Mary Merrill
Chapter four: Lollipop
"Hey! We're back here with the Boss man, Bob Cormier! From the racks and stacks it's the best on wax! It's the Chordettes, with Lollipop!" surprisingly enough we actually got signal in the freaking forest.
"Lollipop lollipop
Oh lolli lolli lolli
Lollipop lollipop.....
Call my baby lollipop
Tell you why
His kiss is sweeter than an apple pie
And when he does his shaky rockin' dance
Man, I haven't got a chance
I call him
Lollipop lollipop
Oh lolli lolli lolli
Lollipop lollipop.....
Sweeter than candy on a stick
Huckleberry, chimry or lime
If you had a choice
He'd be your pick
But lollipop is mine
Lollipop lollipop
Oh lolli lolli lolli
Lollipop lollipop.....
Crazy way he thrills me
Tell you why
Just like a lightning from the sky
He loves to kiss me till I can't see straight
GEE, MY LOLLIPOP IS GREAT
I call him
Lollipop lollipop
Oh lolli lolli lolli
Lollipop lollipop..." I heard Chris and Gordie fighting. I didn't want to hear it, but my ears tuned in and it was hard enough trying to follow along with it.
"It's not gonna be like grammar school, that's why. You'll be taking your college courses and me, Teddy and Vern will all be in the shop courses with the rest of the retards makin' ashtrays 'n' birdhouses. You're gonna meet a lot of new guys—smart guys..." I knew that was Chris, no one talked to Gordie like that unless it was Chris.
"Meet a lot of pussies, is what you mean." I kept down the laugh that was about to erupt in my throat.
"No man. Don't say that. Don't even think that."
"I'm not goin' in with a lot of pussies. Forget it!"
"Well, then you're an asshole!"
"What's asshole about wantin' to be with your friends?!"
"It's asshole if your friends drag you down! You hang with us you'll just be another wise guy with shit for brains." I tuned out for the millionth time today. Nothing interesting was happening; Vern and Teddy were chatting their heads off and while Gordie and Chris were arguing. I didn't want to be a prat of any of it. Most people would eavesdrop, but my mind wouldn't let me. By the time I did tune in it was because Vern and Teddy were yelling at us.
"Come on, you guys! Let's get moving."
"Yeah. By the time we get there the kid won't even be dead anymore! Especially you Mary!" I looked around and saw I was the farthest one back; even Gordie and Chris had passed me up and were laughing alot now. I glared at Teddy.
"Shut up!" I ran up to Chris and Gordie and the rest of them while Teddy had to make a comment.
"You run like a girl." I looked at him with a perfectly plucked eyebrow.
"No really?"
"Maybe it's because those babies weigh her down." I gave Chris a playful slap on his shoulder and glared at him.
"They ain't that big thank you." Teddy laughed loud and Vern smiled as Gordie blushed.
"Everyday, it's a gettin' closer,
Goin' faster than a roller coaster,
Love like yours will surely come my way, (hey, hey, hey)
Everyday, it's a gettin' faster,
Everyone says go on up and ask her,
Love like yours will surely come my way, (hey, hey, hey)
Everyday seems a little longer,
Every way, love's a little stronger,
Come what may, do you ever long for
True love from me?
Everyday, it's a gettin' closer,
Goin' faster than a roller coaster,
Love like yours will surely come my way, (hey, hey, hey)
Everyday seems a little longer,
Every way, love's a little stronger,
Come what may, do you ever long for
True love from me?
Everyday, it's a gettin' closer,
Goin' faster than a roller coaster,
Love like yours will surely come my way, (hey, hey, hey)
Love like yours will surely come my way."
After a long walk, and tired miles behind us we reached a long, narrow railroad.
"Any of you guys know when the next train is due?" ha! I knew someone would ask for some reason or another.
"We could go down to the Route 136 bridge." Chris replied, looking towards Route 136 bridge.
"What, are you crazy? That's five miles down the river. You walk five miles down the river, you gotta walk five miles back. That could take 'til dark. If we go across here we can get to the same place in ten minutes."
"Yeah, but if a train comes there's nowhere to go."
"No there isn't. We'll just jump."
"Teddy, it's a hundred feet." Chris replied. I looked down the gorge; the rushing water splashed up on the sides wildly as the rocks seemed to be heading up river.
"Teddy your fucking crazy if you want me to jump that."
"Pussy." he replied.
"Ha ha, was that some kind of sick perverted joke?"
"Look, you guys can go around if you want to. I'm crossing here. And while you guys are dragging your candy-asses halfway across the state and back, I'll be waiting for you on the other side, relaxing with my thoughts." he stepped forward.
"You use your left hand or your right hand for that?" I laughed as Teddy glared at me and Gordie.
"You--wish.." Teddy stepped on the tracks followed by Chris, me and then Vern crawling, as Gordie watched him like a babysitter. Gah, I hated babysitting; stupid screaming babies, especially if those babies were sick, they sounded like fucking sirens. I breathed deeply as I looked between the wooden planks that aligned the railroad. I tugged on Chris's sleeve, he shifted his head towards me.
"Yeah skirts?"
"Can I hold your hand?" he looked like I grew a second head, then he smiled and wrenched his hand backwards.
"Sure." I grabbed ahold and balanced along with Chris. Usually my hand would get sweaty from someone holding it, but this was different; my hand felt.. right in his hand like puzzle pieces that belonged together.
"TRAAAAAAAAAAAIN!" I heard someone yell. I cried out as I looked behind me and saw there was a train heading towards us, especially Gordie and Vern. Chris pulled my hand and raced towards the end of the tracks.
"Come one Mary!" he pulled my hand again, I was tripping along the tracks, but Chris kept dragging me along. When we were on solid ground I was so frightened, I fainted. All I heard screams and the whistle of the train go whizzing by.
"Do you think she's dead? I mean it's been like forever." Vern's annoying voice rung in my ears. I winced and grabbed my head sitting up from where I was laying down. I opened my eyes and saw doubles of everything. There were two Gordie's, two Chris's...which I didn't mind; two Teddy's and two Vern's. I slapped my forehead.
"I'm...not...dead..." Vern grinned.
"Sincerely, I thought you were dead!" I grinned and laid down. Gordie smiled and felt my forehead.
"Are you okay? You were red in the face when Chris picked you up." Chris?
"Chris...helped me?" I put the words out like a puzzle. I felt really bad, it was hard enough to carry his load, but mine too. I slowly, but surely got up and limped to Chris. It was dark out and the fire was crackling. I laid a hand on his shoulder and smiled a pretty wide smile.
"Thanks Chris, I was pretty heavy huh?" Chris grinned and looked at the fire some more.
"Nah, you are pretty light actually." I sat next to him..well he was laying down and the rest of them were too, except Teddy he looked like he was guarding.
"What's Ted doing?"
"We are doing watch switches." he yawned and I groaned.
"Don't worry, not you. You hurt your head." I smiled and laid out my sleeping bag. I slipped my body into the warmth of cotton and fabric that made my skin warmer. I yawned and rolled over onto my side and laid my head on the willowy floor. The next thing I knew my world was black and nothing was there.
"What are you doing?" I wrote on a piece of paper the summary of a math equation and explaining it to the teacher. I didn't know who was talking to me until I looked up.
"Dad?" my eyes held fear, a bottle of beer was in his hand; half drained with fizz on his scruff beard.
"Homework." his eyes narrowed as my brother came behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"What?!" he was obviously pissed off more than normal.
"Some chick is here for you.." Ace glanced over to me. Tears trickled off my face, I quickly wiped it away with my sleeve. Ace gathered my small body into his arms.
"It's alright Mary, mom still loves you, I love you." he gave me a quick kiss on my cheek and laid me in bed and crawled next to me. My body went towards him and I snuggled into his chest.
"Promise.."
"Promise what?" his voice was in a mere whisper and it held confusion.
"Promise me that you'll never leave me?" he kissed my forehead as I laid my head on his chest.
"Never.."
When I woke up from this long memory of the last it was day break and everything seemed awake. I just made it before the same train came by, I shivered in fear and stood up. I know it was silly to faint, but I hadn't eaten since god knows when and I was really tired from the night before. I looked towards everyone; they were all waking up to the sweet-- noisy sound of a black train that lamost crushed Gordie and Vern.
"Oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
Ah ah ah ah
Oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
Ah ah ah ah
Oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
Ah ah ah ah
Hush hush
Hushabye
Hushabye
Hushabye
Oh my darlin' don't you cry
Guardian angels up above
Take care of the one I love
Oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
Ah ah ah ah
Hush hush
Hushabye
Oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
Ah ah ah ah
Hush hush
Hushabye
Oooo oooo oooo oooo
Lullabye and goodnight
In your dreams I hold you tight
Lullabye and goodnight
Til the dawn's early light
Pillows lying on your bed
Oh my darling rest your head
Sandman will be coming soon
Singing you a slumber tune
Oo ooo oooo oooo ooo ooo ooo
Hush
Hush
Hushabye
Oo ooo oooo oooo ooo ooo ooo
Hush
Hush
Hushabye
Oo ooo oooo oooo ooo ooo ooo
Oo ooo oooo oooo ooo ooo ooo
Ah ah ah ah.."
"Gee, Gordie. Why couldn't you get some breakfast stuff, like uh, Twinkies and Pez and root beer?" I laughed at the thought or Pez and root beer as a breakfast.
"Sorry, Vern. I guess a more experienced shopper could have gotten more for your seven cents." after that comment it was quiet for a while it made me worry, until I tripped.
"Fuck.." I whispered as I brushed myself off. It wasn't everyday I tripped on random pebbles. Everyone laughed as Chris helped me up.
"Thanks Chris at least there is one gentleman in this group." I glared at the rest of them and gave Chris a sweet smile.
In the past hour or two, maybe three we arrived at a golden brown field, full of wheat and weeds that I couldn't even begin to count. We all stopped as Chris pointed across the field.
"Gentlemen, the Royal." I coughed as I jabbed him with my elbow.
"And lady...s?"
(Author's Note:
MWAHAHA!
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Fin.)