Any constructive criticism is welcome.
*****
August 1997
Lungs burning and legs pumping furiously Jordyn Jameson pushed her bike faster around the wide curve of sidewalk bordering the park. She could hear the boys behind her gaining, their shouts and threats drawing attention from parents watching their children on the climbing structures and swings.
Glancing behind her, she could see Garret and his posse closing in. They'd caught her kissing Megan Perkins behind the vending machine at the library. It had been Megan's idea, the pretty blonde tugging JJ along the path to the machines. JJ had been reluctant, despite the curiosity she'd buried inside.
"I'm going to kick your skinny dyke ass Jameson!" Garret yelled, standing to pedal faster.
JJ felt her stomach give a sickening drop when two boys shot around the curve ahead of her, bearing down fast. She jerked her bike to the right, cutting through the grass towards the street. Looking ahead she could see a break in traffic that might save her ass and give her some time.
She could still see Megan's shy smile when she leaned against the wall, looking at JJ through long eyelashes. "Aren't you going to kiss me?" Megan had asked, tipping her head to the right so her hair fell over her shoulder.
"But you're Garret's girl. He's gonna beat me up if he finds out." JJ had almost taken a step back, but the soft hand on her wrist had stopped her.
"Please? He won't find out. I - I want you to kiss me." Megan had blushed, a cute pink stealing over her cheeks.
Breath coming faster, palms sweaty, chest filled with hope and wonder, JJ had leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Megan's small pink mouth. For a few seconds, the world had been right. JJ had felt right, like she was complete and whole. Then hell had opened up and tried to swallow her when Garret and his gang had come out of the side door and spotted them. Megan had looked up and gasped, drawing JJ's attention as a beefy fist connected with her shoulder.
JJ shook her head and timed her cut across the street, the old bike frame groaning as she hopped the curb and pedaled into the street. She raced across and down the open neighborhood street, making the first left to escape the boy's sight.
Slowing she sucked in air and looked back, relieved to see no one behind her. JJ kept going, not giving up her guard. She zig-zagged through the neighborhood streets, relieved when she'd remained alone for ten minutes. The boys never kept up that long. Turning down yet another street she veered to the sidewalk to avoid a car.
"There she is! Get the lesbo!" The shout, from the boys ahead of her and too close for comfort, had JJ's heart jumping into her throat. She wheeled around and forced her tired legs to go faster. She tried to lose them around another set of corners, but the boys only got closer. It wasn't long enough before her legs were cramping and Percy had come up alongside her. He had a nasty grin on his face and shoved her shoulder hard.
She went down fast, her bike tire catching on the curb when she tipped. Rolling and gaining her feet, JJ was at least off the ground when the boys began their attack. Garret got the first punch in, right to her nose. It was hard to keep track of which boy hit where but JJ made sure she got her own punches and jabs in where she could. Garret kept up a steady stream of curses and insults as someone hooked a foot behind her knee and sent her to the ground. The concrete was hot and rough under her hands, a sharp stinging on her elbow signaling ripped skin. One boy kicked her ribs with enough force to force the air from her lungs. Garret used his foot to push her onto her side and spit in her face.
"No slut dyke is gonna ruin my girl. You keep those nasty hands to yourself. If I catch you with another girl ever again I'm going to break your face." He sneered and straightened.
Before anyone else could land a kick a voice rang out, "Break it up boys, that's enough. I've got the cops on the phone and they're on their way."
JJ was jostled and stepped on as the boys made a fast get away. She forced herself to her feet and squinted in the bright sunlight for her bike. Before she could limp over a gentle hand on her shoulder stopped her, turning her around. "You look like you could use a nice cool glass of water. Come sit in the shade and relax, catch your breath."
JJ looked up into the woman's face, kind grey eyes in a gentle mother's face, surrounded by thick dark curls. "I'm fine. I should be getting home."
The woman gave her a knowing look and led her to a wide porch where a small girl sat, blonde curls everywhere. "I'm Debra, you can call me Debbie. This is Ashely, my daughter. She got my attention when the boys were being rather ungentlemanly." "I'm JJ."
"Hi JJ, I'm Ashley. I was coloring flowers and carrots for my bunnies to eat and play with." The girl beamed at JJ when she sat gingerly on the step. Her hands were covered in chalk dust and her jeans had chalky handprints in various places.
"Those boys are meanies. It's not nice to beat people up." Ashley leaned in and whispered, "They can be buttheads, even when they're grown up. Mommy said so."
Despite herself JJ smiled, "Your mom is right."
Ashley grinned and sat back, pleased with herself. She turned back to JJ but she spotted JJ's elbow before she could speak. "You need a Band-Aid. You're bleeding." Ashley stood up and walked to the screen door Debbie had vanished behind. "Mommy, JJ needs a Band-Aid for her elbow. She's bleeding." Ashley called, "You want a Wonder Woman Band-Aid? I have a whole box." She asked JJ, turning to face her.
"No, I'm fine, I don't need anything." JJ declined the offer, standing stiffly.
Ashley ran around in front of JJ and planted her feet, hands on her hips. "You are bleeding. When you bleed you need a Band-Aid. Now sit down until Mommy gets the first aid kit."
JJ sat back down, completely taken by surprise. "How old are you Ashley?" JJ asked, curious despite her hesitation around strangers.
"I'm eight years old." Ashley said, sitting next to JJ. "I turned eight in May and Mommy and Daddy took me up to my grandparent's house. They have a dog and she had puppies. I wanted to bring one home, but they're too young to leave their mom. I picked one out and when he's old enough and doesn't pee in the house, we're going to go pick him up. He's soo cute! He couldn't see yet, but he licked me when I held him, his little face all smushed up and his eyes closed tight, like this." Ashley made a face, her eyes squeezed tight, making little puppy noises.
Debbie walked back out, surprised to hear JJ laughing with Ashley. She knew who JJ's father was, had known her mother. The entire town was familiar with the tragedy of the Jameson family.
Mack and Emily had grown up in this town, high school sweethearts who married shortly after she'd completed college. When JJ had been born, there hadn't been a happier set of parents. JJ was two and too young to understand her mother's death, killed in a hit and run by a drunk driver passing through town. Mack had withdrawn from the community, continuing to work and care for the basic needs of himself and his young daughter.
Debbie wasn't sure if the rumors of drinking and abuse were true, she hoped they weren't. She remembered Mack as a gentle giant, big and built from years of construction, but gentle as a lamb. It was hard to imagine him as the rumors described. She hoped for his sake, and the sake of the young girl on her porch, that the rumors were false.
***
JJ pushed her bike through the gate and dumped it against the side of the house before trudging through the dead grass to the back patio. The old wood creaked under her feet and the side door opened with a shove.
The smell of stale smoke met her nose right away, dim light slicing though the thin curtains in the windows. If she was lucky, Mack wasn't home and she could change to hide the gauze taped to her arm.
Tip toeing over the ratty carpet in the kitchen she inched down the hall and into her room. Mack's bedroom door was half open, a sure sign he was still at work. She breathed a short sigh of relief, then forced herself to find a clean shirt and jeans.
Clothes bundled in her arm, JJ checked again and snuck to the bathroom, shutting and locking the door. She showered quickly, rinsing off the dirt, sweat and blood. She toweled off and slipped her clothing back on, the thin tee's long sleeves covered the gauze completely. JJ made it back to her room and tossed the old clothing into her small hamper before lying down on her bed.
Debbie had cleaned her up, bandaged the most serious cuts and scrapes. JJ had never had anyone fuss over her like that. Mack certainly didn't. It would be a miracle if there were bandages in the house. JJ swallowed the tears that tried to choke her. If Debra Turner was anything, she was the kind of mother JJ wished for. Kind, caring, and funny without being mean. She'd offered JJ lunch, really insisting JJ eat with herself and Ashley. They'd even given JJ and her beat up old bike a ride home.
Ashley. Now there was an adorable kid. Maybe a little too chatty, but happy and sweet. She'd offered JJ a tour of the house while Debbie had prepared lunch, showing JJ the living room, the bathroom and her room. The tour had included introductions to all of Ashley's stuffed animals and a peek at the tree house. JJ had agreed to come over in the next few weeks to play with Ashley, something she wasn't sure about.
There were four years between them, but JJ felt older. She didn't have a menagerie of stuffed animals with cute names like Button Bottom and Feisty Whiskers. The walls in her room had nothing on them. Bars were mounted on her window, her clothing stored in a plastic chest of clear drawers. Her bed was a second hand twin mattress with worn springs and torn stitching. Mack had supplied her with the basics, but didn't give a rat's ass about her comfort or happiness.
