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RalRasper

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    Growing up in suburban America can be a difficult experience, especially if you do not have much money. Kids are judged on the clothes they wear, and the way they can defend themselves. A lot of abuse takes place whether it is from parents or peers, from physical to mental. Kids take abuse in many different ways. Sometimes they are affected by it for the rest of their lives. Jimmy Ralardson is a perfect example of that.
    Jimmy was a nice kid. He was strong hearted and very smart. Unfortunately, he was dealt a bad hand when it came to parents.  They were together on and off for most of his young life. His mother, Sally, was an alcoholic, drug abuser. She used to lend Jimmy to her dope dealer in order to get a fix. His Father, Bill, was a lazy, controlling, violently abusive man that would often over work and beat Jimmy to the point that he could not get out of bed for days at a time. Through it all Jimmy was somehow able to use his imagination to get past these horrible situations. Though he was small, Jimmy was never one that could be backed onto a corner. There had been no upbringing for Jimmy,.
    Growing up Jimmy had only two friends. His dog Rocket, which was not allowed in the yard, so Jimmy built a shed for him in the woods just at the edge of their property. His other friend was a boy a lot like him by the name of Chip Chaster. The only difference between Jimmy and Chip was that Chip had a normal family life. Support and encouragement from his family was something Jimmy did not have. Rocket was big bullmastiff and he acted as the boys’ bodyguard. The Three of them were never apart. All the kids at school would make fun of Jimmy because of his shaggy hair, clothes that were too small and did not fit, and the fact that he got free food in the lunch line because his mother spent all their money on dope.  Chip and Rocket were always there for Jimmy when no one else was. They were like three brothers.
    A normal day for Jimmy would start with his mother waking him up to kick him out of the house so she could get loaded all day while his father was at work. Jimmy would go get Rocket and head out to meet up with Chip. Sometimes they would sell golf balls they collected down the road from the driving range or play football and basketball at the park or school playground. However, the most time was spent fishing off the bridge in the Elk River. Chip would tell Jimmy about vacations and things he had done with his family. While Jimmy would talk about aspirations, he had for being able to get away from his family one day. The whole time, Rocket would sit and listen as if he always had something to say even though he could only bark. Jimmy never really told chip much about the abuse he endured; he would rather focus on what he could enjoy out of life. Moreover, he did not enjoy anything more than sitting right there with them.
    Although Jimmy had a lot of fun hanging out with Chip and Rocket, everyday would come to a screaming halt when his father would get off work. Sally would tell Bill she did not know where Jimmy was and Bill would get pissed he was gone. So just before dinner, every night Jimmy's Father would come looking for him. Since he was always in the same spots, Jimmy was not hard to find. “Come on boy you got work to do" His Father would yell. Chip never understood the fear in Jimmy's eye when his dad came. Nevertheless, like clockwork, Jimmy would go with Bill, and Chip would take Rocket back to his shed and feed him before going home.
    Since he could remember, Jimmy had been doing all the work around his house. His father would give him a punch in the face or a kick in the back to motivate him. Never less things were done around the Ralardson Household, and not by Sally or Bill. At about age nine Jimmy could have been a master chef, a landscaper, a housekeeper, or head of maintenance somewhere. Most of his work would go on a midst verbal abuse from his mother, or listening and watching his parents have sex right in front of him. Jimmy just did what he had to do to see another day. He went through more than any person of any age should ever have to go through, let alone a young boy.
    As the years went on jimmy grew a great love for the game of football. Although he was not allowed to participate in any organized sports, Jimmy was king of the playground. Even with kids a few years older than him playing, Jimmy would always dominate. He also grew accustomed to watching the girls cheer leading practice at Central High School. He and Chip spent more time there the older they got older. There was nothing like a game on a Friday night, the band playing, the crowd going wild when Central would Score. When Jimmy heard that 7th grade football try-outs were after school one day, he made his mind up. A few ass whippings might be worth being on the team and having the cheerleaders cheering for him, so he did not go home, he tried out for the team. Jimmy was not as big or strong as other kids were, but he was more athletic and he could run like the wind. Even if someone did catch him, he was almost impossible to bring, down. He was named the starting running back. After practice, the coach told him, “Son you are going to be the heart and soul of this team."
    Scared, yet excited about his accomplishment, Jimmy made his way home. He saw Chip on the way and Chip told him that Bill was mad and out looking for him again. Apparently, Bill came to Chips House looking for Jimmy and Chip's dad had told him to take it easy on the boy. Well, that is something you just do not do. An intense argument unfolded and fistfight broke out.  Chip's Father made easy work of Bill and told him to leave his hands off Jimmy. Apparently, Bill blamed the whole thing on Jimmy, because what he did next was the horrifying.
    As young Jimmy made his way home, he decided to stop by and see Rocket. With football and school, he had not seen him yet that day. What he saw when he opened the shed, would stay in his mind for the rest of his life. Rocket was laying there with three bullet holes in him, and his belly gutted. Jimmy broke down. Pain, anger, sadness, helplessness, and hate were lying inside Jimmy. He could not believe what he saw. He sat there and cried aloud for a while thinking of all the great times he had with his lifelong companion. Distraught, Jimmy made his way home. He stopped at the porch, grabbed a shovel, and headed back to bury Rocket. But before he reached that last step Bill's voice sounded out laughing,”Did you find your Doggy?"
    That was it for Jimmy. He could not take it anymore. Something inside him snapped. As Bill made his way to the porch, Jimmy just sat there and waited for him, thinking of all the beatings and his beloved Rocket. He was tired of doing all his parents chores; he just wanted to be a 12-year-old boy. Therefore, when Bill came in to view, Jimmy cocked back with the shovel and hit him square up side the head with it. The beating commenced when Bill was no longer moving and his face was left unrecognizable. Half way through Sally made one of her few trips off the couch to witness the event. Screaming she called the police and told them what Jimmy had done.
    It was not until two days later in protective custody, that Jimmy learned that he had killed his father. Once the officials learned about all the abuse from his father, Jimmy was returned to live with his mother, who was not much better. She would never let Jimmy forget the fact that he killed his father. When the fact was he was not a father at all, he was a monster. Now Jimmy was faced with another monster that might not have been physically destructive, but mentally to the extreme.
    Jimmy did not spend much time at home after that. Just to eat and sleep. His football coach was a good man and allowed Jimmy back on the team after the incident. In Jimmy's first game, he scored four touchdowns and led his team to their first victory in two years. Kids were actually talking to him instead of acting as if he was some animal. Finally, he was able to break out of the persona of being the "poor kid". On his way out of the locker room, a beautiful girl said to him, "Wow you sure are a good player Jimmy Ralardson." Shocked she knew his name Jimmy replied, “Thank you." Her name was Lisa Saunders and she was one of the most popular girls in the 8th grade. "Will you go to the dance with me on Friday she asked?" Now astounded that any pretty girl, let alone an 8th grader would ask him to the dance Jimmy replied, "Yes." She gave a giggle and a smile, turned around, and walked away. Jimmy had never felt better.
    When Jimmy got home that night he did his usual clean up, and meal preparing. He left a plate for his mother and took his to eat in his room. Strange enough she did not say anything mean to him. However, no sooner did Jimmy finish his glass of milk then he started feeling something strange come over him. Next thing he knew he woke up chained to his bed, and an all too familiar voice was coming from the living room. That is when he realized what had happened. His mother had run out of money, so she drugged him. Now she was out there talking to her drug dealer again. Without Jimmy's father, Sally had no means to get high anymore. Therefore, she did what she used to, use Jimmy as collateral. She was weak though, and stupid enough to use an old lock that did not click on the chains. While they argued, Jimmy got loose of the chains and hid behind the door. He had no other choice, and after all he had been through he was not about to give up now. As the man entered the room, Jimmy swung the chain around his neck and shut the door on it. he then began wrapping the other end of the chain between the bedroom doorknob and the doorknob  directly across the hall all the while pulling tighter and tighter, choking the deranged man. When his mother saw this, she came running at him. Unlucky for her he was holding the faulty lock in his hand, as Sally approached he threw it and hit her in the face knocking her out. After some time Jimmy dialed 911 and waited for the cops to come.
    There was one problem though. After the other incident with his father, the police did not believe him. They left him in custody of his mother and locked him up in a juvenile facility for one year. After he was released, Jimmy did not go home but once a month. Chips parents had stuck with him through everything and allowed Jimmy to live there most of the time. So now, he could get back to his passion, football. That and Lisa Saunders was all he thought about while he was locked up. She was in high school now so all he had was the game.  
    After an outstanding 8th grade season, the head coach from Central High School came numerous times to talk to Jimmy about playing football there. Finally, at the end of the year Jimmy got a message to go and see the coach at Central High School. He told Jimmy that he wanted him to be on the varsity squad next year as a freshman. Jimmy was delighted by the offer, and on his way out the coach's office, he saw her, Lisa Saunders. She was jumping into a pick up with some football players and some other pretty girls. Just like, he had remembered but 10 times more beautiful. Now Jimmy had two reasons that he could not wait until next fall. The two things he wanted most for were falling right into his arms.
    The first day of school was not what he expected. Even though he had been practicing with the varsity for the past week, they just thought Jimmy was some fast new kid that did not talk much. Jimmy had a recent growth spurt, and did not seem younger than everyone else did. Once everyone realized that, he was a freshman that is when the hazing started. He ended up in his underwear, covered in baby powder, hoisted up on the flagpole, singing the national anthem. However, other than that all the kids in his grade worshiped him. Nobody ever played varsity as a freshman, only a handful of sophomores ever had. The first day of full pads came and Jimmy was starting to get tired of the hazing. That is when he started to figure out why they would not give up.
    There was a big kid on the team, a senior named Hal Hasker. He had been the starter at Jimmy's position since he was a sophomore. Unfortunately, he never worked out and he partied all the time, and gained so much weight that the coach decided to move Jimmy up and just let Hal play defense. Every time Jimmy got to the front of the line to hit, some how Hal was opposite. Not being able to run away, Jimmy would get his face pounded in time after time. Hal was twice his size and pissed off. As practice ended Jimmy was headed for the locker room when he saw her again, sitting on the bleacher as if she was waiting for him. Lisa Saunders, so perfect it was like Jimmy's dream come true. Until Hall knocked him on his ass and he realized she was waiting for that Asshole not him. They started kissing and it was official, Jimmy's day could not have gotten any worse. It all made sense the worst hazing always came after he had said hi or attempted to talk to Lisa. Hal was the ringleader of all the dick head Jocks at Central.
    Never the less it came down to game time and Jimmy was more than up to the task. He returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. Followed by three more scores on long runs in the first half alone. When it was all said and done Jimmy had five touchdowns and a new school rushing record. They Won 56-0. All the hazing stopped. And Jimmy only had one person too worry about now instead of the whole team. Jimmy's team went on to finish the season undefeated and earn a spot in the state championship game, all behind the Speedy Freshman Jimmy Ralardson.
    Jimmy had more girls than he knew what to do with; even Chip was getting play because he was Jimmy's best friend. The two still walked home together, and sometimes still talk about Rocket. Moreover, you can bet they still went fishing in the Elk River. Hal's jealousy had taken a wicked turn. Jimmy had taken Hal's position, broke all his records, and Lisa had just recently dumped him. Afterwards, he saw her flirting with Jimmy again. Hal would do anything had to, to get his position and his girl back. Therefore, he started following Jimmy. He found out about the bridge on Elk River and that is where he saw his chance. Finally, Hal would be back in the spotlight.
    Chip and Jimmy were on their way home the Monday before the big game. Chip was joking about being the better angler and student, while obviously Jimmy was the far superior athlete. They were just about halfway across the bridge when out of nowhere Hal flies up next to them and almost knocks them in the river. He jumps out and gets a hold of Chip pushing him to the edge of the bridge. “Come fight me or ill toss him" Yells Hal. Not doubting him for one second Jimmy moves closer, but in that one instant Hal kicks Chip off the side down into the Mighty Elk. Absolutely Stunned Jimmy's whole life flashes before his eyes, His Mother, His Father, Rocket, Being locked up, Chip and his families support for him, and now this.
    As Jimmy looked down and saw Chip's Limp body floating to the riverbed. He snapped again. He jumped in to Hal's car and floored it right at Hal. This sick fuck was going to pay. Hal tried to run but it was too late Jimmy hit him square on and drove the car straight off the bridge. The whole way down he looked at the fear in Hal's eyes, remembering that same fear that he had once felt so many times in his life. The car slammed on top of Hal as it hit the water. The air bag popped and Jimmy saw stars.
    When Jimmy awoke, it was as if nothing bad had ever happened to him. The sound of Friday night football games could be heard in the distance. He was sitting right on the bridge where he had so many times before. Then, unannounced Rocket started licking his face, barking as he always used to.  Then Chip hollers out, “I got one", and too his Surprise there sat Chip with the Biggest fish he'd ever seen on his line. They were young again; full of life and all the bad memories were erased as if they never existed. Jimmy finally had what he had been hoping for all his life, “not a care in the world.”