Chapter 1
The clams on her feet nearly caused her to knock her head against the sidewalk. She paced herself faster and faster to encounter the least bit of attention of the boys in that area. Letty Town had two sides. North Letty and South Letty. She was patrolling through South, where the Olson brothers lived.
Every day she has to pass through this ragged neighborhood to get to and from school. Just about every day, she came face to face with at least one of the trouble makers or sometimes all three.
The sandy blond hair on her head got tangled in a mess with the fence, but that wasn’t what stopped her tracks.
“Looks like you’re in little jumble there, baby,” a boy uttered.
“I’m not your baby and I am fine here. Thank you very much, Charles.”
Another boy added,“ Well lemme lend a hand. I won’t hurt ya, chassis.” Charles and James tottered over to Suzy. Charles rustled through her hair attempting to find the knot, but was finding a distraction for James.
“Oh, I’d like nothin’ better than to pop your 500K Roaster hood and take a look at its engine.”
“Alright, alright. That’s enough guys. You’ve had your fun, now go and I’ll meet up with you,” voice of a hero sounded.
The relief on Suzy’s face was barely enough to light up a light bulb. He strutted over and untangled the mess of hair. Her eyes were faced toward the cement still. She dusted off the black specs off of the soft blue cloth.
“Thank yo---,” not able to finish her words. Fireworks were sent across her mind and there was a twinkle in her eye that had never sparkled before.
“Ahh. Don’t sweat it. I’m Roy by the way.”
“I know. I mean nice to meet you.” Small gestures passed between the two for a while until Suzy realized how dark it had gotten. “Well, it was nice meeting you but I really have to go.”
He did not stop her, but let her go. At the twirl of his feet, his mind was stuck watching her wavy moonlit hair pounce in the distance. Soon all he had of her disappeared when she turned the corner on King Street.
By the time she arrived at her cottage style home, her chops were busted. The slim painted fingertips touched the doorknob and opened the pale white door. Her love struck mind was knotted in cobwebs as to where she didn’t notice her mother sitting on the sofa in the dark. “Where have you been?”
Slight jump. “Heavens, Mother. You nearly startled me to death.” The stone cold eyes of her mother motioned for Suzy, “Let me smell your breath. You better not be drunk.” In remark of that, Suzy’s face made an expression of confusion. “I am not drunk.” At that moment she knew that she shouldn’t have opened her mouth. Her mother clutched her cold hands onto her chin and forced it open. Stiff breaths blew against her nose and she unleashed her grip.
Suzy may not have been drinking that night, but her mother knew what this was.
Why this. This is something far worse.
For this, was no cure.
Suzy knew it just as well as her.
She was in love.
