Just Greasers

Chapter One

2019:
I sat on the chair on the porch when I hear a thud from inside. I get up and hurry inside. "Jackson!" I call. "Over here!" He yells from underneath the attic. He had fallen while trying to open the attic. "You coulda called me kid." I chuckle. "Sorry Grandpa, But can we look around in the attic for a little, we could find something cool." He suggests. "What makes you think that" I put a hand on his shoulder. "We looked in my dad's attic and we found a picture, and a jacket, that had a Pepsi bottle cap on the collar." He smiles. I laugh and he tilts his head—like my German Shepherd. "That was my jacket, I gave it to him before he went to college"—I sigh—Let's go take a look shall we." I said. We climb up and I see an old chest in the corner. We carry it over to the porch and brush the dust off of it. It has a padlock so I groan. "Get me some pins Jacky boy." He runs off and returns soon. I lock pick the thing and it comes loose. "How'd you know how to do that?" He asks. "I've done my share of theft in my day." I grin. After opening it I see my switch blade on top. "I remember how I got to use this thing." I smile and lean back in my chair. "It was the summer of '58...

1958 outside of Pinky's Diner, California:

I leaned against the wall enjoying my delectable smoke and combed my hair. Unfortunately I had no back up just in case I got cornered. But I planned to hit the waves later. I was just walking on the street when a car was less than an inch from creaming me. I jumped back and felt flat on my ass. I lied there panting against the ground and in shock. In the sunlight I couldn't see the faces of the people "Jesus, Pepsi, watch where you're going." They said and lifted me into the car. Who were they? In the car I saw they wore Madras and corduroy. "Wait a minute!" I said and was punched in the face. We stopped in a secluded place they tossed me out. I was kicked hard in the stomach and they punched me over and over. I coughed and cried for help but no one was near. When they turned around I stood up and flicked out my switchblade. A 12 inch long stiletto earned from a store robbery. They heard the deadly click and turned around. I made a throat slitting gesture and one stepped forward. "Put it down!" He yelled. He lunged at me and I lean to the left so he missed and slashed his arm. He yelped and ran off with his rich friends. "You better run!" I said acting tough. I wiped his blood off on my jeans and sighed, as the sun was already going down. I began the long walk home and along the way stopped to get a Pepsi. "Hiya Pepsi, we still got that science project to do tomorrow." Lola said as she handed it to me. "We're gonna fail anyway, so why bother doing it?" I asked. "This is the reason you're failing." She said. "Maybe it isn't and the teacher has it out for me since I'm a grease." I raised an eyebrow. "You're adorable when you do that." She said. "No, I'm tough not adorable." I frowned. "But you are. It's a compliment." She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Yeah yeah, anyways. I gotta get home before my brothers kicks my keister." I said and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

2019:
"So that was grandma?" He asked. "Yep, She was a feisty young woman back then." I reminisced. He pulled out a Pepsi bottle and smiled. "Want some old Pepsi?" He asked. "Yeah lemme open that." I said and bit the cap. I pulled the bottle down and spit the cap away. He sniffed it before taking a small sip. "It's sweeter than the Pepsi today." He smacked his lips trying to get the full flavor. I looked at the newspaper I had in there and shuddered. "The Long Beach killings." I sighed. "Whoa, what happened." He asked with wide eyes. "When I got home that day they found the first body." I looked down

1958:
I went inside and slipped out of my worn converse. "Turn on the TV." I told Rick who was my second oldest brother. He turned it to the news and stuck out his tongue. "Put on mickey or something." I complained. "You gotta know what happens in the world nowadays Pep." He said. My oldest brother Terry came out of the shower. "Holy crap." He whispered. He grabbed the remote from Rick and turned it up. "Police say this may be the work of a serial killer." The news woman said. "Turn it down before Johnny hears." I said. "Hear what?" He asked from around the corner. We all turned and looked at each other. "Dang it Pepsi, you ruined the surprise." Rick winked at me when he faced me. "I didn't know he was home, I guess we can't do the party celebrating his first rumble." I made up. "I get to be in a rumble?" Johnny's eyes lit up. "Yeah." Terry said slowly. "You and Pepsi can team up at the next rival rumble." Rick said. I made a face and Terry kicked me. "Ow"I frowned. "Mmhm." I said. "Cool, well I'm going to bed." He said. We all sighed when he left and sat closer to the TV. "An eyewitness says she thinks she saw a man in a leather jacket, with greasy black hair and jeans. "Well there you have it ladies and gentlemen, watch out for a man who fits that description." She said and we all sighed. "That could be anyone in this neighborhood." I whispered. "Exactly that's the idea, that girl was probably a soc, no greaser would rat out his buddies like that." Rick sighed. Terry rubbed his temples and groaned. The stress must be getting to him, after our mom and dad dies Terry has been raising us under supervision of the government. "I really need to hit some waves." I said. They all groaned. "That's all you ever talk about and didn't you go today." Rick complained. "... Yeah." I lied. "Where'd you go?" They both asked. "I got jumped." I said quietly. After checking me over they rubbed s9me cream on the bruises that were on my stomach. I ended up crashing early and woke up early. I woke up to the sound of my alarm and we all started getting dressed for school. I dressed my usual way today. White t-shirt, cuffed jeans, worn chuck taylors, and a jean jacket in case I got cold. I stood in front of the mirror and combed my hair in complicated swirls while I applied grease. "When you gonna cut that hair o' yours?" Terry asked. He had short dark hair that brought out his blue eyes. "When I go to war." I shot back and laughed. I usually was first to shower so I had the mirror all to myself. I ate some cereal at the table and waited for Johnny, and the others. We walked out the door together and met up with the gang, Jackson had a beer in hand and he pushed it to my mouth. "Ay!" I yelled. Jacob ran out his door and we heard his mom yelling behind him. Alex had stumbled out after him sporting a black eye. When we arrived at Johnny and Jacob's school they raced each other to the door. We all went our separate ways after we got through the door. Alex and I walked to our homeroom and we sat down in the back. "Well I'm glad you're finally here Mr. Jameson and Garcia." The teacher said. Ms. Herring is the most nicest, kind, and beautiful teacher there is. I looked at her with a smile. "Sorry Ms. Herring I ran into some trouble in my neighborhood." I said. "Yeah yeah, there some vicious dogs that handed around the lot." Alex added. "Oh, well we were talking about Slavery and how it affected America. I winked at Ms. Herring and she gave me a smile. "Well can someone tell me when slavery began?" She asked. I raised my hand. "Yes, Pepsi." She called on me. "Well it was first started by the ancient Egyptians who used slaves to build pyramids, and serve the pharaohs and other high royals." I said. "Very good, Pepsi!" She said and she turned around to write on the board a time line. "Take a look at that caboose." Alex whispered. "I know, maybe she'd like to do some private studying with me?" I wiggled my eyebrows. We both snickered and it turned into chuckles, then laughing and the class turned to us. "What?" I asked. The teacher turned around and I rapped my fingers on the desk. "Boys. Is there something you'd like to share with the class?" She asked. "Uhhhh, we're good on the sharing part thanks for the offer though." I joked. The class laughed and she motioned for us to move to the front. "That's better right?" She asked. "Mmhm." I said trying not to laugh. Now we have more of a clear view. After class she held me after. "I know how you feel about me." She said. "You do?" My eyes widened. "Yep. I know what you want to do, but It's normal for a 15 year old to feel like that. So I'm gonna teach you and Alex how you have to suppress these urges or else you'll do something stupid." She said. "Got it." I said. "Alright enjoy the rest of your day." She said. I rushed out and Alex was waiting for me. "Come on, we only have 2 minutes left to smoke some cigs." He said. We went to the smoking hall and I grinned. "We're gonna have a private lesson with Ms. Herring." I said. His expression lit up and we both finished our cigarettes.