All that was on my mind in that moment, was to get the hell out of there. I ran the fastest I ever had that day, and I will always remember it. I heard Chris right on my heels, and Gordie not far behind him. We had the head start and the advantage, being young and still growing would definitely make us faster than lazy drunks.
We skidded around a corner and saw the train tracks ahead. Teddy and Vern were no where around. Chris grabbed my wrist (again) and pulled me and Gordie behind the building. We leaned up against the wall, panting, and our foreheads gleaming in the sun that were soaked in sweat. We hadn't run that far, but as myself, I was terrified.
We heard the noise of gravel crunching underneath someone's feet. One of the guys sighed.
"Jesus Christ, Ace, they got away," he started to whine like Vern.
"Shut up, I know they got away, so stop making yourself look like an idiot." Their voices started to fade as they got farther away. We stood behind that wall until Vern and Teddy showed up. We met up with them and started to tell them the story of what happened.
"What do we need a pistol for anyways?" Vern asked. He seemed to always be ecstatic, pouty, or asking questions.
"It's spooky sleeping out at night in the woods. We might see a bear." Chris stated.
"Or a garbage car," Gordie joked, and everyone laughed. Chris kept one arm around his sleeping sack, and the other was at his side. He looked nervous. Like something was bothering him. He looked up at me, so I smiled. He smiled back.
"I brought a comb," Vern said as he pulled a small white comb out of his breast pocket.
"What do we need a comb for?" Chris asked.
"Well, if we get on TV we wanna look good, don't we?" I smiled. Vern always seemed to be thinking of the little things.
"That's a lot of thinking, Vern." Gordie seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"Thanks," Vern said, sounding very pleased. Teddy swings a punch at Vern, then stopped his fist right in front of his face.
"Two for flinchin'," Teddy said as he punched Vern twice on the side of his arm. Vern rubbed where he had got punched, as if it would make it feel better.
"How far do you think it's gonna be?" Teddy asked no one in particular.
"If we follow the tracks all the way into Harlow, should be about twenty miles. Sound about right to you, Gordie? Dez?" I nodded my agreement. I tried to imagine walking that much. I wasn't sure of how long that would take.
"Yeah. Yeah, it might even be thirty." Gordie was squinting his eyes, thinking about it.
"Gee, maybe we should just hitchhike." Vern sounded tired just thinking about it.
"No way, that sucks!" Teddy said.
"Why not? We could go out to Route 7 to the Shiloh church, then down the Back Harlow Road. We'll be there by sundown." Vern followed everyone as we started to walk down the tracks.
"That's pussy!" Teddy said this often, so it was no surprise when he said it again.
"Hey, it's a long ways." Vern sounded like he was trying to defend himself. I felt kinda bad for him sometimes.
"Did your mother ever have any kids that lived?" I suppressed my laughter.
"What do you mean?" Vern asked, confused. Teddy just shook his head and continued to walk.
I felt someone walk up behind me. Chris. He put his hand on my waist and pulled me closer. Oh my god I can even explain in words how much I love him.
