Page 16 of Irons

“Wrenly, we have Tony’s funeral. After that I will take you, but we can’t skip out on Tony. His parents would like you to step in as pall bearer for Travis.”

I paused. “I’m a girl though. What? Me?” I pointed at myself.

“Please, Wrenly. Let’s just survive the next few hours and I promise I’ll take you to see him.” Dad stood.

“What? To say goodbye because I won’t ever see him again?” My body shook as I cried.

“Nobody is saying you won’t ever see him again.” He tried to calm me.

I was a mess that day. It took a while for my dad to calm me enough for the funeral. I did in fact have to carry the casket of one of my favorite people in the world. Tony was like an uncle to me as well, and my emotions were everywhere. I had to stay strong and do it for Tony and Travis. I had already forgiven Travis for the dance. That happened the moment I heard Tony was killed on duty. But, I didn’t know if I could forgive him for almost killing himself.

Happiness

Travis

I walked into Creed’s house and paused at what I saw. Weston was on the floor rolling around with his hand over his junk groaning while Addie stood over him. She looked at me and her eyes lit up. “Uncle Twabiss!”

She jumped over her Uncle’s body and ran into my arms. “What have you done now?” I asked as she wrapped her arms and legs around me, just like a monkey. She looks like such an innocent angel with those blond pigtails and purple glasses. Nobody would expect the true power that kid had behind her punch.

I walked toward Weston who was still cradling his balls as Addie spoke. “He day I wud getting brother’s and they going to eat all da red snow cones.”

I looked down at Weston. “Why do you poke the bear? Are you stupid? That sh…stuff won’t go over well in the Army. If a six year old can kick you’re a…I mean kick your butt, you don’t have a chance.” I chuckled. “I don’t think the Army is the branch for you, kid. The Marines take the crayon eaters and marker sniffers.”

“Yeah!” Addie stuck her tongue out at her uncle.

“What now?” I looked away from Weston and saw Morgan.

“Weston’s a stupid Maween!” Addie answered then tried to spit on him, but I put my hand over her mouth just in time.

“Don’t spit on a man that’s already down, Addie.” I warned her.

Morgan groaned. “Come on, Addie. Let’s go talk to daddy again. This is the second time tonight you hurt your uncle.”

I chuckled. That was expected from a stupid Maween.

“Okay, I’m going to tell daddy how I punched the stupid Maween in the dick!” Addie hopped down and Morgan and I both gasped. Holy shit, she did not just say that!

Morgan’s eyes shot up to mine and I held my hands up in surrender. “She did not get that from me.”

Addie ran by her mom and toward the kitchen. “Daddy! I punched da stupid Maween in da dick!”

I heard a few coughs then laughter from the guys. Morgan looked at me and her jaw was still on the floor. “I don’t know what to say.” She looked devastated.

I shook my head and looked down at Weston. “I guess you can deal with your brother now. We aren’t dumb, we know where she picked that up.” Damn teenagers.

Morgan let out a deep and very defeated sigh. “Come on in, Travis. They’re all in the kitchen, we’re just waiting for Valerie, Uncle Darren, and the Grangers.” She then looked at Weston. “I’ll bring you an ice pack.”

Every Thursday night all the Originals hung out at Creed’s. Morgan always over worked herself in the kitchen andwe would end up downstairs drinking a few beers in Creed’s bar after dinner.

I looked down at Weston. “Prospect! Why the hell are you letting a pregnant woman wait on you? Get your ass off the floor and suck it up.” I loved fucking with those two teenagers.

“Sir yes sir!” He mustered together the strength to push himself off the floor.

“You should be disgusted with yourself. A six year old?” I rushed him off toward the kitchen.

He was a good kid, just not the brightest. Everyone knew not to fuck with Addie. She was the loosest cannon on Creed’s Lake. The tiniest little badass on Creed’s Lake…well, besides Melissa. I was sure with her short stature she didn’t have an easy life at school and probably learned young how to fight back.

I walked into the kitchen and Creed was kneeled down to Addie’s height as she smiled proudly. “I punched him right in da dick, daddy!”

---