Harry's POV
It was 1973 and new people coming to my small town in Louisiana, it was unheard of. I was in my senior year of high school and life was simple, for the most part.
I was old for my grade, I was held back in second grade. Idiotic, right? I was already 18 and legal to vote while all the kids in my grade had to wait another half year or so. Although, being 18 and a legal voter had only been established for two years. I was one of the lucky first bunches to get to vote.
There were pretty girls in my grade. All the boys thirsted over them. I never let anyone love me, so I never loved any of them. Girls (in all honesty) drooled over me in a way. Not to brag. None of them would accept my real life though so what's the point of leading them on.
In the ninth grade, I went on one date with a girl named Becky and after that, she told me that she loved me. I laughed so hard I didn't even notice that she walked away. I was horrible.
I don't know why I'm telling you this.
I'll just skip to my job.
I work at a diner in my quiet town. The only one that inhabits it. There are a ton of locals that come in, mainly on Sunday's. The usual truck drivers stop every now and then. Tony, a balding fifty year-old man stops in every Tuesday night at 5 for a cup of coffee and to flirt with Dana the waitress. After that he leaves.
"Tony," Dana rolls her eyes, "you gotta buy something or get out. You already had two cups of coffee and no food. I'm not speaking to you, I have a boyfriend."
"What's his name this time?" Tony laughs, seeing right through Dana's lies. Dana is single.
"Tony, just leave," Dana sighs and walks to the back of the diner.
"You'll crack her someday," I slap Tony on the back and head back to the counter to wipe it off.
The bell to the door rings very loudly as a guy in his forties steps through it. He takes a seat and a girl much younger than him with light brown hair follows him. Her blue eyes strike me from here. She keeps her head down after making eye contact with me and slides in the booth across from the guy.
Dana appears from behind me and urges me to get their order.
"You're the waitress," I complain.
"Get the damn order from 'em," Dana snaps and shoves the pad and pen into my hands.
"Fine," I sigh and walk over to the table. The girl avoids eye contact with me but I wish she didn't. Her eyes looked so bright from across the room a few seconds ago.
"Hey buddy, I'm right here," the guy in his twenties spits.
"Can I get you something?" The pen in my hand moves to the pad as I get ready to write.
"Yeah, I want a beer and she wants a water. I'm gonna get a burger and fries. She wants the same thing," he folds the menu and hands it to me. The girl across from him didn't even touch hers before and she hands it to me.
"That'll be ready in a few minutes." I bring the order back to Dana in the kitchen. I peer through the gap between the serving area for the plates and the lights for the stove. The man is saying something to the girl. He laughs and she fakes a smile.
"Get the drinks, Harry," Dana nudges my arm and I turn to the fountain. I fill a cup of water and grab a beer from the fridge. The top snaps off as I pull it with an opener and fog spills out. I bring the drinks over to their table and the girl finally makes eye contact with me. I stare at her eyes for too long.
It feels like slow motion, her eyes blink, covering the sky color for mere split seconds. Her eyes speak something but I miss it as the man stands up and moves closer to me.
"Did you hear me?" He spits.
"What?" I blink my eyes, tearing myself from her gaze and look at him.
"What's your name, boy?" He shoves a finger into my chest.
"What's your name?" I slowly speak.
"You tryin' to play smart-ass with me? I want my food and you better get it to me without staring at the damn woman," he pushes me back and I stumble on my feet. What's with this guy? Are they together?
"Sorry, man," I shake my head and turn to go to the kitchen to check on their food.
"Better be sorry," the table squeaks from him sitting back down and I disappear behind the steel door.
After minutes, their food is finally ready. I bring it to the table and patiently wait for them to finish it. She doesn't touch her food while he scarfs down his plate and half of hers.
I wonder if she's okay.
Dana brings them their check, knowing that I would be willing to get in a fight with him if he asked for it, and he was getting pretty close.
The girl walks out the door behind him and for a second I think she looks back at me.
It was too quick to catch though.
I'm kinda hoping it was real though.
I don't know why.
"You think she's cute?" Dana teases me, reading my mind.
"She was beautiful, but I don't know why she was with that dick," I roll my eyes and start wiping the counters.
"And you're one to talk about being a dick to girls," Dana smacks me on the back with her towel and I glare at her.
"They're just high school girls! Who cares if you hurt 'em, they'll get married someday and I'd rather not be that man. High school doesn't matter so why should the feelings matter?" I shrug my shoulders and take my apron off. It's finally closing time.
"Be good tonight, Harry," Dana rubs my back as I gather my stuff together. I shove all my journals into my backpack and shrug it onto my shoulder.
"Goodnight, Dana," I wave as I exit the diner.
"Night, darling," she calls after me.
I walk down the main dirt road to my house for about ten minutes until I stumble upon the screen door with a hole in it.
I walk through the front door and quietly close it with the hinges squeaking. I tip toe to Susie's room and open the door.
"Susie?" I whisper.
"I'm in here," she whispers back.
"Hey, baby doll," I smile and walk over to her small bed. I run my fingers through her thin hair and kiss her forehead. "Was mommy nice today?"
"She was sleeping all day," Susie says quieter, I automatically know she's lying.
"Susie?" I sternly demand.
"No," her voice becomes muffled as light from the hallway reflects off her tear drops in the dark.
I stand and close the door, flicking the light on with it. I look at Susie's small face and see a red mark forming on her right cheek.
"Susie, let's go to bed," I say as calm as I can when anger is boiling up inside me.
Susie nods her head as tears roll down her cheeks.
"Baby, it's okay," I do my best to soothe her fear of being punished. I let her lay down and I pull the covers up over her shoulders. "Goodnight."
I kiss her forehead once more and walk over to the door. My hand reaches for the light switch when I hear, "I love you, Harry."
"Love you too, Susie," I force the tears from my eyes and turn off the lights. I close the door quietly and storm to my mother's room.
I swing the door open and there she lays on the bed with an unfamiliar man sleeping next to her. I grab the man's arm and yank him out of the bed.
"What the hell is going on?" He sleepily yells.
"Out, out of this house!" I scream and shove him through the halls and out the front door.
"The hell is wrong with you?" My mother's voice sounds behind me as the man heads to his truck whilst flipping me off.
"What's wrong with me is that I keep having to come home to bruises on my seven-year-old sister's face. That's what the hell is wrong with me," I fume, feeling my face turn red from anger.
"She knocked over a glass today, made a mess, I wasn't going to let it slide," she groggily, yet makes a sad attempt to defend herself.
"She's a child! She makes mistakes!" I throw my arms up. I breathe in and out harshly when she doesn't say anything back. Then it dawns on me. "Wait, she was here?"
My mom nods her head.
"Why wasn't she in school?" I slowly ask.
"Hank came over and I didn't have the time to take her," she shrugs.
"You ignored your daughters needs just so you could sleep around?" I scream louder than the last time.
"Don't you say that about me! I'm your mother! You should respect me you piece of shit!" She screams back and takes a step closer to me. I would never hit a woman but I make an attempt to shove her back.
"I lost respect for you when you let her father walk out that door. I lost respect when you laid a finger on her precious little head. I lost respect when a mother's wants became more important than a daughter's needs," I quietly retort and fall back into my slumped posture.
"You make me sound like a criminal," she shakes her head.
"Maybe you are. And Judy? If I come home and Susie is having to lie to me about you hurting her one more time, me and Susie are gone. We are gone and I'm getting the police in on this," I point my finger to the ground as if to show her a map of my plans. She doesn't like the sound of this for her shoulders slump.
"I'm going to bed," I finally say and shove past her. I open my door and slam it shut, just to prove a point. My shirt is on the floor and I'm in the shower within seconds. Finally after all the dirt I feel is washed off, I step out and pull on a pair of boxers. I slip into my covers and think about the mess that my life has become.