It was after school before I could grill my info withholding brother. “What do you mean, 'he's the only other god at school, Hades' could you elaborate?”
I put the keys in our beautiful sparkly blue 1985 Mustang Convertible, and it started with a growling purr. I was so proud of this car. Our parents made us learn the basics of car care before we'd even gotten our permits. I loved it so much, that I begged our mom to teach me more. That's right, begged mom, not dad. Dad, bless his heart, had no mechanical talent at all, but mom's family came from racing stock, everyone in the family pitched in to help fix the race cars. No big named racers in our family, but they're racers all the same. So when I wanted more, she told Chill and I to find an old car and she'd teach me to fix it up.
When I found this beat up old convertible in the junk yard, I knew it was meant for us. Together, we had just enough to buy it and a few parts mom scrounged from the local pull apart place. A pull apart place is basically a snootier junk yard, where you pay money to go in an strip parts off dead cars. For older models, it's sometimes the only way to get the part you need since motor companies don't continue to make some parts, and they always think changing the shape of an engine is a good thing. Don't get me started, I'll rant and I've already derailed the conversation long enough.
Once I stopped at a light, I looked over at my brother. “Seriously bro, spill the 'fo before I make you drive.” My brother hated driving, it was one of those things he just wasn't interested in. Probably because he's directionally challenged. Hey, he couldn't get all the cool stuff, right?
“Fine. There isn't much to tell. When a couple of the kids heard your name, they laughed and said 'now Hades will have company' and pointed him out. When I asked, they said the two of you are the only ones with names from the pantheon. There isn't even a Jesus in the school. Of course, I didn't clue them in on my real name.” he sniffed.
“Yeah, can't really blame you for that one. At least they don't try and call you Pugsley. I'm really getting tired of the Wednesday jokes.” I turned the corner after waiting on a cat to get it's a-I mean- butt out of the road.
“They're STILL doing that? Wow... tough breaks sis. You could always wear less black?” My brother wore just as much black as I did. Which was just enough, of course, and always with a bit of color added.
“Over my dead and decaying body.” Seriously, the day I let someone else decide what I wear, is the day I'm no longer living. I am not anyone's bitc- uh – bunny? Yeah, that doesn't quite work, does it? Oh well.
I pulled into a parking space and cut the engine. “Let's go.”
“Where are we even?” Chill looked out at all the buildings.
I pointed at the Thrift Store sign and grinned. “I need more of that black you suggested I stop wearing.”
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