DARLING, chris chambers

thirteen

Chris Chambers

We walked quickly along the tracks knowing that the dead body was near. "Coming through the woods, I bet we saved over an hour."

"Teddy?" Gordie paused his stroll. "Yeah?"

"Is this the Back Harlow Road?"

"Yeah." 

I admired the dirt road, while the breeze blew past us. Jackie started to rub the back of my hand with her thumb. "You good?" I peaked over to her as she clings lightly to my side.

"Excellent." She huffed. 

I pecked her cheek and she tries to control her long hair that whipped wildly in the wind. I gave her a small smile and she returned it.

"The Brower kid must be around here someplace." Jackie looked at her surroundings. "Teddy, you and Vern take the left side of the tracks. We'll take the right." I demand.

We searched a bit up the tracks away from the road and Vern announces that he sees the kid. I ran over to Vern and felt actual pain in my heart. The sight of his sneakers hanging from a large branch and just a glimpse of what seems to be his feet. 

"Oh my God." Jackie places a hand over her mouth in disbelief. Nobody was prepared for the sudden and intense trauma of seeing a real dead body. I embraced Jackie into my chest to shield her from feeling any kind of hurt in this moment. The silence in the air was bone chilling, nobody had moved because we were all frozen. Everyone had been contemplating what had driven them to search for Ray Brower.

Nobody moved until Jackie broke from my arms and scurried down the hill. She ceased about three feet away from the boy and the pain in her eyes was unimaginable. I looked at the faces my friends held and it was quite the same as Jackie's. I felt the same, but it had just rubbed me the wrong way that my friends were feeling that way as well. 

"Jesus." I whispering taking a peak at Ray Brower's dead body myself. I picked up a stick and revealed the kid's face from underneath the bush. Gordie, along with the other three shuffled in their spots.

I stared in sorrow. Ray's face was bloody, pale, bruised, and lifeless. I couldn't identify the boy if it were for money or my own mother's life. We all were frightened by the sight.

I saw the boy around town and school sometimes, we were in some classes together and had the tiniest of conversations. But, we were all grieving because he was kid our age.

"Let's look for some long branches, we'll build him a stretcher." I finally spoke out. It took a few moments for everyone to move from their places, but we did what felt right. Then, I see Gordie take a seat on a old fallen tree. He looked absolutely torn.

"Why did you have to die?"

"What's a matter with Gordie?" 

"Nothing. I replied. "Why don't you guys just go over there and look for some branches, okay?"

-

Jackie Favelle

I left Chris and Gordie to talk and followed Vern and Teddy. The strength it took to get a hold of the large branches was exhausting. So, I sat for a while on a boulder under a tree to catch my breath. 

Gordie's sobs echoed in the area. Deep down everyone knew the tears he shed were not for Ray Brower. These situations triggered Gordie and everyone else to a certain point. While my mind was occupied with the whole situation, I realized I had been crying. I stand up to walk over to the river and give my face a rinse. In a way, it made me feel better.