Chapter 26
twenty-six
Friends Of Dorothy
Charlie
“Well, we are already starting with an unheard-of-situation,” Mickie said.
“What’s unheard of,” Stewie said, coming up behind us, then towards the bar, “Hey, Sam, can I get a beer?”
Sam slid the beer his way, before going to help two other patrons that looked like they had just arrived as well.
Stewie, came up to the right side of me, sandwiching me with Jimmy, and put his hand on my back, “You doing okay, Darlin’?
I know it can feel like a lot sometimes coming here for the first time, especially for how young I think you are.
” He gave me a brow lift and a one-sided smirk.
“Um, I think I’m okay,” I stated, still holding on to Jimmy’s hand.
I haven't let go since we got here. I’m starting to feel comfortable.
This really took me out of my element. I wasn’t expecting to ever be brought to a bar, especially after my first experience a week ago, let alone a place that’s a secret and lets me be open completely.
“Our new Friend of Dorothy was just about to tell us his story, Stewie,” Donald said. “Until you rudely interrupted. I thought you southerners were supposed to have hospitality and manners?”
“Why do you think my parents moved us north? My southern manners were too blunt for people,” Stewie said, stating the obvious that actually got a light laugh out of me.
I liked Stewie. He may be a shock to the system, but it leaves this warmth within me.
This feeling of belonging that I think I should always be allowed to feel. He sparkles and it’s contagious.
But a term caught my attention, “What’s a Friend of Dorothy?”
Jimmy smiled, “It’s code that we say in front of others above so we can stay hidden in plain sight while also making it aware to people like us that we are here.”
I looked at Stewie then with a small smile, “That’s why you said this is my Oz,” nodding in understanding now, “Dorothy goes over the rainbow and meets friends.”
Stewie gave me a side hug, arm and hand on my waist. “Yes. Her friends in Oz are outcasts just like us, but full of color and personality, like the rainbow she dreams about.”
“This lesson is great and all, but I really want to know Charlie’s journey to Oz,” Mickie said, trying to get us back on track.
“Your father knows about you,” Jacob asked with a tilted head, getting back to what I said about being run out of town with my dad.
I took another swig of beer, which tasted God awful but was growing on me, trying to delay the story I have never told out loud before.
My dad and I never discussed it fully. He just dealt with it.
I took in a breath and held it, closing my eyes.
I felt Jimmy take a step in front of me, still connected by our hands which were damp now with moisture from having not let go since we got here.
If I tell this story, I can’t bear to lose his connection now.
I felt his finger under my chin, so I opened my eyes.
The concern he had on his face was intense.
“You don’t have to tell your story. It is yours to keep, locked away if you want.
You don’t owe anyone anything, not even me.
” He placed his hand on my cheek, and I pressed against it for solace.
He gave me a quick small kiss and when he pulled back, he added, “But if you do want to tell your story, Honey, you are safe here with this crew,” Jimmy stepped back to the spot next to me, giving me the view of everyone, “they won’t judge or think anything bad about what you may have gone through. ”
“One of the most magical things about this space that I created is the support we can give each other,” Stewie added.
“It was one of the purposes of why I did this. We might give each other hell and jest, but in the end, we are there.” He turned and looked around the room a little and the people in it, some embracing each other.
Others were just conversing. “Even outside of this space, we are there for each other. I have funds set aside, which others have helped contribute to from time to time,” smiling directly at some of our group, “ready just in case something bad happens to my people, so I can help.”
After a moment of thought, I nodded. “Okay. But I am going to need something else to drink other than this piss,” making everyone, including Jimmy laugh. “It’s gross.”
“You seem like a Tom Collins type of guy,” turning to yell at Sam.
In less than a minute, Stewie was handing me a glass full of a crystal yellowish drink. I gave it a small sip, with my taste buds zapping in reaction to the bubbly lemon flavor. “Oh wow, this is really good. Refreshing. What’s in it?”
“Gin,” every single one of them said at the same time, making us all laugh.
After we all calmed, I took a breather and knew it was my time, all eyes on me.
“My dad and I lived in Nuttallburg, West Virginia. He was a coal miner down there. My last year in school, one of the popular boys in my year– he approached me. Tried to make a move on me,” I nervously looked at Jimmy, sucking in my lips between my teeth.
I felt like I was getting hot, so I took a gulp of my drink.
“I liked him. I thought he was cute. We would secretly flirt. But one time, we got too brave, and before he could even kiss me, someone walked into the room and caught us. I had my hands on his chest, and he accused me of trying an unwanted move on him.”
“Oh my God,” Jacob said, shaking his head.
“Typical,” Mickie added, while rolling his eyes with his entire head gesturing.
“What was worse– He was the foreman’s son at the mine my dad worked at. Not only was it spread around town like wildfire what I was accused of, but my dad got let go from the mine in retaliation,” I felt tears of frustration on my cheek, Stewie wiping them away.
“I feel like a trip to West Virginia is in order,” Jacob said fiercely, clearly pissed off on my behalf.
“How did your dad handle everything,” Mickie asked, getting back to the point he’s clearly wanted to know about since the beginning.
And Donald holding up his index finger in the air like a school student asking a question, “And how the hell did you end up all the way here in Pittsburgh?”
“It was the first time I have ever seen my dad ever express the kind of anger that I would assume would lead to murder. It scared me,” breathing out the negativity of my memory.
“We had already experienced a loss in our life and now we were hit with this, because of me. Because of who I am and the stupidity of trusting someone I shouldn’t have. ”
“No,” Jimmy cut in. “Don’t do that. This wasn’t your fault.
This was that little shit’s fault. You may have been the second person in the scenario, but that’s all you were– the second person,” He rubbed my temple and squeezed my hand he still had in his grasp.
“Plus, the reaction from your father seemed to be just that, a reaction. Clearly it didn’t stick,” he shrugged his shoulders, since he knew my dad was understanding of who I am and me being with him, even though I don’t really think my dad is a hundred percent on board with the latter.
“So, your dad isn’t mad at you?” Mickie asked, clearly confused about his anger but also Jim’s comment.
“Yes, he was. But not directly at me, really. He was angry about the situation I was put in and then being let go from the mine after so many years. We were barely keeping it together as it was. But after calming down, he told me he loved me. Hugged me. But that was it. He left it at that,” I twitched my face and shoulder in an eh, expression.
“I hate to say it, but his father’s demeanor is similar to mine, he’s quiet and observant,” Jimmy stated. “Doesn’t say much around others.”
“Wait a minute,” Donald broke in, eyes big, “You’ve met his dad? Does he know about the two of you?”
I looked at Jimmy with a smile for the first time since I started this tale, “Yeah, they’ve met,” starting to laugh, thinking of their similarities like Jimmy said but also the staring contests they find themselves in. “He also knows about us. He joined us for a home cooked meal last night.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. This has got to be a first for me,” Stewie said in awe. “And for all the people it could have happened to,” he looked at Jimmy, “it happened to you, Baby,” He shook his head.
“So, after the mild heartwarming moment, you had to leave the town,” Donald asked, reminding me of the second question.
“Yes. I attempted to go back to school, but within an hour I was jumped by a group of boys. They beat me badly enough to get the message across without sending me to the town doc, leaving me with minor bruises and cuts. It wasn’t safe for me there anymore.
Plus, my dad couldn’t find work anywhere.
Not even at fuel stations. Because of me, no one would associate with him, and mines in other towns close by got wind too.
” I finished my drink and like magic, Sam had another in my hand, the empty glass gone.
“My dad had one friend left. I wouldn’t say he was understanding but he didn’t react like everyone else. He helped my dad and I find this job on Mount Washington. I don’t know how, I just knew one day we were packed up and moving.”
“Oh Darlin’, you of all people do not belong down in that mine,” Stewie said. He then looked at Sam with a squint and pursed his lips, humming.
“My dad hates that I’m down there. But it was going to be the only way for us to make ends meet. We didn’t even have the money to move. Dad’s friend paid for it,” I looked down at the floor, thinking about all that happened in such a short amount of time all because some boy wanted to kiss me.