March 20th, 1987
Jason
“Haven’t you made dinner yet!?” Was the first thing Jason’s dad screamed at Jason when his dad came home from work. Jason knew it was the first of many screams he’d hear that night.
“No, I haven’t had the time yet.” Jason said weakly. “I’m cleaning the house right now, like you told me to yesterday.”
“Well then, why didn’t you think of that earlier?” he came up to Jason and grabbed his neck. He leaned in and whispered;
“You see; when I come home from the work that supports you and gives you the money to survive, I’m very tired and hungry. And when I’m hungry I want to eat. I’ve told you this many times, but you still don’t seem to get it. Why is that, Jason? Huh, why is that?” Jason shivered, but he knew better than to answer. No matter what he said his father would be mad. His fathers grip around his neck hardened before he roughly pushed Jason down on the floor.
Jason was ready for it and managed not to hit his head, but his arms ached from having to stop the fall. He breathed heavily and got to his knees.
“You never answered the question; why is that?” His father said calmly while he took a step closer to Jason. Jason whimpered but stayed where he was; moving would only make things worse. His father bent down and grabbed Jason’s short hair and pulled to get Jason to his feet. Jason quickly stood up.
“You see, when somebody asks you a question, they expect you to answer it!” he yelled and yet again threw Jason to the floor. This time Jason could not avoid hitting his head. He hit it hard.
“It’s because I’m worthless sir. I’m worthless.” Jason said in desperation; he had to get him to stop. His father slowly walked towards Jason and stopped right beside him. Jason shut his eyes tight. He could feel sweat slowly run down his forehead but he did not wipe it away.
“Exactly.” His father said, not doing anything. Jason carefully opened one eye to see if his father possibly was going to be happy with just that. His father wasn’t; just when Jason opened his eye he kicked Jason hard, right in the stomach. Jason lost his breath and felt a burning pain starting from his stomach, making him unable to move.“Now, go make dinner, and hurry up!” His father said and walked away. “Don’t you dare make any noise; I’m going to sleep. Wake me up when dinner’s done.” And with that he left, leaving Jason sobbing on the floor. After a minute Jason finally managed to get to his feet and make his way to the kitchen. His stomach and head hurt, as well as his heart. But dinner had to be done.
lördag 16 maj 2009
måndag 13 april 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 15
March 20th, 1987
Billie Joe
Mike was having dinner with the Armstrong’s, again. Billie Joe felt like Mike pretty much lived with them. Not that he minded; he loved having Mike around. Steve wasn’t there tonight either, which made dinner much more pleasant.
“How are things at home, Mike?” Billie’s mum asked. She was always concerned about Mike, seeing as his mum was gone and Mike and his stepfather hadn’t gotten along in the beginning. Somehow she just couldn’t see that they were friends now.
“Well, things are good, I guess.” Mike said, hesitating. It seemed like he didn’t know whether or not to tell Ollie something.
“I’m moving out.” He finally said. Ollie dropped her fork as well as her jaw.
“What? Why? Where are you going to live? Aren’t you a bit too young for that, dear?” Ollie looked very worried.
“Don’t worry about it Mrs. Armstrong, I’ll be fine. I’ve found a van for a reasonable price that I can live in. I just… need to get the money.” Mike said, and laughed, as if not having the money to buy it was funny.
“What? You have?” Billie Joe said, staring at Mike. “You haven’t told me you’d found something!”
“Well, I was going to, right after dinner.” Mike said. He didn’t seem to like the way this dinner had turned out.
“But honey, you can’t live in a van.” Ollie said and shook her head. “Besides, what are you going to live of?”
“I’ll just have to get a job, I guess.” Mike said and shrugged.
“But why do you want to move?” She asked, still shaking her head.
“I don’t want to be a burden to Steve anymore. It’s not fair that he has to pay for me when I’m not his kid, and besides, I can take care of myself now.” Mike said.
“Of course you can, dear. But you can’t live in a van.” Yet again she shook her head. “And I’m sure Steve doesn’t mind having you around, I thought the two of you got along now?” Mike started to fiddle with his napkin.
“Yeah, we do. But I just don’t want to… bother him.” Mike said and shrugged again. Ollie sighed.
“Well, I guess you’ve made up your mind. You will definitely need a job if you’re going to live alone. You know what; I think my boss mentioned that we need a dishwasher at Rod’s Hickory Pit. I can put in a word for you, if you want to.” She said, now determined to help Mike. Billie Joe’s mum was always like that; if she found someone who needed help, she helped them.
“Really? Wow, thanks Mrs. Armstrong! That’d be great!” Mike said with a huge smile. Billie Joe smiled as well; he was glad things were turning out well for Mike.
“Oh please Mike, call me Ollie! Being called Mrs. Armstrong makes me feel so old. How many times do I have to tell you?” she said. Both Billie and Mike giggled quietly. Luckily, Ollie didn’t notice.
“But I still don’t think you should live in a van…” Ollie said, thinking of a way to solve this.
“Now I know!” she said and clasped her hand together in her typical Ollie-way. “David is moving out soon, in half a year or so, aren’t you David?” Ollie said and turned to David who nodded. “Billie Joe is going to get his room then, which means that the basement where Billie Joe’s room is now will be available! You can live there then!” Mike’s eyes widened and Billie Joe’s heart skipped a beat. That would be perfect!
“Are- are you sure, Ollie? I mean, me living in your house?” Mike said, kind of looking like he was expecting to wake up any moment. Ollie nodded and clasped her hand together once again.
“Of course I am! You’re here all the time anyway.” She said with a smile and started to clear the table. Mike quickly rose and started to help her. Billie Joe rolled his eyes and stayed put.
“Besides, I think Billie Joe will be happy to have you here the few extra hours that’ll give.”
“Thank you, Ollie, thank you so much! I’ll pay you of course! And if I don’t get the job at Rod’s I’ll just find something else, don’t worry about it.”
“Oh you don’t worry about it Mike.” She said and patted his shoulder. “You’re a good boy…” she said and wiped away a tear in the corner of her eye. Billie Joe rolled his eyes; typical his mum to get all sentimental. Luckily Mike knew her well already; otherwise Billie Joe would have been really embarrassed right now. He rose from his seat.
“Come on man, let’s go and continue practicing.” He said and started walking out of the kitchen. But when he got to the doorway he stopped and turned around and walked up to his mother.
“And mum, thank you for letting Mike stay here. You’re the best.” He said and kissed her cheek.
Billie Joe
Mike was having dinner with the Armstrong’s, again. Billie Joe felt like Mike pretty much lived with them. Not that he minded; he loved having Mike around. Steve wasn’t there tonight either, which made dinner much more pleasant.
“How are things at home, Mike?” Billie’s mum asked. She was always concerned about Mike, seeing as his mum was gone and Mike and his stepfather hadn’t gotten along in the beginning. Somehow she just couldn’t see that they were friends now.
“Well, things are good, I guess.” Mike said, hesitating. It seemed like he didn’t know whether or not to tell Ollie something.
“I’m moving out.” He finally said. Ollie dropped her fork as well as her jaw.
“What? Why? Where are you going to live? Aren’t you a bit too young for that, dear?” Ollie looked very worried.
“Don’t worry about it Mrs. Armstrong, I’ll be fine. I’ve found a van for a reasonable price that I can live in. I just… need to get the money.” Mike said, and laughed, as if not having the money to buy it was funny.
“What? You have?” Billie Joe said, staring at Mike. “You haven’t told me you’d found something!”
“Well, I was going to, right after dinner.” Mike said. He didn’t seem to like the way this dinner had turned out.
“But honey, you can’t live in a van.” Ollie said and shook her head. “Besides, what are you going to live of?”
“I’ll just have to get a job, I guess.” Mike said and shrugged.
“But why do you want to move?” She asked, still shaking her head.
“I don’t want to be a burden to Steve anymore. It’s not fair that he has to pay for me when I’m not his kid, and besides, I can take care of myself now.” Mike said.
“Of course you can, dear. But you can’t live in a van.” Yet again she shook her head. “And I’m sure Steve doesn’t mind having you around, I thought the two of you got along now?” Mike started to fiddle with his napkin.
“Yeah, we do. But I just don’t want to… bother him.” Mike said and shrugged again. Ollie sighed.
“Well, I guess you’ve made up your mind. You will definitely need a job if you’re going to live alone. You know what; I think my boss mentioned that we need a dishwasher at Rod’s Hickory Pit. I can put in a word for you, if you want to.” She said, now determined to help Mike. Billie Joe’s mum was always like that; if she found someone who needed help, she helped them.
“Really? Wow, thanks Mrs. Armstrong! That’d be great!” Mike said with a huge smile. Billie Joe smiled as well; he was glad things were turning out well for Mike.
“Oh please Mike, call me Ollie! Being called Mrs. Armstrong makes me feel so old. How many times do I have to tell you?” she said. Both Billie and Mike giggled quietly. Luckily, Ollie didn’t notice.
“But I still don’t think you should live in a van…” Ollie said, thinking of a way to solve this.
“Now I know!” she said and clasped her hand together in her typical Ollie-way. “David is moving out soon, in half a year or so, aren’t you David?” Ollie said and turned to David who nodded. “Billie Joe is going to get his room then, which means that the basement where Billie Joe’s room is now will be available! You can live there then!” Mike’s eyes widened and Billie Joe’s heart skipped a beat. That would be perfect!
“Are- are you sure, Ollie? I mean, me living in your house?” Mike said, kind of looking like he was expecting to wake up any moment. Ollie nodded and clasped her hand together once again.
“Of course I am! You’re here all the time anyway.” She said with a smile and started to clear the table. Mike quickly rose and started to help her. Billie Joe rolled his eyes and stayed put.
“Besides, I think Billie Joe will be happy to have you here the few extra hours that’ll give.”
“Thank you, Ollie, thank you so much! I’ll pay you of course! And if I don’t get the job at Rod’s I’ll just find something else, don’t worry about it.”
“Oh you don’t worry about it Mike.” She said and patted his shoulder. “You’re a good boy…” she said and wiped away a tear in the corner of her eye. Billie Joe rolled his eyes; typical his mum to get all sentimental. Luckily Mike knew her well already; otherwise Billie Joe would have been really embarrassed right now. He rose from his seat.
“Come on man, let’s go and continue practicing.” He said and started walking out of the kitchen. But when he got to the doorway he stopped and turned around and walked up to his mother.
“And mum, thank you for letting Mike stay here. You’re the best.” He said and kissed her cheek.
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 14
March 15th, 1987
Mike
The three boys where sitting by their usual table in the school canteen. Nobody was eating anything; Billie Joe hated the food, Jason wasn’t hungry and Mike was too busy staring at all the bruises on Jason’s face.
“Um, Jason… Do you always walk into doors?” Mike finally said. Jason stopped pushing his food around on his plate and met Mike’s eyes. Jason frowned.
“What kind of a question is that?” he asked. Mike shrugged. “And no, I don’t. Right now for instance, I’m not walking into a door right now.”
“Well, that’s because you’re sitting down.” Mike said, answering Jason’s sarcasm with some more. “And what I was thinking of was all the bruises. You always have those and the old ones barely have time to disappear before there are some new ones. If they’re all from your walking into doors habit I think you might need glasses. Or we could just remove every door in the world, that could work too.” Mike said and finally took a bite of his food, to make his conclusion more dramatic. Not that it really became much more dramatic, seeing as it wasn’t very dramatic to begin with.
“Well… I… I’m clumsy, so what? Does it bother you? And I don’t walk into doors all the time, sometimes I fall down the stairs too.” Jason said, trying to seem proud of being clumsy. He did not seem proud of being clumsy.
“Yup, it does bother me actually. It was pretty fun the first time, but it’s not that much fun that your friend is hurt all the time.” Mike said while chewing on his food. He then caught Billie Joe staring at him with amazement at the same time as he was looking kind of grossed out. Mike assumed that Billie right now was wondering how the hell he could eat that stuff. Mike started to chew with his mouth open.
“Ew! Cut it out! We don’t want to see that!” Billie Joe said and shut his eyes, he looked like he was about to throw up. Mike laughed and doing so, he caused some food flying out his mouth. Billie Joe, who opened his eyes just in time to see this, gagged. He quickly put his hand over his mouth.
“Ew!” He said again, picked up some food with his fork and threw it at Mike. With a big ‘splash!’ it landed on Mike’s chest. Mike looked down and his eyes widened when he saw what had happened.
“Billie!” he said shooting him an evil look. Billie winked at him, as if to say ‘come and get me, then’. Mike sure did. He picked up his own fork and with great precision he threw the food right in Billie Joe’s face. Billie quickly wiped it away and threw some more at Mike. This time, Mike was ready for it and he ducked just in time. But Billie Joe had learned the same thing, and Mike’s next shot missed too. Well, it missed Billie Joe at least, but it hit Jason, right in the face. And so, Jason was in the food fight as well.
Later that day, the boys had a pretty interesting talk with the principal, as well as a detention. Jason’s bruises were long forgotten.
Mike
The three boys where sitting by their usual table in the school canteen. Nobody was eating anything; Billie Joe hated the food, Jason wasn’t hungry and Mike was too busy staring at all the bruises on Jason’s face.
“Um, Jason… Do you always walk into doors?” Mike finally said. Jason stopped pushing his food around on his plate and met Mike’s eyes. Jason frowned.
“What kind of a question is that?” he asked. Mike shrugged. “And no, I don’t. Right now for instance, I’m not walking into a door right now.”
“Well, that’s because you’re sitting down.” Mike said, answering Jason’s sarcasm with some more. “And what I was thinking of was all the bruises. You always have those and the old ones barely have time to disappear before there are some new ones. If they’re all from your walking into doors habit I think you might need glasses. Or we could just remove every door in the world, that could work too.” Mike said and finally took a bite of his food, to make his conclusion more dramatic. Not that it really became much more dramatic, seeing as it wasn’t very dramatic to begin with.
“Well… I… I’m clumsy, so what? Does it bother you? And I don’t walk into doors all the time, sometimes I fall down the stairs too.” Jason said, trying to seem proud of being clumsy. He did not seem proud of being clumsy.
“Yup, it does bother me actually. It was pretty fun the first time, but it’s not that much fun that your friend is hurt all the time.” Mike said while chewing on his food. He then caught Billie Joe staring at him with amazement at the same time as he was looking kind of grossed out. Mike assumed that Billie right now was wondering how the hell he could eat that stuff. Mike started to chew with his mouth open.
“Ew! Cut it out! We don’t want to see that!” Billie Joe said and shut his eyes, he looked like he was about to throw up. Mike laughed and doing so, he caused some food flying out his mouth. Billie Joe, who opened his eyes just in time to see this, gagged. He quickly put his hand over his mouth.
“Ew!” He said again, picked up some food with his fork and threw it at Mike. With a big ‘splash!’ it landed on Mike’s chest. Mike looked down and his eyes widened when he saw what had happened.
“Billie!” he said shooting him an evil look. Billie winked at him, as if to say ‘come and get me, then’. Mike sure did. He picked up his own fork and with great precision he threw the food right in Billie Joe’s face. Billie quickly wiped it away and threw some more at Mike. This time, Mike was ready for it and he ducked just in time. But Billie Joe had learned the same thing, and Mike’s next shot missed too. Well, it missed Billie Joe at least, but it hit Jason, right in the face. And so, Jason was in the food fight as well.
Later that day, the boys had a pretty interesting talk with the principal, as well as a detention. Jason’s bruises were long forgotten.
tisdag 24 mars 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 13
January 8th, 1987
Mike
Mike arrived to Jason’s house long before Billie Joe did. Mike’s legs were much longer, which meant Mike was faster than Billie. Usually Mike waited for Billie to even things out, but today he didn’t. He wanted to show Billie Joe that he wasn’t as great as Billie thought he was, and he couldn’t think of a better way. At least not right now.
He rang the doorbell and took a few deep breaths so he would be able to speak when Jason opened. He was still panting from running. He heard steps from the inside but no one came to open. He frowned and rang the bell again, longer this time. After a few seconds he heard a man’s voice shouting something from inside, but he couldn’t make out the words. Then he heard quick steps approaching the front door. Mike took a step backwards to make room for the door to swing open. He heard someone grab the handle from the other side, and then the someone opened the door and revealed himself to be Jason. Jason looked surprised to see Mike.
“Hi there buddy. Care to join me and Billie for school?” Mike said.
“Yeah sure. Where is Billie?” Jason said searching with his eyes for Billie.
“Oh he’s coming, we had a competition and…well… besides, he doesn’t really know the way to your house. But he’ll be here eventually. Let’s go inside and wait.” Mike said and took a step towards the door to go inside. From out of no where Jason’s arm came to stop him.
“My dad is home. He’s not… he’s not very good with people.” Jason said and pushed Mike backwards. Jason stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
“What do you mean ‘not good with people’? I want to meet him! You know, it’s pretty weird that we’ve been friends for like, almost a year now and I still haven’t met your father!” Mike said while stepping towards the door again, stretching out his arm to grab the handle. Jason slapped Mike’s arm away and shook his head.
“You’re lucky you haven’t. Trust me Mike, you don’t want to meet him.” Jason said, grabbed Mike by his hand and dragged him off of the porch.
“Come on, let’s go find Billie.” Jason said and continued to drag Mike by the hand. Mike pulled his hand back.
“I can walk on my own, you know.” He said. “And what’s so bad about your father?”
“Nothing.” Jason said. Mike was just about to continue questioning Jason when Billie showed up. When he saw Jason and Mike standing outside Jason’s house he stopped, bent over and put his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
“Your such a…” pant. “good friend, you know” pant. “Mike.” pant. “Leaving me…” pant. “like that…” pant. “when you know…” Billie finally caught his breath. “that I don’t know the way to Jason’s house. What if I had got lost? Huh? Did you think of that?” Billie stared at Mike, who didn’t answer, he just stared back.
“Fucking moron…” Billie muttered under his breath and walked the last steps to where Mike and Jason were.
“Are we going to school or what?” he snapped “or were you planning on standing here all day?” he said and crossed his arms. He was not looking at Jason, he was staring straight into Mike’s eyes and Mike got a feeling that this was going to be one of those days when Billie Joe ignored Jason. Billie Joe did that sometimes, when he felt that he was left out in some way. Mike sighed.“Yeah, let’s go. Come on, Jason.”
torsdag 19 mars 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 12
January 8th, 1987
Mike
Mike left his house long before he had to. His stepfather, Steve, was having breakfast and Mike didn’t feel like talking to him. Therefore Mike had left about an hour before he had to. He decided to go on a walk. He stuck his hand deep down the pockets of his only pair of jeans. He quickly left the house behind him, walking towards a playground he used to play at as a kid. He shivered from the cold and regretted only putting on a t-shirt. Mike needed to think, and he needed to think alone. He knew he was a burden to his stepfather and he didn’t want to bother him, seeing as he actually wasn’t his kid. But he hadn’t been able do much but stay with him when his mum had left, and Steve couldn’t just leave Mike. They did get along nowadays though, they hadn’t when his mum was still in the picture. But they were pretty much forced to get along now, since they only had each other. Mike had had to admit that Steve wasn’t as bad as he had thought. Mike hadn’t been much more than a kid when his mum left, even though it wasn’t much more than two years ago. Mike wasn’t a kid anymore. He might not be an adult, but he was definitely not a kid and he knew he could take care of himself.
Mike arrived to the playground as he stated this. He slowly walked over to the swings and sat down on the one to the left. Mike always sat on this swing, and Billie always sat on the right one. This was their playground. When they occasionally did do something else but play their music they went here. They didn’t speak much when they were here; they just sat and enjoyed the silence. This was also Mike’s thinking place. He liked the silence and the four trees that never seemed to care if there was no wind; they were always swaying. Kids didn’t come here often, Mike didn’t know why. He remembered that he had loved playing here as a kid. Maybe it was because there weren’t many families with kids in this area anymore.
Mike was staring at the ground, thinking about his problem when he heard steps behind him. He knew who they belonged to without having to look up. The steps came closer until they were right next to him. Mike avoided looking at the person, who sat down on the right swing.
“Hi Bill.” Mike said, still not looking at the person.
“Hi.” Billie Joe’s voice answered. “What are you doing here this early?” he continued.
“I needed to think.” Mike said and raised his head to meet Billie Joe’s gaze.
“About what?” Billie said and turned his head away and set his swing swinging.
“I’m gonna move out.” Billie stopped his swing and turned to Mike again. “It’s not fair that Steve has to pay for me. I can take care of myself now, so I figured…” He didn’t finish the sentence; he knew that Billie would get what he meant. Billie didn’t answer at once; he seemed to be thinking things over.
“Where are you going to live?” he asked.
“I… I don’t know. Yet. But I’ll think of something soon enough, don’t worry about it.” Mike said with confidence. Billie shook his head with a smile.
“You’re not moving before you know where you’re going to live, I hope?” he said, still smiling.
“Of course not! I’m not that stupid you know.” Mike said and slapped the side of Billie’s head. Mike returned Billie’s smile and then they went silent for a couple of minutes, until Billie Joe broke the silence again.
“How are you going to… survive? You know, what are you gonna live by? Are you going to get a job or something?”
“I guess… There’s not much else to do, is there?” Mike said with a shrug. Billie Joe sighted.
“What?” Mike said and frowned.
“No, I just… You know, sometimes I just wish I was more like you.” Billie Joe said. Mike rolled his eyes.
“Billie, you don’t want to be me. Trust me.” Billie shook his head and stared at Mike in disbelief.
“No, but you’re always kind, like now for instance, you think about your stepfather instead of yourself. You know that you will have a hard time living by yourself, having to earn your own money, but still you want to do it, because you want to help another person.” Mike opened his mouth to answer but Billie cut him off.
“No, I’m not finished yet! So, you’re self-sacrificing, and on top of that, you’re smart! You could get great grades in school if you wanted to; I never could no matter how hard I try. And-“ Mike cut him off.
“That’s not true.”
“See, you’re humble as well!” Billie Joe blurted out.
“Oh come on, cut it out already!” Mike said and rose from his swing, taking a few steps away from Billie. “Let’s go and get Jason, then we can go to school.” Billie sighed and rose from his swing as well and walked over to Mike.
“Besides…” Mike said “you only said those things so I’ll like you.” He said, hit Billie’s shoulder and started running.
“Last one to Jason’s house is a dead chicken!” he shouted.
“No, Mike! You cheated! Hey, wait up!” Billie said and rushed after him.“Wait up you fucking cheating moron!”
Mike
Mike left his house long before he had to. His stepfather, Steve, was having breakfast and Mike didn’t feel like talking to him. Therefore Mike had left about an hour before he had to. He decided to go on a walk. He stuck his hand deep down the pockets of his only pair of jeans. He quickly left the house behind him, walking towards a playground he used to play at as a kid. He shivered from the cold and regretted only putting on a t-shirt. Mike needed to think, and he needed to think alone. He knew he was a burden to his stepfather and he didn’t want to bother him, seeing as he actually wasn’t his kid. But he hadn’t been able do much but stay with him when his mum had left, and Steve couldn’t just leave Mike. They did get along nowadays though, they hadn’t when his mum was still in the picture. But they were pretty much forced to get along now, since they only had each other. Mike had had to admit that Steve wasn’t as bad as he had thought. Mike hadn’t been much more than a kid when his mum left, even though it wasn’t much more than two years ago. Mike wasn’t a kid anymore. He might not be an adult, but he was definitely not a kid and he knew he could take care of himself.
Mike arrived to the playground as he stated this. He slowly walked over to the swings and sat down on the one to the left. Mike always sat on this swing, and Billie always sat on the right one. This was their playground. When they occasionally did do something else but play their music they went here. They didn’t speak much when they were here; they just sat and enjoyed the silence. This was also Mike’s thinking place. He liked the silence and the four trees that never seemed to care if there was no wind; they were always swaying. Kids didn’t come here often, Mike didn’t know why. He remembered that he had loved playing here as a kid. Maybe it was because there weren’t many families with kids in this area anymore.
Mike was staring at the ground, thinking about his problem when he heard steps behind him. He knew who they belonged to without having to look up. The steps came closer until they were right next to him. Mike avoided looking at the person, who sat down on the right swing.
“Hi Bill.” Mike said, still not looking at the person.
“Hi.” Billie Joe’s voice answered. “What are you doing here this early?” he continued.
“I needed to think.” Mike said and raised his head to meet Billie Joe’s gaze.
“About what?” Billie said and turned his head away and set his swing swinging.
“I’m gonna move out.” Billie stopped his swing and turned to Mike again. “It’s not fair that Steve has to pay for me. I can take care of myself now, so I figured…” He didn’t finish the sentence; he knew that Billie would get what he meant. Billie didn’t answer at once; he seemed to be thinking things over.
“Where are you going to live?” he asked.
“I… I don’t know. Yet. But I’ll think of something soon enough, don’t worry about it.” Mike said with confidence. Billie shook his head with a smile.
“You’re not moving before you know where you’re going to live, I hope?” he said, still smiling.
“Of course not! I’m not that stupid you know.” Mike said and slapped the side of Billie’s head. Mike returned Billie’s smile and then they went silent for a couple of minutes, until Billie Joe broke the silence again.
“How are you going to… survive? You know, what are you gonna live by? Are you going to get a job or something?”
“I guess… There’s not much else to do, is there?” Mike said with a shrug. Billie Joe sighted.
“What?” Mike said and frowned.
“No, I just… You know, sometimes I just wish I was more like you.” Billie Joe said. Mike rolled his eyes.
“Billie, you don’t want to be me. Trust me.” Billie shook his head and stared at Mike in disbelief.
“No, but you’re always kind, like now for instance, you think about your stepfather instead of yourself. You know that you will have a hard time living by yourself, having to earn your own money, but still you want to do it, because you want to help another person.” Mike opened his mouth to answer but Billie cut him off.
“No, I’m not finished yet! So, you’re self-sacrificing, and on top of that, you’re smart! You could get great grades in school if you wanted to; I never could no matter how hard I try. And-“ Mike cut him off.
“That’s not true.”
“See, you’re humble as well!” Billie Joe blurted out.
“Oh come on, cut it out already!” Mike said and rose from his swing, taking a few steps away from Billie. “Let’s go and get Jason, then we can go to school.” Billie sighed and rose from his swing as well and walked over to Mike.
“Besides…” Mike said “you only said those things so I’ll like you.” He said, hit Billie’s shoulder and started running.
“Last one to Jason’s house is a dead chicken!” he shouted.
“No, Mike! You cheated! Hey, wait up!” Billie said and rushed after him.“Wait up you fucking cheating moron!”
söndag 8 mars 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 11
September 12th, 1986
Mike
“Yo, Jason!” Mike said and punched Jason’s shoulder a bit harder than he had intended to.
“Ow! What the fuck Mike? That fucking hurt!” Jason said, rubbing his shoulder. Mike shrugged.
“Whatever man, you’ve got two of ‘em. Anyways, Billie and I have got a name for the band now!” Mike said and leaned against Jason’s locker, shutting it while doing so.
“Oh well that’s just fantastic, now get the fuck away from my locker, will you? You see, some of us can’t be rock stars and therefore have to go to school, to get a good education and become lying lawyers.” Jason said in his most sarcastic voice. Mike raised an eyebrow, Jason didn’t seem too happy today. Mike studied him, trying to make out what was wrong. A bruise on his arm and a small cut right above his left eyebrow caught his sight. Jason often had bruises and small cuts; he had had several the first time they met too. Mike had assumed that they were the doing of John, and he had never realised that the bruises and cuts hadn’t stopped appearing after John started to leave Jason alone.
“Hey, what’s up with the cut?” Mike nodded towards it. “I thought John had stopped bugging you?” Jason’s hand rose and gently touched it.
“Oh, he has. This is from… I walked into a door.” Jason said and looked straight into Mike’s eyes as if to challenge him to believe him or not. Mike did believe him; somehow picturing Jason walking into a door wasn’t very hard. It wasn’t even hard to picture him walking into several doors. Or walking straight into the same door several times. Mike smiled; Jason walking into a door several times was a pretty hilarious thought.
“What’s so great about it? You try walking into a door and you’ll see how much fun it is!” Jason snarled. Somehow, Mike thought the idea of both of them walking into the same door several times was even funnier; he started to laugh.
“What the fuck is wrong with you man!?” Jason shouted. Apparently he couldn’t see the funny side of it.
“No… but it’s… just…” Mike said gasping for air. “you know… like, a door… and we…” Mike bent over and held his stomach. Jason pushed him aside, causing Mike to fall since he didn’t see it coming.
“Whatever man.” Jason said and grabbed the books that he needed from his locker which he had pushed Mike away from. He closed it, shot another glare at the laughing Mike on the floor, locked his locker and started walking towards the classroom, muttering how stupid Mike was.
September 12th, 1986
Billie Joe
Mike had gone to tell Jason about the new band name and Billie Joe had gone to be on time for the first class for once. But when he was outside the classroom door he didn’t feel like being on time anymore, and he decided to join Jason and Mike in the joy they must be feeling over the band name. Or at least the joy Mike must be feeling, for some reason Jason didn’t really seem all that interested in their band.
Billie Joe came around the corner into the hallway in which Jason’s locker was located only to find Mike lying on the floor, doing something that Billie Joe didn’t really know if he wanted to know what it was. Jason was nowhere to be found. Billie Joe walked over to the shaking Mike and poked him with his foot.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Billie asked. Mike looked up at him and now Billie could see that he was laughing.
“Jason… the door, and he…I…” Mike gasped. Billie didn’t understand a thing.
“Okay, just pull yourself together man. Jason walked through a door, or what are you saying?” At ‘through’ Mike started laughing even more. Billie sighed.
“I’m waiting” he said. Mike sat up, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again he was completely calm.
“Jason said that he had walked into a door and I saw before me how he walked into a door over and over. And then he said that I should try walking into a door, and then I saw us walking into the door together.” Mike said.
“Well that is pretty hilarious” Billie said, with a smile. Mike nodded with an even bigger smile.
“It is, isn’t it? But Jason didn’t think so; I think he’s pretty mad at me right now. But it’ll pass, there’s nothing to worry about.” Mike said and rose.
“What do you say about us walking into a door- I mean go to our class?” Mike said and nudged Billie. Billie laughed.
“Sure man, let’s go.”
Mike
“Yo, Jason!” Mike said and punched Jason’s shoulder a bit harder than he had intended to.
“Ow! What the fuck Mike? That fucking hurt!” Jason said, rubbing his shoulder. Mike shrugged.
“Whatever man, you’ve got two of ‘em. Anyways, Billie and I have got a name for the band now!” Mike said and leaned against Jason’s locker, shutting it while doing so.
“Oh well that’s just fantastic, now get the fuck away from my locker, will you? You see, some of us can’t be rock stars and therefore have to go to school, to get a good education and become lying lawyers.” Jason said in his most sarcastic voice. Mike raised an eyebrow, Jason didn’t seem too happy today. Mike studied him, trying to make out what was wrong. A bruise on his arm and a small cut right above his left eyebrow caught his sight. Jason often had bruises and small cuts; he had had several the first time they met too. Mike had assumed that they were the doing of John, and he had never realised that the bruises and cuts hadn’t stopped appearing after John started to leave Jason alone.
“Hey, what’s up with the cut?” Mike nodded towards it. “I thought John had stopped bugging you?” Jason’s hand rose and gently touched it.
“Oh, he has. This is from… I walked into a door.” Jason said and looked straight into Mike’s eyes as if to challenge him to believe him or not. Mike did believe him; somehow picturing Jason walking into a door wasn’t very hard. It wasn’t even hard to picture him walking into several doors. Or walking straight into the same door several times. Mike smiled; Jason walking into a door several times was a pretty hilarious thought.
“What’s so great about it? You try walking into a door and you’ll see how much fun it is!” Jason snarled. Somehow, Mike thought the idea of both of them walking into the same door several times was even funnier; he started to laugh.
“What the fuck is wrong with you man!?” Jason shouted. Apparently he couldn’t see the funny side of it.
“No… but it’s… just…” Mike said gasping for air. “you know… like, a door… and we…” Mike bent over and held his stomach. Jason pushed him aside, causing Mike to fall since he didn’t see it coming.
“Whatever man.” Jason said and grabbed the books that he needed from his locker which he had pushed Mike away from. He closed it, shot another glare at the laughing Mike on the floor, locked his locker and started walking towards the classroom, muttering how stupid Mike was.
September 12th, 1986
Billie Joe
Mike had gone to tell Jason about the new band name and Billie Joe had gone to be on time for the first class for once. But when he was outside the classroom door he didn’t feel like being on time anymore, and he decided to join Jason and Mike in the joy they must be feeling over the band name. Or at least the joy Mike must be feeling, for some reason Jason didn’t really seem all that interested in their band.
Billie Joe came around the corner into the hallway in which Jason’s locker was located only to find Mike lying on the floor, doing something that Billie Joe didn’t really know if he wanted to know what it was. Jason was nowhere to be found. Billie Joe walked over to the shaking Mike and poked him with his foot.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Billie asked. Mike looked up at him and now Billie could see that he was laughing.
“Jason… the door, and he…I…” Mike gasped. Billie didn’t understand a thing.
“Okay, just pull yourself together man. Jason walked through a door, or what are you saying?” At ‘through’ Mike started laughing even more. Billie sighed.
“I’m waiting” he said. Mike sat up, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again he was completely calm.
“Jason said that he had walked into a door and I saw before me how he walked into a door over and over. And then he said that I should try walking into a door, and then I saw us walking into the door together.” Mike said.
“Well that is pretty hilarious” Billie said, with a smile. Mike nodded with an even bigger smile.
“It is, isn’t it? But Jason didn’t think so; I think he’s pretty mad at me right now. But it’ll pass, there’s nothing to worry about.” Mike said and rose.
“What do you say about us walking into a door- I mean go to our class?” Mike said and nudged Billie. Billie laughed.
“Sure man, let’s go.”
fredag 30 januari 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 10
September 9th, 1986
Billie Joe
“Here” Billie Joe said, handing Mike a paper. “I’ve written a new song.” Mike took the paper without a word and started reading. They were sitting on the floor in Billie Joe’s room with their instruments, like they always did when they had band practise. And like they always did when they just hung out; hanging out and band practise were the same thing to Mike and Billie.
Mike’s eyes were fixed on one spot on the paper and he seemed to be far off in thoughts.
“Yeah… that’s good. That’s really good…” He mumbled
“Really? You think? I didn’t think it was anything special.” Billie Joe said, genuinely surprised. Mike seemed to have forgotten that Billie was still there and jumped at the sound of his voice.
“Wha..? Oh, not the song, or I mean the song’s fine but nothing special, just like you said. What I was talking about was this.” He said and pointed at the title. Sweet Children it said. Billie still didn’t understand what he meant.
“What’s so great about it, you know, those words are in the chorus.”
“No… I mean yes, they are! But…” Okay, now Billie was confused.
“What the fuck are you on man?”
“It’s not good as a title… or it is! I mean, it’s fine, but what I was thinking of was a name. You know… like a name for a band?” Mike said, finally getting to the point. “Don’t you think it’s pretty good?” Billie Joe took the paper and studied the title. He said ‘Sweet Children’ out loud a few times, to try how it would sound.
“We don’t have a name for our band, so, what do you think?” Mike said, scribbling down the words on a paper next to him, to see how they would look. Billie Joe nodded.“I think that our band has got a name!” he said, getting excited. He raised his hand into a high five.
Billie Joe
“Here” Billie Joe said, handing Mike a paper. “I’ve written a new song.” Mike took the paper without a word and started reading. They were sitting on the floor in Billie Joe’s room with their instruments, like they always did when they had band practise. And like they always did when they just hung out; hanging out and band practise were the same thing to Mike and Billie.
Mike’s eyes were fixed on one spot on the paper and he seemed to be far off in thoughts.
“Yeah… that’s good. That’s really good…” He mumbled
“Really? You think? I didn’t think it was anything special.” Billie Joe said, genuinely surprised. Mike seemed to have forgotten that Billie was still there and jumped at the sound of his voice.
“Wha..? Oh, not the song, or I mean the song’s fine but nothing special, just like you said. What I was talking about was this.” He said and pointed at the title. Sweet Children it said. Billie still didn’t understand what he meant.
“What’s so great about it, you know, those words are in the chorus.”
“No… I mean yes, they are! But…” Okay, now Billie was confused.
“What the fuck are you on man?”
“It’s not good as a title… or it is! I mean, it’s fine, but what I was thinking of was a name. You know… like a name for a band?” Mike said, finally getting to the point. “Don’t you think it’s pretty good?” Billie Joe took the paper and studied the title. He said ‘Sweet Children’ out loud a few times, to try how it would sound.
“We don’t have a name for our band, so, what do you think?” Mike said, scribbling down the words on a paper next to him, to see how they would look. Billie Joe nodded.“I think that our band has got a name!” he said, getting excited. He raised his hand into a high five.
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