Chapter 2

Karen was sitting on her front porch when I pulled up. She ran out and jumped in the car before it had hardly stopped. "Is anything the matter?" I asked.

"Not a thing," she said with a big smile. "I'm just happy to see you."

We took off and I drove us to a place Patty and I like to go fishing along the river. No one was there, so I pulled in and turned off the car. We looked into each other's eyes, then leaned in for a kiss. It wasn't hot. It wasn't passionate. It was very loving.

"I do love you, Karen," I said, almost reverently. "I have for years."

"I love you too," she told me.

"Will you go steady with me, Karen."

Her smile was a mile wide when she said, "Of course."

We kissed again and afterwards, I said, "Maybe I won't kill Patty for telling you what I said. You may want to kill her when I tell you what she said about you though."

"What did she say?"

"She asked me if we had kissed last night and I told her it wasn't any of her business. She told me I might as well tell her because you told her everything. She said you even told her how often you masturbate."

Karen blushed as red as a beet. "Oh, I'm going to kill her. As of right now, she is dead meat."

I laughed and hugged her close. "She didn't tell me how often, Love, just that she knew."

We exchanged a couple of kisses then I started the car and headed for home. We were about half way there when Karen said, "Sometimes as often as twice a day."

It took it a minute for what she was talking about to sink in. When it did, I burst out laughing. "Me too," I said. "Sometimes more."

Karen giggled and blushed, "Yeah, me too."

We were still laughing when we pulled up in front of the house. Dad was sitting on the porch when we got out of the car. We walked on into the house and he didn't say a word to me. Karen said hello to him and he just grunted. Of course that's what he always did with her.

Patty was sitting in the back yard when we found her. She was just soaking up some sun. All of us knew there weren't going to be too many beautiful days like this left before winter hit us.

Mom was pulling some weeds from one of her flower beds and talking with Patty. I sat down on the swing and Karen snuggled up beside me. "So, Patty, you know you're going to die, don't you?" Karen asked.

"Whatever for?" Patty asked in her best Southern Belle voice.

"You know very well what for," Karen giggled.

"It couldn't possibly be because of some of the things I've told Ed about you, could it?" Patty asked.

By now, mom was paying close attention to the conversation. "For that and for some of the things you told Karen about me," I said. "Of course I don't know if I should hug you or spank you for what you told her."

"Why's that, Big Brother?" Patty asked.

"Because Karen and I are now going steady," I said.

I could see mom smiling and Patty giggled.

"Congratulations, guys," mom said.

Thanks, Mom," I said.

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Miller," Karen agreed.

"Are you two going to get all lovey dovey now? Kissy face, kissy face all of the time?" Patty asked.

"No, but we might get all spanky butt, spanky butt on Ed's little sister," Karen laughed.

Mom was cracking up. She seemed totally relaxed.

"Would you guys like some iced tea?" mom asked.

We all agreed that would be nice and I volunteered to help her. Once we were in the kitchen I asked her about her relaxed mood.

"I took a page out of yours and Patty's book last night," she told me. "I told John he could either lighten up on you and Patty and try to be a better husband and provider, or he could pack up his shit and get out. He's been pouting ever since, but I feel like I've been let out of prison."

I kissed her on the cheek and said, "Good for you, Mom. You know that Patty and I love you, don't you?"

"Yes, I know that, Ed. I love both of you too. I also told your dad that he has two weeks to find a job and that if he isn't on it until the job finishes, he can start packing. I'm tired of him getting into fights and getting fired."

"I can understand that. What did he say?"

"He wouldn't talk to me about it. He knows I'm serious though."

"Good. What do you think about me and Karen?"

"I think it's great. I know you've liked Karen for a long time and Patty tells me that Karen has liked you even longer. Just try not to hurt her or to let her hurt you."

"Karen nor I either one are the kind of people who would intentionally hurt anyone. It might happen, but if it does it will be unintentional. Any time you open yourself up to someone else, you also open yourself up to being hurt."

"When did you become so mature, Ed? I'm amazed."

I laughed. "I guess you just tend to grow up fast when things are bad. Someday I'll be able to look back at the last few years and laugh. It'd be hard to do right now. Things certainly seem to be getting better though."

"So, when are you going to tell me about what happened at school on Friday?" mom asked.

"I don't know what you mean, Mom. I told you about being put on detention."

"Yes, but you didn't tell me about two guys ending up in the hospital. Since one of them was Raymond Shepard, I'm sure you had something to do with it. I'm not angry, but I do need to know in case something comes up."

I sighed. Mom wasn't a dummy. I had been afraid we couldn't keep it from her, but I hadn't wanted to tell her either. "Mom, I wasn't the only one involved, so I didn't feel I could tell you about it. Why don't we go out and drink our tea and I think I can satisfy your curiosity."

We went back outside and mom took a seat close to the rest of us. "Mom heard that two guys ended up in the hospital on Friday. She suspects that I had something to do with that. She feels like she needs to know what happened in case something comes up about it. I think she's probably right," I said.

Karen squeezed my arm and nodded. Patty looked a little afraid, but she nodded too.

"Raymond Shepard said he wanted me to meet him behind the gym at lunch. I knew I couldn't run from him forever, so I met him. When I got there, there were two more guys with him. He started telling me how he was going to beat me up, so I hit him. I managed to kick him once too."

"That doesn't sound like it would cause the damage Maude Richards was telling me about last night," mom said.

"Mom," Patty said, "Karen and I decided we should help Ed. We took a couple of baseball bats and went around to see what was going on. Two guys were holding Ed and Shepard was beating the crap out of him. I sneaked up behind Shepard and hit him across the back with the ball bat."

"I got behind one of the guys who was holding Ed and hit him with a bat too," Karen said.

"You guys did a lot of damage," mom said. "Shepard has two broken ribs and he's bleeding from one of his kidneys. Bob Salyers has a broken tail bone."

"Mom, if I had to do it again, I'd do the same thing," Patty said. "I thought they were going to kill Ed. Take off your shirt and show mom your bruises, Ed."

I stood up and pulled off my shirt. I'd noticed this morning that I had a fine crop of bruises and I had shown Patty.

Mom looked at me and gasped. "They were still hitting you when Patty and Karen hit them?" mom asked.

"I don't know, Mom. I had passed out."

"They were still hitting him, Mrs. Miller," Karen said. "I thought they were going to kill him."

"Karen, I have to talk to your mother about this. Your parents need to know what's going on in case these kids' parents sue or something. I probably shouldn't say this, but I'm proud of you kids. I'll back you up on this to the end."

Mom left and went into the house to call Karen's mom. I asked Karen how her parents were going to react to this.

"I think they'll be okay with it. They may be a little mad that I didn't tell them about it right away, but they won't be mad that I hit the guy. At least dad won't. Mom hates violence in any form, so she may be a little upset."

I hadn't put my shirt back on and Karen sat there running her hand back and forth across my chest until Patty started teasing her about it. I was really enjoying the feeling.

I put my shirt back on just before mom came back out. Mom looked at Karen and said, "Girl, you are in trouble."

Karen's mouth fell open and I hugged her tight. Then, mom started laughing. "I guess that was mean, Karen. I'm sorry. Actually, I think your mother is okay with it. She does want you to be home for dinner though, and she'd like for Ed and Patty to have dinner with you guys as well."

Nothing was said about the incident until after we had finished eating. Claude and I went into the living room while the girls helped clear the table, then everyone joined us.

Mrs. Wellston was the first to speak. "I think I'd like to hear about what happened from you guys. Why don't each of you tell us about your part in this."

I started off and told them about what happened on Thursday, then continued on until I had passed out on Friday. Patty picked up and told them about her part, then Karen finished off the story.

Neither of Karen's parents said anything during the narration. Finally, Mrs. Wellston said, "You know, Ed, violence is not the way to handle any situation. If you hadn't lost your temper and hit Shepard on Thursday, none of the rest of this would have happened."

"I realize that, Mrs. Wellston. I've been in the same school with Raymond Shepard for two years. During those two years he has slapped me on numerous occasions. He has hit me on the shoulder or the arm hard enough to leave bruises countless times. He has shamed me and humiliated me daily. Why does he do it? Because I'm smart and because I'm overweight. I didn't lose my temper on Thursday. What I did was thought out and I knew the consequences. I knew he was going to beat me up for what I did, but I figured I'd at least gain a little respect and that he might lessen his torment if he knew I was going to fight back, even if it was ineffectual."

"In some ways that is even worse..." Mrs. Wellston started to say.

"Martha, what Ed did is very commendable," Claude said. "He had to be scared to death, but he had the courage to stand up for himself. I think we should be praising him instead of trying to show him the error of his ways."

"Perhaps you're right, Claude. You know how I abhor violence though. What ever made you think of using baseball bats on the boys, Patty?"

"Patty didn't think of using the baseball bats, Mom," Karen said. "I thought of the baseball bats. These aren't boys, Mom. Raymond Shepard is almost nineteen. He's had his full growth and strength for at least three years. He matured early and his physical strength, along with an IQ that matches his waist size, has turned him into a bully."

"Why couldn't you have just let it go, Karen? Ed said he knew he was going to be beaten and he accepted it. Why couldn't you?"

"Partially because I don't believe anyone should have to be beaten up by a bully. Mostly because I love Ed and have for a long time. When Patty and I saw what they were doing to him, I was ready to kill all three of them. Ed, take your shirt off and show mom your bruises."

I didn't say anything. I did get up and took off my shirt. Mrs. Wellston gasped and Claude said, "Oh, shit, Son."

"They had beaten him until he passed out. That didn't even slow them down. Shepard was acting like Ed was a punching bag. When Patty and I saw what they were doing, I think I'd have used the ball bat even if it had been someone I hated being beaten."

I put my shirt back on and sat down. "Mrs. Wellston, what would you have done if it had been Claude who was being beaten?" Patty asked.

Mrs. Wellston just sat there for a couple of minutes. Her head was down and it looked like she was going through a lot of internal conflict. Finally she raised her head and said, "I'd have done the same thing."

"Do you know what kind of story Shepard and Salyers gave the police?" Claude asked.

"I heard they told Mr. Adkins they were trying to walk along the railing behind the gym and that they'd fallen on the rail. That was before they knew how serious their injuries were though," Patty said.

"I don't think they wanted anyone to know they'd been hurt by two girls," Karen added.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens," Claude said. "This happened on Friday and it's now Sunday. I'd have thought the police would have already been around if Salyers and Shepard had told them what really happened. In the mean time, let's just try to put it behind us."

"Mr. and Mrs. Wellston, I would like your permission to continue dating Karen. We would like to go steady if you'll permit it," I said.

Karen squeezed my hand and smiled at me. Claude looked over at me and winked. "What do you think, Martha?" he asked.

"I think fifteen is a little young for a girl to be going steady," Mrs. Wellston said.

"I'll agree that fifteen is a little young," Claude said, "but don't you think she's shown a lot of maturity for her age?"

"Yes, I guess she has. Okay, kids. It's hard to see your children growing up. Just promise me you won't go too far, too fast."

"We promise, Mom," Karen said. "Ed and Patty are going to be driving to school from now on. Would it be okay for me to ride with them?"

"I think that would be fine," Claude said with a grin. "It might even keep you out of trouble, Girl. How did you get your dad to agree to that, Ed?"

"Well, I guess you could say that dad and I have come to an understanding. He's not going to hit me any more or be as strict and I'm not going to beat him up when he's asleep."

I thought Claude was going to choke on the iced tea he had been sipping. "You know, Ed, my father was a lot like yours. He used his fists a lot as I was growing up. I had pretty much the same conversation with him when I was about your age."

I was amazed. "Did it do any good?" I asked.

"Yes, it did. I hope it works as well for you. Sometimes a man has to stand up to a bully, even if the bully is your father."

Day 4 Monday, October 25

Driving to school was really nice, even if it did mean I was going to be in after school detention. Patty, Karen and I were all in the front seat for the trip, with Karen in the middle.

"Are you girls going to take the bus this afternoon?" I asked them.

"No, we're going to wait for you," Karen informed me. "I talked it over with mom and dad and they agreed it would be safer for me to wait for you. I'll just get my homework done while I'm waiting."

"Same here," Patty said.

"Well. It's only an hour. Maybe they'll even let you study in the detention study hall."

"We'll ask Mr. Adkins today," Karen decided. "That would make it a lot nicer."

Patty gave me a big hug and Karen gave me a hug and a kiss before we went inside and headed for our respective home rooms. Rumors were flying about Shepard and Salyers. No one had a clue as to what really happened, thank God.

It was just after noon when Mr. Adkins came on the PA system with an announcement. "Most of you have probably heard by now that we had two students injured when they were playing around on the railing behind the gymnasium on Friday. Tomorrow morning during second period there will be a safety presentation in the gymnasium. All students must attend." There was a collective groan from everyone.

"The two students were seriously injured. Mr. Salyers has a broken tail bone and Mr. Shepard has two broken ribs and his left kidney was injured to the point it had to be removed."

"This happened because the students ignored the rules that were set up for your protection. If any student is caught violating any of the school safety rules, they will be suspended for three days. A second offense will cause the student to be expelled. Copies of the school safety regulations are available in the front office."

"So, they haven't changed their stories," I thought. I hadn't wanted Shepard to lose a kidney because of what happened, but I couldn't feel too sorry for him either.

When I went into the detention hall, Jerry Bostwick, the third guy who had been holding me on Friday, was there waiting for me. "Miller, I have a message for you from Raymond and Bob. They say when they get out of the hospital they are going to kill you, your sister, and the other girl. This isn't me talking. I don't want any part of it. I think they're serious and I don't want to risk spending the rest of my life in jail."

I thanked him and he was gone before the detention supervisor arrived. I was in a daze during the detention period. I was vaguely aware that Patty and Karen had come in, but I really didn't look at them.

When the detention period was over, both girls asked me what was wrong. "Shepard and Salyers sent threats today, threats that they are going to kill all three of us. I don't know how serious they are, but I think we should talk to your dad about this, Karen."

Karen agreed, and we were a quiet bunch driving home.

When we got to Karen's place, we saw Claude working in the barn. I kissed Karen and told her and Patty to go on into the house and that I'd talk to Claude about the threats.

Claude had a big smile as we said hello. That really made me feel good. "Claude, I have a problem I need to talk to you about," I told him.