Page 6 of Sugar and Skulls

“Are you sure. Cause I got money. I work real hard for it. On Monday’s I go to Bell’s and take the trash out of all the rooms. She pays me ten dollars for doing it. Then on Wednesday’s I go to old man Tom’s house and take his dog for a walk. He looks real mean but he’s a nice dog. To me anyway. Sometimes he growls at people, but I think it’s just because he’s old. Old man Tom growls too so maybe it’s just their thing. But, anyway I get two dollars each time I take him on walk. Then on….”

Big Dan laughs. “Okay, okay I get it girl, you work hard for your money. How about you just pay me with a drawing.”

I nod enthusiastically at him. Trading is good. Sometimes I trade for things I want. Like one time I traded with Samuel at the hardware store. He gave me two cans of spray paint and all I had to give him was Renee’s phone number. She wasn’t too happy about it, but I got the paint so there’s that.

“I’ll draw something real special and bring it to you tomorrow,” I tell him as I’m making my way to the door. It’s easy to talk to this guy, he’s nice even though he looks like he could take his fist and pound you right down into the dirt.

“Sure thing, kid.” Before I step outside he stops me. “Hey, you got a name?”

I turn and smile big. “It’s Jesse but you can call me Jess if you want. All my friends call me Jess.”

“Okay, then Jess. My name is Big Dan. See you tomorrow.”

I nod at him and then run all the way to the store. I’m going to need some paper and pens because I got lots of ideas for Big Dan. After I get what I need I head over to William’s pausing under the window of the trailer to listen for his foster dad. He yells a lot but, we both agree it’s better than being around Father Gabriel.

The lady with the suit moved us both here after the fire. William didn’t do anything mean but I think the lady in the suit saw that Father Gabriel was a bad egg and that William and I were best friends so she found him a home near me so we would at least have each other.

I knock on the window. It only takes a few minutes and William comes outside. “Hey, Jess,” he takes the steps in one big jump. I pull my sleeve up to show him my arm. “Aw, that’s real cool.” He ruffles my hair like I’m a little kid, but I don’t mind. Ever since we came here he treats me like a little sister. Not how Rick treated me but like a real sister. I like it. He makes me feel safe.

We walk to the garage together. I rattle on about my day and he listens. He rolls the door open and we circle the rat rod he’s working on. He’s sixteen now and hoping he can get it running so we don’t have to walk to school anymore. It’s not far but still who wants to walk when you can ride. Especially in something cool like this. I’ve been working on some dope designs to paint on the side once he gets it finished.

He slides under the rod and I sit down beside him on the cool cement. I pull out my new sketch book and get busy on the designs for Big Dan while William continues to tinker under Sylvia. That’s what we named her. William told me that you have to name your ride. I don’t know where we came up with Sylvia but whatever, it works. “Hand me that wrench by your knee, will you?” he asks, holding out his hand.

I place it in his hand and peek under to see what he is doing. He is smart when it comes to mechanics. He told me his real dad was a mechanic and that’s where he learned most of what he knows. His foster dad helps him work on the rod, but only when he’s not drinking. When he drinks he’s good for nothing.

“I’ve been thinking Jess, I don’t think it’s safe for you to be walking around after dark like you do.”

“I’m not stupid, you know. I pay attention to what’s going on around me.”

He slides out from underneath the car. “I didn’t say you were stupid did I?”

“No. I’m sorry,” I drop my eyes to the drawing in front of me.

He sits up and puts his hand on my knee. “You’re a pretty girl, Jess and…well, you’re getting older and that’s making you even prettier. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Okay?”

“Monsters don’t only come out in the dark, William.” I knock his hand off my knee and start to gather my artwork.

“Jesse. Don’t be mad,” he says, following me out of the garage.

“I’m not mad.” And, I’m not. I know he’s worried I’ll put myself in a bad situation, but the thing is bad situations find me no matter how hard I try to avoid them.

He grabs my arm and spins me around to face him. He tucks a strand of my wild, dark hair behind my ear. “I just don’t want you to have to set fire to someone else. They’ll take you away from me and who knows where you’ll end up.”

I drop my forehead to his chest and whisper, “I know.” He hugs me for a few minutes before letting me go. “I’ll try not to walk around at night.”

“You’re lying,” he smirks.

“You know I can’t graffiti in the daylight, right?” I laugh and run away from him.

He yells behind me. “You’re something else Jesse Miller.”

“One of a kind,” I yell back.

Chapter Five

Jesse

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