Down

Chapter 17

Predictions for Skye in OBX season 3, anyone?

JJ said" He deserved it, right?"
Kie said" Are you joking? Of course he deserved it."
Pope said" Never seen anyone blow themselves up like that."
JJ said" Cross that one off the bucket list."
Kie said" JJ!"
" Sucks for Sarah." Kie walked to John B and sat next to him,
" Are you okay?"
John B said" It's not me I'm worried about."

JJ said" Hot potato, hot potato, hot potato!" He threw a can at John B and Pope," One, two."
Pope said" I'll take that." He caught the can this time,
" What are you guys doing down here? Having a good cry?"
" Cry?"
John B said" Cry? What are you talking- We don't cry."
Kie said" You know it's not your fault, right?"
" You think she'll come around?"
" Yeah, dude. She's one of us."
" Sarah's a pogue. She'll come around. Yep. You know, she'll come back to me. Right. You know, I was just thinking about it. I'm gonna do a backflip."
" You're lying."
" I won't do it?"
JJ said" You won't."
Kie said" You got any money?"
John B said" Hold my beer that you already dropped."
Pope said" I wanna see you do it." He did a backflip into the water, we all cheered,
JJ said" That's my boy!"
" Woogity-woogity, baby!"
Kie said" John B!"
———
Pope said" Hey. We gotta go to school, man. We have a geometry test in 30 minutes. Get up! JJ! Is he alive?"
John B said" I don't know."
" JJ. Get your shoes. Hey, Kie." I giggled at John B's hair, JJ and John B were still asleep but on their feet!
Kie said" Um... I will meet up with you guys later."
" We're going this way."
JJ said" I'm starving. I need some pizza."
" No, you missed breakfast."
" Okay. I got it. I got it!"
" Ah, where's Munch?"
I said" Pope!" He looked at me, then saw my feet,
" Where's your shoes?"
" In the van!"
" Good! Go, uh, put them on. Wanna take John B's hand and put him in the van like a doggy?"
" Doggy!" I grabbed John B's hand and pulled him, he followed me, I laughed and smiled.

We got to my school,
Pope said" Can you walk yourself in? Are you supposed to do that?" I shook my head, he sighed," Great. Uh, okay." He got out and lifted me up,
I said" Is JJ alive?" I saw his drool on the window,
" Yeah, he's just really, really sleepy." I giggled," We will be back to get you after school. Oh, you didn't eat breakfast, did you? Uh..."
" It's okay! They give breakfast."
" Great! See if you take a couple extra cereal bowls, okay?" I nodded my head, he put me down at the door," Uh, have fun, loves ya."
" Loves you! Tell John B and Bubba I loves them, okay?"
" Will do, Munchie." I ran in, waving at him, he smiled and waved at me, walking away.

My teacher walked up to me, she smiled at me,
She said" Hi, Skye."
I said" Hi, Mrs. Lily."
" How are things at home? I noticed you took an extra cereal and put it in your bag."
" Is that bad? I'll give it back."
" Oh, no, no, sweetie, it's alright. I just wanted to know if everything was alright."
" Everything's great!" I smiled at her,
" Could we maybe call your daddy, make sure everything's okay? That you've got food?"
" Yeah, but he's on a trip, he'll be home in a-a few days."
" Oh, his job?"
" Yeah!" She walked away, I gulped but went back to coloring. I don't wanna be taken away from JJ! What if they take me away from JJ?!

I was wiping my face as I waited for them to pick me up,
I heard JJ yell" Come on, Munchie!" I ran to the van, running into JJ's legs," Whoa, hey, Munchie, what's up?" He lifted me up and got into the van," Why're you crying?" He wiped my cheeks,
I said" I don't wanna be taken away!" I clung to him,
" Huh? Who said that?" He rubbed my back,
John B said" You're not going anywhere, Skye."
Pope said" Never. Can you tell us what happened?"
I said" Mrs. Lily asked if she can call daddy! I said he was on a trip!"
JJ said" Why'd she wanna call dad?"
" To make sure we had food! I took an extra cereal! I didn't know it was bad!"
" Shh, shh, hey, hey, it's not bad, you were just hungry, that's no big deal. Half those kids take extra food."
" I don't wanna be taken!"
" You're not goin' anywhere, Skye, I promise you that. When have I ever let you down?"
" Never."
" So? That means you ain't goin' anywhere. It's alright. This'll blow over, just don't mention it again."
" Really?"
" Yeah!" He smiled at me," Nothin' is gonna happen. I promise."

I was catching frogs,
I heard JJ yell" Better be watchin' out for snakes!"
I screamed" Stop it!" He laughed,
John B yelled" Tell him, Munchie!" Then they walked over,
Pope said" So, we're here to make a deal."
Kie said" I'm here because they're chickens and afraid of you." I giggled,
John B said" What would it take for us to go to the Bonfire?"
I said" Can I go?"
" That's the thing... it's not exactly... Skye-friendly."
" Leaving me here?"
" Yeah..."
JJ said" So, what would it take?"
I said" How long?"
" Uh, a while."
" Pizza?"
" There's still some pizza left."
" Cheesy whales?"
" Definitely somewhere."
" Candy bar... and-and gummi worms."
" How'd I know you were going to say that?" I giggled at him, he smiled and lifted me out of the water,
Kie said" Make 'em sad." I laughed,
John B said" Orange drink?"
I said" Orange drink! Yes!"
JJ said" Sleep at bedtime?"
" What's bedtime?"
Pope said" She is the only 4 year old that doesn't know what bedtime is!"
Kie said" Definitely."

JJ said" We're gone. You all set?" I was spinning around on the bed, eating a gummi worm.
John B said" She's set."
Kie said" She's in her own little world."
JJ said" Bye-bye, Skye!" I heard them walk out, I giggled, spinning around till I got dizzy.

I was eating pizza under the bed, I heard JJ, Kie, Pope and John B come in,
Pope said" Where's the tiniest Munch?"
JJ said" If she's hiding, where's the mess?"
Kie said" Looks like she tried to make herself dinner."
John B said" And she fell."
JJ said" Skye! Where ya at?"
" You're not in trouble, Munchie!"
" Is that blood?"
Kie said" Skye? Babes, you're not in trouble!" I crawled out from under the bed, and walked into the kitchen, I held Turtle to my chest.
Pope said" Hey, Skye."
I said" I didn't mean to."
John B said" It's okay, we've made way bigger messes. Wanna show us where you're hurt?" I showed them my arm, it had a cut on it,
" It stings."
JJ said" Yeah, I bet! Want Pope to patch it up?" I nodded,
Pope said" Pope to the rescue!" He swooped me up, I laughed as he flew me through the air into the bathroom. He put me on the sink and started cleaning it, I giggled as he made funny faces," Is this funny?" I nodded," I'm funny looking?!" He made a silly sad face, I laughed, nodding my head," Ouch! You're right though." He tickled my tummy, I laughed and held onto his hands, he put a bandaid on it." There we go! All better! Want JJ to kiss it better?"
I said" JJ! Kiss!" JJ ran in,
He said" Yes?" He made kissy face, I giggled," What?"
" Kiss bandaid!"
" Oh, I just can't get kisses anymore?" He pouted but kissed it better, I giggled and kissed his cheek." Oh! I was chosen!" He put his hand over his heart, smiling, he ruffled my hair." Wanna go roast marshmallows?" I nodded my head fast, he laughed," Yeah, thought so."

Pope said" I've had more black eyes in the last month than I've ever had."
JJ said" That was building up for years. Rumble in the jungle. Ah!"
John B said" Hey, did you really stick up for Sarah?"
Kie said" Of course I did. She's not a real kook."
" Right."
Pope said" Yeah, tell that to Topper." I was eating marshmallow that Pope roasted for me.
" I just want one bite. That... mmm!" He bite Kie's s'more.
Kie said" What are you doing? No, stop!" It fell out of her hand,
JJ said" You're not having any of mine."
" I spent the lat of my money on that."
John B said" 16 years in most federal prisons."
" I'm stealing your marshmallow."
Pope said" I believe that's a... not even a fair trade."
" It's not at all. Not even close."
John B said" Hey, hey. Shh. Somebody's here."
" You don't think that Topper would..."
JJ said" I wouldn't put it past him."
" Do you have your gun?" They got up,
" Oh, now she wants the gun."
" Oh, now you don't have the gun?"
" No."
" Isn't that your secret weapon?"
John B said" Shut up."
JJ said" Goddamn, now she wants the gun."
" Hey, who's out there?" They started walking closer, I ran to JJ and held onto his leg.
Kie said" You kooks better not try anything."
The man said" How ya'll doing?"
Pope said" It's this piece of shit."
JJ said" You gotta be kidding me." JJ pushed me to Pope, Pope grabbed me and put me behind him.
The man said" Lovely evening we're having. Look, I, uh... I don't hold a grudge with any of ya'll, alright? But this can go hard, or this can go easy. You know what I'm here for. Let me give you a little demonstration. You see that swing right there? I got the best bow hunters in the Army Rangers with me. Hidden." He whistled, an arrow hit the tree," Now, they're out there. They'll stick you just as soon as I say so." He walked to Pope, I held onto Pope's leg, hiding my face against his leg. He whistled and an arrow almost hit JJ," Uh, uh, uh. We clear? Now, I'm not gonna give you a countdown or any bullshit like that. I'm just gonna whistle." Pope took out the key,
Pope said" This key belongs to my family."
" I'm losing my patience with you, Pope." He went to whistle, Pope gave it to him, I held onto Pope tighter," Did the right thing, kid. Knowing when you don't have a choice is an under appreciated talent. You be safe. Easy there. Ya'll have a good night." He walked away, I ran to JJ, holding onto his legs,
" I'm so sick of this shit." He walked away, Kie followed, JJ put his hand on my head, rubbing my head.