#losersweek

Today was an extra impulsive day. Eddie had holed himself in at home for the day to “study” and Richie was really BORED. So he did what any sensible person with undiagnosed ADHD would do, go pester his best friend. He brought along his portable boombox, knowing Eddie would have no music in his room. Despite their best efforts, Sonia Kaspbrak kept confiscating any record, CD or radio players.

When Richie got there, he tossed rocks at Eddie’s room window. He picked ones small enough not to crack the glass. The rocks perfectly hit every time. He threw five until Eddie came to the window, shook his head, then closed the blinds.

Richie was not going to give up that easily. He grabbed his boombox, placed an 8-track disc inside, and pressed play. The starting chords began to play and calming drums as Richie raised the machine high above his head. He did it a little too quickly and almost staggered to the ground but righted himself just as the lyrics started to play:

“Love I get so lost, sometimes

Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart

When I want to run away

I drive off in my car

But whichever way I go

I come back to the place you are…”

Eddie undid the blinds to glare down at Richie’s antics as the music kept playing. He crossed his arms determinedly not opening the window.

“All my instincts, they return

And the grand facade, so soon will burn

Without a noise, without my pride

I reach out from the inside…”

Richie and Eddie kept staring at each other. Richie was grinning at him from ear to ear. Eddie relented and opened the window shaking his head. Richie noticed the side of his mouth twitched longing to smile back.

“In your eyes

The light the heat

In your eyes

I am complete

In your eyes

I see the doorway to a thousand churches

In your eyes

The resolution of all the fruitless searches

In your eyes… ”

Eddie finally could not take it anymore “Richie!” He said loudly over the music. “I am studying!”

“But I’m boreddddd.” Richie whined back. He brought the boombox down carefully, paused the music and stretched out his arms. Holding a 10-pound machine high above your head when you have no upper body strength is painful.

Eddie leaned against the window with his familiar trained frustration he saved just for his friend. “We are hanging out tonight you idiot.”

He pouted, “But that’s tonight, I want to hang out now!”

Eddie raised his eyes to the sky, “Why’d you pick THAT song?”

Richie laughed, “Because it is from the movie Say Anything !”

“Oh…right.” Eddie’s face fell the slightest bit. Anyone else would not have seen the disappointment, but Richie realized it immediately.

“Also, because you have the most beautiful eyes in the world, Eds!” Richie shouted reassuringly. They locked gazes and Eddie saw the sincerity in his words.

“Beep beep, Trashmouth.” He gave him a bright smile that lit a fire through Richie’s heart. “I’ll let you in through the front door.”

Sometimes it pays off to be impulsive.