Broken Hallelujah

*For some reason, the edits I put in when I first published this story did not come out. Computers sucks. Anyway, for those who read this, thank you and I apologize for the horrible edits. Read it again if you feel like it, and review if you want. Thanks*


Long white fingers strummed lazily against the guitar strings…
Soft music was playing in the small hospital room…
Though the music was not heard, it just added to the noise of quick movements and loud voices….
Such a large hospital, with so many patients…
Under-staffed, no one came to check on the boy with the guitar. Days passed after his doctor had came in to check on him…
Telling him how lucky he was…
How rare it was for someone to survive five gun shot wounds, let alone come out of his two week coma….
It was remarkable…
Volunteers had come in periodically, giving him his meals…
But he hadn’t seen a nurse or a doctor in days.

So he sat there thinking absently as he continued to strum on the guitar….
Shaking his head as though doing such movements would simply brush those thoughts away….
Then the music stopped.

And the world outside his little room continued, bustling with noise…
He leaned over the bed and gently placed the guitar against the wall, wincing slightly, forgetting how easily slight movements would damage his healing wounds….
He swallowed and closed his eyes as he shifted on the bed…
Trying to find a comfortable spot to sleep but sleep almost never came…
So he laid in the lonely white-walled room and thought about how things were….
Before.

Thought about his brothers….
Thought about the if-only’s and what-if’s….
Thought about anything but the pain in his shoulders…
Then he came to an conclusion lying on his bed…

Thinking only made his head hurt.

Sleep is slowly coming, he could feel it…
The first sign is an yawn…..
Then the droopiness of the eyes…
He felt it in his bones, he’s weary…
But his brain can’t rest…
Why?
What more is there to think about?
There goes another yawn…
His vision becomes impaired…it’s just his eyelids closing on his vision.


“Listen Jack -”
“I know. ‘Don’t follow in the footsteps of your brothers.’”
“I wasn’t going -”
“I won’t do what you did and attempt to light a kid on fire.”
“That was-”
“Or what Jeremiah did, and knock a kid out.”
“Jack-”
“What was it that Angel did?….” pausing a moment to think, “oh yeah I won’t fuck a teacher”
“Hey. Watch your language. I wasn’t going to say anything about that”

The driver came to a stop, looking outside the far window where of teenagers filled into his view. He turned to the person that occupied the passenger seat.

“All I was going to do was give you a warning about these kids.”
“What’s wrong with them?” he said with obvious startle to his voice.
“Just that if a kid comes up to you asking to ‘talk’ to you in the boys bathroom, say ‘no.’”

Jack huffed and rolled his eyes, he grabbed his backpack which was settled on the floor of car between his legs. He put his hand on the handle getting ready to leave, when he felt a hand pull him back.

“Listen. I know we make fun, but we’re really proud of you.”
“Sure.”
“Honestly, you’re the only one of us to try this education shit. Cass Technical, from what I heard is a great school, so don’t fuck up.”
“Nice Bobby.”
“It’s the truth. Now get the fuck outta my car, I have to go to work.”

Jack opened the door and swung the bag over his shoulder. Pass the bodies of students and faculty, he looked up and the sign, ‘Cass Technical High School.’ He sighed and walked towards the front doors. As he walked the halls trying to make his way to the main office, he mind drifted unconsciously. He thought about what Bobby said, it was true. He was only one of his brothers to get an acceptance letter to the school. His older brothers, having fame for a reason, never gave education much of a second thought. Except for Jeremiah but even though he tried, he still could not stop getting into trouble. It was would what Jeremiah called the ‘Mercer Curse’, Bobby thought otherwise and called it the ‘Mercer Charm.’ It was the same ‘charm’ that kicked all three brothers out of school multiple times, and kept different women in the Angel’s bed.

Trying out for Cass wasn’t even his idea, his teachers said that he had potential and that he could do better than a zone school. Bobby and Angel always joked about his cheating on exams and doing ‘favors’ for his teachers in order to get the grades he had gotten. But it wasn’t until two summers ago, when Jack was in the seventh grade, did Jack fully understand what Bobby meant by ‘favors.’ He avoided eye contact with his male math teacher that very year.

After walking two flight of stairs, Jack stepped into the hallway on the second floor. The narrow hall consisted of doors upon doors and endless lockers. He walked down the hall hoping to find something that would lead him to his second period class. He knew by the time he got his schedule first period would be over. At the end of a hallway was twin doors, pass the twin doors and up the short steps he was finally in the office. The smooth countertop let you peek inside the office, where filing cabinets were lined up across the far wall.

“May I help you?”
“Uh,” he cleared his throat, “Jack Mercer.”
“Okay Jack Mercer, how may I help you?”
“I need a schedule, I’m new.”
“Okay one minute.” she said with a smile that reached her dark blue eyes. Her white fingers typed quickly into the computer and she got up and went to one of the cabinets. Jack tapped on the counter waiting for to her to get his schedule. He did not want to make it seem as though he was being impatient. He was just that he wasn’t good with people.

“Here you go,” she said placing a piece of black hair behind her ear. “Here’s your schedule. It has the floor and door number just incase you get confused and here is your locker number and code.”

“Thanks.”

He walked out of the office and back into the hall reading his schedule, Spanish was second period.

Fun.

Jack sat quietly in the back of his last period class. He rested his head on his desk as his teacher rambled on about Julius Caesar. He watched as other students passed notes and whispered amongst each other. He was about ready to fall asleep, at this point he was just ready to go home. As his eyes lids betrayed him and sleep overtook him, the door to the classroom opened. The class stilled as everyone’s eyes looked onto the newcomer.

She closed the door behind her and looked at the teacher for instruction.

The teacher took a look at her and handed her a book along with a sheet that everyone filled in the beginning of class. Her dark brown eyes searched for a seat, he turned his head where she was looking, the only empty seat was next to him.

She dropped her black backpack on the floor and placed the items given to her on the desk. She only looked at Jack briefly but that was enough for him. Her black hair was pulled back in messy bun, her big brown eyes were cast down looking at the sheet.. Her eyelashes were noticeable long and her eyebrows were well-manicured….
This was when Jack realized that he was staring much to long at her. He turned his attention back on the board where his teacher continued with his notes. Though he stared at the board he couldn’t help but steal a few glances at her.

He noticed hesitation when she was about to write her on her paper. He looked down at his own sheet and noticed that the top of the page left room to put down your name. She looked at though she was contemplating what she should put down, she finally scripted her name, ‘Angela F. Bennet.’

Now, he did not know what possessed him to lean over when the teachers back was turned to ask her this,
“What does the ‘F’ stand for?”

He didn’t even realized what he whispered until he heard it out loud.

She looked him startled and whispered back at him, “Fuck off.”
“isn‘t that a pleasant middle name.”
“well, if you have a problem with that you would take that up with my father.”
“I will.”
“Good luck with that.”


“Wait a minute, I never said that.”
“Yes you did.”
“No didn’t.”
“Listen, it was my first day of high school, I think I remember a few things.”
“Well you remember wrong.”
“How can you tell me I remembered wrong?”
“Because your Jack Mercer.”
“So”
“So…your either convincingly spacing out on me or not remembering a thing. Like I don‘t know…. my birthday.”
“That’s not true.”
“Which part?’
“The latter”
“The latter? Well, well, someone been actually paying attention in Mr. Collins’s English class.”
“Do not changed the subject.”
“Don’t get snappy at me Mercer, I am not changing the subject. Bottom line you remember wrong. I never said that to you.”
“You say that now because you are hopelessly in love with me and regret the first half of freshman year being cruel to me.”
“Okay. Now your just making up stories I was never ‘cruel’ to you.”
“Uh, yes you were. In fact I remember a particular moment when you kneed-”
“Why do you have go there?”
“Why did you have to kick so hard?”
“You scared me.”
“You kicked me in the balls.”
“You grabbed me by my shoulders.”
“I may never be able to have children.”
“I thought you were some weirdo.”
“Still get these slight pains every time I masturbate.”
“Pervert, I didn’t want to know that.”
“Yeah you did.”
“No, I didn’t”
“Yeah and I know you wanna hear more.”
“No, I don’t wanna hear more.”
“Oh yes you do.”
“I don’t wanna hear your sex fantasies.”
“Oh but there good, you would like them.”
“Jack Mercer stop being a prick.”

The continued to laugh and talk, walking down towards their respective home’s on Watson Street. They lived far from the school, they only walked on the nice days when the air was cool and the evening comfortable. The evening blue sky gave them enough light to home safely, as safe as it could get in Detroit. He was out later than he had expected on the cool, autumn evening. It meant nothing to him, his Mother had decided to visit a friend in Birmingham. His brothers knew that he walked home with Angela, so their worries were lessen. Though Angela’s parents aloof when it came to her comings and goings, he wanted her off the streets. Being as self-sufficient as she was, she would never let him know that his protectiveness gave her comfort.

They turned a corner, on Alfred Street, a block away from their homes. Silence overtook the two friends, the wind caressing the faces lovingly as a mother’s touch. He felt the urge to touch her, hold her, something that required contact between the two. He slowed down his gait and moved from the side of her and engulfed her with his arms slowing her down from the back.

“Jack.”
“Angela.”

His breath was heavy on her neck.

“Stop it” she sounded serious, trying to move away.
“Why, cause you like it”
“No, not a big fan of public displays of affection”

His breath was heavy and hot on the side of her neck, he passed his lips against the softness of her neck. Her eyes fluttered in contentment, her breathing slightly heavier. His kisses where soft, she lifted her neck to give him more access. His arms surrounded her tightly.

“Jack” said whispered breathlessly.

His hand slipped from her waist and slid slowly down her thigh. His actions allowed her to come out of her daze, she pushed away from him.

Jack stood there, looking at her dark figure, rubbing her arms.

“Sor-”

She turned, she walked back to him and smiled. The smile that made his heart do cartwheels, her eyes betrayed the smile. Her dark brown eyes showing regret and sadness, her smile giving her face radiance.

“Don’t say sorry.”

She took his hand into his and the walked the rest of the block. Coming to the end she looked quickly up and down, there were no cars in sight.

She turned to him, “I’ll see you in the morning, tell you brothers I said hi.” She pulled him into a hug, she quickly grabbed his ass.

“Hey!,” Jack said quickly, rubbing his ass while she laughed, crossing the street.
“I thought you didn’t like public displays of affection?”
“Your special and I mean that in the nicest way possible.” she yelled in the middle of the street.
“Nice. Real nice Angela!,” he yelled across the street, “I’m never sharing my food with you again”

She laughed and entered her across the street, he smiled to himself and walked a short distance to his house.

He did remember that day, his first day of high school. But what he remembered most was the drive back home.


Bobby and him just turned the block, when they saw a car pull up across the street. A women came out of the car, wearing an dark blue pants suit and carried a briefcase in her hand. As she moved around her car she looked as thoughh she was signaling for someone to get out. The door from the passenger seat opened and a young girl came out of the car. A man standing by the door of the house smiled and greeted them, indicating for them to go inside.

“Stop staring” Bobby said hitting him upside his head. “its rude”
“Christ Bobby you didn’t have to do that”
“Yeah, I did. Your eyes were about ready to come outta ya sockets”
“Still wasn’t necessary, I recognize her”
“Who is she? One of your boyfriend’s sister’s?”
He ignored his comment only to reply to the first part of the question, “She goes to my school, she’s in my class”
“That’s where she lives?”
“I guess, I know as much as you do. we didn’t really talk much”

Bobby parked the car in front of their house, as Jack let himself out, he still glanced over the house across the street. Walking ahead of Bobby he realized that he forgot his keys. He turned back to Bobby and saw his with his famous ‘Stoic Bobby’ face.

“Bobby, I need the -”
Bobby threw the keys over the shoulder, his eyes never leaving the scene in front of him. Robert Bennet their neighbor from the across the street, welcomed the social worker and the younger girl into his home.

“Get Angel”
“Wh-”
“Stop being nosy just get your brother”

Jack opened door and walked inside, he dropped his bag by the door. He opened the second door and yelled for Angel. He came down the stairs in his usual attire, his pajamas .

“What-”
“Bobby” he said pointing outside.

He walked towards the kitchen where he smelled dinner being cooked. When Angel closed the first door, Jack inquiringly walked back to door curious to what they were saying.

“Yeah, I heard too, I thought it was some joke.”
“No joke, Angel. Social services is actually letting Bennett have a kid.”
“I heard his wife really wanted a child. Probably smacked her around so much that she can’t have one.”
“Fucked up law system”
“Yeah. But Bobby the wife hasn’t-”
“How do you know? For all you know she could be fucking protecting Bennett and all the shit he has going through his house. Its fucking Detroit. ”
“I ain’t trying to defend him.”
“Sure a hell sounds like it.”
“Bobby, your right. Its Detroit, that exactly why, we should keep our nose out of it.”

Bobby gave him and sideways glance.
“That girl, won’t last one fucking week.”
Angel signed and turned his head to house. The door opened once more, the social worker stepped out and waved goodbye to Bennet. He waved, standing in threshold smiling and waving goodbye as the she drove away. Leaving when she did, she would not see the smile fade and the man drive by slowly by the house. Bobby and Jack got a decent look at him, the car slowed down enough, Bennet waved him and inclined his head. As if he meant for them to come by later, the car sped up and Bennet went his house without and second glance outside.

Bobby looked at Angel as if with that look, saying all he needed it to say, ‘I told you so.’

“You know anything about the girl”
“Enough”
“Like…”
“She goes to the same school as Jack for one.”
“And..”
“That’s it”
“And that’s enough”
“Better than nothing huh”

Jack listened through the keyhole, silence where amongst the two brothers until Angel started talking again.

“I’ll keep an eye on him, while your at work.”
“Good. Knew there something your deadbeat ass could do while I mind your ass.”
“Fuck you, Bobby.”

Bobby uncrossed his arms from his chest, “come on, Ma cooking your favorite, Pork Chops”

Jack quickly go up and walking into the living room, pretending to watch t.v.

“Jack. Come help set the table”
For the first time Jack knew something that Bobby didn’t, which wasn’t really much. He knew Bobby, by tomorrow he would know everything there is to know about her. But for now he had her name.
Angela Bennet.
And that was enough.


He opened his eyes, he turned his head towards the far window…
The sky was still an dark blue as if he only went sleep a few hours…
He turned, tired of the restlessness…
He smiled as pieces of his dreams came back to him…
Angela Bennet.

Someone who could have been so much more, if things went slightly differently…
They don’t talk about her…
His brothers feel as though things should sometimes be left buried…
He often wondered what she looked like now…
What she was doing…..
He wished so badly that she was a doctor or a lawyer…something like that.

She would be good at it, she was smart, real book smart…
Could have gone to Harvard or one of those big-shot schools..
But life really fucked her over and all those dreams could be kissed goodbye…
It wasn’t their fault…
Well if you wanted to be technical, then…..
Yes.