In Another Life

3. Getting to know you

The day they met something happened. They became as close as brother and sister. That summer was amazing. Amlyne and Jeff ran and played, biked, climbed trees, worked on cars, and read Hot Rod magazines. She looked up to him as the brother she never had. She taught him how to be a redneck Southerner and he taught her how to take care of herself. Jeff taught Amlyne how to fight back. She had been bullied by classmates for so long, she had grown numb to it. Jeff saw it first hand when another neighbor girl, Tammy, pushed Amlyne down after teasing her for not going skating with all the other kids. Amlyne's parents did not let her go to the skating ring. The policeman who was there as security was a pedophile and Amlyne's father knew this. He kept her away to keep her safe. Amlyne got up off the ground, grabbed her bike and headed home. Jeff came zooming by on his bike. "What was all that about," he asked. Amlyne told him those were just some bad girls and they didn't like her. Tammy yelled out,"Hey, four eyes, who's your boyfriend? Fatty Fatty two by four? Lard Ass Larry? Two Ton Tommy?" Amlyne was aghast. 

Jeff turned around his bike and glared at the girls. He told them to scram or he would scramble them like a dozen eggs on hot pavement. The girls just laughed. Jeff got off his bike and headed their way. They took off and never looked back. Amlyne was upset. Jeff had just made a mistake and those girls would not forget. They had older brothers who were just as mean. The girl Tammy only came to the neighborhood during the summer with her six siblings. Her father was in the army and they moved from base to base. They were known in the neighborhood as "The Mean Kids." When ever they came to town, mom's kept their kids inside. Amlyne was just outside getting the mail when the she-devils descended on her. They wanted her to go with them skating so they could tease her. But Amlyne declined their offer, knowing her parents would not let her go. 

Amlyne filled Jeff in on the story and slowly walked up the hill to her house. Jeff grabbed his bike and followed her. "Hey," he said, "I met a guy today. We are gonna be in the same grade. He failed just like me." Amlyne knew exactly who he was talking about, Ronny Parker. A dumb, white trash boy from down the street. His sister, Angie, was Tammy's best friend. Amlyne knew Ronny was too dumb to cause any trouble, but that sister of his was bad news. They got to the back yard and sat on the patio. It was getting dark. Carlee came bouncing outside. Jeff asked if they wanted to play a game. Carlee suggested kick ball. Amlyne suggested Hide and Seek. Jeff said, "Let's play, 'Ain't not boogers out to night." He explained that it was like hide and seek, but the seeker was a monster. The girls were all in. They played for at least an hour. It was so much fun. 

The next day, Amlyne went over to Jeff's house. They were playing UNO. Amlyne watched, and then, asked to join in. She was a good player. She and Jeff played all the time that summer. 

Jeff had bought an old Ford Fairlane car. He was trying to get it into working order. He was so proud of the piece of junk. Little by little, he got the engine together. He taught Amlyne all about car engines. He taught her to change a tire and how to change the oil. One day, Carlee was buzzing around and said she wanted to learn too. So Jeff put her under the car and loosened the bolt to change the oil. Carlee was right under the oil when it came pouring out. Amlyne and Jeff fell on the ground laughing. Carlee ran all the way home screaming bloody murder. 

Soon that hot summer came to an end and school started. Jeff made lots of new friends and left Amlyne behind. When he did see her, he teased her terribly. She tried to talk to him at school, but he made it clear that he didn't want her to be near him.  Amlyne's feelings were hurt. At least the bullying at school has stopped. Tammy and her hoard had moved to town for good and she was always a threat. Amlyne stayed her distance and tried to hang with a different crowd. 

There was only one place that Amlyne was vulnerable now, the bus. Old Bus 20 was the way Amlyne got to and from school. Jeff also rode the bus as did Tammy and her gang of misfits. The kids on the bus was about 80% black and 20% white. Amlyne was lucky. The black students were her friends. She felt safe for the first 2 stops on the route. After that, it was all the white students. Jeff sat in back talking to Randy. Amlyne sat in the middle by herself. Tammy, Angie, the Vipers sat in back trying to flirt with Randy. They didn't care anything about Jeff, but he enjoyed the attention being thrown around him. Sometimes, Tammy would hit Amlyne on the arm or the back of her head as she walked by. Once it was when she was getting on the bus and a big black boy named Michael stood up and pushed her back. Jeff jumped up and got in between them. Tammy started scratching and screaming profanities. Randy grabbed Tammy and sat her down in back. Jeff slid in beside Amlyne. Michael said, "Sorry, dude. Ami, you alright?" Amlyne nodded and thanked Michael.  Jeff put his arm around Amlyne. She could smell something minty. He had a pinch of snuff in his mouth. It was a nasty habit, but the smell became part of him. It was part of him. 

The school year went on and summer rolled around again.