Lucas And The Time-Traveling Fog Unfinished Business

Chapter (10): Confrontations

I thought the rest of the week was going to be the same routine. Wake up, brush your teeth, get dressed, make bed, go to school, go to work, etc. But nope, on Friday after school, everything changed with just barely a week left before Thanksgiving break started. Anyway, on that day right after I served people as normal and during my barely first two hours of my shift, Susan and her friends walked in and sat at their usual spot. But a few minutes later I saw Tommy and his gang walk in like they owned the joint and started harassing other customers. Even the staff wasn't safe as I saw one of his friends spank a waitress' butt as they walked past her.

I then saw Tommy and his gang calmly walk over to where Gary's sister and friends were, suddenly I overhear them chewing them out by ordering them to get out of the booth. As "It's their spot." The rest of Susan's friends complied right away and quickly got out of their hair but not Sue. She stood her ground which I was proud of and heard her tell them

"No, me and my friends were here first. Get your own."

They didn't like the sound of that at all. One of them grabbed her arm and literally pushed her where she fell to the floor. I stood there shocked that they did something like that. To make it even worse Tommy said "I think I got a better idea. Why don't a little foul-mouthed brat like you go sit down with your friends somewhere else." His other friends chimed in saying things like "go cry to your mommy" and name-called her, etc. It was disgusting.

As an older sibling myself, I was grinding my teeth with rage as I saw these bullies harass and grab her like that. I may not have been related to Gary's family at all but as an older brother, I fully understood when it was a good time to make fun of your sibling and when it wasn't. But if some punk does it to one of my own...ohhh they got another thing coming. I personally wanted to break Tommy's jaw as he was smiling and laughing with his buddies but at the same time, I didn't want to make my death quicker than it already was. Suddenly I saw one of the waitresses by the name of Rebecca starting to walk over and serve them. Not on my watch, I didn't want any of them to get harassed anymore so I tapped her on the shoulder when she brushed past me and told her that I would take care of this. I then put the smoothies down at the bar. "Thanks. I owe you one." was all she said as she practically dumped the four menus on me. As soon as I got the menus, I walked over to them and put the menus down at their table, and asked "What seems to be all the commotion here gentlemen?"

"Well, this girly foul-mouthed brat over there is the problem" Tommy points at Sue then adds "She and her little friends were in our spot and refused to leave so we made them..."

"Got a problem with that?" one of his goons had asked.

"Yeah I think I do...for starters you didn't ask nicely, two you could've asked me or one of the waitresses here we could've handled it without you guys being so rough with them." One of his friends laughed and asked "Well look what we have here, a wise guy trying to be a hero... defending little girls. Why are you defending her so much anyway when she's the problem?" I coughed and said "Well here's my problem that I have with that. The little foul-mouthed brat over there" I pointed at her "Is... my... little sister and no one talks to her like that but me so yeah, that's my problem and I would appreciate it if you would apologize." As I looked at her she put on a small smile. Meanwhile, his friends just laughed at my face. Tommy all shushed them and looked at her then at me as he said "Aww ain't that cute, your big brother is standing up for you, how touching. If you can help escort her to your mommy that would be great."

I wanted to end it right there and walk away to serve Sue and her friends at another table but no. All of a sudden I just blurted out loud "Well at least she has a mommy to go to." I started to walk away and said "Come on Sue, let's find you and your friends somewhere else to sit." As I looked back at Tommy, I noticed that his gang was sitting there in silence for probably one or two reasons. One that they knew never to joke about his mom as they knew Tommy clearly still missed her and two that a kid like me had the courage to say something like that.

I could see his anger looking like how a bull sees red for the first time and loudly slams his fist onto the table and quietly asks "What did you just say to me?"

"Nothing, I didn't say anything."

One of his friends said "Oh, I heard what he said Tom. He said that at least someone has a mommy to go to." Tommy then got up from his seat and pushed me against one of the bar stools. We then locked eyes and if I was going down I was going down swinging. But as we got real close to each other and we were just about ready to fight, my boss came in, broke us up, and shouted "That's enough...both of you! I don't want any fights in my diner! If you're going to fight like men, take it outside, not here and Gary, I'm signing you off for the day so take your sister and her friends home now!"

"Fine," I replied with a bit of attitude. I then grabbed my things from out of my locker and I yanked Gary's little sister who was finishing up her milkshake and said: "Let's get out of here Sue... now!" As I dragged her by the arm pulling her out of her little spot by the countertop bar and hollered for the rest of her friends to join us.

Once I escorted all her friends into my car where I luckily didn't have to ask where they all lived as they did my job for me and drove them home. At least Susan's friends were super thankful and called me their... hero. After I dropped the last friend of Sue's off at home, Susan who was in the backseat the entire time who only moments ago was happy, was now in the passenger seat sniffling. As I was driving back home, I looked at her once more and she looked like she was clearly trying not to cry in my car. "Are you alright?" I asked as I pulled over to the side of some house. "Tommy and his gang didn't do anything else to you that I didn't see, did he?"

She shook her head no and whimpered a response of "No" then heavily sighed and talked again "You didn't have to do that, you know. I don't want Daddy getting upset with you because you got fired over me." I sighed and said "Susan, my boss isn't going to fire me... he's... a... a family man too. He understands what I had to do when it comes to being a big brother and looking out for my knucklehead of a little sister." I playfully rubbed her head. "I would gladly do it all over again if you or Mary ever got hurt. My family is more important than some lousy diner job. Now can you stop with those crocodile tears please." I wipe them away from her face "Before mom and dad get the wrong idea... huh."

Susan stopped crying, gave a slight smile, gave me another hug, and said, "You're the best brother ever Gary, I love you." That got me in the feels. I told her, "I love you too kiddo." We then drove off to Gary's house. As I pulled into the driveway and opened the front door, Gary's mom was watching something on the tv. She was happy to see Susan but after one look at me, she had a mad dog look cause she knew I was supposed to be working. Luckily she didn't stay mad for long. Why Susan took it upon herself to tell our mother everything that happened like me defending her and her friends and even exaggerating some parts to kinda seal the deal I guess.

Gary's mother was touched and I actually for the first time received a hug from her saying how she was so proud of me. She then announced that she was going to make a "heroes' dinner" in my honor. Whatever that means. But there's that word again. HERO. I am not a hero, I don't have any superpowers.

All I did was do what I think is right. But I guess that's something a superhero would say so I guess in a way I am a hero after all.