Chapter Five-New Beginnings

Chapter 5

“So your dad came back?” lucky asked.

“Yup.”

“That’s tough, now you got to deal with him living with you.” Rick said.

“He ain’t livin’ with me, even if I wanted him to-which I don’t-I ain’t got no room for em’.” I said.

“Don’s got the couch.” Jim said. The others had heard about Don but none of them, except Jim, had seen him.

             The four of us walked now Main Street not really having anything better to do. People would watch us carefully as we would walk past them or when they would drive by. Typically our gang wouldn’t come anywhere near Main Street; it’s where most of the socs would hang around. But seeing as how we had nothing to do, this seemed like the thing to do. We had picked up Danny-boy along the way. He had nothing to do either so we started for my house.

“That’s a pretty tough mustang.” Jim said as we walked. I looked over my shoulder and saw the cherry red mustang about a block away driving slowly down the road.

“Socs?” Lucky asked excitedly. Lucky loved to fight, he never really lost, hence his nickname.

            Danny boy looked back, “Yeah.”

“Great.” He beat one of his fists into the other.

“Let’s not fight unless then come after us first.” I warned them.

“Why?” Lucky said.

“It’s their turf.”

“Our fault.” Rick said.

            Just as I thought the car stopped in front of us, we quit walking. There were three of them. They came out of the car looking like mad bulls ready to fight. They each had an orange and blue lettermen’s jacket from Balko High School.

“Hey you!” one of them shouted to me.

            I stood with my fists clenched and the collar of my leather jacket pointed upwards, real tough.

“You were with that kid two nights ago, weren’t you?” he asked.

“What’s it to you?”

“The kid put a dent in the car, need him to pay for it.” While he spoke the other two walked a little closer to us, they were outnumbered five to three.

“I ain’t got nothin’ to do with em’.” I spat.

“I think otherwise.” He nodded towards the car, “Common guys, we can take em’ later.” The other two un-tensed and walked slowly back to the car, they drove off spraying us with dirt.

“That a rumble challenge?” Lucky asked.

“Naw, they just think they’s better’n us.” I said. I started walking again, the others followed behind me.

“Are they?” Rick asked.

“Course not, just cause you got more money than the other ain’t no reason to judge em’.” Jim said after a long pause.

“Course not.” Rick mumbled.

            We walked back to the east side of the time immediately seeing the difference between the two different sides. One was ritzy with things only rick people could get their hands on while the other had greasers who stole what they wanted. There was a difference, but it was just the way you grew up. Born and bred.