Free County Line Road by Marie Etzler Page A

time.”
    “Linda, I said don’t start.” Earl turned to her and stood squarely in the middle of the living room.
    “They never listen to me,” she continued ranting. “I have no control over them.”
    Jimmy tiptoed into the living room, just hoping to slip by while they argued, but it didn’t work.
    Linda saw him.
    She jabbed a finger in his direction then at Rich.
    “You’re grounded, and you’re grounded,” she said.
    “This is bullshit,” Rich said. “If you can’t stand us so much, why do you want to ground us?”
    “Dad! I didn’t do anything!” Jimmy said.
    “You come and go at all hours with that girl,” Linda said. “I never know where you are or what you’re doing.” She waved her arms around, going full steam ahead.
    “Don’t talk about my girlfriend,” Jimmy said. “I’m not staying in.”
    “Yes, you are,” Linda said. “Especially since you stole that baseball. The shop just called.”
    Jimmy stared at her in shock. The whole room was silent for a second.
    “What?” Earl said.
    “Yep, that’s right. They called and said they have it. Some kid brought it in, he said, a tall kid with brown hair.” She looked triumphant and turned to Earl. “Punish him.” She pointed Jimmy. “You’ll never go out again. And forget Clemson.”
    Rich walked over to Jimmy and stood next to him.
    “You got no say in what he does,” Rich said.
    Jimmy stared in amazement at Rich. With his brother next to him, he felt stronger.
    Linda looked from Rich’s boots to his face in disgust. “You’re just a pig, and…”
    “You’re just a whore!” Jimmy yelled. “I seen you come out of Johnny’s Bar with that redneck!”
    Everyone froze; it was like that split second before a car crash, that one moment suspended in time before the unchangeable course of future events, before the flying metals, shattering glass and bleeding bodies. Everyone sees it happening but is powerless to stop it. What Jimmy unleashed could not be contained now.
    Earl grabbed Jimmy by the arm and swung at him with his fist, hitting him squarely on the cheekbone. Jimmy felt the impact on the bone like a sheet of cold steel slamming him. The pain spread across his face, and he crumpled over.
    Earl tried again, but Rich threw his arm up to block him, colliding with his father and saying to him through gritted teeth, “What the fuck you think she does when you’re not here? Everybody knows but you.”
    Linda screamed and charged at them with both hands flying, fingernails like knives.
    In a surge of self-preservation, Jimmy covered his head with his arms.
    Rich grabbed her by the hair before she got to Jimmy.
    Earl clamped onto Rich’s arm and shoved Rich up against the wall.
    Jimmy pushed on everyone to get himself out of the middle and get his footing so he could defend himself. He got hit by flailing limbs and scratched by Linda’s nails.
    Earl yelled a thunderous shout and everyone stopped. “Stop! Or I’ll beat the shit out of each of you!”
    Everyone backed up, breathing heavily.
    “Jimmy,” Earl said. “I can’t believe what you just said. For saying it, your trip is cancelled.”
    “You can’t do that to him,” Rich said. “He’s going to South Carolina if I have to take him myself. Come on.” Rich grabbed Jimmy by the shoulder and ushered him out the front door.
    “Get back here,” Earl said.
    “No,” Rich said. He stopped and stared at his father. “He’s got a future.”
    Rich led Jimmy to the motorcycle, handed him the spare helmet. “Get on.”
    Jimmy just stumbled along with his brother. He still wasn’t sure if he’d heard right. Did he just say I can’t go to Clemson? I didn’t understand.
    His face hurt where his father had hit him. He’d never been hit like that before, not by his father or anyone. His father had smacked him as a child, and he’d been in fights at school, but those were just a lot of scrambling around, more like wrestling and trying not to get kicked or bit by the