[Jamie/Closed] This is home..

[Dustin Andrew Rucker]

The whistling of the diesel engine turned heads as Dustin drove down the small side street of this forsaken city. “Where’s the darn bar in this place?” All there were here were clothes shops, coffee shop, law offices and other things he didn’t need. The drive had been long and tiring, all Dustin wanted was an ice cold beer and some country music to relax. He looked over to the passenger seat at his sleeping sister. It was great that she came with him, but he felt bad taking her away from her friends and their family. Dustin just needed to get out of that small town. Jamie was a doll and said she’d move away with him. Jamie was Dustin’s life now, and he was going to take care of her. Even though they were the same age, he still felt the need to take the older brother position and protect her and look out for her. “It sure left it's mark on us, we sure left our mark on it. We let the world know we were here, with everything we did. We laid a lot of memories down, like tattoos on this town..” he sang along with the radio as he continued driving the streets. He needed a bar and he needed it now. Dustin picked the Styrofoam cup up out of the cup holder and spit the rest of his dip in it. He rolled the window down and quickly threw it out the window. “Fuck it’s cold.” he said as he rolled up the window again. Just the Jamie opened her eyes. Dustin smiled over to her, “Good morning sleepy head.” “Hey.” she said as she stretched out. “Where are we?” “Some fuckin’ street. I don’t know. Too many god damn streets. I’m trying to find a bar.” Jamie sighed and Dustin looked over at her. “Look I know you want to go home, but I need a beer. It’s been a long fuckin’ drive.” “I know.” Jamie said sleepily. “Look, there.” Dustin saw a sign behind a building that said Bar in neon lights. “My favorite color is neon..” they both sang out at the same time. “Let’s go.” Dustin pulled into the alley and then parked next to a RAV4. He shut the truck off and stretched. “About fuckin’ time..” he said to himself as he hopped out of the truck, closing the door behind him.

Dustin held the door open for Jamie and then walked in behind her. This was perfect. It was like home. Country music playing on the jukebox, men and women in Wranglers and cowboy hats. He saw Jamie’s face light up as they say down at the bar. “This place is perfect. Just like Bobby Boy’s back home.” she said to him as he sat down, placing his hat on the bar next to him. “I think we hit the jackpot.” Just then the bartender came over, he was an older guy, looked like he use to live in the south. “Y’all folks new ’round here?” Jamie nodded, “Yeah, just moved from Georgia.” “I can hear it. I came from Griffin myself.” “We live like 15 minutes from there.” Jamie said with a smile and then nudged Dustin. He smiled and stuck his out to introduce himself to the guy, “Name’s Dustin. This is my twin sister Jamie.” “Buck, nice to meet y’all.” “Buck?” Jamie asked, “You own this place?” “Yes ma’am I do. What can I get y’all?” “Two Bud Lights , in the bottle sir.” Buck nodded his head and then headed to get the beers. Dustin looked around at the people there and returned the smiles. This atmosphere of this place was just amazing. Dustin got the family, friendly vibe already and he’d only been here for not even five minutes. Buck came back with the beers and handed them to Dustin and Jamie “Pool’s free and Jukebox is only ten cents a song. Enjoy guys.” Buck tipped his hat and went to tend more customers. Dustin looked at Jamie, “Shall we?” “We shall. Don’t cry when I beat you.” Jamie said as she hopped off the stool and headed over to one of the free poll tables. Dustin placed his beer down on the table near them and picked up a pool stick,"Your choice. Break or Rack?”

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[Jamie Lillith Rucker]

Jamie took a swig of her beer as she grabbed a pool stick. “You rack.” she smiled over to Dustin and walked over to the jukebox. As she looked through the songs, she took another swig, it was ice cold and it felt so nice running down her throat. Just then she stopped on a mix CD, “Dus, they have my song!” Jamie said as she placed a dime in the coin slot. Pushing the numbers for the song she smiled once more. This song was definitely made for her. Had her down to a T perfectly. Jamie made her way over to the pool table as it began to play. “Buck!” she called out, “Yes, m’lady?” “Would you mind turning this up a bit?” “Sure.” “Thank you sir.” Jamie smiled and sang along with it as she placed her beer down next to Dustin’s, “She’s got her daddy’s tongue and temper, sometimes her mouth could use a filter. God shook his head the day he built her…” Jamie leaned over the table and lined up her shot. With one swift movement she hit the cue ball and the white ball was smacking into the freshly racked balls. BAM! Three ball right in the corner pocket. “Looks like I’m solids.” “Aren’t you always?” Dustin asked before he took a sip of his beer and then smirked. “Yes sir I am.” Jamie leaned over the table once again, lined up and hit the cue ball. Another ball sunk. This time it was the two ball. “Could be over early.” she said with a smirk in Dustin’s direction. Sibling rivalry, it was bittersweet.

After two games, they were done with their beers, “Buck, can we get two more please?” Buck nodded and grabbed two beers. Heading in their direction he smiled, “Feels nice to have some respectful young people in here. Usually git those gangster types with their pants saggin’ down their backsides. They always get me riled up.” Jamie smiled as she took the beer, “Thank you sir.” Dustin took his as well, “Sounds like you could use someone here to show them respect.” Buck laughed, “I could, but I don’t need no more trouble here.” “Oh I wouldn’t cause any trouble..here.” All three of them laughed. “I even git those uppity ones too. Lot of them out ‘round these parts.” Jamie made a disgusted face, “Gross. They think they’re better than e’eryone else.” Jamie took a sip of her beer and leaned against the pool table. “Buck, you hirin’?” Buck lifted his hat off of his head to scratch it lightly. “This has always been the one thing in my life that mattered, I guess I never looked for others to work here. Never needed ‘em to. But I think I can make an exception for y’all. You can’t be gittin’ all bowed up now, we do a lot a larking in here.” Dustin smiled, “Good, we do it too.” “You guys are hired. When do you want to start?” “Two days? Gotta git unpacked and settled in.” “Two days it is. Now if you’ll excuse me, got more customers.” Buck tipped his hat once again before he headed back up to the bar. “We got jobs!” Dustin said as he held his hand up for a high five. “I know! First day here too! I may like this place already.” Jamie said as she returned the high five. “Although I don’t think the rest of this place will be like Buck’s here.” Dustin shook his head and sat down, Jamie sat across from him. “You think I’ll find me a guy out here?” Jamie asked as she stared down at her bottle. “I dun know, maybe…if it’s right fer ya. I know there won’t be any ladies here for me.” Jamie frowned, “You’ll find one. I jus know it.” Dustin shook his head, “Let’s pay for these beers and head to our new home.” “Yeah.” Jamie nodded and chugged the rest of the bottle and threw it away.

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