Strange Love • Steve Harrington

Winter of '72

Wendy Byers. The daughter of Dick and May Byers, the niece of Joyce and Lonnie. My parents were high school lovers, having me at 19. They really were in love. It was like they were meant to be. The true love that every parents tell their children about.

My mother was a waitress at a diner in Chicago. My father was a machinc in Chicago. They did everything for me. Work late, take double shifts, just to make me happy. You're probably thinking, why am I talking about them as if in past tense. Sadly my parents died, car accident. I was lucky to be alive. So was I told. this is how it all began.

January 1, 1972

Happy New Year! As the clock struck 12. As the adults drank their 'apple juice', and we played with little army men. Jonathan, Will and I were inseparable. We basically grew up with each other. They were like my brothers more than my cousins.

"Alright Wendy, time to go home." My mom, May, picked me up from the ground.

"Can we stay?" My father, Dick, asked my mother.

"We cant. Wendy has been telling us to go home. Plus tomorrow is gonna have a blizzard." My dad sighed and agreed with my mom. "Thank you so much Joyce." I remember my moms smile.

"No worries, anytime." Aunt Joyce smiled back. My dad went to hug his older brother Lonnie.

"Alright brother, its time to hit the road." They both gave big hugs. "Bye Joyce, nice seeing you again."

"Bye Dick." I waved goodbye to my aunt and uncle. My mom buckled me in my seat and sat in the front. My dad pulled off, waving goodbye. Indiana was pretty far from Chicago, i knew I was gonna take a good nap.

"Go to sleep bunny, we will wake you up." My mom gently kiss my hand. I slowly closed my eyes. What felt like an hour, i was woken up by my dads driving. He was swerving from all the ice on the road. "Dick!"

"Dont worry May, its just ice."

"Are you sure you can drive? You had a couple of drinks." You heard the worry in my moms voice.

"Im fine." We continued to drive. I didnt go back to sleep do to the bumpy roads.

"Mommy?" I whispered. My mother turned around.

"Yes dear?"

"When will we be home?"

"Soon buddy." My father looked back at me with the mirror.

"I love you." They both said to me.

"I love you more." I sat back and looked at the snowy road. I still remember the song that song that was playing on the radio. American Pie.

"Dick! WATCH OU-" and of the sudden, I saw bright headlights and then black. I woke up from the radio, still playing the song. I saw blue, red and white lights. Smoking going up the air.

"She's alive!" One of the police officers yelled out. The paramedics lifted me up. I turned the the right and saw my parents inside the crushed car.

"Mommy! Daddy!" I screamed bloody murder. I cried, i tried to get out of the harness but they keep pushing me down.

"Its okay sweetheart. Can you remember your name?"

"Mommy! Daddy!" I keep yelling over and over. We made it to the hospital and they did a check up.

"What about the parents?" I over heard the doctor. I was in a play room, while someone watched over me.

"Sadly, they didnt make it." There was silence. The man came back in the room and sat down next to me.

"Hey there Wendy. I need to tell you something."

"My parents are dead. I know." I said as I continued to play with the logs. The man nodded his head.

"How do you feeling." I didn't turn to him. I was crying and I didn't want him to know.

"Mad." Just as the man was gonna say something, two men came in.

"Ready." The two men took me, without warning.

"NO!" I screamed. They had to carry me out of the hospital and into their car. They took to a orphanage. Thats when I knew, I wasn't going home.