That's Life for You

Chapter 14

"Roger," I call out to the man that just came out of the record store and when he looks up, I know I got the clown I'm looking for. Flicking away my cigarette, I amble towards him slowly, sizing him up. He's closer to thirty than twenty, that's obvious right off the bat.

"What do you want?" he asks, looking back and forth between me and Ricky uneasily, his hands holding his keys, trembling slightly.

"You work a birthday party at the bowling alley a few nights ago?" I step in front of him and he straightens up.

"What the fuck is it to you?" he snarls out and I shove him so his back is pressed against the wall of the building.

"Here I thought that clowns were supposed to be friendly," I say in an over cheery voice. "But that wasn't very friendly."

"Not friendly at all." Ricky shakes his head in fake disappointment. "Kind of rude, actually."

"Very rude," I agree, keeping him pinned against the wall.

"Just take my wallet and leave me alone." He spits out but the fear in his eyes betray him and I know he's scared and I like that. I like that a lot.

"You heard the man." I grin at Ricky. "Take his wallet."

I let him go and he fumbles for his wallet and shoves it at Ricky, who opens it and takes the money out. "Three dollars? Really? Must not be making much in the clown business, huh?"

"Fuck you," he mutters and starts to walk away but I grab him by the back of his shirt and yank him back, causing him to stumble and almost lose his balance.

"Maybe if you didn't grab teenage girls' asses you would make more money, think of that?" I give him a shove towards Ricky, who catches him and drives his fist into the clown's stomach, causing him to double over.

"What the fuck," he coughs out. "I don't even know what you're talking about!"

Ricky sends him sprawling back towards me and I raise my fist, slamming it into his face with a satisfying crunch, sending him to the ground. "I think you do know what I'm talking about."

He wipes the blood dripping from his nose. "Oh her." He smiles, showing bloody teeth. "Maybe if she didn't dress like a whore, I wouldn't have treated her like one."

Blind rage fills me and I reach down, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and hit him again and again. I ignore the pain that slices into my hand, when my knuckles break open.

I can hear Ricky shouting my name but it feels like it's coming from far away. When someone grabs my shoulder, I turn ready to swing at whoever it is.

"Woah, calm down, man." Ricky has both his hands up. "He's had enough, alright? Let's get out of here before someone calls the fuzz."

Breathing heavily, I give myself a shake. "Yeah, sure." I glance down at the clown. "Remember this the next time you grab a girl's ass." With one final kick in his stomach, I leave him curled up and walk away.

XXXxxxXXXxxx

"Damn Curly." Ricky breaks the silence after we walk a few blocks. "Didn't even know you had yourself a girl. That's why you've been AWOL lately?"

"I don't." Adrenaline still pumps through my veins and I flex my fingers, making sure I didn't damage anything. I know my ribs aren't healing the way they're supposed to be. Between all the work I do at Cassie's house and now this I'm starting to wonder if they'll ever heal.

Ricky is staring at me curiously. "Then what was that about?" He pulls out his pack of cigarettes and holds it out and I dig one out.

"Nothing," I mutter. I light the cigarette and take a few long drags. "He just messed with one of my buddy's sister." It sounds like bullshit even to my own ears.