Walking on the Tracks Chapter 9

"Lollipop, lollipop, lollipop, oh la la lollipop..."

Teddy and Vern sang and skipped happily to the old Chordettes song across the rusty wearing tracks. Chris, Gordie and I were walking slower behind them when Chris said "hey I got some Winstons,one piece for each after summer". "Great" I replied smiling even though I wasn't that big fan of smoking. "Yeah that's cool" Gordie added looking at his beaten up converse. "That's when a cigarette tastes best after supper" said Chris looking ahead. We were silent for a few seconds before Gordie suddenly spoke. "Do you guys think I'm weird?".

Chris and I stopped at looked at each other. "Yep" I replied. "Defiantly" Chris said. "No seriously you guys...am I weird?" Gordie repeated the question in a more serious tone. "Yeah but so what? Every body's weird" Chris told him before carrying on walking. I gotta admit that was sort of true. "You guys ready for school?" I asked trying to change the subject. "Yeah I guess" Gordie replied shrugging, "junior high and you know what that's means...next June we'll be split up" Chris said looking slightly sad. Gordie stopped and faced him.

"What are you talking about?" he asked shocked. "Why would that happen?" I added equally surprised at Chris's comment. "It's not gonna be like grammar school that's why" he said "you two will be taking your college courses while me, Teddy and Vern will be stuck in the shop courses with the rest of the retards making ashtrays and bird houses" Chris paused and looked into the distance before adding "you two are gonna meet new guys...smart guys".

I was taken back by the lack of faith Chris had in himself when it came to school. I remember him being put down due to his false reputation but he was actually a smart kid when he put his mind to it. He had a solid chance of joining Gordie and I in the college courses.

"Meet a lot of pussies is what you mean" Gordie responded shaking his head. "No man, don't say that, don't think that" Chris said firmly pointing his finger. "We're not going in with the pussies man forget it!" I told Chris looking away. "Well then you two are assholes" Chris said raising his voice. "What's asshole about wanting to be with your friends?!" Gordie asked loudly with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "It's asshole if your friends drag you down!" Chris yelled back "you guys hang with us you'll be two more wise guys with shit for brains!".

"Chris,you three aren't dragging us down you know that" I argued. "No Dan,you and Gordie have a shot, you guys got a future and I don't wanna take it from you" Chris said "I mean you could be a real writer someday Gordie...". "Fuck writing!" Gordie suddenly yelled in anger "I don't wanna be a writer it's stupid! It's a stupid waste of time!". "That's your dad talking" Chris calmly responded. "Bullshit!" Gordie spat his voice cracking. "Bull true! I know how your dad feels about you he doesn't give a shit about you" Chris said "Denny was the one who cared about you and don't try to tell me different!". Gordie was silent after that. "You're just a kid Gordie" Chris told him in an adult manner of tone.

"Oh gee thanks dad!" Gordie responded sarcastically.

"Wish to hell I was your dad" Chris said quietly yet firmly "you wouldn't be talking about taking these stupid shop courses if I was. It's like God gave you something man, all those stories you can make up and He said 'this is what we got for you kid try not to lose it'. You too Dan, you've got it too. You both have. Kids lose everything unless there's someone there to look out for them and if your parents are too fucked up to do it then maybe I should."

I remember the sunlight peaking through the oak trees and radiating Chris, giving him an angel like persona. Almost as if he was sent down to help anyone who needed it. It was that moment I became aware of how wise Chris really was. How much he knew about how the world worked. I also realised that he was the most caring person I knew.

I was so grateful for him.

We soon got to the open train tracks that stretched over a deep river 100 feet below. We could see the path on the other side which felt a thousand miles away. The wind whipped through our hair and clothes as we stood staring at the trail ahead. "Any of you guys know when the next train is due?" Vern asked looking around. "We could go down to the Route 37 Bridge" Chris suggested.

"What are you? Crazy?" Teddy asked shocked "that's five miles down the river, you walk five miles down you gotta walk five miles back. That could take till dark but if we go this way the could get to the same place in ten minutes". "Yeah but if a train comes there's no way to go" Vern argued."No there isn't, you just jump" Teddy replied casually as if he wasn't aware of what he just said. "Teddy it's a hundred feet" Chris protested. "Yeah Teddy" added Vern. "Look, you guys go around if you want but 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" Teddy gave a sarcastic smile. "You use your left hand or right for that?" I asked him causing the guys to snigger. "You wish" Teddy coldly replied.

We all started walking slowly and carefully across the long wide track. Chris, Teddy and Gordie at the front and Vern and I at the back. Vern was crawling on his hands and knees, his lips were firm together and his eyes were focusing hard on the wooden planks. He suddenly stopped and stretched his hand through the gap in the tracks. He then looked up to me sadly and said "I lost the comb". "Forget it Vern" I shook my head and pressed him on to keep crawling. Suddenly I thought I felt a slight quick vibration beneath my feet. I looked back to see if a train was approaching but couldn't see anything. I decided it was my imagination and carried on walking.

I was stunned when I heard Gordie scream at the top of his lungs "TRAAAAAAAIIIINN!".

We all looked back in horror to see the steam spreading through the sky behind us. "Oh shit" Vern gulped and crawled faster. Teddy, Chris and Gordie all sprang as fast as they could. Running for their lives towards the end of the track. I jerked Vern up and screamed "GET UP VERN! COME ON!". It was no use. Vern was paralysed with fear clutching the tracks as his face turned white. "WE'RE GONNA DIE GODAMN IT MOVE!" I yelled as loud as I could but then I realised his foot was stuck between the planks. I yanked it out with my sweating palms and pulled him up. "RUN VERN RUN!" I shouted as he finally began to move.

I don't think I have been more terrified in my life. Sweat drenched my body. My head spun. My heart beat was louder than a thousand drums but I could hear Chris, Teddy and Gordie screaming for us to run.

Vern and I were only a few inches from the tip of the train. Its whistle was screeching in my ears numbing them. We were close to the end but my legs turned weak. I decided there was no other choice. I shoved Vern and jumped after him off the tracks and onto the sand below. We both hit the ground in a cloud of dust. I watched the train rode past above our heads. The dust cleared and there were Teddy, Chris and Gordie staring down at us in pure shock.

"Hey, at least we know when the next train is due" Chris smirked casually.