Willow’s Haven

Oscar “Oh” Jones

Loyalty. Loyalty is being there for others. Loyalty is staying true to someone you care about, it’s standing up for them in good and bad times. Loyalty builds and strengthens bonds between people. Loyalty is everything. In the small town of Willows Haven, Kansas, loyalty is what you need to survive.

The thing about Willows Haven is that it's broken up between “greasers” and “preppies”. Greasers wear leather jackets, black boots, and grease in their hair. They live on the Southside of town. Greasers like to go to rodeos, passion pits, and Walter’s diner. They get kicks from getting rip roaring drunk, picking up broads, smoking, and street racing.

As greasers, we’re looked down on. Greasers don’t have a good reputation, everyone is scared of us. Everyone thinks that we are JD’s and rebels. We are the poor Southside hoods. I’m really tired of being judged. I mean I love being a greaser, but why do we have to be judged because of a lifestyle we choose? I think that it's always been this way and always will be.

Anyway, preppies wear checkered and madras shirts, suede shoes, and letterman jackets. They live on the Northside of town, the rich kids with big pools and golf courses. Preppies like to go to fancy dinner parties, have beer blasts at riverside, play any popular sport, and take their big boats out on lakes. They also get kicks from jumping greasers like us. They think they’re big shots because they have more money than us.

‘Ding’.

“Order up,” the cook yelled from behind the grill. Walter’s diner was one of the safe places kids could go to get away from life’s stresses. Walter’s was a small diner with black and white tiled floors, red bar stools, black leathered booths, neon signs, and cute waitresses with rollerskates. They could get a coke or a milkshake for 5 cents without worrying about prom, school, money, getting jumped, or judged. Walter opened his diner in 1931, the year now is 1963.

The “swinging sixties”, when JFK was elected the thirty-fifth president, when The Beatles became number three on Billboard, when the civil rights movement happened, and when the United States and Northern Vietnam concluded a peace agreement.

The 60’s are also known for their music. There were many great bands like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Pink Floyd. There were also solo singers like Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Hank Williams, Louis Armstrong, and Elvis Presley. Personally, Elvis Presley and Ray Charles are my favorite, they look tough. I wish I looked more like Elvis, but I have to be grateful for what I have, because I’m stuck with them.

I have dirty blonde hair and greenish-blue eyes. My name is Oscar Jones, but my friends call me “Oh”. I’m 15 and a freshman. My best bud, Hayden, says I throw a good punch and I’m brainy. I don’t believe him though.

Hayden Fulton, also known as “Fangs”, is 15 and also a freshman. He has light brown hair and amber colored eyes. He got his nickname because he was bit by a poisonous snake and was in the hospital for a month and a half. He thinks stealing from the boneyard is hilarious, he does it for kicks. So far, he hasn’t been caught. His motto is, “It’s only trouble if you get caught”. One day he’ll get in trouble and I’ll be there to back him up like always, but, maybe it will shake some sense into him.

Next, Arthur Young, also known as “King”. Arthur is 16 and a dropout. He dropped out cause he says he ain’t smart but I think it’s because his momma got sick and he stayed home to help her. He has brown eyes and brown hair and has never been caught by the fuzz. He may not be school smart but he is definitely street smart. Arthur works over at Keith’s AutoBody Shop. Keith is an older guy who owns his own garage. He has an English Mastiff named Diesel who is old as dirt.

Elizabeth Ritzar, but we call her Betty, is 16 and a sophomore. Betty is the only girl in our gang and she’s actually a preppy. Her father is the mayor of the town. Her and her father don’t get along very well though, he thinks greasers are “no-good-white-trash”. Betty has blonde hair and blue eyes, and I think she is kinda cute but Fangs has a deep crush on her, so I back off. For kicks, Betty and Fangs like to barrel race at rodeos.

Christian Acker is 14 and is a . Christian’s nickname is “preacher” because his dad is the pastor at the local church that no one goes to. It's just him and his dad, his mom passed away a few years ago. He has hazel colored eyes and has jet-black hair. He got into a scrap one day with a preppy and ended up in the hospital with a couple broken ribs and a fractured collarbone, he’s carried a blade ever since.

James Wilson is a law-breaking dropout hood. He dropped out junior year and started being an obnoxious hood. He has black hair and has a haircut where it's short in the back then long and curly in the front. He has green eyes, he’s 17, and 6’3. The gang gave him his nickname, “Bandit”. He steals, lies, and cheats for kicks. If you can imagine a teenager that hates listening to anyone who is telling him what to do, is hard headed, and stubborn, you’ll get James.

William Matthews is the oldest out of all of us, at 18. He has brown hair, has hazel colored eyes, and is a senior. His nickname is “Willy” and he’s the dad of our gang. He gets us out of trouble with the fuzz or anyone we get in trouble with. One time, King swiped something from the farmers market for his mom and the cashier came running at him with a heater. Willy was just down the street and saw it all happening, so he tackled the cashier and took the heater. He lives with his dad and step-mom. His mom passed away from some infection. Anyway, he works out at the lumber yard, hauling wood. He’s a real lady’s man.

Raymond Lorenz is the youngest of our gang, at the age of 13. He is 5’1 and has brown hair. He has greenish-gray eyes and is in eighth grade. Everyone in our gang just kinda gave him his nickname, “Ray-Ray”. He’s the gang’s pet, no one ever yells at him or anything. He’s good to have around and he keeps his mouth shut good around cops. He’s had a rough childhood though, his mom left him when he was little. His old man, Henry, is a ditz drunk and pounds on him sometimes.

“Hey, can I get a coke and another basket of fries over here?” Fangs waved over a waitress. The waitress brought over the fries and Fangs practically snatched it out of her hands.

“I’m starving,” he snapped.

“So, guys, what do you guys wanna do this summer? Go to some rodeos? Maybe wreck some Preppy houses?” Betty asked while taking a drink of her coke.

“I definitely wanna wreck some houses” answered Fangs with his mouth full of fries.

“Yeah, I got nothing better to do,” I agreed. “You guys got anything to do tonight?” I sucked down the rest of my coke.

“I only planned on getting rip roaring drunk,” said Fangs.

“Is that all you want to do in life, Fangs?” Betty asked with a horrid look on her face. The waitress came back over and handed me another coke.

“What else are we gonna do? We live in a small town with nothing to do. We’re greasers, we don’t have big dinner parties and beer blasts to go to. You dig?” Fangs explained.

“Yep” I said plainly. Betty got up, went over to the counter and grabbed our to-go order.

“Alright, let's get outta here. Let’s go over to Skeeter’s, King should be working today.” Betty said as she walked out. Skeeter was a nickname we gave to Keith. He is like a grandpa to all of us. He feeds us when we go over there, he has all kinds of snacks to eat.

“Yeah, ok.” I grabbed some fries, took a big gulp of my coke, and Fangs and I ran out the door to keep up with Betty.

“Betty, why do you always leave us behind? You in a hurry or sum?” Fangs asked as we finally reached her.

“No, you guys are just slow and I haven’t seen Skeeter in awhile.” Betty stated.

“Yeah, okay.” I said and started to walk. I don’t know if she wanted to see Skeeter or King, but she was in a rush.