The Happier Family

Deek, I know where you are, Ricky thought, his fury as encompassing as the wet fog around him.  Wallowing in the mud, like a pig in shit.  He brushed through the forest with rage, storming through sinewy branches and blood-red vines.  He slipped down a muddy embankment, ruining his new jacket and his white sneakers, turning his left hand into a wet, grimy fist that tightened at the sight of Deek standing over the stream.

Before Deek could turn, Ricky rammed him in the back, sending both boys into the water.  Deek quickly jerked around, landing an elbow to his attacker’s temple and then pinning him to the stream edge.  He held Ricky by the throat, his natural fighting instincts telling him how much pressure to apply without going too far.

“What the hell is with you, bro?” Deek asked over his friend’s heaving.

“I know what you said about my mom, asshole!”

Deek eased up.  He rose to his feet and let Ricky rub his bruised neck.  “Man, forget this,” he said, turning to walk away.  “Forget your freak family.”

Ricky let out a spit that landed on the back of his friend’s neck.  Deek stopped and turned his head.

“Your douche of a dad lies, cheats, beats, and just completely punks your mom, and she takes him back.  She’s a stupid bitch, no matter how mad you get, bro.”  Deek continued to walk.  “Sometimes shit ain’t fair.”

Ricky watched his friend disappear in the fog and could only think about how much better his parents were than Deek’s, how much stronger his mom was for continuing through adversity while Deek’s mom had refused to take much less in her own marriage.  He thought about how much happier his family was.  He kept telling himself that because he knew he was right.

MS Word count: 299