
    ,,two
  ,vicki--,! ,rebel
  ,vicki ,byrne 0 f|rte5 & look$ ei<te54 ,tall & sl5d}1 %e _h fi}y r$ hair & _h rec5tly le>n$ 6dress 9 a way t drew att5;n1 f girls & guys4 ,%e lik$ l1!r4 ,l{ cut black boots1 %ort skirts1 fla%y tops1 lots ( jewelry1 &a di6}5t hair/yle alm e "d4
  ,%e 0 t|<4 ,%e _h 6be4 ,o!r kids at s*ool 3sid}$ kids :o liv$ 9 trail} p>ks l{} class4 ,vicki's frs 7 h} 8{n k9d10 z h} 5emies lik$ 6say4 ,:5 %e & h} trail} p>k nei<bors bo>d$ ! bus on ,vicki's f/ "d ( hi< s*ool1 !y qkly r1liz$ h{ x 0 go+ 6be4
  ,! bus 0 full4 ,x 0 obvi|s ! trail} p>k 0 ! la/ /op on ! r|te4 ,only ! f/ two kids (! twelve bo>d+ f ! trail} p>k f.d a s1t ev5 6%>e4 ,e morn+ !y jo/l$ = posi;n 6be "o (! lucky f/ "os abo>d4 ,vicki _h giv5 up try+4 ,two s5ior boys1 smell+ ( toba3o & bad br1? & n"e1 "e1 c>ry+ s*oolbooks1 muscl$ _! way 6! front (! l9e4
  ,no "o on ! bus look$ at ! trail} p>k kids4 ,!y seem$ 6be1 afraid t if !y made eye 3tact1 !y mi<t h 6slide ov} & make room =a ?ird p}son 9 _! s1t4 ,&1 ( c|rse1 no "o want$ 6sit next to 8trail} tra%40 ,vicki _h se5 !m hold _! noses :5 %e & h} nei<bors bo>d$1 & %e _h he>d ! :isp}s4
  ,h{ 0 a fre%man girl suppos$ 6feel :5 p pret5d$ n 6see h}1 pret5d$ %e didn't exi/1 act$ z if %e 7 scum8
  ,! bus driv} refus$ 6pull away f ! trail} p>k until "ey"o 0 s1t$1 s ! two s5ior trail} boys--:o _h alr f.d s1ts--rose & sc{l$ & 9si/$ t p make room4 ,"s 8ri* kids10 : !y all seem$ 6be if !y didn't live ne> ,vicki1 2grudg+ly made room4
  ,! f/ "d1 ,vicki _h f.d h}f ! la/ 6f9d a s1t4 ,%e look$ 9 ! front1 ": mo/ (! black kids sat4 ,!y _h 6be am;g ! f/ on ! bus1 2c no "o seem$ 6want 6sit ) !m ei--especi,y ! trail} p>k kids4 ,9 fact1 ,vicki's frs call$ ! black kids horri# "ns & wdn't sit ) !m ev5 if !y (f}$ a s1t4
  ,vicki _h be5 rais$ 6believe black kids 7 2n h} too4 ,no black p liv$ 9 ! trail} p>k1 & %e didn't "k :y !y 7 suppos$ 6be 9f}ior1 o!r ?an t !y 7 a di6}5t color4 ,h} "f _h sd !y 7 lazy1 crim9al1 /upid4 ,& yet t 0 h{ ,vicki saw h} "f hmf4 ,at l1/ until two ye>s 2f4
  ,:5 %e 0 twelve1 "s?+ _h happ5$ 6h} p>5ts4 ,2f t !y _h seem$ ! same z mo/ ( _! nei<bors4 ,e ,fri"d ni<t "! 0 a -mun;y d.e ": drunk & j1l|s husb&s f"| ov} _! wives & girlfrs4 ,x 0 n unusual =! d.es 6be brok5 up 0 ! police1 ) "o or m (! fi<t}s 2+ haul$ (f 6jail =! ni<t4 ,(t51 h} "m bail$ | ,vicki's dad1 & !n !y wd fi<t ov} t =! re/ (! week5d4
  ,vicki's "f _h tr|# keep+ a job1 & h} "m's waitress+ didn't pay 5 6cov} _! bills4 ,vicki's dad _h be5 a me*anic1 a 3/ruc;n "w}1 a %ort-ord} cook1 &a ca%i} at a 3v5i;e /ore4 ,2+ >re/$ or late or abs5t f "w "o too _m "ts alw co/ hm 8 job1 & !n !y wd live on welf>e =a few mon?s until he cd f9d "s?+ else4
  ,vicki _h wi%$ h} p>5ts wd /ay away f ! -mun;y d.e e ,fri"d ni<t1 b !y seem$ 6look =w>d 6x z ! hi<li<t ( _! week4 ,%e _h 6admit %e us$ 6love hang+ >.d ) h} old} bro!r ,$die & ll si/} ,j1nni & _! frs dur+ ~? d.es4 ,!y 7 alw (f sn1k+ >.d & gett+ 96mis*ief :ile _! p>5ts d.ed1 sang1 drank1 & f"|4 ,x 0 :ile runn+ ) ~? kids t ,vicki le>n$ 6smoke & dr9k4 ,:5 ,$die graduat$ f hi< s*ool1 he mov$ | on 8 {n 6,mi*igan4
  ,"! 7 a few trail} p>k families :o n"e came 6! d.es4 ,!y1 ,vicki's "f sd1 7 ! 8religi|s types4 ,! gdygoodies4 ,! *ur*go}s40
  ,vicki's "m (t5 rem9d$ hm1 8,don't =get1 ,tom1 t 0 ! way ,i 0 rais$4 ,& x's n all bad4 ,we cd d ) "s *ur* >.d "h40
  8,i rescu$ y f all t sup}/iti|s mumbo jumbo10 he _h sd4
  ,t 2came ,vicki's view ( *ur*4 ,%e1 2liev$ "! 0 a ,god | "! "s":1 & h} "m told h} he _h cr1t$ ! _w & cr1t$ h} & lov$ h}4 ,%e cdn't make t make s5se4 ,if ,god cr1t$ ? l|sy _w & h} l|sy life1 h{ cd he love h}8
  ,"o ,fri"d ni<t :5 ,vicki 0 9 sev5? grade1 ! family he>d ! l|d music signal+ ! weekly d.e & 2gan mosey+ 6! p>k+ lot 6he> ! b&4 ,vicki's plan 0 6dit* ,j1nni z soon z ! "py />t$ & run (f "s": ) h} frs 6sn1k "s cig>ettes & maybe "s be}4
  ,b 2f %e cd d t1 ! music /opp$ & "ey"o look$ t{>d ! small /age 9 surprise4 8,uh1 'scuse me10 ! l1d s+} sd4 8,"o ( |r nei<bors "h has ask$ if he c 9troduce a gue/ :o'd l 6sp1k 6u =a few m9utes40
  ,"s"ts local politicians sd a few ~ws at ! d.es1 or ! police rem9d$ p 62have1 or ! l&"l rem9d$ "ey"o t 8? is a privilege & c 2 5d$ if "! >e m fi<ts40
  ,b ! nei<bor )a gue/ sp1k} _h n"e be5 se5 at "o ( ~! d.es4 ,he 0 "o ( ~? *ur* p ,vicki's dad made fun (4 ,& 8 gue/ 0 a pr1*}4
  ,z soon z he 2gan 6sp1k1 p groan$ & 2gan %|t+ to 8get on )! music4
  ,b ! sp1k} sd1 8,if y'll j 9dulge me =a few mo;ts1 ,i promise n 6take m ?an five m9utes ( yr "t4 ,& ,i pl1d ) y 6let yr *n he> ? too40
  ,"sh{1 t quiet$ ! cr{d4 ,! man laun*$ 96a v fa/1 v brief message t 9clud$ v}ses f ! ,bi# &a gd bit ( %|t+4 ,vicki _h be5 6*ur* only once )a fr1 & %e _h no idea :at he 0 talk+ ab4 ,%e 0 /ruck1 h{"e1 t "ey"o1 ev5 ! b>t5d}s & musicians1 seem$ 6/op & li/54 ,no "o ran >.d1 no "o spoke1 no "o mov$4
  ,! sp1k+ didn't seem all t grt1 b "! 0 a feel+1 an atmosph}e4 ,! man seem$ 6"k :at he 0 talk+ ab & spoke ) 3fid;e & au?or;y4 ,! be/ ,vicki cd figure |1 he 0 say+ t "ey"o 0 a s9n} & ne$$ ,god4 ,god lov$ !m & want$ 6=give _! s9s & promise 6take !m 6h1v5 :5 !y di$4
  ,%e didn't 2lieve hm4 ,%e hat$ h} life1 & if %e did ?+s wr;g1 !y w}5't any worse ?an :at h} {n p>5ts did4 ,!y smok$ & drank & f"|4 ,:at 0 ! big d1l8 ,& if ,god lov$ !m1 :y 7 !y liv+ 9 a trail} p>k8
  ,vicki want$ 6get go+1 6run ) h} frs1 b %e didn't want 6be ! only "o mov+4 ,"ey"o else seem$ froz5 9 place4 ,vicki didn't "u/& x4 ,%e _hn't he>d too m* ( ? religi|s talk1 & %e didn't c>e 6he> any m4 ,:5 %e turn$ 6-pla9 6h} p>5ts1 %e 0 %ock$ 6see h} "m /&+ "! ) h} eyes clos$1 sil5tly mov+ h} lips4 ,cd %e 2 pray+8
  ,& h} "f6 ,usu,y "s?+ l ? wd make hm n}v|s & fidgety4 ,x wdn't h surpris$ h} if he _h tri$ 6%|t d{n ! sp1k} or cause "s o!r 4turb.e4 ,b "! he /ood1 />+ at ! pr1*}1 n mov+4 8,da4y80 %e :isp}$4
  ,he held up a h& 6%u% h}4 ,:at 0 s 9t}e/+8 ,:at 0 keep+ all ~! "py p quiet8 ,! pr1*} ask$ 8 li/5}s 6b{ _! h1ds & close _! eyes4 ,n{ "! 0 "s?+ !y wd n"e d4 ,if "! 0 any?+ ,vicki's dad & 8 frs hat$ m ?an 2+ told :at 6d1 %e didn't "k :at x was4
  ,:5 %e look$ >.d1 h{"e1 alm "ey"o 0 do+ x6 ,"s j />$ at ! gr.d1 b mo/ _h _! eyes clos$4 ,! pr1*} told !m h{ !y cd rcv ,*ri/4 8,tell ,god y r1lize y're a s9n}10 he sd4 8,?ank hm = s5d+ ,jesus 6die = y1 & a3ept 8 (f} ( =give;s40
  ,vicki / didn't "u/&4 ,! :ole ?+ made h} uneasy1 b "s?+ 0 happ5+ "h4 ,%e look$ 6h} dad & 0 /unn$ 6see he _h fall5 6his knees & 0 cry+4 ,h} "m cr|*$ next 6hm1 hu7+ hm & pray+ ) hm4
  ,vicki 0 emb>rass$4 ,z soon z ! pr1*} f9i%$ &! music />t$ ag1 %e slipp$ away ) h} frs4
  8,:at 0 t all ab80 %e ask$ !m4
  8,:o "ks80 a boy sd1 pull+ cans ( be} f a pap} bag & pass+ !m >.d4 8,y "| 6ask yr old man4 ,he re,y seem$ 96x4 ,yr mom too40
  ,vicki %ru7$4 ,h} girlfr a4$1 8,!y left ! d.e1 y "k40
  8,:at d y m1n80 ,vicki ask$4 8,yr mom 0 l1d+ yr dad back 6! trail}1 & yr ll si/} 0 ta7+ al;g 2h !m4 ,!y m/'ve got religion or "s?+40
  8,:at"e t m1ns10 ,vicki sd1 hop+ 6*ange ! subject4 ,i ne$ a cig>ette40
  ,vicki didn't re,y ne$ a cig>ette4 x 0 j "s?+ 6say t made h} feel old}4 ,%e smok$1 yes1 b %e didn't c>ry a pack ) h}4 ,%e j bumm$ smokes (f h} frs once 9 a :ile4
  ,at ! 5d (! ev5+1 :5 %e & h} frs _h _h 5 be} & cig>ettes 6make h} feel wa/$1 %e fill$ h} m|? ) gum 6try 6hide ! smell & made h} way back home4 ,%e walk$ "? ! p>k+ lot ": ! music &! danc+ 7 / go+ on4
  ,"s (! p %e _h se5 ) _! eyes clos$ & seem+ 6pray 7 n{ dr9k+ & c>ry+ on z usual1 b "! didn't seem 6be any fi<ts or any r1son = any"o 6call ! police4
  ,vicki 0 half an h|r pa/ h} curfew1 b h} p>5ts _h n"e be5 home ? e>ly f a week5d d.e 2f4 ,%e expect$ a l|d *ew+ |1 ! usual ?r1ts ( gr.d+ 7: 7 r>ely foll{$ "?71 & *>ges t %e _h be5 9volv$ 9 all k9ds ( aw;l ?+s4 ,all %e & h} frs _h d"o 0 6put firecrack}s 9 a few mailboxes & run away1 & !y tipp$ ov} a few g>bage cans4 ,h} "f alw a3us$ h} ( m* worse4 ,promis$ puni%;ts 7 ne>ly alw =gott54
  ,? ni<t 0 /range4 ,h} ll si/}1 ,j1nni1 0 alr 9 b$1 b h} p>5ts 7 z awake z %e _h "e se5 !m4 ,h} "m sat at ! t9y kit*5 ta#1 h} du/y old ,bi# 9 front ( h}4 ,vicki's "f 0 excit$1 b1m+1 smil+1 pac+4
  8,i want 6quit smok+ & dr9k+1 ,dawn10 he sd1 z ,vicki came in4 8,i want 6cl1n up my :ole act40
  8,n{1 ,tom10 ,vicki's "m cau;n$1 8nobody says y c't 2 a ,*ri/ian if y smoke & dr9k4 ,let's f9d a gd *ur* & />t liv+ = ,god & let hm d ! "w 9 |r lives40
  ,vicki %ook h} h1d & />t$ = h} b$room1 b h} "f call$ h} back4 ,i 2came a ,*ri/ian tn1 h"oy10 he sd1 a "n he _hn't call$ h} s9ce %e 0 a pres*ool}4
  8,:at 7 y 2f80 ,vicki ask$4
  8,i 0 a no?+10 he sd4 8,yr mom 0 a ,*ri/ian1 b ,i--0
  8,i knew ! ,"l10 ,vicki's "m sd1 8b ,i hav5't liv$ = hm = ye>s4 ,i 0 pretty m* a no?+ myf4 ,b ,i came back 6! ,"l tn4 ,we're go+ 6/>t go+ 6*ur* &--0
  8,*ur*80 ,vicki sd4 8,i'm n go+60
  8,( c|rse y >e10 h} dad sd4 8,:5 y get sav$1 y'll want 6g 6*ur*4 ,i c't wait40
  8,i c10 ,vicki sd4 8,& :5 ,i get sav$ ftom :at80
  8,sav$ f hell1 sav$ f yr s94 ,y'll 2 safe 9 ! >ms ( ,jesus1 & y'll g 6h1v5 :5 y die40
  8,y re,y 2lieve t80 ,vicki sd4
  8,y bet ,i d10 ,mr4 ,byrne sd4
  8,i'll tell y :at ,i bet10 ,vicki sd4 8,i bet y'll 2 dr9k+ & cuss+ & fi<t+ & los+ yr job ag40
  ,h} "f's smile froze4 ,%e knew %e _h made hm mad1 & %e cd tell he want$ 6hit h}4 ,%e _h spok5 :at %e 2liev$ 0 ! tru?1 b %e _hn't re,y want$ 6hurt hm4
  ,he approa*$ & r1*$ = h}1 & %e fl9*$4 8,don't y t|* me60 %e scr1m$4
  ,he took h} g5tly 0 ! %|ld}s & spoke s(tly4 8,i'm n go+ 6hit y1 ,vicki10 he sd4 8,let me hug y40 ,%e cdn't rememb} h{ l;g x _h be5 s9ce he _h d"o t4 8,i "k ? all has 6s.d /range 6y1 b "s?+ happ5$ 6me tn4 ,x 0 z if ,god spoke 6me4 ,i don't "k :y ,i li/5$ or h{ he got "?1 b he did4 ,& ?+s >e go+ 6*ange >.d "h40 ,t'll 2 ! "d1 ,vicki ?"|4 8,i "k y h no r1son 6believe me1 hon1 0 h} dad sd4 8,i don't blame y = n "u/&+4 ,i've n"e giv5 y any r1son 6fru/ me1 s ,i guess ,i'll j h 6prove x40
  8,let's let ,god "w on h}10 h} mom sd4 8,we h 5 "w 6d on |rvs1 & he's go+ 6help u ) t too40
  ,vicki f9,y pull$ away f h} dad4 8,well1 ,i'm glad if ? "ws = y two10 %e sd1 8b don't expect me 6be "p ( x4 ,x s.ds weird4 ,y he> a crazy pr1*} = five m9utes & n{ all (a su45 y're holy80
  8,we're n holy10 h} "m sd4 8,we're j giv+ |rvs 6,god40
  8,& y don't ?9k t s.ds /range80
  8,:5 ,god gets "? 6y10 h} dad sd1 8y won't ?9k x s.ds s /range40
  ,vicki f9,y made x 6! ll b$room %e %>$ ) ,j1nni & flopp$ 96b$4 ,%e 0 sc>$ ab :at 0 happ5+ ) h} p>5ts4 ,%e decid$ t if ? re,y kept h} dad f dr9k+ & fi<t+ & 2+ a lazy "w}1 x wd 2 all "r4 ,b ? m* (a *ange 9 s* a %ort "t 0 too m* 6h&le4
  ,j1nni /irr$4 8,is t y1 ,vick80
  8,x's me40
  8,did y he> :at happ5$ tn80
  8,i he>d4 ,g back 6sleep40
