heh, you don't like? You gots to be crazy boy. I'd kill to have that life of so much money."
"Believe me, it's not always good. People telling you how to act, and how to eat properly, you don't have any time for fun."
"No fun? That's a downside, but still you got a roof over your head right? And a nice roof at that. So if you gots all this money, then why you in such clothes?"
"I had to have someway to be accepted at first glance."
"True."
There were a few moments of silence. Then Harold got up and grabbed Rick from behind, his eye red and puffy from crying it made him look like a crazy insane person.
"I heard what you said, O'Connell! You're just another prick from 1st class! I'm gonna kill you!"
Then McCarran stepped up and punched Harold in the face on the eye. Harold let go of Rick, in pain again. "Argh! What did'ya do that for McCarran??"
"Don't try to hurt my new friend, Glutton. He's one of us. He's just got it a bit easier."
"Bullshit!"
"Bullshit yourself Glutton, but I ain't gonna take anymore of this disrespect! You stay down!" McCarran said kicking Harold "Glutton" down. "C'mon Rick, I'll show what a third class passenger has."
"Okay," Rick said and walked to the stairs down to the third class floor with McCarran and his gang of boys followed. Rick kept his ticket in his inside pocket out of reach from the smaller boys and to risky for the older taller boys to try to steal it.
---End Chapter----
PlZ review.
Jester