Ricky

July, 1969

Ricky ripped the cigarette box open and lit up the first one he took out. After puffing a couple of times, Ricky took it out of his mouth and began to cough.

He came around here often because he wanted to get away from everyone. He hated talking to people. They were so boring with their talk of this bullshit or that bullshit. When would they ever shut up?

Ricky looked around himself to make sure no adults were there, his dad or former teachers in particular. If one of his teachers caught him, then he would be dead. If it was his dad, he would kill him. And that would be putting it mildly.

Beside him, another kid with long hair leaned against the shop window. This kid was looking at his cigs, as though he longed for one. Ricky wondered if he should give him a cigarette or just leave him hanging. As he pondered over it, the kid moved closer to him. Ricky got a better look at him. Sure enough, he appeared to be his age: sixteen.

"Want one?" Ricky finally asked, not knowing where the courage came from. He didn't have that many friends because again, he hated talking to other people and preferred to be away from them, let alone why he bothered asking. The only people who ever got cigs from him were either Owen, Roy, or Peter.

The kid took the cigarette. He didn't say anything and put it in his mouth. Ricky gave him the lighter, but he didn't light up the damn thing.

There was another long silence before either of them spoke. The kid mumbled something Ricky couldn't hear.

"What did you say?" Ricky asked, just out of sheer curiosity. He hoped he hadn't sounded harsh. This kid was interesting.

"I'm Keith," the kid spoke louder. "I'm new here. My parents put me in Clarke-County High."

"I go to Clarke-County High too," Ricky said. "Just finished Grade 10."

"I just finished Grade 9. I'm older than most people because I was born in 1953. My parents put me in a year late because my birthday is in October, so I'm still fifteen."

"I'm also sixteen! My birthday was in March." Ricky came closer to Keith. "Do you like music and philosophy?"

Keith nodded. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"Do you want to meet my parents?" Ricky asked.

Keith shrugged. "Sure."