Fire

Hanging on the Telephone

Pulling into the trailer park in the dusk, you can just about still make out the numbers as you crawl past each abode, checking your forearm for reference.

You pull up behind Eddie's Van and get out of the car. You smile and laugh as you see Eddie bursting out of the door and running towards you. However, your expression quickly changes when you see he doesn't look happy to see you at all. Stressed would be a better description and also a graze on his cheek.

"Eddie, what the -" you start to ask.

"No time to explain. You need to get out of here now."

"What do you m-"

He cuts you off again, "Please!" He urges you

"EDDIE!!" you hear a deep voice shout from inside the trailer.

Eddie closes his eyes and sighs. His uncle swings the screen door open, so it clatters against the outside of the trailer. He looks at Eddie and glares at you.

"How many times have we gotta go through this boy? You can't trust people like this. They'll sell you out in a heartbeat because God forbid they actually take the wrap for something they did. They just dump it on the grunts like us while they're living the high life." he shouts fiercely.

"She doesn't have a clue, Wayne. I know she wouldn't do that."

You look from one to the other, absolutely bamboozled.

Wayne holds Eddie by the shoulders, "My sweet boy. You are so smart and yet so damn stupid at the same time. They don't see us like people. We're just disposable to them."

Eddie looks pained looking at his uncle whilst he says those words.

You walk around your car towards them, "I'm not sure what's going on. I just came to meet Eddie. I'd like to help if I can. I'm sure there must be a misunderstanding."

His uncle turns slowly towards you, and you notice he has your coat gripped in his hands. You feel even more confused. Eddie reaches out to his uncle and tries to pull him back. Wayne turns around and says, "No, Eddie, not this time."

"She's in the same position as me. Someone framed us." Eddie says gently

"The difference being, as if by magic no one knocked on her door, that's why she's got that dumb look on her face, but they sure as shit knocked on ours. What would have happened if I wasn't here? You'd be behind bars, that's what."

Wayne turns back to you, walks towards you, and throws your coat at your feet with force, "Listen here, you Jezebel. I don't want to see you ever darken this doorway again. My nephew doesn't deserve the shit this town, and specifically, girls like you drag him through. He's good. More good than you'll ever be."

You are frozen to the spot. You aren't afraid of Wayne hurting you. It's just you have no idea what is going on, so you aren't sure what the right thing to do is.

"Come on, that's enough, man. We just had a night picnic. Her coat got left there. They've come round asking questions" Eddie is raising his voice a little now.

"You think they'd interrogate her the same way? Trying to throw her into a cop car before doing so much as asking a question. This being her coat, how come they ended up here and not at her's?"

Eddie shrugs and tries to calm Wayne down using a gentle tone of voice, "I don't know, but I'm sure there is a reason. I'm also sure it's got nothing to do with her"

Wayne shakes his head at the ground, "Eddie, you're blinkered. You must see these people for what they are before it's too late."

Wayne lifts his head and looks at you again, "Do not come round here again. Keep to your own. Let him have a chance at life, at least. take your shit and get off my property."