Hold Me (Reddie)

Forgetting Ol' Haystack

It was Wednesday of that week, the week of February vacation of course, that the losers had decided to have a meeting in Bill's room. They were all agreed to go to the Barrens, but then a medium sized snowstorm hit and Stan refused to go out in that kind of whether. So they all gathered in Bill's room. Eddie was the fourth person there, followed by Mike and Beverly and Bill...obviously. After him shortly came Stan, who seemed to be running a sweat, and claimed that instead of biking he ran all the way there. Eddie didn't believe. Stan wasn't a runner, he wasn't fast. Out of all of them Eddie definitely seemed like the biggest runner, though Richie would have argued. It took Richie himself another fifteen minutes to arrive, for which his excuse was that his tire went flat during the storm. Once again Eddie didn't believe.

"J-just sit down, Ruh-Ruh-Richie," Bill pleaded. Richie then found a seat on the floor right next to Eddie. He kissed his cheek lightly and Stan stared a tiny bit, and then couldn't help but smile.

"We're getting older aren't we? Half of us are falling in love," he joked. Mike started strangling him from behind on the bed jokingly, his elbow around his neck.

"It's too late Stan, no love for you!" Everyone began laughing. Richie didn't laugh as much as Eddie expected. Maybe he wasn't used to not being the one to make people laugh. He had to face it, Mike could be downright hilarious at times. They all could, probably. In their own ways. Richie tried really hard, but Eddie had to admit that sometimes Stan and Mike were funnier.

"Do you like someone, Mikey?" Beverly asked him as she delicately removed a package of cigarettes from her back pocket. Richie eyed them for a minute, and then before he could say anything Bev handed one to him with a quiet wink. He took a big breath in and coughed a tiny bit. Don't kill yourself over there, Richie.

"A bit. Her name is Maria, she goes to the same church as me. But it's no use, her father's a racist. There's no point." The room went silent with the awful news.

"If we could change all the bad people on Earth Mikey, we would," Stan nodded. "It sucks."

Everyone agreed. After all, they were losers. Bill with his stutter and Mike with his skin and Beverly with her rumors and Stan with his religion and Richie with his mouth and Eddie with his lungs and Ben...Ben was gone. Ben with his size, wasn't it? Ben the bookworm. He had been great. "Who else feels like Ben is missing?" Eddie asked. Everyone agreed.

"We can write him a letter!" Bev shouted eagerly. "We can each write a little thing to him, and then send it off to Ohio or Indiana or Nebraska or wherever the hell he is! Please Bill, please?" Bill said yes.

————

Dear Ben,

I hope Nebraska is treating you well. They have corn there, don't they? I don't have a clue. Eddie and Richie are a thing now, can you believe it? They've kissed! It's crazy. Scarier than the summer for sure. I'm just kidding, but I miss you pal. I hope you can write back.
Mike

Dear Benny,

Mike covered all the Derry news, didn't he? Richie's sister had gone off to college, we never thought we'd get rid of her. Eds is still adorable, Bill is still a leader here, Mike is still a great friend, Beverly is still beautiful, Richie is still an idiot...and I'm still a Jew, surprisingly, right? Have a wonderful school year.

Stanley Uris

Dear Ben,

I hope you are having a good time out there, we all miss you so much. It's hard to be a loser when you are away. You contributed to the energy of the group, and without you, that energy is lost. It's strange to say the least. I miss you.

Billy

Dear Ben,

I can't believe that I would've died if it wasn't for you. You saved me, remember? And all because Henry Bowers had chased both of us that day, what a situation. You're a genius, you know? I think you are brilliant. Don't stop inventing, don't stop building. I miss you, but I know I'll see you again someday. Until then, try to remember if you cannot forget.

Eddie K.

HOWDY HAYSTACK,

I bet you thought you were through with this ol' trashmouth bothering you here and there and everywhere. The truth is, there is no escape from Richie Tozier. You can carry pepper spray in your pocket, you can carry a gun if you really want, but nothing can kill me (the government has tried everything). Try not to be a nerd, Haystack, unless if girls are different in the land of the corn.

YOU KNOW WHO IT'S FROM

dear Ben,

It took so long to think of a way to write this. I'm not good with words. I'm no writer like Ben, and I'm not poetic like you. But I know feelings, trust me, and I feel very fondly of you Ben. You are remarkable, and anyone who doesn't see that must be blind. I miss you painfully. I came down from Portland, no one told me you had moved. I was gravely disappointed. I was excited to see you. I love you.

Beverly Marsh

Each kid put their letter in the envelope while Bill found Ben's address and put it on. Beverly ran it out to the mailbox. She didn't let anyone read what she had written to Ben, which was scary to Bill and the others. Still, Eddie was happy he even got to reminisce about his old friend.

xxx
Wow this chapter didn't have much to do with Reddie but I really liked it. I also have a question. Which do you prefer, the original miniseries, the remake, or the novel? I'm interested to find out.