Post by Preacher Jejune on Jul 4, 2011 17:43:38 GMT -5
“And then, Billy Joe went over to the gator and started poking it with a stick! We thought it was dead, and Noelle thought we might take it home and see if Mamma wanted to cook it- or, at least, scare Daddy with that eyeball stew again, remember that? I couldn’t stop laughing for a week! But anyway, BJ was poking the thing and then it jumped up and started hissing! We all got soooo scared…”
A guy had to love conversations with his twelve year old sister, especially when the only way she knew how to talk was to babble on like a lawn mower. Shaking his head ruefully, a lone figure let the hand holding the phone drop to his side. June would never even notice.
Scratching absently at the back of his neck, Preacher strolled down the quiet city street, eyes trained on the green trees up ahead. Who’d’a thunk it that he, of all people, would crave a bit of green, after having fun in the big city? Him, the big bad night owl, who, at one point, would have sold his grandma’s soul for a good drink and a wild time?
But there he had it…and, all in all, it was understandable. His beloved bayou was definitely much different from the iron jungle that surrounded him. Talk about suffocating sometimes, no matter how much pleasure he got out of facing its hidden dangers.
After a minute of ruminating, he put the phone back up to his ear…and was instantly glad that he did so.
“And that’s when he kissed me!” June said happily, feminine glee in her voice. “I mean, I thought I’d tell you before you heard it from BJ.”
“Wait what? Who the hell went and kissed you, June? You’re too young for that sh…stuff, cher. What’s his name? Tell me his name and put BJ on the phone.” The words left his mouth in an irritated tone, as he glared at the iron gate that sat at the park’s entrance. Hearing June’s unhappy whine, he instantly went into a lecture about what ‘lady’s’ do, and that she was too young to be doing it.
All in all, it was probably quite amusing; such a speech coming from the likes of him. Gripping his phone in a hand sporting a simple silver ring and a leather wristband, he continued to walk, coming into the park with something akin to a sigh. His worn black work boots scuffed on the gravel, and faded jeans swished softly in the quiet. Managing to balance the phone against his shoulder, he shoved a hand through his shaggy hair, scowling at a nearby tree as he continued to rant. Covering the rest of him was a plain grey tshirt and a jean jacket that had seen more fights than God. Taking a drag of his cigarette, he rubbed at his stubble-covered chin and sighed, as his sister started to whine about ‘Mamma having fun’, and ‘being SO in love.’
Being the second eldest of eight children, Preacher always considered himself as being his younger siblings' protector. Daddy and Momma were too wrapped up in their own stuff, and Travis, the real eldest, was out doing his own- probably illegal- thing, so that left ‘ol Jack. He’d always felt bad, skipping town and leaving them back in Pottersville, but he knew they understood.
Hell, they’d probably join him one day, when they got old enough.
Whoop-dee-friggin-doo.
After growling a few threats at June and charging BJ, June’s elder by two years and big enough to hold his own in a fight, to watch over his sister and make sure that the ‘dumb Tom didn’t come sticking things where he ain’t welcome’, Preacher hung up the phone and just resisted to chuck it into the nearest bush.
He loved his family, oh yes he did.
Ah, if only they all could stay so young.