RE: Trailer Trash 19, Friends, foes, and fighter jets. (Patreon)
Content
Tabitha lay on the neatly-made bed within her tiny, orderly room and stared blankly up at the ceiling, her healthy tangle of reddish-orange hair strewn across her pillow. She was feeling light-headed from skipping dinner, her hand ached in a dull way, and the codeine tablet shed taken for the pain made her brain feel fuzzy. More than anything else, though, she felt thoroughly lost, despondent and directionless.
Ashlee Taylor. Try as she might, she couldnt conjure a face to associate with that namehonestly, she wouldnt have remembered the name at all if not for her father reminding her. The girl had been an early childhood friend, and little more than a vague impression of her remained after forty-some years. I think she must have been from fifth or sixth grade?
The incident with the trampoline happened more than four decades agobut, she wasnt so sure she could chalk up her lapse in memory entirely to the passage of time.
More likely, I just didnt want to think about it, Tabitha thought, lifting her new cast up into the air and straightening her arm, trying to find a balance point where it took as little effort as possible to maintain it up. The thing was awkward and heavy, but keeping it elevated seemed to lessen the throbbing sensation. For the past few hours, it felt like her hand and wrist were so swollen up they were straining against the confines of the cast.
I was ashamed, so I tried to never think about it, Tabitha listlessly stared at the cast. Eventually, over the years, I ACTUALLY started to forget, started to lose the finer details of it. But, deep down, I knew. I kept quiet when a friend was being abused, because I was scared for myselfand no matter how much I put it out of my mind, it was always there, deep down there inside of me. Shaping my life.
As a writer, she couldnt be any more familiar with character flawsbut, applying that familiarity to herself as a person? That was the work of a counselor, a therapist, maybe a psychologist. She knew by now that throughout life, people would do anything and everything to overlook their own personal shortcomings. It was easier to justify themselves as the victim, or project their flaws onto others, to stonewall themselves into denial, or make any number of excuses.
Tabitha? Mrs. Moores voice called softly through the door. One of our friends is on the phone for youan Elena? Are you okay to talk right now?
Yes, Mother, Tabitha gingerly lowered her arm and twisted to sit up with her feet over the side of her bed. Thank you, Ill speak with her now.
The door opened, and her mother stepped inside with the phone. The heavyset woman was wearing a sad, almost timid expression as she offered the cordless handset to her daughter. It seemed like she couldnt help but send glances towards Tabithas light blue cast, and Tabitha felt an inexplicable urge to hide it, or cover it up somehow.
Youre... talking like that again, Mrs. Moore said.
Yes. I know, Tabitha squeezed her eyes shut in a grimace of frustration and took a deep breath. Im sorry. It justit helps, it keeps everything at some distance. I know its stupid, but I dont want to be real right now. I dont have the energy, I-I justIm just not up for it.
Okay, Mrs. Moore nodded. Here for you, if you ever want to talk. About anything.
Thanks, Mom. Tabitha watched her mother carefully close the bedroom door, and then slowly hunched forward with her elbows on her knees, cradling the phone against her ear. Hello?
Hi, Tabitha? Its Elena, Her friend said. Sorry, I found your number in the phone book. Just found out about what happened from Carrie earlierare you okay? What really happened?
Im fine, Tabitha almost said, but her throat seized up again and her eyes watered. She wasnt exactly sure why her first instinct was to lie, or why shed wanted to hide the cast from her mothers sight. After all, the vulnerability she was feeling right now didnt have much at all to do with her injury.
I am, Tabitha let out an unsteady breath, not okay. At all. But, Im trying. Im Im going to figure this out.
Tabitha, I-I think it might be my fault, Elena blurted out. Like, this was pushback. Yesterday and today I got into it with a few peopleeveryone was talking bad about you, and like, all of it was justthis completely fabricated bullshit. I got in a few arguments, I defended you, but. I didnt think theyd ever go this far! Tabitha, Im so sorry! Everything thats going on, what theyre doing, its all just so totally, completely out of line!
Nothing was your fault, Tabitha felt herself smile. Elena spoke up for me? That feels weird and surreal and kind of amazing. I dont think Ive ever had a girl like her on my side.
Do you even know Chris Thompson at all? Elena asked.
Id never even heard of him before today, Tabitha said. I didnt even see him. It was all too sudden.
Okay. So, hes Springtons star running back, sorta, Elena elaborated. How much do you know about football?
Um, Tabitha winced. I only watch the Superbowl for the commercials.
I guess you dont really need to know anything, anyways, Elena said. Hes a total scumbag. Mom says if you decide to press charges, you can absolutely destroy his chance of getting a football scholarship.
I Tabitha paused to settle her thoughts. There was an immediate vindictive pang, but she needed her cooler head to prevail. I dont know how I feel yet. Or what my parents will do. I think that I just want to speak with him. To understand, to find out why.
Well, I think Ive found out whos behind all the rumors going around school, at least, Elena said.
Brittney and Erica Taylor? Tabitha guessed, her shoulders slumping. Im going to have to figure out how to deal with them.
Yeah Elena sounded surprised, howd you know? You know them?
Do you remember back in Laurel, right before the end of the year? Tabitha sighed. The concussion I had? That was themone of them pushed me, Im not sure which of them it was. Cracked skull and a serious concussion.
No fucking way! Elena hissed, and then her voice grew faint as though shed turned away from her phones receiver. No, I wont watch my language, Mom! Tabitha says those same two girls were the ones who put her in the hospital back in middle school! Yeah, the Taylor girls.
Sorry, Elenas voice returned to full volume. Tabitha, are you okay? How bad is it?
Three to five months bad, I was told, Tabitha said, slouching even lower, until she was almost hugging her knees. Im. Um, its dumb, but Im... kind of scared to eat. I dont think I can cook normally, or run, or do my exercises or really any major activities, for a while. Even with the painkillers. I dont ever want to go back to being the way I was.
Were going to figure everything out, Elena promised. One second.
We are? Tabitha wondered. A moment later, however, she could overhear Elena repeating the words three to five months and then beginning to paraphrase some of what had been said, presumably for Mrs. Seelbaugh. There was something incredibly heartwarming about how her friend was treating her problems as her own, and the way she jumped in without a second thought to tackle them immediately.
* * *
How is she? Mrs. Williams demanded, crossing their living room with an angry stride.
Shortly after parking his cruiser and coming in the front door, Officer Williams found himself besieged right away by a particularly vengeful-looking housewife, and he couldnt help but let out a long, slow breath. Days taxing enough when Im ON the clock
Shell be fine, Officer Williams tried to reassure her. Shell just have a cast for a couple months.
She shadowed him as he stepped through their tastefully furnished foyer and into the comfort of the living room. The interior of their suburban home was a warzone of bitter conflicts and grudging compromises when it came to their tasteshe favored comfort and luxury, while she was adamantly fixated on a certain rustic vintage aesthetic. He was responsible for their overstuffed recliner and couch set, as well as their enormous rear-projection TV. Shed absolutely covered the walls in decorative antiques of all kinds, and replaced the rest of their furniture with what he jokingly considered museum pieces, because they were strictly for lookingnot for touching.
Well? Karen Williams still looked absolutely livid.
Officer Williams saw his son Matthew awkwardly seated on one end of the sofa, but the kid definitely wasnt just relaxing after schoolby all accounts it looked like he was in the hot seat, like his wife had continued grilling the poor boy ever since he got home from school.
Shes a tough cookie, He grunted. Broke a bone in her hand, fractured her wrist, and she was still completely calm and able to explain what all she thinks happened.
She broke her hand, His wife repeated, gritting her teeth at hearing the extent of the girls injuries. And fractured her wrist?
His wife usually had this natural jovial disposition to her that put everyone around her at easebut when something rubbed her the wrong way, this womans temper was fierce in a way that made even him want to flinch back away from her.
Who broke whose hand? Hannah asked, peeking around the corner of the hallway while clad in her Rugrats pajamas.
Hannah honey, get back to bed right now, Mrs. Williams told her in a stern voice. Mama Williams is cross right now, and I dont want you to see me when Im cross. Skedaddle, Ill send Matthew to tuck you back in in a minute.
Okay, Hannah blinked at them. Sorry.
Well, Mrs. Williams continued only after making sure that their ward had scampered back down the hall towards the guest room. What did Tabitha say?
She said she was what, somethin like the whole thing was... making her not at ease? Uneasy? Officer Williams recalled. Damn, I shouldve written all of it down, I guess.
Uneasy? Mrs. Williams glared. What does that mean?
Something like this happened earlier in the year, so she thinks the same girls might be behind it, Officer Williams admitted, gesturing with the spiral notebook. Ive got all the details down.
This has happened before? Give me that, She snatched the notebook out of his hands and turned a chilly look over towards her son. Girls, what girls?
Well, the thing isTabitha said shed never even met this boy who pushed her, Officer Williams explained.
What girls are we talking about? Karen asked, giving his scrawled notes a dour look. Whats this about student-teacher misconduct?
She claims someone at school was spreading rumors that she was involved with one of the teachers.
Thats true, Matthew dared to speak up. About that rumor spreading, I meanshe didnt actually do anything. Everyone was saying she was fooling around with Mr. Simmons and getting her grades adjusted, the deans had to look into it.
What a horrible thing to say, Mrs. Williams scowled, reading on. Cant you write notes in complete sentences? Whore Erica and Brittney Taylor? Are they the girls behind all of this?
Um. Erica Taylors one of my friends, Matthew said with a guilty look. Shes coming to the Halloween party.
Well see about that, Karen Williams said in a cold voice, stabbing out a finger at her son. You are going to make sure nothing else happens to Tabitha from now on, buster. I dont care whos saying what, or how you got involvedI want this gossip at school about Tabitha to stop. Now. Am I making myself understood? Im calling Mrs. Cribb from the school board about this tonight.
Um, Matthew grimaced. I dont know how it started, but theyve also all been saying that Tabitha never actually helped save Mr. Macintire. That she just made everything up when the news van pulled in, so that she could steal all the credit.
Say what, now? Officer Williams slowly turned to regard his son.
* * *
Mornin, Sweetie, Mr. Moore said, looking out across the wide open space behind their trailer. Whatcha up to out here so early?
Im going to try to put together an F-22, Tabitha said with determination, wiping machine oil from her hands onto her skirt as she surveyed their junkyard. Piles of military surplus aviation components were heaped everywhere, and she had an incomplete fighter jet chassis propped up on cinderblocks that was going to need a lot of work.
Based on the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor design. A fifth-generation twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft.
F-22, huh? Her father chuckled. Another one of them future things? Whatre we gonna even do with one, once weve got it?
No, its not for us, Tabitha frowned, looking across the yard in confusion for a moment. Wasnt something off? Something wasnt right, but she couldnt quite put her finger on what it might be. How long had she been stockpiling old jet parts to even fill the enormous area next to their makeshift machine shop?
Im hoping if it goes well maybe we can get a government contract? Tabitha said, narrowing her eyes at the mess everywhere. Must be nothing? Then, you wont have to worry about money anymore.
Well, try not to make too much noise, Mr. Moore said, shaking his head. You know were proud of you no matter what you do, Honey.
I think I might have to run the smelter later to try out a new batch of alloys, if thats okay? Tabitha said, examining the F-22 schematics on her bracelet PC again. She didnt remember exactly why shed saved the documents in the future, but it was turning out to be lucky that she had.
Gimme a holler when youre ready, and Ill come out and give ya a hand, her Dad nodded. He still wasnt comfortable with her pouring out the superheated metals by herself yet, even though she was already almost fourteen. Oh! Fore I forget, you got a letter from Julia. Here you go, Hun.
Julie! Tabitha exclaimed, perking up right away as she accepted the message and then opened it, greenish-blue hologram text projecting up into the air from her bracelet. Ive missed her! How did she even figure out where I am? WHEN I am?
She beamed an excited smile as she saw the mailJulia had written her so much! Paragraph after dense paragraph floated up into the air like a Star Wars opening marquee, and the simple fact that she was hearing from her friend again filled her up with joy. Why had it even been so long since they were in touch?
I cant quite read it, though? Tabithas smile faltered as she squinted at the blocks of text. She wanted to know what Julia had to say right away, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldnt actually focus in on the wordsall she was getting was some sort of gist of what Julia meant to say. Something about coming to visit her, here in 1998? So frustrating! Its all right THERE! I want to read exactly every little thing she says!
Dad, I want to read it, but I cant, Tabitha let out an exasperated sigh of confusion. Dad?
Mr. Moore was gone.
Dad? Tabitha left the scrapyard behind, trotting up the sun-bleached wooden steps of the back porch to look for him. Dad, I cant read it
A growing sense of discontinuity was tugging at the back of her mind as she looked for her fatherbut it wasnt strong enough for her to realize that the back porch belonged to an apartment shed had when she was in her thirties. In the mobile homes living room, she found her mothers massive obese form seated in her typical spot on the sofa. She was gigantic and bloated, far too fat for her to stand under her own power, and her hair was faded and streaked through with gray.
Mom? Tabitha blinked. Wheres Dad?
Cancer, Mrs. Moore scowled in annoyance at her. Cancer, Tabitha. Hes gone. Werent you supposed to fix that, this time through? Whatd you need im for, anyways?
Right, Tabitha nodded slowly, remembering. Cancerthe brain tumor. Sorry. I-I didnt um, I didnt think it would even appear this early, thoughwhen did ?
Hah. Mrs. Moore snorted. Well, make sure you get it taken care of next time, an I dont care if you have to sit at the table the whole damned night to get it done, if thats what it takes. You hear me? Im not tellin you again, Tabitha Anne Moore.
Yes, Momma, Tabitha lowered her head. Simply saying the words made her feel ugly and fat and vulnerable, that small and helpless thirteen-year-old all over again. Its just my friend Julie was gonna come visit. I, um, I wanted to go meet her, when she arrives?
Hmmph, Mrs. Moore sneered. Youre not goin anywhere till you clean up that God-awful mess out there, or your fathers gonna hear about it. Now go on, get.
Yes, Momma, Tabitha turned to run back out theback out the what?
Their trailer only had a front door, on the one side. They didnt have anything like a back porch. Embarrassed and confused, she ran out down the front steps and then made her way around to the back of the trailer. There was just grass and weeds, those few feet of patchy landscape between their tiny shed and the neighboring trailer behind them.
I... guess that counts as cleaned up, then? Tabitha decided with one last guilty glance around, unable to place just what was wrong with the situation. Need to get to the hospital and make sure Julie comes through the MRI okay!
It was a long drive over to Louisville, and Tabitha knew something was definitely not right. Thankfully, her battered old 2022 Honda Pilot was right where shed left it after her parents passed away, and someone or other had even refilled her tank. Streets and intersections passed by in a blur as she drove on and on what seemed to be forever and ever, and that pervasive wrong sense in the back of her mind had her gripping the steering wheel anxiously with her weathered old hands.
In her mind, it became more and more important that she see Julia right away, no matter what, because something wasnt right. There was this feeling of foreboding that shed never get a chance to see her friend again if she didnt hurry. Tabitha didnt quite remember arriving or even parking, but at some point eventually she found herself within the University of Louisville Hospital complex, lost somehow in an endless jumble of mislabeled corridors and waiting areas and examination rooms. There wasnt any time to ask anyone for directions!
When she finally, finally found the familiar room with that colossal MRI device it was too late.
Look, the goblins finally here! Brittney and Erica Taylor, Elena Seelbaugh, and two of the other intimidating girls from middle school were standing around the room waiting for her, greeting her arrival with mocking smiles and laughter. When the examination table slid out of the MRI with a whirring noise... it was empty.
Wh-wheres Julia? Tabitha stammered, feeling crushed.
Shes nowhere, now, Brittney Taylor laughed. Its like, wowshes even more stupid than you are. She wasnt even born yet in ninety-eight! Where was her mind gonna go when she doesnt even have a body yet here? Retard. That means shes just gone now, forever.
Noshe cant be gone forever, Tabitha sobbed, furiously shaking her head in denial and clutching at her clothes. Sh-she cant, she cant!
Uhh, well shes not here in the past, and now shes not in the future anymore? Elena smirked at her. Whatd you even expect? She doesnt belong anywhere anywaysduh, thats why she offed herself. You dont belong, either.
She cant be gone! Tabitha repeated stupidly, feeling herself crumble and break down.
Yeah, you shouldnt have come back in time, Erica laughed. What, you think youre special? You didnt even remember which stocks to buy up! Weve only been back in time for a few days, and we already have like, six hundred and fifty thousand dollars in shares.
Theyre making me a White House advisor, at fourteen years old, Elena proudly preened. Cause I kept track of every little bit of corruption going on throughout the time period. Im like, a God to them.
Ive just been getting laid! One of the other girls guffawed, cupping her own breasts with her hands and waggling them. Like, look at meIm a teenager again, what the hell else am I gonna do first?
What have you been doing, Tubby Tabby? Brittney sneered. You havent done jack shit. Uh, hello? Its fucking time travel. If you cant even accomplish anything, why the fuck are you even here?
Yeah, are you stupid? Another girl chimed in. Lockheed Martin F-22s debuted in like, nineteen-ninety-fourthey already have those, here. The design they dont have yet is the F-35 Panther mark II.
ImIm, Tabitha cried out, blinking through her tears in disbelief at the empty examining table. The teenage girls surrounding her wore sadistic grins, leering smiles of anticipation, waiting for her to answer. What could she even say? One of them giggled, and Brittney snorted and shushed that girl, eyes flicking past Tabithas shoulder for a brief instant. As if
Tabitha flinched with her entire body as some hidden figure forcefully shoved her from behind, and then she was wide awake in the darkness of her bedroom with a sudden intake of breath.
She trembled in place on her bed, pressing her face into the pillow to stifle an anguished wail. Her wrist had woken her up, rather than the nightmaresomewhere throughout the night, that first codeine tablet had worn off. She was in blinding, feverish agony. The details of the dream were already starting to evaporate as she clutched at her arm, trying to pin it in place so it wasnt jostled by her wracking sobs.
I cant. I just cant. Cant deal with everything all at once like this. Julie. Dad. How can I even convince Dad to go in for expensive x-rays, when he wont even HAVE those headaches for years, yet?
* * *
Chris Thompson wore a slight grin as he followed after his father into Springton Highs administrative office. A five-day suspension was supposed to be a punishment, but he couldnt help but feel pretty pleased with himself. It was hard not to feel smughis youthful indiscretion, as his father put it, meant he didnt actually have to sit through classes today. He now had the entire week before Halloween to relax and goof off, while all these other students loitering around the Quad area were stuck in their same daily routine.
Dont even have anything to feel guilty about, Chris thought, running fingers through his closely-cropped hair. FUCK that Tabitha girl.
Hed felt pretty ambivalent about Tabitha, at firsteven despite all the nasty rumors going around about her. So what if people said she was a bit of a slut? He didnt particularly mind easy girls, and she was pretty cute. In his mind, theyd make a great coupleshe was the attractive freshman everyone talked about, and he was the star running back. Tall, good-looking, and with that athletic, rangy stride of his that ate up yards on the football field like magic.
Hey, you guys know that Tabby girl, right? Hed asked some of the sophomore girls in his class yesterday.
Yeah, One of them had scowled. What of her?
Ask her what she thinks of me, Chris had proposed with a grin. I think wed make a good couple.
Pfft, uhh yeah, Erica Taylor had laughed. Well, I think she definitely knows about you...
She does? Chris had perked up at hearing that.
Yeah Erica had leaned in to confide in a whisper, and itd been a struggle not to look down the girls shirt. Didnt wanna say nothin or make a big deal, but I heard her telling people she thinks you run like a total faggot.
No she didnt, Chris had made a face of disbelief.
Its true! Another girl had chimed in. I heard it, too. Can you believe that bitch?
The fuck?! He had erupted. Who the fuck does she think she is, that shes gonna talk shit on me like that? Runs like a total faggot? God damnshe dont even fuckin KNOW me!
Completely blindsided, Chris found himself seeing red for the whole rest of that day. In fact, if Tabitha had been a freshman guy, he wouldve immediately gone and beat the shit out of her, without any hesitation. The more he dwelled on it, the more infuriating it wasI was actually interested in her, and instead shes tryin to just fucking shit all over my reputation? Weve never even talked! FUCK this girl! Whos the faggot-ass little bitch now, huh?
In his opinion, a minor little shove after spotting her at the bus loop was already letting her off lightly. Hed booked it afterwards of course, in hopes that hed get away scot-free... but a pair of freshman guys chased after him, probably some of the very same dudes hed heard Tabitha regularly hooked up with. There wouldnt have been a ghost of a chance of the clowns catching him, either, if not for his ill-planned attempt to double back and catch his own buswhen the dean Mr. Shaw caught up, Chris was already caught up in a fight with those two asshole freshman guys amidst a growing crowd of onlookers.
Fucking unbelievable...
Good morning. My names Donald Thompson, and Im here about my sons suspension, His dad said, turning a stern look from the administrative clerk to the teenage son he was firmly gripping by the shoulder. An apology and a five-day suspension is acceptable. Chris was in the wrong, here, and Ive already had a talk with him about it. But, youre not going to suspend him from playing games for a whole season for this, thats ridiculous. He has a future ahead of him, and the schools responsible for seeing to that.
Er... The woman frowned, turning to look at Chris. Mr. Thompson
Ive heard from my son, as well as parents of other students herethis Tabitha girls been known to instigate problems, Mr. Thompson cut her off. I think that things may have been blown way out of proportion. From what Ive been told, he gave her a playful shove, and then this fall was purely accidental. Is my understanding correct?
Im sorry, Mr. Thompson, theres nothing I can tell you about it. The
Theres nothing you can tell me about it? Mr. Thompson repeated, sounding annoyed. He leaned over the counter, trying to spot someone in the rear offices with more authority. Yeah, of course not. Tell me, just who do I need to speak with to resolve this?
The district school board, The administrative clerk replied. Nobody can do anything about the suspension until they meet on Monday, Sir. Not while theres civil or criminal action pending. The best you can probably hope for is an expulsion hearing.
Criminal Mr. Thompsons voice rose. Expulsion hearing? You cant be goddamn serious. The district school board? Criminal action? For a playground scufflea tussle between children? What a complete and total crock of shit. Oh, this is the girl from that trailer park, isnt it? Let me guess, I take it her parents are chasing after some enormous, trumped-up cash settlement for damages?
No, Sir, the clerk shook her head. Her father sure raised a fuss yesterday, but it was two Springton police officers that came in this morning and filled out the notice of claimits already filed with the district.
Ridiculous, Mr. Thompson scoffed. After that stunt she pulled with that police officer? Id be surprised if theyre not preparing to press charges against her already, juvenile or not. Listen, if for some reason my sons being implicated in some sort of lawsuit or slander, Im going to need a copy of the claim immediately.
Just one moment, The woman nodded, stepping back from the reception desk and disappearing into the back offices.
Im not apologizing to Tabithashe called me a faggot, Chris fumed. Jesus. Where the hells her suspension?
You want to keep playing football, youll do what youre told, Mr. Thompson instructed. There was anger in his tone, and he hadnt released that iron grip he had on his sons shoulder. This was goddamn stupid of you Chris, and you can be sure as hell theyll try to drag all this out kicking and screaming. Goddamn stupid.
Here we are, the clerk returned, grabbing a stapler so that she could fix a pair of papers together at their upper corner.
Chris caught a glimpse of the form when the woman passed it to Mr. Thompson to read, and there was a lot of writing there. To his dismay, he watched his fathers expression darken as he read through the document, angrily flipping the paper to read the next page. An anxious, unsettling feeling began to blossom as his father turned the page back and read it over again from the beginning.
Chris Mr. Thompson slapped the claim copy on the reception counter and grabbed his son by the collar. What the fuck have you gotten yourself into?
( 18, Catching an unexpected break. | RE: Trailer Trash | 20, The road to recovery and the path to revenge. )