Sunday Snippet: Dodging Bullets

Hello!

Okay, getting the TV stuff out of the way first, as always, but did you watch the Arrow mid-season finally? If you didn't, why not!! Seriously, the show keeps getting better and better, and it was already pretty damned great. :D

Sons of Anarchy finale this week and whoa. I seriously have no idea how anything will play out. Sutter never quite goes where I think he will and that's part of what I love about the show.

Walking Dead gave me a very satisfactory finale even if it killed off one of my favorite characters. Can't ask for more than that, right?

I'm hoping to start Almost Human in the near future and catch up so I can watch in real time. I've heard very good things about the show.

Tonight's post is from Dodging Bullets, a novella featuring characters who've grown up together and still have a connection.

Here's the tagline:

Sable and Gage live on the same street and survive their childhood by having each other's backs. When they grow up, they're still looking out for each other, but instead of ducking verbal barbs and flying objects, they're dodging bullets instead.

And a snippety peek…

Sable unhooked the back gate just in time to dodge the pepper grinder being lobbed at her dad's head. He shot her a look and she turned around, beating a hasty retreat to the nearby novelty store. He'd long ago made Sable promise if she got the raised eyebrow she'd go straight to shop and wait. Ivan would pick her up after Bianca cooled off. Until she did, Sable would hang out with Bernie, the owner and a good friend of Ivan's.

Sometimes her parents acted more like they were twelve instead of Sable. Okay, her mom did. Bianca threw more temper tantrums in a week than Sable had her whole life.

She skipped around the corner and waited for the light to change then darted across the street and made a left. The Aardvark's neon sign shone like a beacon of welcome in a torrential downpour of well, words she shouldn't know or say.

She pushed the door open and shouted. "Hey, Bernie! How's it hanging?"

Her dad's friend shook his head. "Sable, you know that greeting is inappropriate. You're almost a teenager." He came around the counter and nodded towards a couple of customers. "Do you want me to get arrested for contributing to your delinquency?"

Sable snorted. "It's just Gage and Garth. They're not customers. They're a pain in the butt."

Bernie sighed. "No they're not. They hang out here as much as you do." He lowered his voice. "But their dad is a cop and you need to remember that."

The light bulb went off and she nodded. "Sorry, Bernie. I'll just say hi next time."

He grinned and went back to his post behind the cash register. "Do you need a snack? I've got peanut butter and graham crackers."

She cracked a smile. "You got chocolate sprinkles left?" She loved the mix of peanut butter and chocolate.

Bernie chuckled. "You know I do." He jerked his head towards the back. "Keep an eye on things out here. I'll go get it ready."

Sable bounced around the counter and climbed up onto the metal stool Bernie kept stashed just for her. "I got this." She waved Bernie away.

Settling down, she turned her attention to Gage and Garth Waterson. The brothers lived across the street, three doors down from her house. Gage a year older than Sable, Garth a year younger, they often ended up walking home from school together. Other parents picked their kids up, but Bianca Rich couldn't be bothered. Betty Waterson worked as a paramedic for the city's fire department and trusted her boys would get home without incident. With a beat cop for a dad, they knew what to look out for.

"You can't buy that shirt, Garth. Mom will freak out and kick your ass." Gage grabbed the shirt from his younger brother.

Garth slugged him. "You better stop cussing. You'll do it in front of mom and she'll kick your ass." He snagged the tee back and held it out of Gage's reach. "I'll wait 'til she's working a twenty-four and only wear it then." He smirked at his brilliant idea.

Gage rolled his eyes. "Fine. But when she goes apeshit, don't come crying to me." He threw the shirt in the plastic basket and moved over to the ball caps.

She wondered why Gage got so bent over Garth's choice. Maybe the garment had one of the more offensive slogans on it. She shook her head. Gage shouldn't have caved. Garth would forget and get busted wearing the shirt then Gage would take the heat from whatever their mom tried to throw at Garth. He always did.

Her curiosity getting the better of her, Sable slid off the stool and made her way over to the boys. Maybe she could talk Garth into picking something else. She hated how mopey Gage got when their mom started slinging verbal barbs.

She tapped Gage on the shoulder. "Hey. What's going on?" She cast a furtive glance inside their basket.

Well, shit. Gage's reason for concern smacked Sable in the face. Garth didn't choose one of the questionable sayings. He'd opted for a silkscreen of a local band—

The Bangers—her dad's group.

Sable huffed out a breath. "Garth, man, you don't wanna take that shirt home. You'll be lucky if your mom doesn’t set it—and you—on fire."

And then have to call her co-workers to come and put the flames out.

Garth heaved a sigh and went to hang the shirt back on the display rack.

Gage nudged Sable's shoulder. "Thanks, Sable."

Sable nodded and met Gage's gaze. "No problem. I feel bad for Garth."

Gage tilted his head. "Why?"

Sable shrugged. "Because it's not his fault your mom hates my dad."

Sometimes I love writing characters who have a rich history yet can't see what's right in front of them… but Sable and Gage get it and keep their connection, even when they're grown. J

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin