puppy love - mitch kramer

3 - the emporium

mitch kramer.

i wanted to cry, but i didn't want to look like a wimp. i had to stay there, bent over, and take it. i wanted to break O'Bannion's stupid paddle over his thick skull. I was also a little mad at Carl and Tommy for completely ditching me, but i couldn't hold it against them. I didn't know why they were after me, it was weird. they kept hitting me, over and over again. with each hit, i jolted forward a bit. each one hurt more than the previous. i hung my head so my hair covered my face in hope they wouldn't see how much pain i was in. those bastards were just watching and laughing. They stopped and i thought it was over.

"whats going on here?", i heard a guy ask.

"Oh, Pink, you missed it!", O'Bannion replied.

They talked some more about some emporium and one of the guys placed my baseball hat back on my head, even though i was still leaned over on the car. O'Bannion came over claiming he wanted seconds. I flinched just thinking about it. One guy stopped him and offered his paddle to the Pink guy. O'Bannion backed off and told me he was going for Carl's ass now. Who i assumed was Pink, grabbed the paddle, and i braced myself. Just this and then i was done was what i kept telling myself. After this, I'd have to be accepted, right? I went through their stupid little ritual so now they would have to like me, or this was all for nothing. The guy next to Pink started talking about Kevin Pickford and a party he was having. Apparently it got busted by his dad. I didn't know much about Kevin Pickford, just his little sister. His sister's name was Jane, and i'd been friends with her for a while. Mid-elementary was when i met her, when i was going through my 'girls are gross' phase. She used to be a tom-boy though, or tried to be. Girls weren't allowed to wear pants yet but that didn't stop her from playing whatever the boys were playing. I felt bad for her because i noticed none of the other girls wanted to play with her at recess. So i did. To be honest, i used to have a fat crush on her in elementary school. I'm pretty sure she liked me too, but neither of us would've ever admitted it. She's different now, or at least looks different. In a good way. She is still the same Jane i met when i was 8 though. We were still friends, which was strange because i wasn't friends with any of my other elementary friends. Most of my current friends were from the early years of junior-high. She came to the game tonight, supporting me like she always has and always does. I guess its true that sandbox love never dies.

My thoughts were interrupted with Pink's fast swing. I was prepared for pain but he only lightly tapped me. The other boy laughed. Pink told the other guy he would meet up with him later for beer and i watched him as he walked away.

"hey kid, take care of that butt.", he laughed. I accidentally sniffled and tried to hide it but i'm pretty sure Pink heard. He didn't seem to care though. Pink turned to me.

"need a ride home?"

i thought for a second and remembered that Carl and Tommy were probably long-gone by now.

"yea, uh... think they left me.", i said motioning over towards the field. Pink grabbed my hat and glove and handed them to me. we walked over to his car but my ass was so sore that i was walking funny. surprisingly, Pink didn't make fun of me.

While we were in the car he started talking about how hard O'Bannion was trying to be badass and i agreed and called him a dick. Pink said he was a good blocker though. We started talking about when Pink was a freshman and how they took him after and got him drunk. He also talked about stuff like football and baseball. I could see why people liked him, he was cool without even trying.

"so, i saw pickford's sister up in the bleachers cheerin' for you.", he mentioned casually. i knew what he wanted to know though.

"oh yea, that Jane. She's cool. You met her before?"