CHAPTER 2
Anyways this night was the same as the others for the past nine years. I sat on my bunk chewing a piece of stale bread like a cow's cud while the other guys were socializing throughout the room. Race was playing poker with Boots- robbing the damn kid of his money. Stupid ass Race is, I could beat him in a hand of poker if I wanted to, but I don't. I don't want to sit there for an hour while he tries buffing the whole damn way. Pointless game. Blink and Mush were gone. No surprise there. Good riddance to them. Out with one of their what seven girlfriends no doubt. Jack was reading his "Western Jim" comic he's had ever since I met him. His stupid cowboy fantasy always bothered me. If he wants to be a cowboy so much why doesn't he just leave? I think the whole thing is his pitiful excuse of a dream. Crutchy was talking to Bumlets who was ignored his babbling. No one cares about the fakers out there Cructhy! I bet he doesn't know that Kid fakes his damn eye. God Cructhy's annoying. I think he fakes it too...
Everyone was doing something except me. I watched them criticizing each and every one of them. But I don't envy any of them and their chipper moods; they don't realize what a crappy life they all are living! I don't know, I guess you could say I'm the loner of the group. I usually sit here on my bed alone, scowling, cursing this wretched world. I like it this way; I don't have to deal with anyone else's shit. Don't get me wrong...I mean I do have friends. All the guys are my friends, Specs has to be my closest. But still, I would choose being alone over being with them anytime.
"Skittery!" I hear my name being called and look of at a grinning Pie Eater. I want to just rip that shit eating grin off his face – I just was not in the mood. "Skittery, can ya help me wit' this?" I stared at him blankly, Oh geez just what I want to do, he probably wants me to make a damn birdhouse or something... He instead saw my unenthusiasm and opened his mouth "Uh..never mind I'll ask someone else or something', Thanks anyways Skittery."
My name rung in my ears and I just cringed. Skittery. What the hell type of sick joke is it? My own name mocks me. I guess the other jerks thought it would be amusing. Haha, not funny. It's not my fault I'm so pessimistic, so cynical. They don't know what I went through. Why the hell do I have to have a nickname? Why couldn't they just call me Kyle? But really, if one of them called me Kyle I don't think I would even respond. Nine years being called Skittery sorta killed my real name.
Nargh! Why was I so frustrated? I didn't know. I got myself off my bed and walked towards the washroom. Some of the little kids that were in my path scooted over out of my way. They looked up at me like as if I was going to kill them. Was I really that intimidating? Ah who cares if I was? I got to the water pump in the bathroom and started pumping the cool water into a basin and scrubbed my face. I went over to a mirror and started to shave the almost non-existent stubble from my face.
"Heya Skittery." Oh great. People. I looked over and Jack walked up biting up an apple. "What ya gettin' ready for?" He talked with a full mouth and little pieces of apple shot out at me. Disgusting. He needed to be smacked for that.
"Date.."I said shortly taking my attention away from him and back to myself as I swiped off the last bit of shaving cream. God..I mean Jack, looked at me like I was crazy. "What?" I kept my words short; I really wanted him to go away. I didn't bother with my hair knowing it was going under a hat, so I turned looking in his brown eyes unemotionally.
He looked up, obviously looking for how to put what I knew he was going to say. Something about 'Wow Skittery Mr. No Compassion has a date'. "I just thought you were going to stay home..." He said, trying to be ever so smooth. Did he think I was stupid? I knew what he meant. Maybe he should go play Cowboys and Indians, maybe and arrow would hit him. I laughed internally but kept my face blank.
"Nope I have a date.."I said simply watching his face look more puzzled. "Think I can't get one like the others?" I asked raising an eyebrow. He looked baffled. Haha I loved putting him on the spot and watching him suffer. He twitched a little bit and I smirked. "That's what I thought." I said starting to walk away. He could die for all I care. Why did he just assume I couldn't find a girl? They all thought I was socially handicapped or something. I can do anything they can do...and probably better too! Jerks…
"No Skits, that ain't what I meant!" Sure Jack. I'm not as dumb as he thought. Not as dumb as anyone thought. "Skittery--" Ugh that name! "--I was jus' surprised, you ain't gone out for months now! Why didn't you tell nobody earlier?" Go away Jack. He followed me back over to my bunk while I pulled on a clean shirt. I smelled good. Like peppermint. "Skittery?" Jack said that awful name again.
"What? I can't have privacy?" I snorted back at him, "Go rope a cow, I'm leavin'" And I left. I didn't want to hear anymore of Jack's shit. He was right though...I hadn't dated a girl in months...why? I don't know. Oh well. This should be interesting. I walked down the street. Ugh all I wanted to do was sit in a corner alone. I really didn't want to go meet some girl and have superficial conversations. Why did I get myself into this crap? God damn it Kyle! I scolded myself...it seemed like the only logical thing to do.