Post by SnakeFire on Mar 28, 2005 23:01:14 GMT -5
CHAPTER 6
..................
Jake-"For God's sake, could you leave me alone?"
Jerry-"For God's sake? He's probably pissed that you're killing yourself right now."
Jake-"GAAH- I need a smoke."
Jerry-"You see- those sticks have got you by the nuts."
Jake-"No- your nagging is what's grabbin' me."
This is what I heard most of the time from the two of them. My gut was hurting from holding in the bellowing of laughter.
Jake-"What's with the snickering?"
Kylie-"Who- me?"
Jake-"No- the person behind you."
Kylie-"I was just listening to you. Like an old married couple."
Jake-"Nice."
The scenery went from the beach to the mountains, as we were headed towards D.C., traveling through Pennsylvania. It was a lot colder up in the mountains, as I cuddled myself up in my sweater, as best as I could. The mountains were dotted with houses- up and down the cliffs and edges. I lost concentration because of the chattering of my teeth. I didn’t even want to see how cold the glass was. Jerry looked back at me a couple of times- still, not saying much, unless it had to do with Jake’s bad habits.
Jake-”I don’t know about you two, but the first thing I’m goin’ to do, is get me a draft.”
Kylie-”A draft? Just one?”
Jake-”You are a bad influence Jerry.”
Kylie-”I don’t need the influence- just looking at the all of empty bottles in your apartment was bad enough.”
Jake-”Ouch.”
Jerry laughed, which made me feel just that much better. You usually don’t see him smile or show any sign of laying back.
It was dark out, with the sun setting in the west, behind the tops of mountains. I had never been to Pennsylvania before- Pap and I usually stayed in cities or large towns. This was the closest to country that I had ever been.
Jake turned the Denali into a small rural parking lot. He jumped out first, followed by Jerry. I was hesitant- it was so cold, I wanted to stay inside of the car. But, I would rather be in the cold, than alone in a place that I’ve never been before. I grabbed the gloves out of my bag, walking behind them.
I looked straight ahead in the direction that we were all walking. Sticking my hands in my pockets, I saw that we were going to a restaurant. It was a two story restaurant, with a motel on the first floor. Both Jake and Jerry looked at ease, like they had been there before. I on the other hand, looked curious, taking in the surrounding area. I couldn’t take much of it in because the Northern winds were killing me- usually, I loved the cold. Of course, I had real winter clothes, scarves and mittens with heavy set jackets. Now, I felt naked with just a thin fleece sweater and gloves that exposed my finger tips.
Jake walked in, with Jerry holding the door for me. A rush of warmth spread from my numbed fingers to my shaking knees. I now knew one of the simple pleasures like they talk about in those Milky Way commercials. Being so occupied with myself, I had to catch up with Jerry. I could see them headed upstairs past guest services. Jake went straight to the bar, looking at me, saying with his eyes “Don’t you give me any crap.”
Jerry was in one of those booths, with a hanging light over the table- dimmed like in most restaurants. I sat across from him, keeping that balance of “no eye-contact”. Still having that after-effect of chills getting used to the change in temperature, I bounced my feet up and down. I rested my chin in the palm of my right hand. I could feel the pressure reach my wound- I didn’t care anymore. I was used to the pain and it being there. There was a window next to our booth. I couldn’t seem to get away from windows lately.
A waiter came by and asked what we would like to drink. Jerry just said “water “, like the conversationalist he was. I said, making up for his lack of personality, that I would like a cup of hot tea. The waiter handed us two menus, asking if we needed any more. Jerry looked at Jake, sitting up at the bar.
Jerry-”No.”
After he walked away, giving us the same old “be back with your drinks and than I will take your order” routine, I decided to start a conversation with the silent one.
Kylie-”Why didn’t you just get him a menu?”
Jerry-”Why should I have? He’ll get full from the rum and beer.”
Kylie-”That guy is going to die early.”
Jerry-”I’ve been telling him that for years- but he’s still livin’.”
Kylie-”Jake said that he was 37- he doesn’t look it.”
Jerry-”And I’m sure you’d say the same thing to me being 35.”
That made my jaw practically fall through the table. 35? I thought. He looks like he’s in his mid 20’s, at the most! These two guys were only a few more years to being 40. Thank God I looked my age.
Jerry-”Why do you care about how old he is anyway?”
Kylie-”I don’t- I just found it interesting.”
Jerry-”In what way?”
Kylie-”In the way that now I can guess as an average, how many years they’ve been doing this to people.”
Jerry-”This has been going on for a while now.”
..................
Jake-"For God's sake, could you leave me alone?"
Jerry-"For God's sake? He's probably pissed that you're killing yourself right now."
Jake-"GAAH- I need a smoke."
Jerry-"You see- those sticks have got you by the nuts."
Jake-"No- your nagging is what's grabbin' me."
This is what I heard most of the time from the two of them. My gut was hurting from holding in the bellowing of laughter.
Jake-"What's with the snickering?"
Kylie-"Who- me?"
Jake-"No- the person behind you."
Kylie-"I was just listening to you. Like an old married couple."
Jake-"Nice."
The scenery went from the beach to the mountains, as we were headed towards D.C., traveling through Pennsylvania. It was a lot colder up in the mountains, as I cuddled myself up in my sweater, as best as I could. The mountains were dotted with houses- up and down the cliffs and edges. I lost concentration because of the chattering of my teeth. I didn’t even want to see how cold the glass was. Jerry looked back at me a couple of times- still, not saying much, unless it had to do with Jake’s bad habits.
Jake-”I don’t know about you two, but the first thing I’m goin’ to do, is get me a draft.”
Kylie-”A draft? Just one?”
Jake-”You are a bad influence Jerry.”
Kylie-”I don’t need the influence- just looking at the all of empty bottles in your apartment was bad enough.”
Jake-”Ouch.”
Jerry laughed, which made me feel just that much better. You usually don’t see him smile or show any sign of laying back.
It was dark out, with the sun setting in the west, behind the tops of mountains. I had never been to Pennsylvania before- Pap and I usually stayed in cities or large towns. This was the closest to country that I had ever been.
Jake turned the Denali into a small rural parking lot. He jumped out first, followed by Jerry. I was hesitant- it was so cold, I wanted to stay inside of the car. But, I would rather be in the cold, than alone in a place that I’ve never been before. I grabbed the gloves out of my bag, walking behind them.
I looked straight ahead in the direction that we were all walking. Sticking my hands in my pockets, I saw that we were going to a restaurant. It was a two story restaurant, with a motel on the first floor. Both Jake and Jerry looked at ease, like they had been there before. I on the other hand, looked curious, taking in the surrounding area. I couldn’t take much of it in because the Northern winds were killing me- usually, I loved the cold. Of course, I had real winter clothes, scarves and mittens with heavy set jackets. Now, I felt naked with just a thin fleece sweater and gloves that exposed my finger tips.
Jake walked in, with Jerry holding the door for me. A rush of warmth spread from my numbed fingers to my shaking knees. I now knew one of the simple pleasures like they talk about in those Milky Way commercials. Being so occupied with myself, I had to catch up with Jerry. I could see them headed upstairs past guest services. Jake went straight to the bar, looking at me, saying with his eyes “Don’t you give me any crap.”
Jerry was in one of those booths, with a hanging light over the table- dimmed like in most restaurants. I sat across from him, keeping that balance of “no eye-contact”. Still having that after-effect of chills getting used to the change in temperature, I bounced my feet up and down. I rested my chin in the palm of my right hand. I could feel the pressure reach my wound- I didn’t care anymore. I was used to the pain and it being there. There was a window next to our booth. I couldn’t seem to get away from windows lately.
A waiter came by and asked what we would like to drink. Jerry just said “water “, like the conversationalist he was. I said, making up for his lack of personality, that I would like a cup of hot tea. The waiter handed us two menus, asking if we needed any more. Jerry looked at Jake, sitting up at the bar.
Jerry-”No.”
After he walked away, giving us the same old “be back with your drinks and than I will take your order” routine, I decided to start a conversation with the silent one.
Kylie-”Why didn’t you just get him a menu?”
Jerry-”Why should I have? He’ll get full from the rum and beer.”
Kylie-”That guy is going to die early.”
Jerry-”I’ve been telling him that for years- but he’s still livin’.”
Kylie-”Jake said that he was 37- he doesn’t look it.”
Jerry-”And I’m sure you’d say the same thing to me being 35.”
That made my jaw practically fall through the table. 35? I thought. He looks like he’s in his mid 20’s, at the most! These two guys were only a few more years to being 40. Thank God I looked my age.
Jerry-”Why do you care about how old he is anyway?”
Kylie-”I don’t- I just found it interesting.”
Jerry-”In what way?”
Kylie-”In the way that now I can guess as an average, how many years they’ve been doing this to people.”
Jerry-”This has been going on for a while now.”