Chicken

I was digging through my old files and found some stuff from a creative writing class I took. I realize this is different from what I normally post. But, well, variety is the spice of life.

 

Chicken. I thought I was so cool, too cool to die, too cool to burn. I’m freakin’ out at this point, my seat belt has me stuck, and I can smell the smoke. I watch movies; cars on fire blow up. All I wanted was to show I wasn’t a coward, chicken.

They keep pushin’ me though, in town or in school they’d be there callin’ me a wuss an’ a wimp, they’d never let me be. So I had somethin’ to show and let them say what it’d be, chicken. Not real smart but they’d got me in a corner. So we went outta town, to the county road they use for drag racin’ ’cause no one uses it. They got us facin’ each other, me in the car, and their leader, Josh, lookin’ at me, just standin’ there. I wait ’til they’ve got it all set up and they wave at me, so I put my foot on the gas. It would’ve been fine if Josh would’ve just moved out of my way. He had no business holdin’ out so long. I’d already promised I wouldn’t turn first, ’cause loosing would have no point.

I figure I’ve lost as I get my seat belt off, ’cause last time I looked Josh was still standin’ there an’ the car’s in a tree. I don’t know for sure ’cause the last few seconds my eyes were closed. Chicken. I get the door open an’ get out, not hurt a bit. Everyone’s clappin’ me on the back an’ tellin’ me how great I am, I don’t get it. So they tell me Josh ran an’ I kept on goin’ straight, so I’ve won. They figure it’s the first time he’s lost, so I’m sort of a hero.

So now I’m gonna be left alone, which was all I wanted. But I wrecked the family car, an’ the cops came, I ended up at the station. I’m a minor so it doesn’t matter much turns out, first time too, got off light considerin’ all they said I’d done. My mom says she’s sendin’ me to Oklahoma to stay with Grandma. So none of it changes ’cause no one’s gonna believe me if I talk about this over there. I figure people’ll mess with me there just like here, I don’t look like much. Guess I’ll have to do it all over when I get there to prove it.

I’m no chicken.