HOOD

Chapter one

  Rod stood in front of the mirror wondering how he managed to look as miserable as he did everyday.  He was practically invisible in school,  except to the bullies. His room was a mess.  He had moved here with his aunt and her kid,  Spencer, two months ago, but for some reason most of his stuff were still in boxes and the stuff that wasn't laid on the floor.  He knew he could do better and didn't know why he just didn't.
     He walked into the bathroom, brushed his teeth and splashed some water on his face. He tore open a box that AuntLucy had boldly written "CLOTHES" on it and pulled out a trouser and a red and black checkered shirt that was neatly folded.  He put them on and tied up his long brown hair in a sloppy pony tail.
      Downstairs,  Aunt Lucy was making bacon and eggs.  Spencer was eating away. He was a chubby ten years old kid who had every bully wanting a piece of him at school and from the way he ate,  they always had enough of him to go around.
"Morning aunt Luce", Rod said as he took a sit at the dinning table.  He roughed up Spencer's neatly combed hair and took a piece of his bacon.
"Hey", Spencer protested but Rod just kept smiling.
"Did you have that nightmare again? ", Lucy asked. Just as she placed a plate in front of him and watched him with concern.
"Nope", Rod said and ate like he was too hungry to talk.  Aunt Lucy knew him too well.
"Liar", Spencer said smiling.
"Who asked you?", Rod asked with a frown.
"You're a bad liar Rod", Lucy said and took a piece of bacon from his plate. "I heard you last night...we really should talk about it", she added.
"There's really nothing to talk about...I'm fine... Really", Rod protested and tore at his eggs.
"If you won't talk to me then talk to someone...anyone at all... ", Lucy said and pushed back a strand of hair sticking out.
"It's just a dream...and therapists are really expensive...", Rod said and shoved Spencer on the cheek because he had this ridiculous smile on his face.
"You need help...and it's not just a dream...you've been seeing the same thing all your life and I'm worried about you Rod...believe it or not... ", Lucy said and put the bacon she had taken from Rod in Spencer's plate and he smiled.  She walked over to the sink and started washing the frying pan. 
"Don't talk that way...I love you aunt Luce...and I understand...but I can't make you do that for me...you've already done so much...", Rod said and took back the bacon from Spencer's plate.
"Hey", Spencer protested again.
"Don't say I never tried", Lucy said quietly  as she wiped the frying pan and turned to face Rod.
      Rod ate the last of his bacon and walked up to aunt Lucy.
"It's just a dream...the school bus is here", Rod said.
"What? ", Lucy said. Just then the school bus pulled up and honked very loudly.
"How do you do that everyday?",Spencer asked
"Yeah... How? ", Aunt Lucy asked too looking inquiringly at Rod who was already heading for the door with his backpack.
"Get up Spence or we'll miss the bus...again", Rod said and opened the door.  "Love you... See you later ", he added and walked out the door.
"Mom... Rod stole my bacon", Spencer said as he put on his backpack.
"He's doing you a favor... ", Lucy said quickly.
"What? ", Spencer asked not hearing what she had said.
"Nothing honey... Love you... Bye", She said and walked him out the door.
She watched as Spencer walked into the bus and took a sit beside Rod and they waved at her.  She blew a kiss at them and went inside.
         Inside the school bus was really noisy.  Rod never really knew why the kids were so loud and what they talked on and on about. He watched as William and Lucky climbed on the bus and smiled at the sight of Rod and Spence.
"Well look at you guys... You both look ridiculous... ",William said and shoved Spence closer to Rod who didn't even look at them. "Hey... NimRod... ", William said and everyone on the bus laughed.
"I don't get it", Spencer said and Rod tried to shut him up but it was too late.
Lucky pulled at Spencer's curly blonde hair which made him squeal.
"Why don't you and your boyfriend pick on someone your own size? ", Rod said and the whole bus became silent.  Lucky took his hand off Spencer's hair and he dropped on his sit sobbing a little.  Rod stood up and William came closer.
"What did you say? ", William asked.
"I said...that you...and your boyfriend beat... ", Rod spoke but before he could finish the sentence, Lucky hit him square in the face and his face went numb and red.  Everyone laughed as Rod fell back on his sit. 
"Stop it", Spencer yelled and William pulled at his hair again and he cried.
"Hey...You kids better cut it out",The old bus driver yelled but William didn't let go. The old man turned the front mirror to face William directly.  "Don't make me come back there...", the old man warned again.
"Whatever old man", William said as he let go of Spencer and walked to the back. 
The laughter died. Rod had his hand on his cheek.  It was swollen now.
"You okay? ",Spencer asked Rod still sobbing.
"I'm fine... You? ", Rod asked as he looked at Spencer's red swollen eyes.
"Yeah", Spencer said.
"We showed them... Didn't we? ", Rod asked forcing a smile and Spencer laughed.
"I think I lost a few curls", Spencer said and  Rod laughed inspite of the pain on his nose and cheeks.