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Authors: Lee Thompson
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because it’s none of their business and most of all it cheapens those experiences for me.”
“I’ve gotta get home, my dad’s expecting me.”
“Your dad and my dad are friends, aren’t they?”
“Well enough,” Bobby said.
He could see Pine chewing on his lip, and it made his blood chill in his veins, that moment before reaching a life-altering decision. If anyone had been able to ask him, he would have sworn that as the older boy sat there on that four-wheeler like some kind of hound from hell, Pine rubbed two fingers against a horn trying to break the skin on the center of his forehead. Bobby wanted to say, “You ain’t human. You haven’t ever been human...” But he couldn’t even form a word because his teeth were chattering and Pine started the four-wheeler and pulled up closer, giving Bobby a better look at him.
There was definitely a strange knot breaking like a horn through the skin just above his eyes. He kept touching it. He was wearing a Henley shirt, dark jeans, heavy boots. He was also sweating profusely despite the cold and his lack of a jacket.
He stared at Bobby and Bobby stared back until Pine said, “Since our fathers have an understanding, maybe I’ll give you a free pass.”
“That would be best for everybody.”
“You sure you don’t want a ride home? Climb on back behind me.”
“You’re sweating,” Bobby said.
“I’m always sweating, just burning up inside is all. It doesn’t hurt none.”
“Well, take care.”
“Same to you,” Pine said.
He drove off and Bobby let out a long sigh and felt like crying.
CHAPTER 4
It took Bobby an hour to find his way home through the dark and the snow. He hadn’t brought a flashlight because he didn’t want anyone to see him entering or leaving the school or the water tower. The lights were on in the living room. Both of his parents’ cars were in the driveway, his mother’s nearest the house. His clothing had ice in them, and his feet hurt, and so did his back from the fall. All he wanted to do was find an incredible warmth and slip quickly into sleep.
But first he had to enter the house without alerting his dad, and that was no easy task because his dad didn’t sit still for long, was always moving about the house like a tornado, sucking up everything in his path and spitting it out with devastating force.
He considered turning around and going back to the water tower now that the snow had lessened but he’d freeze to death up there in the utility room without dry clothing or a fire or a blanket or something warm to drink. When he was younger, he’d come in the house, his mom would sneak him a cup of hot cocoa sometimes, mostly winter nights just like this one. She never questioned where he’d been, what he’d done, she didn’t really talk much at all, just knew what he needed and provided it.
Bobby stared at the front door. This was the last place he wanted to be. He considered walking over to Cindy’s house but her parents didn’t like him and wouldn’t let him inside no matter what condition he was in. Anybody else, it would have worked, with the snow and water frozen to his face and his hands a dying red, and his eyes so startled and afraid. But, no, her parents didn’t give a damn who his father was, and if anything, they judged him even more severely because of it.
Birds of a feather and all that, he figured. If Cindy’s family had more money like his did then they’d be kissing his dad’s ass. Human nature. Her dad worked for a tire shop and her mom waitressed at a greasy spoon restaurant and both of them were constantly scowling. He didn’t like their company to begin with. They were miserable people. No wonder she wanted to make something of her life instead of repeating what they had done, the little they’d amounted to. Circumstances, people were always talking about that, but Bobby didn’t buy half of it because people did have a choice—hell, a million choices—about what
“I’ve gotta get home, my dad’s expecting me.”
“Your dad and my dad are friends, aren’t they?”
“Well enough,” Bobby said.
He could see Pine chewing on his lip, and it made his blood chill in his veins, that moment before reaching a life-altering decision. If anyone had been able to ask him, he would have sworn that as the older boy sat there on that four-wheeler like some kind of hound from hell, Pine rubbed two fingers against a horn trying to break the skin on the center of his forehead. Bobby wanted to say, “You ain’t human. You haven’t ever been human...” But he couldn’t even form a word because his teeth were chattering and Pine started the four-wheeler and pulled up closer, giving Bobby a better look at him.
There was definitely a strange knot breaking like a horn through the skin just above his eyes. He kept touching it. He was wearing a Henley shirt, dark jeans, heavy boots. He was also sweating profusely despite the cold and his lack of a jacket.
He stared at Bobby and Bobby stared back until Pine said, “Since our fathers have an understanding, maybe I’ll give you a free pass.”
“That would be best for everybody.”
“You sure you don’t want a ride home? Climb on back behind me.”
“You’re sweating,” Bobby said.
“I’m always sweating, just burning up inside is all. It doesn’t hurt none.”
“Well, take care.”
“Same to you,” Pine said.
He drove off and Bobby let out a long sigh and felt like crying.
CHAPTER 4
It took Bobby an hour to find his way home through the dark and the snow. He hadn’t brought a flashlight because he didn’t want anyone to see him entering or leaving the school or the water tower. The lights were on in the living room. Both of his parents’ cars were in the driveway, his mother’s nearest the house. His clothing had ice in them, and his feet hurt, and so did his back from the fall. All he wanted to do was find an incredible warmth and slip quickly into sleep.
But first he had to enter the house without alerting his dad, and that was no easy task because his dad didn’t sit still for long, was always moving about the house like a tornado, sucking up everything in his path and spitting it out with devastating force.
He considered turning around and going back to the water tower now that the snow had lessened but he’d freeze to death up there in the utility room without dry clothing or a fire or a blanket or something warm to drink. When he was younger, he’d come in the house, his mom would sneak him a cup of hot cocoa sometimes, mostly winter nights just like this one. She never questioned where he’d been, what he’d done, she didn’t really talk much at all, just knew what he needed and provided it.
Bobby stared at the front door. This was the last place he wanted to be. He considered walking over to Cindy’s house but her parents didn’t like him and wouldn’t let him inside no matter what condition he was in. Anybody else, it would have worked, with the snow and water frozen to his face and his hands a dying red, and his eyes so startled and afraid. But, no, her parents didn’t give a damn who his father was, and if anything, they judged him even more severely because of it.
Birds of a feather and all that, he figured. If Cindy’s family had more money like his did then they’d be kissing his dad’s ass. Human nature. Her dad worked for a tire shop and her mom waitressed at a greasy spoon restaurant and both of them were constantly scowling. He didn’t like their company to begin with. They were miserable people. No wonder she wanted to make something of her life instead of repeating what they had done, the little they’d amounted to. Circumstances, people were always talking about that, but Bobby didn’t buy half of it because people did have a choice—hell, a million choices—about what
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