Page 54 of Peaches

13

Grace

13 years old

“Retard!”

“Stupid!”

“Loser!”

The names don’t stop as I help Archie from the bus and look over my shoulder at the three kids that got off before us.

“Why didn’t you just die before you were born, Archie the Airhead!”

My fists clench at my side as I look back and grab my brother’s backpack quickly from the bus driver, who no more than frowns at the kids, and gives me a pathetic smile.

Thanks a lot, aren’t you supposed to be the adult here?

Glancing back at my brother, I find myself envying his peace, the desensitized way he views the world, if only to be able to block out times like this. Even with the assholes behind me, he’s still smiling brighter than ever as he stares back in my eyes and waits for me to lead the way home.

“I should just ignore them, right, Archie?” I ask, attempting to quiet the rage in my heart. His eyes glimmer with slight understanding before his smile spreads and he clasps his hand eagerly with mine, waiting for me to give him direction. If only he knew how much, in this moment, I’m taking my direction from him.

Isn’t it ironic?

I hear the asshole’s whispers behind me as I gently give his hand a tug and feel him fall in step at my side. Beginning to walk the two blocks home, I try and calm myself a little, if only because my mom warned me about getting in another fight, especially since I just got off suspension from my last one.

I dread thiseveryday. The hurtful things that never register in Archie’s world but can’t help and detonate in mine. It’s not just before school, after school, and when we go out around town. It’s during class, at recess, while I eat by myself at the lunch table and help my brother take bites out of his peanut butter and jelly.

We almost make it a block before the bullies start in again.

“Freak! You’d die any ways if you didn’t have your gene stealing sister to take care of you!”

I close my eyes and pray for strength I swear I don’t have. This is all kinds of too heavy for a thirteen-year-old.

And I’m sure you’re asking yourself the same question as I am, isn’t this book supposed to be a romantic comedy?

But it’s like my mother always says,the only way to first enjoy anything sweet in life is to unfortunately indulge in the sour.

I hear the kids laugh as I pull Archie a little closer to my side and my heart sinks. This, no doubt, is the sour. He looks behind us, curious, but totally blind to their teasing.

Stay that way, Archie, I feel my heart whisper.

Stay sweet. Stay Kind.

“Archie the Airhead!” They begin to singsong. “Archie the Airhead!”

I pull my brother closer and quicken my pace as I see our house in sight. My mother waits out front and eyes us curiously, but the kids pay no attention to her and continue their evil rant.

“Deadbeat! Just like your old man! No wonder he walked out on you. I’d have run, too, if I had a kid as stupid as…”

Oomph!

The bully to my right goes down with a thud as I pounce on top of him and start swinging.

The kids crowd around us in a circle as Archie is pushed out of the way and forgotten.

“Asshole!” I yell, not caring if my mother overhears. “Didn’t your mother teach you to Shut. The. Fuck. Up?”

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