City Fool [Mike Hanlon]

𝖿 𝗂 𝖿 𝗍 𝖾 𝖾 𝗇

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: MY BEDROOM WINDOW

     A couple of days after the incident at the arcade, Richie and Ginny found themselves at Stan's bar mitzvah. Neither of the two had ever been religious, like ever in their lives. However the pair knew that no matter what, they'd do anything for Stan. He was one of Ginny's best friends and no argument their friends had could keep her away. She knew that Bill and the others would regret not showing up but who needs them if they're not there.

"Reflecting on the meaning of what I just read, the word comes up a lot which means to change. To transform. Which makes sense I guess because today I'm supposed to become a man. It's funny though. Everyone, I think, has some memories they're prouder of than others, right?" Stan began his speech.

Ginny thought of their friends. It wasn't her proudest memory, arguing with them that is. Maybe she shouldn't have been so hard on Bill and Bev as she was thinking the same way they were at the beginning of the day they encountered the clown. She shoved that thought away because she knew that her and the other's feelings were just as valid as Bev and Bill's.

"And maybe that's why change is so scary. Because the things we wish we could leave behind, the whispers we wish we could silence, the nightmares we most want to wake up from, the memories we wish we could change, secrets we feel like we have to keep, anxiety we feel we have to hide."

Richie gripped Ginny's hand tightly in his as Stan spoke. The girl began snapping her hair tie that was on the wrist of the hand Richie was holding. They both knew he was thinking about the arcade incident causing the girl to lay her head on her brother's shoulder. She thought back to her first kiss and how it had been with Betty. She knew she could never share that fact with anyone but it meant a lot to her.

"Like the hardest to walk away from. The good stuff, the pictures in our mind that fade away the fastest. Those pieces of you it feels the easiest to lose. Maybe I don't want to forget. Maybe if that's what today is all about, forget it right?"

Stan's father, the Rabi, attempted to tug the microphone from his son's hand but the boy kept his grip on it. Stan was going to finish what he had to say and Ginny was proud of him for standing up for himself without having to use words.

"Today I'm supposed to become a man but I don't, I don't feel any different. Alright, I know I'm a loser and no matter what I always fucking will be," Stan dropped the microphone and walked out of the church.

From his spot next to Ginny, Richie rose and began to clap for their friend. His sister and the other side of him, pulled the boy back into his seat before Ginny stood and ran out of the church to find Stan.

The boy was about half way down the block by the time the girl had spotted him making it a little hard for her to catch up to him. She ran, her teal dress with white polka dots slowing her down slightly, as she called out his name once.