It's Got a Beat, Mr. Jones

Uh, Let's Talk About You

It was eight in the morning and John had woken up to a empty house. It seemed while he was sleeping Mary and Bobby had gone to work and taken Odette to daycare. Mary had left him a note.
'Sorry about all this.
If you need anything you can contact me through the phone at my work. Food and drinks are in the fridge. Lay off the beers, yesterday wasn't a normal thing. You're still underaged.
Love Mary,' the note read.
John laughed at the note and laid it back down. It was a really nice day. John decided to go for a walk.
John opened the door and stepped out on the street. It was a typical American city, houses with green lawns and white picket fences. John walked the streets looking at how normal the houses were.
"You're new here," A female voice said.
John turned to see a pretty girl in a blue and white striped dress that went down to her knees. She had a brown belt on in the middle so the dress hugged her waist and flared out from her waist down. She had short, curly black hair that was held back by a blue ribbon with a perfect bow.
"Yeah, I'm only visiting," John said.
The girl looked at him with pretty, blinking brown eyes.
"What's your name?" She asked. "My name's Melinda."
"I'm John."
"Nice to meet you, John," Melinda said smiling.
John smiled back at her.
"So, who are you visiting?" Melinda asked.
"Mary and Bobby Rossi," John replied.
"Oh..." Melinda said slowly. "Do you know what people say about them?"
"No."
"I heard they got married because she was pregnant with his baby," Melinda said.
John sighed. "I don't get the big deal over that," He said. "My parents never got married."
Melinda was silent for a few seconds. "Is it true they do drugs?" She asked suddenly. The words came tumbling out like they had been bottled up for a long time like she had always wanted to ask that question.
"Nothing hard," John said. "Just weed."
"Oh..."
John stared at Melinda. She was pretty, but he was starting to dislike her. She was a nosy person that was judging Bobby and Mary even though she had probably never met them.
"Why are you visiting them?" Melinda asked.
John frowned and stared at her. "The guy I live with was being a dick," He said. "I needed a break from him."
Melinda was shocked by his language. John turned to walk away. "No, come back!" Melinda exclaimed.
John turned. "Why? So you can judge the only people that have even slightly liked me?" He asked bitterly.
Melinda looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry," She said. "Let's talk about something else if it makes you that upset."
John stared at her. His comment looked like it had made her very sad. It made him feel sort of bad.
"Uh, let's talk about you," John said unsurely.
Melinda looked up at him and gave him a smile. "What about me?" She asked.
"First of all, how old are you?" John asked.
"Seventeen," Melinda said. "What about you?"
"Fifteen," John said.
"Where do you go to school?" Melinda asked. She looked genuinely curious.
John looked away. "I don't go to school," He said.
"Oh."
John got ready to walk away again.
"Why not?"
He turned back around to her. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"Why don't you go to school?" Melinda asked.
John's brow furrowed. "I've never needed to," John said.
"Never?"
John shook his head. Melinda smiled at him. "I wish I didn't need to go to school," She said.
John laughed. "You can get a job if you go to school," He said.
Melinda sighed. "I don't think I'm gonna get a job ever," She said.
John's brow furrowed. "Why not?" He asked.
"My parents will probably get me married off quickly. I'm a woman, we belong in the house," She said in distaste.
John frowned. "I don't get that type of attitude," He said. "Like why can't a girl help out her man out by bringing in a little money, and why can't a man help out around the house."
Melinda smiled at him. "You're a smart kid, huh," She said.
"I'm only two years younger than you. You can't call me a kid," John said annoyed.
Melinda laughed. "No, I suppose not," She said.
John looked around. "God, I'm starved," He said.
"I know a really good burger joint around here. I can take you there. It isn't expensive," Melinda said.
John touched his pocket. He had his wallet. "Yeah, that sounds great," He said.
Melinda smiled and walked to the gate. John found himself looking her up and down once again. She had a very pretty figure and very pretty legs. She had on heels that clacked as they walked together to the restaurant that she had mentioned.
John opened the door for Melinda. She entered first. John watched her from behind for a little while before walking into the restaurant himself. The few people in the restaurant stared at him.
John looked down at his clothing for a moment. He wasn't wearing anything too crazy, just a yellow turtleneck shirt with a black vest, blue jeans, tan boots, and a beaded necklace. He didn't get it.
Melinda was talking to the guy behind the counter. She turned to John and waved him over.
"Patrick, this is John," She said.
The guy behind the counter smiled slightly at John like he was forcing himself to be polite.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" John asked.
Melinda frowned slightly. "This is Texas," She said. "We don't... uh... usually look so kindly on... your kind."
"My kind?" John asked slowly. He dreaded the answer, but he had to ask.
"Peaceniks," Patrick said in a slightly disgusted tone.
John frowned and turned to leave. He walked out of the restaurant. Melinda watched shocked for a moment then followed after him.
Melinda caught up with him. "I thought you were hungry," She said.
"Not hungry enough to stand there and get insulted by a bunch of Middle Americans," John said.
"They weren't insulting you," Melinda said.
"I don't like getting stared at and I don't like getting called a peacenik," John said.
Melinda was quiet. John walked away back towards Mary and Bobby's house. Melinda followed. John opened the door to the house. "I'm sorry for all this," Melinda said.
John shrugged and walked inside the house. He closed the door. The house was silent. John walked to the refrigerator. He made himself a sandwich and laid down on the couch. After he finished eating he fell asleep. He stayed asleep for a few hours until Mary came in very noisily. She looked upset.
"Can you watch Odette?" She asked.
"Oh, okay," John said.
Mary handed John Odette.
"Where are you going?"
"Bobby's in jail again," Mary said slowly.
John stared. Why was Mary so calm? What had Bobby done? John looked over at the clock on the wall.
It was eight thirty-seven.