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#Post#: 3044--------------------------------------------------
We're Going To Be Friends
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: April 12, 2015, 9:43 pm
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I've got to make up for yesterday's post over in Tiny Tales.
*hugs*
HTML https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7653/16940899748_29bebc4c13.jpg
Theme :
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKfD8d3XJok
September Hell’s Kitchen ( Clinton Ave) ( Second Grade)
“Come on Colleen, it’s not so bad. You’ll make a whole new group
of friends, you need to branch out more not have your nose
buried in a book all the time. I know you’re sad Lottie’s not
here this year but you’ll have to adjust my dear.”
My mother attempted to reassure me that my first day of second
grade was actually going to be worth my while. I, in all my
seven years wasn’t quite buying it. Being a very quiet child I
much preferred the company of my cat and a Box Car Children
novel than regular playmates. The exception had been Lottie, my
best friend since birth it seemed. Her parents were getting
divorced and she went to live with her Gran in Maine for a
while. Tears prickled in my eyes the day I had to say goodbye to
her. I’d been in knots for the past two days and could barely
keep myself from shaking. It was bad enough being the shortest
girl in the second grade but not knowing anyone in my class just
upset me even more. I was shoved rather unceremoniously out into
the apartment building hallway only to find myself face to face
with a gangly looking neighbor boy I’d seen from time to time.
He gave me a shy yet goofy smile and a wave.
“You go to St. Gerard’s too?”
I blushed and gave a nod as we walked down the hallway and down
the five flights of stairs.
“You’re about my sister’s age and she’s in Sister Bernadette’s
class but your mom talks to my mom and she said that you had
Sister Mary Magdalene, she’s teaching second grade this year.
You must be real smart to get moved up into her class. Not that
I am or nothin’ but I ain’t stupid either.”
I nodded as we went along walking briskly to ward of the crisp
air that signaled that fall was just around the corner. For some
reason the knot in my stomach lessened every time he said
something.
“You sure don’t talk much, do ya? I’m Jackie Flannery.”
He stuck out a freshly scrubbed hand toward me and I accepted
with the same shy smile as before.
“Colleen Murphy.”
Jackie gave me an even bigger smile as we rounded the corner and
walked into the school yard hand in hand.
“Your name is as pretty as you are.”
Two Years Later ( November - Fourth Grade)
Two years went by in a blur, we had yet to actually change
classes yet so all of our learning was done in one room together
for the entire school year. We would continue to have Sister
Mary Magdalene until we officially moved up into High School
which was just one floor up, that was still a few years off.
Maybe our teacher didn’t mind me sitting next to him because I
tried my best to keep him on task? But when I covered for him a
time or two when it came to homework she let it slide. Jackie
and I spent quite a bit of time together, along with his other
friend Terry Noonan and his sister Kathy. Lottie had come back
and had been accepted into the fold of our little gang. Where
one was the other was sure to follow. We’d discovered that our
rooms were side by side each other and had developed a morse
code of sorts as we turned in for the night. Or there was always
the heat vent for conversations or homework help. That
particular Friday dawned and I was kept waiting at the
Flannery’s door for a good two or three minutes as Jackie came
out scuffed up a bit. A cut high on his cheek started to bleed a
bit as tears sprang up in his clear blue eyes. His collar was
stretched out and he had the beginnings of a black eye.
“Jackie you’re bleeding. A-are you okay?”
I asked him worriedly as we walked along our usual morning
route.
“I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“Okay. But here.”
I said simply as I handed him my hanky with the wild roses
embroidered in the corner.
“You might need this until I get you to the nurse’s office.”
Jackie took it quietly and held it up to his cheek as we walked
in silence. I’d heard things about his older brother, terrible
things but didn’t really believe them until now. Jackie always
talked about his older brother with such adoration that it made
me worry. How could he put such blind faith into someone that
treated him so badly? I didn’t dare ask him because I knew I
wouldn’t get a straight answer. We hurriedly walked into the
building and down the main hallway and off to the left of the
front office into the nurse’s office. Sister Marie came bustling
in in a wave of white robes asking a million questions. Jackie
wouldn’t dare answer her so I spoke up.
“He..he tripped and fell down the front steps today. I tried to
grab his collar and I…I wasn’t quick enough.”
Jackie looked at me momentarily stunned and then nodded in
agreement. Sister Marie gave us each a look and then went about
patching Jackie up before sending us on our way to class.
“You didn’t have to do that, Col.”
“I know.”
I stopped him just before we got into the classroom and pulled
him in for a hug. I just barely made it up to his chest, thanks
to my short stature and his lanky frame. He smelled of freshly
laundered clothes and oddly enough strawberry jam.
“I swear to God if Frankie lays a hand on you again I’ll beat
him senseless.”
I murmured into his wool overcoat. I meant it, I’m not entirely
sure if he believed me but I meant it.
“Aww c’mon Col. He didn’t mean it, he’s just moody y’know?”
“I don’t care, he’s your big brother and he shouldn’t do that to
you.”
Jackie hugged me back before letting me go and looking me in the
eye.
“I know. But don’t worry about me, I can hold my own.”
He never did find out who ambushed Frankie on his way home from
the corner shop two days later. The doctor said it’s a wonder he
didn’t have a skull fracture from being beaten so badly. My
mother never could figure out how my lunch box got all those
dents in it and the maintenance man never did put two and two
together when those brick went missing from the basement. I knew
and I just smiled to myself knowing I’d gotten revenge.
December ( Fifth Grade)
“What’s the matter, Flannery? Family too dirt poor to afford a
decent lunch for you? What am I saying? ‘Course they are! Your
Dad’s a drunk and your mother’s nothing but a dirty washer
woman. Go back to Ireland you Mick scumbag.”
Vine Valenti scoffed as Jackie sat at our usual lunch table.
Terry and Lottie were still in the lunch line but I’d brought my
own and was just about to bite into my apple. I cast a death
glare Vinny’s way.
“Stop it, Vinny.”
I warned in a low voice. Everyone knew that the things Jimmy
said about Jackie’s family weren’t true but that didn’t stop
them from gawking and giggling. Jackie’s face burned bright red
and for a second I honestly thought he might start to cry. If
Jimmy had known the real truth, that Jackie’s dad had gotten
laid off and his mom was working two jobs just so they could put
food on the table he’d be singing a different tune entirely.
“Or what? What could you possibly do to me, Murphy? Flannery’s
just a no good Shillelagh- hugger.”
I gripped the apple in my hand, took aim and let it fly, hitting
him upside the head with a sickening thwacking sound. Jimmy was
stunned until I took a flying run at him and tackled him to the
ground, letting both fists fly as I screamed my lungs out.
“Eat crap and die you dirty little greaser! At least our people
didn’t have to make wine to get here!”
By the time a few of the nuns were able to make it over to try
and pry me off of a now hysterical Vinny I had my hands wrapped
around his meaty throat enough to make his too hoarse to scream.
“SAY YOU’RE SORRY!”
“I’mma…”
“SAY IT!”
“I’mma..ss..”
“SAY IT OR I’LL SQUEEZE HARDER!”
“I’mma sorry!”
“Say that Jackie ain’t no shillelagh hugging mick bastard!”
“Jackie…Flannery…ain’t…a shillelagh…huggin’…mick…scumbag.”
It took two of the larger sisters to pry me off. The wheels in
my mind were spinning fast enough that I whipped up so alligator
tears and promptly started to cry to avoid punishment. I was
promptly told to sit down and finish my lunch until I got called
down to the office to explain my side of the story to Mother
Superior Mary Angelina.
I sat down heavily as Terry, Lottie, and Jackie looked me, all
too shell shocked to say anything. I huffed and blew my bangs
out of my eyes before I reached into my lunch box and pulled out
a brown paper bag that held an extra sandwich, apple, and a bag
of chips. I slid twenty-five cents to go with it.
“Go get a milk to go with it, Jackie.”
He didn’t question me until we walked home the long way through
the park.
“Why’d ya do it, Col?”
“Because I wanted to. I know you’re having a hard time and it
was the right thing to do. You’d have done it for me.”
Jackie gave me a grin before slinging an arm around my
shoulders.
“Yeah, I would have. You heard what happened to Vinny right?”
I hadn’t and I shook my head. A wry grin spread over his face
and his eyes sparkled as he flicked his hair out of his eyes.
“You scared him so damn bad he ****ed himself! His Mom had to
come and take him home early. Billy Donnelly said that every
time his mother made one move he’d flinch and here’s the kicker!
He…when..when his mom found out what he said she slapped him so
hard he screamed like a little girl and damn near threw up on
Sister Mary Angelina!”
At this point Jackie and I were in hysterics as we walked home
trying to hold one another up and utterly failing, both falling
over in the snow. It was from that day on that Vinny Valenti was
know as Whizzer Valenti.
June ( The End of 6th Grade )
“What do you mean we’re not going to be in the same class?!”
We were on our way home and the long summer holiday was
stretched out before us, like some sort of never ending road.
Jackie was laughing it off and I was having a panic attack.
“It’s just how it is, school board decided to change things up,
doll. It’s not that bad, Col.”
I looked at him like he’d grown a second head, my pulse racing.
After four years of constant friendship I felt like my world was
imploding.
“Not that bad?! Not that bad?! It is that bad, Jackie. I…I’m
gonna miss you.”
Jackie stopped walking and looked at me, his face completely
serious took me by the shoulders and gave me a hug. He knew
these past few months had been rough, my Dad moved out and I was
left home alone while my mother worked the morning shift and
went to school three nights a week. The Flannery family and
Lottie and her mother always made sure I had somewhere to go.
Jackie was always the one to put a smile on my otherwise down
and out face.
“I’ll miss you too but I’ve got a surprise for you..”
He reached into the back pocket of his jeans, he’d long since
given up on the trousers that the sisters made the boys wear and
held out a piece of paper and handed it to me. The goofy grin
spreading over his face, he looked quite proud of himself.
“Next year’s class list? How did you…oh my god!”
Right there in school type from the office typewriter was
Jackie’s name added to next year’s class list for Sister
Benedictine one floor up.
“Terry and I had detention two weeks ago and we took a little
detour by way of Sister Angelica’s office and did a little
updating to the list. Terry’s made up his mind that he’s gotta
be in Kathy’s and since Lottie’s with you someone has to watch
over the two of you. Thought it should be me. Think of it as an
early birthday gift, huh?”
“It’s the best damn gift I’ve gotten in a long time.”
“What about that locket I got you for Christmas?”
I slipped my hand into his and gave it a little swing as I
smiled up at him.
“I wear it every day don’t I? I love it but this…this is nicer.”
Four Years Later ( 11th Grade - November)
“So you’re absolutely sure your mother’s okay with you using her
car?”
“Why wouldn’t she be? I just got my license. By the state of New
York I’m a completely capable driver.”
“Yeah, but does the State of New York know what you did the
Driver’s Ed car and that fire hydrant over on Delancey? Your
Mother’d be changing her tune real quick.”
“That was one time and it was little dent!”
“Sister Mary Rose almost had a heart attack and she retired a
week later, Jackie! I don’t think that counts as a little ding!”
“Oh shush you. At least I don’t drive with both feet. Now, seat
belt on before you gimme an ulcer.”
I grabbed my seatbelt and pulled it tight over my lap and closed
my eyes muttering a prayer.
“Really, Col? How can you not trust me? You’re the one that
helped me study and I did a bang up job if I do say so myself.”
The engine of the Cutlass came to life and idled in the parking
spot on the opposite side of the apartment building. We inched
away from the curb and ambled down the road Jackie fiddling with
the radio and trying to get a half decent station on to calm my
nerves.
“You’re white knuckling, Col. Gimme your hand.”
I reluctantly grasped Jackie’s hand and my anxiety eased a bit.
“See, it’s not so bad.”
We picked up a bit of speed and before we knew it Lottie and
Terry were sitting in the back laughing their asses off singing
along to the newest Rolling Stones song. Each of us failed to
see the cop parked in the alley way until he swung out into
traffic and lit up the entire car with flashing red and blue
lights.
“Oh crap we’re screwed.”
We pulled to the side of the otherwise deserted street and the
engine quieted, window rolled down.
“Do you have any idea how fast you were going, son?”
“Uh…a hair above 40?”
“Try again, wise guy. You were going seventy-five in a thirty.
You know you lost all four hubcaps back there, too? License and
registration.”
Papers were exchanged and the cop crouched down and looked at
me.
“She okay?”
Jackie looked at me and I’d broken out in a pale cold sweat.
Before I could answer Jackie came back with a retort.
“Oh, yeah. She’s just gets sick around pigs.”
The engine revved to life, Jackie grabbed the ticket from the
officer’s hand and we took off around the corner of Hershel
Street. Laughing like a maniac while Terry Lottie and I sat
there totally unsure of what to think until the absurdity of the
entire situation sank in on us.
“You’re an idiot you know that?”
I said as we dropped Terry and Lottie off down the street so
they could meet up with a few of their other friends for some
double date thing.
“Yeah, but I’m your idiot, doll.”
“Yeah, I know and I really wouldn’t want it any other way.”
I leaned over the console and gave Jackie a light peck on the
cheek that made him turn ten shades of red in two seconds.
One Year Later ( Graduation - After Party)
The mixture of alcohol and celebratory food wasn’t sitting well
with me. The music was pounding in my ears and the room was
tilting and swimming.
“Hey Coleen you don’t look so good..”
“Can’t feel my face…or my hands…or my legs. Jackie…I think I’m
drunk.”
“Well, it could be from all the beer you had…and the shots…oh
and don’t forget that daiquiri. You’re in for one hell of a hang
over tomorrow morning, babe. Let’s get you outta here, huh?”
Somehow we’d made it back from the graduation party at Terry’s
and were now leaning against the wall of an abandoned building
in the meat packing district. The night was muggy and a storm
was immanent. The first of the season and I found myself smiling
as the wind picked up.
We ambled along quietly trying to keep each other upright until
we made it to the front door of my mother’s apartment. The place
was quiet enough you could hear a pin drop. I’d forgotten she’d
be working the over night shift this week so that left me to my
own devices.
Jackie, always aware that I hated the dark turned on a few lamps
to light a path to my bedroom. I gave him a smile as he eased me
onto the bed ever so carefully. The patter of rain mixed with
thunder and the occasional crash and flash of lightening set the
scene. My stomach rolled again and my moment of drunken calm was
officially over as I tried to stumble to the bathroom, Jackie
guiding me the entire way. I ended up just making it in time to
retch into the bowl as he kneeled behind me and held my hair
back.
“Better?”
“Uh…ugh”
I heaved about six more times before I leaned back against him a
sweating clammy pale grey mess.
“N..up. Yeah. Thanks.”
He just nodded before passing me a cold damp wash rag and a
glass of water. The storm was picking up outside and the lights
flickered overhead. I let out a groan as I got up and stumbled
back into my bedroom before crawling into bed. Jackie followed
behind me and the bed sagged under his weight. He moved me
closer to him and laid my head on his chest as he stroked my
hair.
“Don’t leave me, okay?”
I mumbled as I curled up closer to him not caring how it looked
to other people if they were to walk in.
“I ain’t goin’ nowhere, Col.”
“No, I mean it. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jackie.
You’re my rock.”
“I thought Lottie was your rock?”
“You’re my anchor then. All the crap I’ve been through I don’t
know if I could have gotten through it if it wasn’t for you.”
There was a moment of silence as Jackie soaked up what I’d just
said.
“Yeah, you would have. You’re tough like that, Col.”
“No, I’m really not. Not without you.”
I put my head back down on his chest and closed my eyes
listening to the sound of the rain and Jackie breathing, feeling
totally at ease.
“I love you.”
His breathing hitched and his heart pounded a bit, I doubt he
even knew I knew but I could hear it. Had I said something
wrong? God I hoped not.
“I love you too.”
Fifteen Years Later ( September)
The morning dawned bright and early and the building seemed to
come alive. I’d gone down to get the mail and I saw them. A
little freckle faced boy with bright blue eyes and goofy grin
holding a shy looking little brown haired girl’s hand. Jackie
spotted them as he came in with two take out cups of coffee and
bag of fresh pastry. He couldn’t help but smile as he held the
door for them.
“He’s a goner.”
He said as he came over to me and offered me my cup of coffee
which I took with a smile. My eyes started to water a bit as I
went down memory lane very quickly. Jackie handed me a familiar
worn looking handkerchief. One with faded wild roses on it and
smiled.
“So is she.”
I said as I wiped my eyes and took his hand and we walked back
up to the apartment together hand in hand just like we always
did.
[center]FIN[/center]
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