The Day Mark Killed Bryon

Small World

Cathy's POV
It was the usual Saturday evening for me, Saturday November 1st 1975 to be exact, I had spent the day grading some work done by my students and was now spending my evening with the joys of sitting on the couch watching the news with my cup of tea.

It was the same usual nation wide news being announced first, then the news anchor would read the local news stories, what I heard made my eyes widen in shock.

"An attempted kidnapping of two teenage boys has left escaped convict, Mark Jennings, shot dead at the scene by police gunfire. The day prior, Jennings had successfully killed a trustee as well as a city man."
The news anchor spoke. I picked up that when he told the story his face and voice showed no emotion or pity towards Mark's death.

I didn't want to be sad. Mark was a prick who sold drugs, he's the reason my brother, M&M, is a completely different person nowadays. But I was in shock, I still knew the guy and just never expected him to die so soon.

I was brought back to reality when I heard the phone ringing, thinking it may have been my ex-boyfriend, Bryon Douglas, I went over and picked up the call, I bet he was sad, they were brothers after all. But I was wrong, it was a different ex, Ponyboy Curtis, who I actually dated after my break up with Bryon.

"Did you hear? Mark got shot by police."
Ponyboy told me down the phone. I nodded in response, even though I know he couldn't see it.

"Yeah... yeah I saw it."
I replied, wrapping my free arm around my stomach as the other held the phone to my ear, I then decided to ask him about Bryon, in case he knew anything.
"Do you think Bryon heard the story?"

There was silence for a few moments and I was starting to believe Ponyboy hung up the phone, but I soon heard him begin to speak again.

"Bryon was killed in an alleyway yesterday. The police put the blame on Mark because apparently the gun that Mark had on his body when he died had the same bullets that matched the one found in Bryon."
Ponyboy explained, I bet he was hurting, him and Mark were friends back in high school. Pony was smart, he always has been, no wonder he knew this unknown to the public information.

I was speechless, I couldn't find any words to speak. Bryon was my first real boyfriend, I ended the relationship when I found out Mark sold drugs as this event had an effect on my younger brother who I was very close with.

Ponyboy and I spoke for a few minutes and decided we would try our best to get a funeral held on Monday for the brothers. Pony told me he'd call a priest he knew who would be able to hold the funeral for us, who knows how many people will attend.

I said both a thank you and goodbye before hanging up. I then called Mrs. Johnson, the principal of the school I work at, to inform her I won't be in on Monday due to the funeral of the hitchhiker because I'm sure she had heard the news. I know my students will question why I won't be there Monday, especially Tex McCormick because once interviews with the two kidnapped boys started to play on my TV, I recognised Tex as well as his older brother, Mason.
Small world.
•
The End.
Word Count: 598