Whoop, chapter 2! My friend read the last chapter and thought the removalists were Soda and Steve. They are not! hahaha.
It is quiet out since it was only 2pm; people are still at work and school hadn't let out yet. School, I thought. It was a Friday today and I would be starting at my new school on Monday. I was nervous about going to school here in Tulsa. I didn't have many friends at my old school. To be honest; I didn't have any at all. People thought I was strange because I didn't talk much. I couldn't help that I just wasn't as confident as the other kids. I hope here it was different; being by yourself all the time wasn't all that fun
I notice as I walk further and further away from our street that the houses start to look nicer and in better condition than those in our area. I spot a woman in her 50s perhaps, pruning her hedges. She looks towards me and I smile. Instead of smiling back like I thought she would, she fixes me with a harsh glare. I frown in confusion. What had I done to make her to glare at me like that? I brush it off as just her being in a bad mood. I concentrate on reaching my destination, wherever it was.
I walk for a while longer and spot a restaurant up ahead. At that moment, I wished I had some money on me so I could by some lunch. I was starving. All that I had had today was a piece of stale bread and my throat screamed for water or any drink at all.
Next to the restaurant I spot 4 boys around 16 or 17 wearing madras shirts and cream jeans. They lean lazily against the restaurant wall; they had obviously skipped last period today. One of the guys, a curly red head, notices me walking their general direction. He whispers something to his buddies and they start walking towards me. I debate in my head whether I should walk away or not. I decided not to for they probably didn't mean any trouble and it was considered cowardly to just walk away if they did.
"What are you doing on this side of town, greaser?" the red head says harshly, eyeing me up and down. I was unaware of what a 'greaser' was or what 'this side of town' meant. I stand there silent, unsure of how to answer. I fold my arms and gaze at the pavement beneath my feet wishing I had just walked away instead.
"Are you a stupid mute or something?" red head says, obviously angered at my lack of reply.
"Sorry, I'll leave" I mumble, turning around to head back down the street I just came from. I am blocked by two of the boys. I start to panic and my breathing becomes shallow and fast.
"No can do buddy, we're gonna make sure you never want to come back here, right Randy?" He turns to a brown haired guy on his right who smirks when I meet his eye.
"Sure thing, Bob" he says
Before I can register anything else, Bob has my jumper in a tight grip and his first poised back. I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable blow but it never comes. I open my eyes to see that the four boys are watching as a car comes spluttering our way.
The car pulls up beside the five of us and the driver rolls down the passenger window.
Bob lets go of my shirt and faces the car.
"Aw, has big greaser come to save itty bitty Greaser?" He taunts. The driver whom I cannot see opens the passenger door, ignoring the comment.
"C'mon kid, I'll take you to your house" the stranger offers and without thinking about it I hop in his car, dodging the reaching hands of the older boys. I slam the door shut and the guy starts the car up and slams on the accelerator. I look towards him and observe the boy; he looks to be around the age of those other boys, maybe older and has auburn coloured hair and large sideburn. His shirt has a cheerful, smiling mouse on it. The boy turns to look at me sporting a grin on his own face.
"Thank you for helping me" I tell him, trying to be polite.
"No problem, what are you doing in their part of town anyway?" he asks, returning his eyes to the road. I shrug, hoping he would explain to me what he meant by that.
"You must be new in town. Those guys you just ran into are called Soc. Steer clear of them I tell ya, they ain't no good" he warns me, suddenly serious.
I reflect on this mysterious guy. It was quite idiotic of me to jump in his car since he was a complete stranger to me and we were always told in school to never get in cars with strangers. Although, considering what would have happened if I hadn't, I decide this was a much better option. Besides, he seemed like a nice enough guy.
"You don't say much do you?" he says, interrupting my thoughts. I shrug again. He lets out a loud bark of a laugh which startles me and causes me to grasp the side on the car.
"Names Keith but you can call me Two Bit" he introduces, oblivious to my frightened state. He extends out his hand while keeping the other securely on the wheel. I shake his hand quickly, wanting him to refocus his attention on the road. He was an awful driver and I really didn't want to be in a crash.
"Two-bit?" I query. What a strange name.
"My real name is Keith but people call me Two- bit 'cause I need to get my two-bits worth in all the time, get it?" He explains, cackling a tad. I understand the use of the nickname now. It still seems like a bit of a barbaric nickname though, considering he was basically calling himself a loud mouth but he didn't seem like too much of a 'normal' guy either.
"So what's your name squirt?" he asks.
"Michael"
I do not bother to give him my last name since he didn't say his. Suddenly, Two bit's face lights up.
"Mickey, I'll call you Mickey!" He says excitedly. I just look at him strangely.
"You like Mickey right?" he asks, looking at me expectantly.
"Who's that?" I ask. I had no idea who 'Mickey' was. Were they famous or something?
Two Bit's mouth opens wide in shock and he looks down at his shirt, pointing at the mouse printed on the front. Mickey is a mouse?
"Mickey is the most amazing mouse to grace television, how can you not know about him?" he says in disbelief.
"I don't watch TV I guess, sorry" I say, embarrassed. Off course we had a TV but I certainly wasn't allowed to watch it.
"Don't worry kid, we'll educate you in the wonderful world of TV" he turns and winks at me. I wonder who he meant by 'we'.
I look out the window and notice my house coming up. I open my mouth to tell Two Bit so but as if he reads my mind, he slows the car down until we come to a halt right in front of my house.
"You have reached your destination" he announces in a robot-like voice. I look at the greasy haired, side burned guy in shock.
"What… how did you know where I live?" I ask, stunned. I didn't remember telling him.
"That house had been on the market for a while; figured that's where you moved into, call me psychic!" Two-Bit laughs and winks at me again. I smile at him and open the passenger door. Looking up I notice my parent's car in the driveway. Boy was I in trouble. I hadn't even realized I'd been out for over 2 hours! I step out of the car. As my foot hits the pavement, I feel a hand land on my shoulder. I turn my head to look at Two Bit.
" Hey kid, you need anything or just get bored come to the Curtises, that's where our gang hangs out and your welcome to swing by " Two-Bit tells me, pointing to a house a few doors down. I nod; knowing I probably wouldn't go there.
"See you later Mickey!" He shouts and waves dramatically, blowing kisses out the window as he drives off. I wave at the departing car and brace myself to go inside, the lights are on and through the curtains I see my dad on the sofa, beer in hand. What was worse than angry father, was a drunken father.
Thanks for reading! Hope you liked this chapter. Pony aka Michael meets the rest of the gang soon :)