The Sun is Shining

006

As time went by, Stanley and Violet still weren't talking to each other. Violet eventually got back in the car, fuming to herself. Charlie Kemp exited the car, concerned for his cousin. He leaned on the hood of the car with Stanley.

"Hey," Stanley looked at Charlie, not too sure what to say to him. "I'm sorry if the rest of us being here isn't what you were expecting."

"Uh, yeah. Violet said you have to be with her. What's up with that?" Charlie listened to the crickets for a few seconds. He placed his hands in his pockets.

"My cousin had a hard time getting adjusted to life in Michigan with my family. For the first two years Violet was there with us, she got homeschooled. I still don't know why Mom and Dad did that to begin with. During that second year was also the time that Mom and Dad had adopted a set of twins. Whoever had those kids obviously didn't want them at all. They were newborns when Mom and Dad brought them home for the first time.

"Now that Mom and Dad had to handle eight year old me, teenage Violet with horrific nightmares, and a set of twin babies, it got pretty hectic for a while. Violet kind of turned into a spare mother for the twins, something she was very capable of doing. I still remember the day I met Violet. She took one look at me, leaned down and gave me a hug. And the words she was whispering. She told me she'd always be there to protect me," Charlie broke off at the end, still remembering the color of shirt Violet had worn the day she showed up.

"So, those two," Stanley started, nodding to the car, "are your siblings?" Charlie smiled at this.

"I like to think so, but when they turned twelve, Mom and Dad told them that they were adopted. Believe me though, the three of us are still completely inseparable. I had always wanted a sibling. Mom and Dad did me one better and got two," Charlie and Stanley shared a smile of understanding. Stanley was also an only child. The Losers' Club had become his new family that summer, so he understood Charlie's point of view.

Before anything else could be exchanged between the two, the auto mechanic showed up.

Back at the Jade of the Orient, Richie, yet again, had another question or two about a certain Loser. The rest of the gang had been receiving practically refill upon refill of beer, wine, you name it.

"Wait a minute," Richie exclaimed getting everyone's attention, "let's talk about the elephant not in the room... Ben. What the fuck, man?" 

"Okay, okay. Obviously, I lost a few pounds," Ben spoke, sounding embarrassed. 

"Lost a few pounds?" Richie exclaimed once more, for emphasis. The chatter rose again, discussing the big change in Ben's appearance.

"Yeah, no shit, you lost a few pounds," Eddie spoke, as Ben's gaze fell on Beverly who blushed, seeing them lock eyes.

"You're like- You're hot!" Richie exploded, making everyone laugh.

"That's true," Eddie commented, not wanting to draw too much attention to himself. Richie could do that all he wanted to.

"No, you are like every Brazilian soccer player wrapped up into one person," Ben felt a little too flattered at that comment. Thankfully, Beverly came to his rescue.

"Leave him alone. You're embarrassing him." Ben once again made eye contact with Beverly, feeling his heart beating faster, like it did when they were younger. She was still so beautiful.

"Okay, okay, all right. Please, come on," Ben tried to find a new topic for them, "Are Stanley and Violet coming or what?" The table went silent at the mention of the last two Losers who had yet to make an appearance. Mike's mind went to Violet's reaction. Her reaction was so much different than everyone else's. It was as though she knew was going to call her that night.