Second Oldest ~ Shameless

Summertime

It has been months since anyone has last heard from Jimmy-Steve, and that was fine with Gwen and Pete. Good riddance, Gwen thought to herself. It was currently summertime on the Southside and the Gallaghers were working a daycare service at their house, with Debbie in charge, but Gwen and Pete would help out when they could. 

Back to the present, Pete was working a shift at the Alibi with Kevin. They were both behind the bar as Frank ranted on about Eddie being missing and how Sheila's family is no longer getting his checks. 

"Eddie goes to the corner for a pack of Lucky's, never heard from again. Goddamn city couldn't wait to stop paying him." Frank ranted, "Wasn't two weeks before the checks stopped coming." He handed Pete his empty glass before Pete handed him another full glass of Old Style to Frank. 

"And now what are we supposed to live off of?" Frank continued, "Sheila's single disability check? How does Mr. Osama-Obama expect us to survive on that?" 

"He gonna try and tase me. I hit him." Pete overheard a new patron that called himself 'Baby' recounted as he tells the people gathered at his table a recent event that had happened to him. 

"If Shelia does go to work, what's she gonna make? Minimum wage... at best." Frank continued. 

"Honestly Frank, if Sheila makes it here then you won't have to worry about her giving you money anymore." Pete warned him, knowing that once Shelia made it to the Alibi and hear all the 'colorful' stories of Frank, he'll be living on the streets. Frank ignored him, though. 

"Nobody's heard from Eddie?" Kev questioned.

"Not a word." Frank grumbled, "Man's got no sense of responsibility. Leaving a family of three to fend for ourselves." 

Pete scoffed, "I doubt Eddie ever saw you as family, Frank." 

"I got tased twice, man." Baby narrated his story in the background. 

"Bullshit." Frank blurted out, making Baby turn to face him. 

"What'd you say?" Baby demanded. 

"Uh... I said bullshit." Frank repeated, "I got tasered for like a second, I crapped myself. There's no way you got tasered twice, fought off three cops, ran away." He blows a raspberry. 

"You calling me a lair?" Baby retorted, stepping forward. 

"At the very least, an exaggerator." Frank said. 

"I don't know, Frank, he doesn't look like it." Pete mumbled, crossing his arms on his chest. 

"A grand says I did." Baby betted. 

"Uh oh." Pete said, knowing what Frank is about to do. 

"Hey, you still got that taser back there?" Frank questioned Kevin and Pete before turning back to Baby, and standing up out of his stool, "I'll see your grand... and add nine more." 

"Ten thousand in American legal tender says you cannot get tasered twice and not soil your tightly whities, much less keep standing." 

"I wouldn't gamble on that Frank, especially when you don't have the money." Pete warned Frank, who just waved him off, unconcerned. 

"All right, shithead." Baby said, taking his shirt off and Kev did the honors of tasing him, while Frank sat back down on his stool, and Pete just remained standing behind the bar, arms crossed, knowing how badly Frank's about to lose. 

"Do it." Baby ordered Kevin who looked reluctant.

"Do it!" This made Kev pulled the trigger on the taser, and two needles shot out and attached themselves to Baby's chest. As the first wave hit him, Baby groaned through gritted teeth, clenching his fists but remained standing on his feet.