Claustrophobic (Teddy Duchamp)

26

It was Saturday, and Teddy and Vern were hanging around town. They decided to go to their old treehouse, up on the hill.

Just for kicks, Teddy did the secret knock, mostly because he didn't think anyone was up there and party because Vern couldn't remember it to save his life.

Teddy was about to push the opening up, when it opened from the inside. Gordie and Chris peered down at Teddy and Vern, who were exchanging confused looks.

The boys hung out like they had only two years before when they were 12. Heck, even the year before, but the prime of their (youth😉) friendship had been that summer before junior high. Things were just different now. That summer, no that adventure, had changed them.

They reread comics and magazines that had been up there since they built the treehouse and played cards, tossing around a few jokes all the while.

Teddy could hardly believe that they hadn't really hung out together for months the way they were getting on right then. He hoped it would stay like this, but he knew that once they were back at school, they would still just be people they used to be friends with.

"So how's the ol' man, Teddy?" Chris asked, eyeing him carefully to see what ground he was treading.

"He's getting better," Teddy replied dismissively, shuffling the cards. He looked at Chris's look of concern and shrugged. "Really. He's getting better."

They went a couple more rounds before calling it quits. They talked for a while. It was the kind of talk you have after you become interested in girls, especially if you have a girl.

Once again, Gordie just shrugged when he was asked about a girl. "I don't know. It's hard to explain." He glanced at Chris, who gave him an understanding smile.

"She too old for you?" Teddy poked, letting out his cackle.

Gordie's cheeks turned red. "No... So anyone hear about Charlie Hogan getting beat up by some out-of-towner?"

Their conversation shifted back to the kind they would have back then. All boy stuff like tv and sports and fights.

Teddy's thoughts drifted to Cecelia. He wondered what she was doing and whether she was alright. He hoped she wasn't having one of those moments. He hoped she wasn't crying outside some closet or aisle or room. He hoped she didn't need him right then.
_____

All Cecelia could think about was her parents. Her dad had snapped at her mom before leaving for work.

He took Franky and Anthony to work that day (bc Anthony works at a grocery store, if you get it you're great) so the girls could take care of the house.

They cleaned around the house, sweeping and mopping and laundering and dusting and scrubbing and wiping and so on and so forth. By that afternoon, they were all tired, even little Bonnie who had only picked up her toys in her room and put them in her toy chest.

"Lia Diane, can you get some clean sheets from the linen closet, please!" her mother shouted from down the hall.

Cecelia thought about the closet and breathed in relief. It was just shelves that she could just reach in and get the things out of. "Sure thing, Mama!" She went and retrieved the sheets.

Later that night, her father and brothers came home. Both her dad and Franky looked upset and hadn't looked at each other since arriving home.

Cecelia guessed what might have happened. She wandered next to Franky as he stalked upstairs. "Lemme guess: she was there?" It was a statement despite how it was presented.

Franky glared down at his sister's unwavering knowing look. "Shut up."

Cecelia crossed her arms across her chest. "I knew it. You saw them together didn't you?" His face gave him up. "Oh my- Christ, Franky, what're we supposed to do now?"

He shrugged. They were now standing outside the door to he and Anthony's room. "I don't know, but I kinda blew up at the store."

Cecelia's eye went wide. "What did you do?"

He looked around before nodding towards his room. "I'll tell you in there. Come on."

They went into the room and shut the door. He proceeded to tell her how he had seen Ms. Jackson walk into the store. He had kept an eye on her because he wanted to be sure nothing was going on. He saw her browse a few aisles before asking to use the restroom, which is in the back of the store in the storage area.

"I saw Dad go back there not even a minute later. I went to grab some stuff to restock and I saw them leave the bathroom, together. I started yelling at Dad, I don't even remember what I said. The bitch just stood there while I screamed. She was crying, I guess, because she's the one that's getting hurt." He scoffed at this. "She left pretty quick after, and it was kinda tense between me and Dad the rest of the time."

Cecelia low whistled and shook her head. "Damn."

They heard a scream from across the hallway. Then a crash.

The brother and sister exchanged a look.

"She knows."

Uggh I'm a bitch. This chapter sucks but ayye Franky ain't a bitch no more! Good for him.

One more chapter guys. Are you sad bc I am. I legit might cry when I stop writing this book. Teddy and Celia are my babies, I just can't.

M'kay.

~Mariah