Love and Violence

Chapter 3

Date Written: Tuesday, October 5th, 2021

I woke up to a very heavy thing crushing my ability to breath. I move my head and see a mop of curly black hair. I know right away its Curly. I remember all that happened last night ending in the Sheppard sleep huddle. I also know that Tim is no longer here since I can hear pots and pans being moved in the kitchen. I manage to push Curly off of me and get up. I look over at him and he is still sleeping soundly. God, he sleeps as soundly as anything.

I make my way to the kitchen to see Tim cooking. This is a sight I very rarely see, normally by the time Curly and I wake up breakfast is already made and the dishes are put away or there is a note on the counter with money, telling us to get out buy something if we're hungry.

"Hey Tim." I greet taking a seat on the counter stool. The way our kitchen is set up allows us to have a big square counter in the middle of the kitchen. I think its called an island.

"Hey kid, how'd you sleep?" He asked setting a plate down in front of me. It has eggs, bacon, toast, scrapple, and home fries. Where'd he get the food from? We didn't have this yesterday.

"Okay, I guess. Woulda been better if I could breath right." I say referring to Curly laying on me.

"Kid don't eat, but weighs about a thousand pounds when dead asleep." Tim says probably remembering the times he used to carry Curly to bed when he fell asleep on the couch. This was back when are parents were still around. Now its just Tim, Curly, and I.

Dead.

I remember more of what happened. James lying on the ground. I don't know if he made it yet.

"Have you heard from Alex yet? Is James alright?" I ask dreading the possible answer.

"Yeah Alex called this morning. James is fine. The docs are keepin' him drugged up." He said grabbing his own plate and sitting next to me. We both start to eat in silence.

A few minutes later Curly comes in and takes the remaining stool and plate of food and wolfs it down.

"Gee Curly, slow down. You're eatin' like an animal." I say amazed he hasn't choked yet.

He eats faster. Boys.

"Afhif wiinv ainvloed onft?" Curly said with his mouth full and still shoveling more in. I couldn't understand a word.

Tim leaned over and hit him over the head and told him to swallow first or he'd choke.

"I said, are we allowed out today?" Curly repeated rubbing the spot where Tim hit him.

We looked over at Tim waiting for an answer. He glanced between the both of us and sighed.

"I s'pose neither of you are gonna listen if I say no." We shook our heads. "Fine, but you have to stay together and carry a blade."

"Why do I gotta stay with her?" Curly asked as I asked Tim the same about Curly.

"Cause I said so." And that was the end of that argument.

After breakfast Curly and I did the rest of the dishes and got ready to go out. Before we left Tim threatened he would break our necks if he found out we weren't staying together and to be back before dark. As soon as we were a safe distance where Tim couldn't see us we went different ways. A silent vow to meet back up before we went home.

I made my way to the Curtis house before I realized I was wearing Soda's sweatshirt that I still haven't given back. Oh well. I find myself standing by the Curtis house gate. I let myself through, go up the path, up the stairs, and into the living room. I am immediately tackled into a hug by Soda. I return it with a smile on my face.