Rebels Never Smile

Elvis

Elvis: A broken heart

Today was the day. I woke up really early too excited to calm my nerves. I washed off quickly and decided to wear my "special" clothes I bought with my own hard earned money. I wore a pink sleeveless top with a black collar and a black jacket over it. Then I wore black slacks with a pink belt and a pair of light blue suede shoes. These were my first time wearing these clothes and mama was extremely happy to see me this morning.

" Oh Vern! Don't our baby look handsome?" She exclaimed, kissing my cheek. I smiled and trying to be humble I said " Oh mama, I'm sure daddy was more handsome than I was." And She rose her eyebrows. " Oh, your daddy was a real looker Elvis, a real fine man." She winked at him. " You look like a younger image of him." My daddy was looking smug drinking his coffee at the end of the table reading his newspaper. His cheeks however began to get red. " Ooooh daddy feel giddy like a schoolgirl jus about now." Mama put her hands on her hips and stated " He best feel damn good cuz I don't jus get with anybody." And with that daddy just stood up and walked over to mama and scooped her in his arms and said " You is the prettiest thing I ever done seen baby, don't you forget that." And my parents got lost in each other's arms. My parents have always loved each other and I always wanted to be like them. I quickly grabbed a bite of my food and sneaked out of the house.

At school I got all sorts of stares. It's not the first time I wore such loud clothes and it sure as hell ain't gonna be the last. I brushed some dust off my shoulders and began to walk to Junes locker since I know that's where the girls were. And there June was with her back turned, looking extremely elegant, and full of grace. I walked in close and leaned against a pillar. I put my hands in my pockets and waited for June to walk alone. And I heard June say something that made my heart drop into the lowest part of my stomach. "...I feel nothing towards him. He's just this guy I'm toying with, there ain't even a possibility of us getting together." June's beautiful voice was a warm stab in the heart, and it bled like a bitch. Anger spread throughout my body like venom. I got so damn angry my vision became blurry. I walked away fairly quickly, out of the school and then I ran. I just ran and ran. I ran till my sides hurt and I stopped when I coughed so hard, I couldn't walk. After 5 minutes of wheezing, while my stinging tears fell harder than rain. I looked around. I was at the start of Beale Street. I walked in, limping, when I saw the FlapJacks going into the local bar. I wasn't one to follow them into a bar but I didn't give a shit. Who said one couldn't drink they're pain away?

I came in the bar and all the boys were ecstatic to see me. Gene asked me why I was drenched in sweat. " Oh you know, I was just exercising. Running around." I lied. " In those?" He pointed to my clothes. " It makes me sweat more." I lied again. "Why don't we just start drinking?" I yelled to everyone and they all cheered. Now, I was a Christian and I've never laid a finger on alcohol. And when I drank it burned my throat and I was grateful for that. I drank myself senseless.

I ran home. I ran away from my past because it was catching up to me and with my luck, as I walked into the apartments June approaches me wrapped around her blanket. She scanned me up and down. The stench of alcohol must've surrounded me because she asked " Why'd you drink?" Too drunk to just scoff and glare I just said " What's it to you? You ain't my mama and you ain't nothing to me either." And it was true. Why did I even like her in the first place. And of course my answer was her. But why would she say such a thing? "Look-" she began but I cut her off by grabbing her and shaking her " Don't talk to me. Don't even look at me!" I yelled. Fear overcame me and I sunk to the ground. I looked away from her. " Elvis, What's on your mind?" And wether it was the alcohol or me, I told her how I really felt. " For a moment, for the first time in my life, there was someone who I really cared for. Someone who was everything I wanted. All I wanted. I broke down my walls and let my guard down for that person, and that person hurt me so bad, I can't stand it." I gasped the last word out.

I felt so relieved to tell her this, like weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I know it wasn't really much she said about me but I really thought about a future and I I've never ever liked anyone. I felt like punching my head but instead I just put my hands on it and stood up. I couldn't look at her, afraid that I might just kiss her, and ask her to rethink. Ask her to be with me. Ask her to be mine. I wanted her to follow me but she didn't. I just walked upstairs. Mama was sitting in the love chair waiting for me. She turned on the light and she gasped. She looked me over and she cried " Elvis Aron Presley? Is that you? Did you drink alcohol?" And I just smiled at her and hugged her. I cried but I just hugged her. Mama was frowning but she let me cry in her arms. " Oh baby, what happened?" She asked, patting my back. " Mama, your the only girl in my life." I wailed in her ears. Daddy came out of the room. " E? Did you drink?" I laughed and said " Daddy, a man in pain gotta drink sometime." Daddy with understanding in his eyes walked to me and wrapped my arms around his shoulder to walk me to my room. Mama stood there crying while I said " Don't you cry mama! I promise I'm gonna work myself hard to make all your dreams come true! Your gonna be my girl for life and I'm gonna treat you like a queen!" I yelled while daddy struggled to bring me to my room.

He threw me on the bed and mama came in and told him he can go. Paralyzed I just stared at the ceiling while mama talked and undressed me. She took off my shoes. " You never had feelings for a girl before." She took off my shirt. " But I will definitely not be your only girl. You need to know there will always be girls out there." She took off my dress pants. " Baby, you sleep well." She said kissing my forehead. She turned off the lights leaving to me in the dark, alone with my thoughts. The darkness shook as my tears flooded my eyes. I closed my eyes hoping they would never open again.

I woke up the next morning, late in the afternoon. Mama had already set out breakfast and was sitting on the couch. I sat next to her and we didn't say anything we just sat. Mama had the radio on and she hummed softly. " mama I think I'm gonna stay home for a few days." I said. Without looking up she said " That's all right baby." And she continued humming. I smiled at her and I hummed with her and we smiled at each other, happy but sad.