he never crossed to the other side of Bluebridge where the better halves were living, let alone Bill Ludlow's daughter. "You don't wanna mess w

e after his mom left, he learned to mend for himself from such an early age. He explored his sexuality by having casual sex with many girls, but never really have a steady gir

is wife left him for another man. Tom was only 13 when his brother died, and a week shy of his 14th birthday when his mom suddenly disappeared from his life. He didn't quite understand what

e on his own, slept on people's couches and porches because he couldn't

around their house. By reputation, eventually, the girls knew that Tom Raven is not the guy they can expect to commit, but never disappoint when it comes to sex. So when Tom shied away at the sight of Charlene coming into the st

n, followed by Tom. "Tom! Oh no, young ma

Mrs. Cooper, I'm just here to help

y!" she g

Your momma's not gonna be happy to know you're hanging ou

s, Charlene smiled, "That's okay Mr

ouldn't believe the odds of Charlene Ludlow's first time

e you,

made Charlie laughed,

window, yelling and teasing. "Are thos

'bout that," he

ys to behave, I'll go out there myself and give them

one second, Charlie," he was at his best behavior,

, especially Tom Raven, a girl like you shouldn't be around boys like them ...

king," she was almost always smiling pleasantly.

There was nothing Mrs. Cooper could do when she caught a glimpse of Charlene's eyes when he looked at him. That b

nds' gaze at them until they were far enough away from them. "Why don't

ck of the junkyard, near the lumber mill, I stayed there sometimes, but mostly I stayed at my friend's house ... which is als

time I heard that term today ... wh

ng with a somber look on his fa

she didn't want to pry. "Tell me, Tommy, what kind of

ssy beautiful ... don't belong in

? I don't believe there's no beautiful girl living in the slums ... but then again, nobody be

you are." She didn't reply to that. "How did you managed to stay in

just recently got permission to walk to school by myself, and do the groceries, my 17th

r with strands sometimes tangled over her face. He realized she didn't just look

had no interest in school, to him, school was just a waste of time and a waste of money that he didn't have. He had been taking care of himself since he was 4 years old, dressed, prepared food fo

u do for fu

... my sister plays the piano, I sing, we have board games at home ... stuff like that, my sister and

see how adorable she wa

't think there w

seek with you," and a lot of other things

seek' sounded now that he had mentioned it

ed away, "I don't think you'

e what he meant by that. "I meant, what do you do around town to

night every once a month at the community center, everyone in the neighborhood gathered for drinks and dancing, that's w

w everybody?" sh

amping and fishing every once in a while, I don't like fishing ve

g cooped up in her house all these times made everything sounded interesting. She was being obedient to her fa

join us sometime?"

t ... sometim

udlow standing by the gate with both hands on her

eyes were piercing at Tom. "Charlene .

ed me to help with the groc

e, I'd like to talk to this

mom

side, C

alm and took off his cap to greet Mrs. Ludlow. "G

a introduce your

s Tom Rav

moment. "You're

that was the nail i

are you,

said with both hands still ho

you, I'm sure you're a nice young man, you have all the time in the wor

nto. "My daughter Charlene, has never had a bad day in her life, you know

do you understand?" she was firm with her words. He didn't respond. "I don't want you coming around my daughter again, Tom Raven, I've heard too muc

h and put his cap ba

w off you go

sumed Mrs. Cooper had told her as a warning because she didn't want to lose her most valuable customer over a menace like him. He looked back and saw t

***

m?" Charlene waited for

and put it back on, "I told

she w

... he's slept with half the town is what I heard, he was following you around because you're probably one of the few he hasn't don

a predator that her mom had assumed. "He seemed like a nice guy, anyway, we we

he's a handsome boy, Charlene, and that's all you'll ever get from him ... not for you!" her mother pointed a finger at her. She sighed, nobody ev

e keeps his words, 'cause your daddy's not g

ave to treat it like a d

stairs and change, and then come