stand by me

chapter twenty-one

^^^listen to the music as you read^^^

"Maybe if I go to the college courses, you can go with me?" I asked. "That'll be that day!" He said sarcastically. "You are smart enough!" I said. "They won't let me," He nodded his head. "What do you mean?" I asked him. "It's the way people think of my family in this town. It's the way people think of me. Just one of those lowlife Chambers-kids!" He said. "Chris, that's not true," I said, trying to comfort him. "Oh it is! Nobody even asked if I took the milk money that time! I just got a three day vacation!" He told me. "Did you take it?" I asked reluctantly. "Yeah I took it! You knew I took it, Teddy knew, Gordie. Everyone. Hell, maybe even Vern knew!" He said. I sighed.
"But maybe I was sorry and tried to give it back," He said. "You tried to give it back?" I asked. "Maybe, just maybe. And maybe I took it to Old Lady Simons and told her. All the money was there. But I still got a three day vacation because it never showed up! And maybe next week Old Lady Simons showed up to school with that new skirt!" He told me. "Oh shit! I remember! It had polka dots! I even drew her with it on!" I said. "Yeah! So let's just say I stole the milk money but Old Lady Simons stole it back from me!" He said. "And just suppose that I told the story. Me. Chris Chambers. Kid brother to Eyeball Chambers! You think anyone would've believed it?" He asked me. "Hell no!" I said with a reassuring tone. "And you think that bitch would've dared try something like that if it was one of the douchebags from The View that stole it?" He asked again. "No way!" I said. "Oh no! But with me?" He was silent.
"I bet she had her eyes on that skirt for a long time! I was stupid for even trying to hive it back!" He said as he hit the dirt. "I- I just never thought a teacher- I never thought- Oh who gives a fuck anyway!" He said as he began to cry.
I'd never seen Chris like this. Never this vulnerable. I almost started to cry but I needed to stay strong for him. I love him.
"I just wish I could go somewhere where nobody knows me!" He said between sobs. "Maybe we will one day," I said, rubbing his back. "Yeah. Maybe I'm just a pussy!" He said. "No. Chris you can show your emotions. That makes you strong. You are so much stronger than you think! Your feelings are just as valid as anyone's!" I pulled him into a hug.