8 years old

"Mama made cookies." I announced happily, as I bounded towards the creek. I held out the chocolate chip deliciousness in my hand and the sandy haired bow in front of me snatched it away, stuffing it in his mouth in one whole bite. I suppressed a giggle.

"Thanks." He mumbled, his mouth full. I rolled my eyes and plopped down onto the damp ground to pull off my shoes and socks. It was yet another warm, beautiful day and I was determined to spend it catching as many tadpoles and frogs as I could. At least until my daddy got home from work and hollered at me to come home. He and mama would be furious if they knew who I was playing in the creek with.

"Yer' mama an' daddy know yer' down here with me?" Daryl asked, as if reading my mind. He waded deeper into the creek until the murky water washed over his knees.

"Nope. They don't gotta know everything. Plus mama is busy takin' care of Gabe." I answered simply. I stuck my toes in the cold water before sloshing through the water to join him. "Anyways, I think it's stupid they don't want us to be friends."

Daryl nodded his head in agreement, his eyes scanning the water for our prey. I squatted down into the water, the ends of my dress dipping into the wet surface. I didn't care, though. I spotted a few tiny tadpoles swimming near my toes and grinned. I carefully cupped my hands and scooped up a handful.

"Got some!" I shouted triumphantly.

"Lemme see!" Daryl insisted, leaning towards me. He looked into my cupped hands and poked at one of the bigger ones. It squirmed, trying to get away. "Let's put 'em in the bucket." He pointed towards a faded blue pail on the side of the creek and I waded over, gently letting the tadpoles go into the foot of water inside the bucket.

There was suddenly a loud splash and I turned just in time to see Daryl lying on his belly near the muddy bank. I laughed loudly as he stood, mud caking his front from head to toe. This didn't seem to faze him at all.

"Damn, saw a frog but I missed 'em." He complained.

I wrinkled my nose. "My daddy says that's a bad word."

Daryl turned and raised his eyebrows at me. "Damn? No it ain't. Merle says it all the time and he ain't never got in trouble. You should say it. Just once." He grinned mischievously at me. "I won't tell yer' folks."

"I don't know, Dar." I said slowly, but already I could feel a small devilish smile forming on my lips.

"Oh come on, Charlie. Don't be sucha baby!" He teased.

"Damn." I said quietly. Daryl's grin grew and I let out fit of giggles. "Damn!" I said louder.

"Damn!" He shouted back, laughing loudly.

I shouted even louder and soon we were practically screaming at each other through fits of laughter.

"Well, well, well…what's goin' on down here?" A familiar voice drawled. My smile faded a little as I turned to see Daryl's brother standing on the edge of the bank, hands in his pockets. It was weird they were brothers. They didn't look anything alike. Plus Merle was a lot meaner than Daryl. Probably because he was older. Still, Daryl was older than me by two whole years and he was never really mean. At least to me.

"Go away, Merle." Daryl muttered.

"Now is that anyway to talk to your big brother? Especially in front of your little girlfriend?"

I felt my cheeks burn red and looked back at Daryl, whose hands had curled up into tight fists.

"I'm not his girlfriend, loser. We're just best friends." I shot back, placing my hands on my hips.

Merle chuckled, looking amused. "Best friends. Well ain't that cute. Ya best git' on home, girly. 'Fore yer' folks find out you been meddlin' with them Dixon boys again." He smirked. "Just saw yer' daddy's truck pull up the driveway."

I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder at Daryl. He caught my eye and nodded. "I'll see ya tomorrow, Charlie."

I gave him a small smile. "Alright then." I gathered up my shoes and socks in my arms and began to climb up the side of the creek bank. My foot suddenly slipped in the mud, but I felt a strong grasp on my arm before I slipped and fell face first into the muck.

I was surprised for a second to see it was Merle who was safely pulling me up onto the steep bank. "Thanks." I said uncertainly.

"Wouldn't want ya ruin that purty dress, huh?" He said, once again looking amused.

"Ya know, you don't always gotta be sucha damn jerk the rest of the time, Merle." With that, I turned my heel and headed back towards the long stretch of field towards my home. Merle's laughter trailed after me.