Two trashouths | Richie Tozier (1)

~12~ Stan's Bar Mitzvah

It's been weeks since I've spoken to the Losers. I talked to Stan everyday. But that was it. I missed Bill and Eddie. I didn't want to get Ed in trouble so I didn't try to talk to him. I tried talking to Bill but he got angry at me and slammed the door in my face.

Soon it was Stan's Bar Mitzvah. I wore a simple blue dress. I walked into the synagogue and found Stan with Richie. I didn't want to talk to Richie, but I had to talk to Stan. I walked up. "Hey Stan."

He grinned. "You actually came!"

I smiled and hugged him. "Of course I came sweetie. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"You look beautiful." he looked at me, with pure brotherly love.

I did a small twirl. "Thanks. I'm not a fan of dresses but I kinda like this one. I like your hair slicked back. It makes you look like an idiot."

He looked confused. "Then why do you like my hair like this?"

"Because it makes you look like an idiot." I replied.

"Oh ha."

I knew Richie was looking at us talk, but I ignored him. Stan's father told him they were about to start. I went to find a seat. Once I sat down, I started playing with my dress and felt someone sit beside me. I looked up to see Richie.

"Go sit somewhere else." I looked back at my dress.

"I want to sit here." he replied.

"Why, so you can annoy the fuck out of me?"

A woman behind us made a little squeak at my language as she glared at me.

"Sorry ma'am." I told her and she looked away. I turned to Richie and whispered softly. "I recall your words only a few weeks ago to be 'Leave me the fuck alone, I hate you'."

"I was just angry October," he said. "I didn't mean it."

I looked at his face. He looked really genuine.

I still scoffed and looked back to the front.

"You do look really pretty." he said, touching my arm slightly.

I pursed my lips. "You look nice too Rich,"

It was time for Stan's speech now.

"Today I'm supposed to become a man." he said into the microphone and he looked at the audience. "It's funny though. Everyone, I think, has some memories they're prouder of than others, right? And maybe that's why change is so scary. Because the things we wish we could leave behind...the whispers we wish we could silence, the nightmares we most want to wake up from, the memories we wish we could change. Secrets we feel like we have to keep....are the hardest to walk away from. The good stuff, the pictures in our mind that fade away the fastest, those pieces of you that feel the easiest to loose. Maybe I don't want to forget. Maybe, if that's what today is all about, for it right?"

"Thank you Stanley," Stan's father moved to grab the microphone as I watched in awe. Was Stanley going to do what I think he'd going to do?

Stan moved away. "Today I'm s-supposed to become a man but uh, I don't feel any different."

Stan's father walked after him. The microphone got caught and Stan stumbled, turning to face his father. "I know I'm a loser."

I felt pride surge through me.

Stan turned to Richie and I. "And no matter what, I always. Fucking. Will be."

The audience gasped as Stan dropped the microphone on the floor and walked away. He did do what I was thinking.

Richie and I stood up. Richie started clapping slowly and dramatically and I whooped loudly saying "Go Stan the man! I love you!"

Two women grabbed our arms and pulled us down to stop us. Stanley walked out of the double doors and the audience murmured.

"I'm so sorry about that." Stanley's dad said awkwardly. "I uh, he didn't have much sleep last night." he started babbling off excuses for Stan's behaviours.

I shook my head. I thought that Stan was a star.