Just Keep Your Head Down

For more information about Boar's Tusk, click here. 

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Triston stared out the open car door, watching as Robert ran back towards the water to retrieve the shirt that he almost forgot. Triston laughed as Robert tip toed over the sharp rocks and thorny weeds. 

“Ouch!” Robert cried out stepping on a rock as he grabbed his shirt and turned to head back. “Fuck!” Robert cried out again, this time stepping on a prickly weed. 

“Hurry up asshole, the girls are already expecting us!” Triston yelled from the car, laughter escaping between each word. 

Robert jumped in the car and before he even got the door shut Triston hit the gas and they were off with a cloud of dust following them. 

“Dude, those hurt like a bitch!” Robert was inspecting the bottom of his foot and was trying to pick out the thorns. They had been swimming and jumping off the cliffs all day and their feet were soft and tender from the water. They both walked to the car without their shoes on so as not to get them wet, and that hurt enough, but at least Triston remembered to grab everything he thought to himself as he looked over at Robert. 

“Erin and Becka were expecting us about ten minutes ago.” Triston stated as he sped up, the car slid around on the dirt road. “We can just run to my house, change clothes, and head over.” 

“Sounds good, I’ll just borrow a pair of dry shorts if that’s cool?”  

“Yeah, that works dude.” Triston reached into the ashtray, pushed the lighter down to get it hot, grabbed his half-smoked cigarette from earlier and waited for the click. “Becka said she just got paid and wants to drink some beer tonight, she knows a buyer and everything.” The lighter popped, Triston grabbed it, lit his cigarette, and passed the lighter to Robert who was opening his cigarette pack to get one. “My folks are going out tonight I think, so we can drink at my house after they leave.” 

“Sounds good to me, maybe I can finally hook up with Becka tonight. She keeps saying she likes me but won’t even get passed kissing.” Robert said taking a drag on his cigarette. “She said Erin has a crush on you, but she doesn’t think you like her and is scared to say something.” 

“Yeah, I kind of picked up on that, I’m not sure if I’m into her or not yet. I mean she’s cute enough, but I don’t know.” 

“Well, whatever man, I’d hit that it if I was you.” 

Robert reached down, put a disc in the CD player and turned up the volume. They were both quiet the rest of the way into town as the car roared down the road, windows down, the hot summer air blowing their long hair dry, Alice in Chains blaring from the speakers and a cloud of dust spitting up behind them. 

Later, they pulled up in front of Becka’s house and the two girls came out and ran across the lawn to the car. They were all smiles and did not appear to be bothered by the fact that it was an hour later than planned. Becka’s mom was watching from one of the windows, Robert smiled and waved while muttering, “Man that bitch hates my guts.” 

“You mean after she caught you with your hand up her daughter’s shirt and making out in her basement?” Triston smirked. “Hmm, I can’t imagine why.”  

“Hey guys, how was the lake?” Becka said as she climbed in the rear passenger door. “I wanted to go but my mom made me babysit my little brother all damn day.” She went on without waiting for an answer. “He’s such a little pain in my ass.” 

Triston watched Erin as she went around the front of the car, they smiled at each other, and he said hi as she passed by his window. She climbed in the back seat behind him and returned his greeting with a simple wave in the rearview mirror when he looked back at her. 

“The water was still pretty cold, but it was good, lots of people though. Eric had his dads jet skis out there and we blasted around on those for awhile.” Robert turned in his seat to look back at Becka. “So where is this buyer you said you had?” 

“Head up towards the tree streets and I’ll guide you when we get close.” Triston gave a nod, and they pulled away from the house. “I really want some Zima; I tried it last weekend at my aunt’s birthday party and it was good, also stop by the mini mart so we can get some jolly ranchers to put in them. I heard they're really good like that.” 

“You want us to drink cheerleader beer all night? What the fuck?” 

“Hey, screw you, Robert! If you got money get whatever the hell you want, but I’m guessing you’re broke as usual.” Becka said as she pulled on Robert’s hair and laughed. 

“Oh yeah” Robert said as he turned around over the seat and the two began to play fight. “Why do I need money when I got myself a sugar-momma?” Becka was laughing as Robert knew exactly where she was ticklish. 

After about ten minutes and a few confusing directions from Becka, they pulled up to an old apartment building with faded brown paint and dust covered windows. 

“Okay, it’s number twenty-three, right there.” Becka pointed out the window towards a door on the second floor.  

“I don’t know about this Becka, Dan’s kind of a creeper.” Erin spoke for the first time. 

“He just has a crush on you.” Becka said teasingly. 

“Eww gross he’s like sixty, he’s older than my grandpa!” Erins face wrinkled up in disgust as everyone in the car began laughing and was looking at her.  

“I have a plan, Erin.” Becka said as she raised a hand towards Tristan “Tristan is going to pretend to be your boyfriend and you two are going to go in there holding hands all lovey dovey and shit.” 

Erin turned red and pursed her lips up angrily as she mouthed something at Becka that Tristan didn’t catch. She was clearly embarrassed and was now trying to cover her face with her hand. 

“Yeah, that’s a good plan. I mean even a creep might have some respect for a guy when it comes to his girl.” Tristan smiled at Erin before turning back to the front. He shut the engine off, took the keys out of the ignition and opened his door. “Come on ‘babe’ let’s go get some beer.” He said as he climbed out and opened Erin’s door for her while extending his out for her to take it.” 

She smiled up at him as she took his hand, and he helped her out of the car. Becka and Robert were getting out on the other side of the car, and they were smiling and laughing about some kind of gesture Becka made, Triston couldn’t quite see it, but he was sure it was something sexual.  

“So how did you two meet this guy anyway?” Robert said as he took Becka’s hand, and they all started towards the apartment. 

“He was working for a company that was down at my parents’ business installing new phone lines while his boss was doing something on the computer software my dad uses. They’re all worried about Y2K or some shit like that. Anyways, he saw me and Erin there after the last day of school a few weeks ago and started hitting on…” 

“You mean creeping on.” Erin interjected. 

“Okay, ‘creeping on’ Erin and offered to buy us booze anytime we wanted. We only came here once before with my sister and her boyfriend, and you could tell he wanted to the rest of us to leave so he could have Erin all to himself.” Becka put her hand up to her mouth and pushed it in and out while using her tongue to push her cheek in and out as well, mimicking a blow job. 

“You’re gross, and a bitch, I hope you know that.” Erin tried to be angry but even she couldn’t help but to laugh at the gesture like the rest of them were.  

They climbed the stairs, knocked on the door, and waited for an answer. It was six in the evening on a Friday, Triston hoped the guy didn’t have much of a social life and was home. He heard footsteps coming for the door after a few moments and the door opened. A strong waft of smoke emitted from the apartment as Triston looked at the man who stood in the newly opened doorway. He was short, had short grey hair, deep lines throughout his face, and his skin looked rough like old leather. He looked around at the group and smiled when he saw Erin. 

“Oh, hey there, what are you gals up to?” Dan stepped to the side of the door and held up his hand in a welcoming gesture. “Come in, come in, have a seat.” He looked up at Triston as they all started to make their way into the apartment. “Your friends can come to, I guess.” His voice was raspy like someone who had smoked for a hundred years.  

“Hey Dan. How’s it going?” Becka greeted him as they all shuffled into a small living room with a sofa and a love seat sitting against opposite walls facing each other and a small T.V sitting on a shelf opposite the door. “We thought maybe you could buy us beer for tonight.” Becka and Robert sat on the love seat while Erin gently pulled Triston over to the couch, where she sat at one end and put Triston beside her, leaving no space for anyone else to be by her.  

Dan looked down at Erin, frowned a bit, then reached around the corner to another room and pulled out a folding chair. “Yeah, I can do that, if you’ll buy me a pint of Cuervo Gold.” He pulled a small bottle of tequila from his back pocket and took a swig. “I’m just finishing up what I had left right now.” He unfolded the chair, sat it in front of the TV, a bit closer to Erin, and sat down. “How is your summer going, Erin?” 

“Good.” She said and paused. Triston could tell that is where she wanted to leave it at, but she decided to be polite. “I am working for the city this summer, cutting grass and stuff.”  

“That’s good, making money is always good.” Dan interjected and took another swig from his bottle. “School was always shit for me; I liked summers though.” He said laughing while he swirled the little bit of liquid that was left around the bottom of the liquor bottle before offering it to Erin. 

Erin shook her head and continued, her attention switching back and forth between Triston and Dan. “Yeah, it’s pretty good money too, I’ll be able to save up enough money for a car by the end of the summer.” She finished, her attention fully on Triston now. 

“Dude, I cannot wait until I am graduated and done with school, it’s such a pain in the ass.” Robert chimed in from across the room. 

“They teach ya kids all wrong in school anyway. Half of that shit, like most of your math, you’re never gonna use and the rest of it ain’t much better. They just want you there all young and dumb so they can make everybody think just like they want you to. They didn’t like me at all and kicked me out because I challenged em and questioned what they were teaching. “Like English class, why do we say ‘I am’ if we’re asked ‘are you’ about something. It should be, I are’, shouldn’t it? I mean that’s what they asked.” 

“You’re just drunk dude.” Robert said and they all started laughing, even Dan. 

“Well, hell yes, I am, but that don’t make me wrong.” Dan said as he slowed down his laughter. “Seriously now, think about it. English don’t make a damn bit a sense and that’s why I told my teacher to fuck himself.” Dan put the bottle to his lips and swallowed the rest of the contents in one gulp. “O.K I’ll give ya an example. Ask me if I’m gonna buy you beer.” 

“Are you gonna buy us beer?” Becka asked with a big smile across her face.  

Dan stood up, put one hand on his chest, raised his other hand out to the side and towards the ceiling in declaration. “I are!” He proclaimed loud and deep. “I are going to buy you beer.” He held his pose for a few seconds longer as Triston and the others continued laughing at the scene. Then he sat down and after the laughter had quieted a bit he looked to Robert and back to Triston. “What about you two? What do you guys do?” 

“Not much, just hanging out at the lake and partying a bit.” Robert answered before Triston could. “Hey, is that a military medal?” Robert asked as he looked over Dans shoulder towards the T.V where a wooden case displayed a medal and ribbon. 

“I was a marine, fought in Korea and took a bullet in my side.” He lifted his shirt and showed Robert his scar. “They sent me home and gave me that hunk of metal for it.” 

Robert told Dan about his dad who served in Vietnam and the two of them began talking all about the military and the Korean War. Triston looked over at Erin and gave her a big smile while raising his eyebrows to acknowledge the awkward situation. Then turned back to the conversation that was happening. Dan was starting to get more drunk and even louder. 

 “My command leader grabbed me up the second I was boots down in Korea and told me. ‘Listen here shit heels, when we’re out in the field you just keep your head down. Don’t try to be no hero or some shit, just keep your fuckin head down.’ So, I did, and then got shot in the side.”’ He laughed a loud raspy laugh, and they all joined in. “Then he told me, ‘When we’re in town, you keep your dick sharp and your mind in your pants.”’ 

Triston laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes and after looking over where Robert and Becka were sitting he could see the same for them. After a few moments of trying to get a grip on himself Dan put his hand up in front of himself to clarify he had something else to add. 

“I think I may have gotten that backwards, but you get the point.” He said laughing hard again. 

“No, that sounds about right to me.” Triston said as he squeezed Erin’s hand and looked at her while laughing. She was laughing and rolled her eyes playfully at him, she was red in the face again, but he couldn’t tell if it was from laughing or if she was embarrassed. The girls were definitely over exaggerating about this guy, he was cool as hell and funny too. Erin must have just wanted a reason to make a move on Triston and they came up with this little plan to help her out. He looked at her face and began to wonder why he was so unsure if he liked her or not. She was cute with her blonde hair and freckles, and she was cool too, when she wasn’t being so nervous. He looked into her eyes and decided that he did like her and wanted to kiss her. They locked eyes and he began to move closer. 

“Hey! None of that now ya two.” Dan interjected. “I can’t say I blame ya though, she is beautiful.” Ahh shit, here it is Triston thought to himself as Dan leaned in closer to Erin. “I know he’s here.” He jabbed his thumb in Triston’s direction. “But I don’t care, you’re beautiful and I like ya, since I first seen ya I liked ya. I’m old, but I’d be better than him. You want a car, hell I’ll buy ya a car!” 

“Okay, time to go.” Triston stood up quickly and started to help Erin up as well. 

“No no don’t go.” Dan said quickly, looking at Erin and then back to Triston. “I’ll still buy ya beers. We can hang out and bullshit all night.” Dan said, leaning back away from Erin and looking up at Triston. “I’m just a drunk old man, don’t mind me.” He put his hands up in a way to show he meant no harm and then he got up and headed for the door. 

Triston looked down at Erin and used his eyes to ask if this was okay. She nodded and squeezed his hand before letting go. Becka and Robert were nodding in approval as well when he looked at them and Becka slipped him the cash to pay for the beer. 

“Alright, just you and me though, these guys stay here, it’ll look more suspicious with a car full of teenagers.” Triston said as he walked towards Dan and the door. He was feeling uncomfortable with this situation now, but it was only a quick ride and then it was all over he told himself. 

The ride to the liquor store was quiet and only took about ten minutes, but Triston had enough time to grow angry about what had taken place before at the apartment. Who did this asshole think he was anyways, creeping on an underage girl and my supposed girlfriend right in front me. 

“Okay, what am I getting?” Dan said, cracking the door open, ready to get out. 

“A case of Zima and a bottle of Aftershock if they have it.” Triston said through clenched teeth and handed the money to Dan. 

Dan went into the store, and Triston returned to his thoughts. I need to say something to this asshole, I can’t just let this go, I just must. His heart raced at the thought of the interaction. 

Triston continued to fume, even after Dan returned to the car with their stuff and even more on the ride back. He was nervous and anxious about confronting this old man and didn’t know if he should. When they pulled up in front of the apartment, Triston made his decision.  

“Next time Becka and Erin show up asking for booze, you tell them no! Or any other young girl for that matter!” Holy shit where did that come from. He had never talked to an adult like that before. “I think it’s sick what you’re doing and that’s my girl in there.” He lied, but he was hoping it would help drive the point. 

“How about I just whoop yer young ass right here parking lot and leave ya bleeding?” Dan said, ripping the door handle up and shoving the door open. 

“That would be real fuckin smart, wouldn’t it? We got a car full of booze that you bought, and you got a group of minors in your apartment. Are you sure you want to go there, Dan!?!” Triston was yelling at this point.  

Dan stopped moving, took a deep breath and looked around at all the other apartments and people in the parking lot. “Just get your friends and the fuck outa here!” He said before getting out and slamming the door shut. 

Triston followed Dan up the stairs to the apartment but kept a little distance between them just in case. Dan flung the door open, stormed past his guests and went into another room without saying a word. They all got up, and headed to the door, Becka and Robert were the first to the door and they both looked at Triston questioningly. 

“I’ll tell you in the car.” Triston whispered to them, as they passed and went through the door beside him. Erin followed and as she walked toward him Triston had the urge to finish what he had started to do earlier. He grabbed her by the waste, pulled her close, leaned in and kissed her. He didn’t know if it was because of the adrenaline surge he got from the altercation or if he really liked her, but he squeezed her tighter and kissed her deeper than he had ever kissed any girl before. He opened his eyes, gently pulled away and saw a look of pleasure and happiness on Erins face that he was sure matched his own. 

 Just then he saw something moving behind her, it was Dan, and he had a gun. Triston froze in fear as he looked at the old man pointing a pistol right at him. The loud pop of the gun brought him back to his senses, but just then Erin lurched heavily into him, knocking him back against the door, with her still in his arms and he could feel something wet all over his face. The gun fired three more times, he felt pain in his left shoulder and debris from something hit him in the back of the head and the side of his face. He started to slide down the door, unable to hold the weight of himself and Erin, and he looked down to see Erin’s hair matted in blood and a hole in the back of her head. He covered the hole with his hand, because he didn’t want to see the wound. He looked back up to see Dan coming at him with the pistol raised. 

“No, please don’t!” Triston cried out as he tried to lift his arm up to shield himself, but his arm didn’t work and stayed at his side. He was in pain and was scared for his life, tears streamed down his face. 

Dan stopped when he slipped in some blood and looked at the scene as if he was new to it. He stepped back, put his hand on his head and it looked as if he was thinking hard about something. Triston looked down and shook Erins head with hand.  

“Erin? Erin?” He whispered to see if she was still alive. 

“Fuck! Fuck!” Dan yelled and looked around at the mess he made. “Well, fuck it!” Dan said and Triston looked up at him. “Last one kid.” Dan said as he peered into the back of the revolver and then pointed the gun back at Triston. “Just keep yer head down.” Dan said with a twisted smile.  

Triston closed his eyes, heard another shot, and a loud thump as something hit the floor. He opened his eyes to see Dan’s body lying sprawled out in front of him on the floor. Triston began to cry aloud as he cradled Erin’s head in his hand and looked at her blood covered body. 

“Erin? Triston?” He could hear Roberts voice from somewhere outside. “What the fuck is going on in there. Are you alive?” 

I are. Triston thought to himself. I are.