About FLB-PUNKER
As time went on we saw less and less of Teddy and Vern, until eventually they became just two more faces in the halls. It happens sometimes. Friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaurant. I heard that Vern got married out of high school, had four kids, and is now the forklift operator at the Arsenault lumberyard. Teddy tried several times to get into the Army, but his eyes and ear kept him out. The last time I'd heard, he'd spent some time in jail. He was now doing odd jobs around Castle Rock.
I'm never gonna make it out of this town, am I, Gordie.
You can do anything you want, man.
Yeah, sure.
Gimme some skin.
I'll see you.
Not if I see you first.
Chris did get out. He enrolled in the college courses with me, and, although it was hard, he gutted it out like he always did. He went on to college and eventually became a lawyer. Last week he entered a fast food restaurant. Just ahead of him, two men got into an argument—one of them pulled a knife. Chris, who had always made the best peace, tried to break it up. He was stabbed in the throat. He died almost instantly.
Although I hadn't seen him in more than ten years, I know I'll miss him forever.
Dad, can we go now?
You ready?
Yeah. We've been ready for an hour.
Okay. I'll be right there.
He said that a half-hour ago!
Yeah. My dad's weird. He gets like that when he's writing.
I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?