A/n: This is inspired by a recent drug bust down the street from my house. It's one of my first…is my first non-slash, non-song fic fiction. Please read and review!
Summary: Think the suburbs are easier than the city life? After a drug bust in an average home people open their eyes to the harsh reality of suburbia. Takes place in the early 1940's.
Genre: Mystery/Drama
Rating: PG-13 (subject to change)
Starring: Jack Sullivan, James 'Racetrack' Higgins, Nathaniel 'Kid Blink' O'Connor, Philip 'Skittery' Bardot, Patrick 'Spot' Conlon, Loretta Higgins, Juliana Sullivan, Marguerite O'Connor, Scarlet Bardot, Sue-Ellen Conlon, Cal Sullivan, Geoffrey Higgins, Jeremy Conlon, Gerard Bardot, Richard 'Snipeshooter' Conlon (Starring roles subject to change by chapter)
Chapter 1: Just Down the Street—Racetrack's PoV—
Lindale has always been a quiet, simple town, filled with quiet, simple people. Not to say that we were simple as in slow, in fact, Darrell Marshall just got his doctors in advanced physics, a feat that the entire town was proud of.
You see, in a small suburb like Lindale everybody knows everyone's business. In Lindale, women feel no shame in basking out in the sun on hot days, wearing nothing but their underwear and a straw hat. Lindale is the type of town you will always be proud to say you were from, being one of the best places to live in the whole state of New Hampshire.
In Lindale the ladies in my neighbourhood meet every Sunday afternoon after church for lemonade and biscuits. Last Sunday it was my mother, Loretta Higgins' turn to host. She and her four closest friends, Juliana Sullivan, Marguerite O'Connor, Scarlet Bardot and Sue-Ellen Conlon gathered on the veranda where a lazy breeze was drifting over them, keeping them from frying and collapsing in the heat.
It was here that the disruption was first observed.
I was in my room, lying on my bed and listening to the conversation below. Having thrust all the windows open it was near impossible not to hear them cackling outside. Such is a fact I introduce, as not to be accused of eavesdropping.
"Yes, Jack is ready for Brown next fall. He's already been accepted ad all," boasted Juliana to the others. Jack, the oldest out of their sons, was due for college after summer, which was approaching rapidly seeing as there was only a week until summer holidays.
"Nathaniel finished first in his track meet on Friday. Amazing, considering his…disability," countered Marguerite. Her son, Nathaniel, was headed for grade twelve next year and was born blind in one eye, leaving it glassy and pale. Still, he was the fastest 100m runner Lindale Secondary had ever seen.
"Now, now ladies. Lets' not argue. It's much too hot for that. Just relax and enjoy your lemonade." Sue-Ellen's peaceful disposition would lead anyone to believe that she hadn't spawned little Patrick Conlon. Even though he was only a sophomore last year, he had already earned a reputation as a troublemaker and a hotheaded prat.
"I agree, there's no point in arguing over out sons. Besides, your boys are no competition for my Philip." Out of all the mothers, Scarlet was my favourite. She was a joker; she was the one who kept these meetings alive. Her boy, Philip, was constantly serious and agitated. Never accuse Philip of anything id you know what's good for you.
And so, for several minutes, the conversation carried on like this. Topic drifted from their sons to city events, and back to us again.
"What in heavens name? Why is the sheriff out? Workin' on a Sunday?" commented my mother quite abruptly, thus causing my to believe that the sheriff had entered the scene. I rose to my windowsill to watch the proceedings below.
Dow the road is the old McKenzie house. It has detailed wooden doors, window shutters, and balconies. It was bought over half a year ago, an even that made the entire town buzz for a while. I don't think anyone in Lindale had ever met the occupants of that house.
The sheriff broke down the door, shouted a bit, cussed a string, and proceeded to bring out several potted plants. The origin or type of these plants was a mystery to me. The sheriff, however, seemed mighty concerned and loaded a few of them into his squad car.
==
"They're marijuana, you idiot," said Jack when I told him. We were all sitting in the family room before Sunday dinner while I told them about what I saw.
Philip, Nathaniel and Patrick all nodded in agreement.
I, being the youngest (beating Patrick by only two weeks) felt very stupid and childlike compared to them, seeing as I don't know this.
Jack sat by the window and lit a cigarette. "We've never had drugs much at school before though, have we?"
We all confirmed that we hadn't, leading us to wonder where the unknown owners of the old McKenzie place peddled their goods.
"Have any of you ever…?" I asked, knowing they knew exactly what I meant.
The only one to admit to such a thing was Jack, who seems to have done everything in his life. "Only once though," he said defensively. "It felt really weird and definitely not worth the money."
I take this into consideration. Sure, I enjoy the occasional cigar, but not I definitely plan to never smoke weed.
"It's damn sweltering," complains Philip, proving why he's earned his nickname, Skittery. He never sits still and has constant mood swings. Rarely do his comments ever relate to the topic at hand.
"What're you talking about Skittery? This is the coolest room in the house," I argue. It's true though, the windows in the living room, when open, deliver a very pleasant draft in from the lake.
Skittery glared at me, making it obvious he was displeased.
"I'm agreeing with Skittery on this one. It's boilin' in here." Jack tugged at his collar to prove how warm he really was.
"Maybe if you put out that cigarette," I countered, worrying that the curtains would reek of tobacco smoke in no time.
Jack tapped the end's ashes into the bushes below the sill and ignored me.
Nathaniel, who had yet to say anything, turned to Patrick and asked, "Where's your brother?"
Patrick blinked a few times. "Who? You mean Alex? He's…uh…busy."
Patrick's brother, otherwise known as Specs, has been missing form the Sunday dinner scene since early March. Every day Nathaniel asks Patrick, and every time he receives the same alibi.
"He's just busy. Real busy with school and everything. He'll be here next week."
A very weak excuse, considering none of us have seen the senior in the halls. Not even Jack, who used to be best friends wit him.
I wonder what the excuse will be next week, seeing as school will be officially out by then.
My mother calls us for dinner and we congregate in the dining room where our fathers seemed to be holding a similar conversation as the one we just had.
My father, Geoffrey Higgins, is seated at the head of the table. He is very distinguished looking, clad in his church clothes. He's smoking a thick cigar and his blue eyes glint as we enter the room. Such eyes have been passed on to my sister, Jocelyn, leaving me with my mother's dull brown ones.
"Boys, take a seat, won't you?" offers my father humble, gesturing to the vast dining room table.
We are seated, each boy beside his father making for the maximum conversation, seeing as we'll ass have to talk across each other. My family likes a noisy household.
When beside him, Jack looks just like his father, Cal Sullivan. They both have the same oval head and slicked, light brown hair, the same laughing face and crooked smile.
Almost as amazing is the contrast between Skittery and his father. I've heard my mother comment many times of how she assumes Gerard Bardot is not Skittery's real father. He has dark, neat hair and a piercing gaze that accompanied his thinly spectacled eyes. His was a round, short man who could be closest described as 'Humpty Dumpty'. His waist belt was done on the loosest notch, but still he complained of how his pants had shrunk. Skittery, on the other hand, it tall and lanky. He has light hair and muted green eyes. I'd guess him to be Mr Bardot's distant nephew, if I thought them to be related at all.
Patrick—better known as Spot—was between his father and younger brother. Jeremy Conlon was a small man, faintly resembling his two sons. Inherited by them as well was a cloud of confidence and better-than-thou aura that trailed after the three. Patrick's younger brother, Richard, we called Snipeshooter. He sat beside Patrick and my daddy, chewing on a chocolate cigar.
Across the table from my father are the O'Connor's. Nathaniel's family is the smallest of us all, Nathaniel being an only child and his mother being widowed.
"Well, dig in everyone!" exclaimed my mother, beaming from where she observed the table setting.
Mrs Bardot ordered another brandy. "I'm still slightly shaken from the disturbance at the McKenzie place. The sheriff used many a swears in front of ladies."
"Really? What happened Scarlet?" queried Cal from where he reached for a piece of sliced pork.
Scarlet, very happily, began the story. "The house down the street…"
End ChapterA/n: How'd you like it? probably my longest first chapter ever. Review and tell me if you like it!