Chapter 17
March 1995
“So did you guys hear?” Stan asked.
Jake knew exactly what Stan was going to say; it had been the talk of the school. Phil Guthrie’s father abandoned him over the weekend, and now Phil was staying with his uncle Percy.
“About Phil, yeah,” Sara answered.
“Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy, right?”
“Stan!” Sara said, but Stan just shrugged.
“Phil’s been bullying kids for as long as we’ve known him. It’s not like he doesn’t deserve it.”
“No one deserves to be abandoned, not even Phil Guthrie.”
“No, but it’s hard to feel sorry for a guy like that.”
Stan rushed home, leaving Jake to walk Sara to her house. Once that was accomplished, he opted to do something he’d never done before; he turned toward Percy Helton’s house. Phil wasn’t at school today, and Jake couldn’t help but feel concerned for him. Upon reaching Percy Helton’s house, however, he began questioning his plan. He stopped at the rusted gate and debated on going in.
“Hello, Mr. Ramsey.”
Jake turned to find Percy coming up the street with a bag of groceries in arm. He offered a tired smile, and Jake attempted one as well. Neither was fooled.
“Here for Phil, huh?”
“Yes, sir,” Jake said politely.
“He could use a friend right now. He won’t talk to me none.”
“Really?”
“I barely know him. I’ve been here without being here, you know?” Percy waited a moment before shaking his head. “No, I guess you wouldn’t. Come on in.”
Percy led Jake inside and directed him toward the basement. Slowly making his way down the stairs, Jake could feel his nerves intensifying. He spotted a bed in the corner with a lump beneath the blankets.
“Phil? It’s Jake Ramsey.”
“What are you doin’ here?” Phil asked without uncovering his head.
“I heard about your dad, and you weren’t at school. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“I’m fine.”
Jake didn’t know what else to say, so he simply waited in silence. The bundle shifted a moment later as an eye peeked from beneath the blanket.
“You can leave.”
“I don’t have a dad either,” Jake said quickly. “I mean, I’m lucky I have my mom, but my dad left when I was five.”
Phil sat up and threw the blanket aside. Swollen red eyes betrayed the fact that he wasn’t fine.
“So is this where you tell me you know what I’m goin’ through?” he asked bitterly.
“How could I? I might have an inkling due to my dad being gone, but I still have a mom. I can’t even begin to guess what it would be like to lose both. I just wanted you to know that I’m here if you need me. No hard feelings about anything.”
Phil sneered. “No one cares about me. Why should you?”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“You want a list?”
“I don’t need it.”
Phil shook his head and slowly stood. It appeared as if he had dressed for school but opted not to go. “I’ve been a jerk to everyone, Jake. I throw little kids in the street to watch them cry. I picked a fight with you at a funeral, yet here you are. Is this a joke? Did you lose a bet to your buddy Stan or somethin’?”
“I was mad when my dad left,” Jake said, ignoring Phil’s rant, “but I chose to be more like my mother. I heard your dad wasn’t the best of influences, so maybe his leaving is for the best.”
“It’s for the best when a kid’s dad leaves him?”
“No, but maybe you can turn it into a good thing.”
“And how’s that?”
Jake shrugged. “My mom says Percy’s a good guy. Sounds like you might have a decent parent for once.”
“Percy don’t care about me.”
“He took you in didn’t he? Maybe that’s a sign he cares.” Phil didn’t answer, but Jake guessed he hadn’t considered this. “And yeah, there are people at school laughing, but there’s more who are concerned.”
“Like you?”
“Yeah, like me. I couldn’t concentrate at all today.”
“Why?”
“Despite the fact that you’re a jerk, you’re still a person. I don’t like seeing people hurt.”
“Not even me?”
“No even you.”
Phil ran his fingers through his hair. “Thanks, I guess. So who else is concerned?”
“Besides all the teachers? I know Sara Campbell is. She and Stan argued about it after school. Sara stood up for you.”
Phil seemed genuinely surprised by this and even more so as Jake began naming other people he had spoken with throughout the day.
“They should hate me,” he said, now sitting at the foot of the bed.
“But they don’t, not all of them. They hate how you act, but they don’t hate you.”
“Why not?”
“Need a list?” Jake said with a smirk. “I know everything sucks right now, but people are distracted. Maybe you can change while they’re not looking; stop pushing kids into the street. You should probably start by talking to Percy, actually. He looked concerned.”
“I don’t know him.”
“You’ll get to know him.”
Phil looked up the stairs and then back at Jake. “What about Stan Cromwell?”
“Stan’s never been the problem. Show him you can change.”
“And Sara Campbell?”
“She’ll probably be there for you, too. Just remember that she’s mine,” Jake said this last part with a smile. “I know a lot of us hate how small Anderson is, but there are good people here. Percy doesn’t have to be your only family.”
Phil snickered. “You watch too many sitcoms.”
Jake laughed and turned to go. “Will you be at school tomorrow?”
“I might make it,” Phil said and quickly followed it up with, “See you later.”
“Bye, Phil. Maybe you can hang out with us sometime?”
Phil nodded, and Jake caught a small grin on his lips. He made his way through the house and waved at Percy, who returned a nod from his recliner. His eyes were red.
“Thanks for that,” Percy said. He pointed at the vent by his feet. “You did good.”
“You’re welcome, sir. Thanks for letting me in.”
“Anytime, Jake. You’re always welcome here.”