problematic ➳ reddie

20

July ❀ age 7 -8

"tag, you're it!" richie tapped bill's shoulder and immediately turned around to run to the other direction. "eddie run!"

the smaller boy let out an uncontrolled giggle as he hid behind a tree, watching how bill ran after richie.

maggie tozier had brought the four boys to the park on that sunny Wednesday morning.

Stanley was sitting a few meters away from the boys, looking at them whilst leaning back on his hands.

"hey not fair, i'm not the only player in here" richie screamed as bill was reaching him.

"hey bill! over here!" eddie yelled, stepping from behind the tree. bill looked over at him and changed his direction, running towards the small boy, who couldn't run fast with his short, weak legs.

"richie!" eddie giggled as he tried to run away.

"I'll save you, eds" the raven haired beauty said while taking a stick from the ground and pointing it at bill. "en garde!"

bill tapped eddie's shoulder before, looking over his shoulder at richie, who had his other leg in front of him, the other stretched back and his arm reached out, holding a stick in his hand.

"t-this ih-isn't a suh-sword fuh-fight" bill rolled his eyes and grabbed the stick and ripped it down.

eddie took out his inhaler and took two puffs from it, before walking to stan, who had turned his gaze upwards towards the tree.

"hey stan-"

"shh...i think there's a chickadee..." stan whispered.

"a what?" richie blurted out behind eddie.

"no-" stan squeaked as he watched the bird flap its wings and fly away. the peanut hue dropped his eyes to richie and glared at him.

"great, you scared her away"

"huh-her?" bill asked quietly and sat next to stan.

"it was a female" stan said. "a female chickadee.."

"what is that, a bird?" richie asked, flopping himself in front of stan, next to eddie.

"no, a dinosaur..." stan looked at richie in slight disbelief. "of course a bird, idiot"

"well jeez, sorry" richie lifted his hands up in defense.

"wuh-why didn't y-you come and play wuh-wuh-with u-us?" bill asked, hugging his legs as he looked to his side, at stan.

The creamy, hazelnut curls bounced on stan's forehead as he swung his head towards bill and shrugged. "i don't like running"

"with those legs, you should" richie grinned. "i mean, look at eddie's"

"hey!" the smaller boy hit richie's chest and pouted.

"I'm sorry, eds, but don't act like it's not true" richie pinched eddie's cheek.

"well i don't even have time to run around all days...my dad needs my to help around" stan pointed out.