Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:54:11 -0800 (PST)
From: Jeff N <jwnuwm@yahoo.com>
Subject: Cutters Wounds Ch 4

Cutter's Wounds
By: Jeff N
(Copyright 2009-2010 by the author)
Editor: Madison Cole

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the
author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...


Chapter 4
Heartache On Both Sides

Cutter turned his head to look at me. He shook it and began to speak. "Who
the fuck are you?  And why in the hell would or should I tell you my life
story?" he asked in an irritated and sarcastic tone.

"Well, there, cowboy ...  first, because I am here and I care; second,
because something really is eating you and I can tell you need a friend," I
replied.

"Why in the hell do you care and why do you want to be my friend?" Cutter
demanded.

"Well, you can never have too many friends, and besides, I get the feeling
you're a pretty good guy. You might even make a good friend ... that is, if
you cut the tough guy crap."

"Fuck you, Cole. You don't know shit."

"You know, you're right--I don't know shit. But I care. You think you're
the only one that has problems or has been hurt? If you won't tell me
what's bothering you, then you're going to sit there and listen to my
problems."

Cutter jumped to his feet and got more pissed off by the moment. He sure as
hell wasn't going to take this shit from some city kid. He deserved an ass
kicking. Kicking this kid's ass would at least give him some relief from
the anger and pain he had been saving up inside of him.

--Cole's Point of View--

Before Cutter was in front of me, I was on my feet ready to defend
myself. Cutter hit me first, knocking me down. We began rolling around the
floor, with each trying to get the better of the other. It was more of a
wrestling match than anything else. Cutter managed to get me in a headlock
and held me there for maybe half a minute. Damn, it was beginning to hurt!
I knew I had to get out of it. I was not about to let this fucker get the
best of me, so I managed to free myself from that hold.

The only problem was when I got free from him, he landed a right cross to
my jaw. I felt blood coming, along with pain. I was a little dizzy from the
blow. Cutter got up and headed for the door. He was all the way out to his
truck before he reached into his pocket and realized suddenly he didn't
have his keys. I was standing in the door when he came walking back into
the house, with a look of fire in his eyes. "Give me the damned keys right
now," Cutter demanded.

When he finished saying it he was standing right in front of me. I had
enough of his shit. I cocked my right hand, and before he knew it, Cutter
was laying on the ground holding his jaw. Blood was also seeping from his
lip. "You ain't getting the fucking keys back until you tell me what the
fuck is going on, got it? I don't care if we have to beat on each other all
damned night."

He sat there on his ass for a minute and then started laughing. I could not
help myself and a laugh escaped my mouth as well. "What the fuck is wrong
with us? We are almost adults," he laughed out. Cutter extended his hand to
me. I helped him to his feet and we went back inside. We both quickly
rearranged the furniture we had displaced by our little show of male
dominance.

We both returned to our seats on the couch. "How far did you expect to get
without your keys or your shoes, Cutter?" I laughed.

"Listen, smart ass, if I were you I would shut the fuck up," he said as he
wiped some remaining blood from the side of his mouth.

"So, tell me what's eating you? It has to be something pretty large."

"Man, I know you're trying to help and all, it's just really some stuff I
need to handle on my own. No offense. Just back off," Cutter replied.

"Listen, Cutter, if it's a matter of not trusting me, I will share with you
what's been eating away at me this past few months," I offered.

He didn't really respond or answer. He just sat there, so I continued.
"Three months ago I lost my best friend to a move across the country. His
name was Randy. We were close ... we shared everything. There was nothing
we didn't know about each other. When he told me he was leaving, it ripped
me apart inside, and it still hurts like hell. I have not found anyone to
replace him in my life, and I don't know if I ever will. I have to move
on. I think you're going through something the same as this and you really
need a friend to help you start to move on. I have a feeling your parents
can't move back to Wyoming," I guessed.

"Maybe you would understand, but if any of this gets back to my parents or
other people around school, you're in so much trouble! Your ass will get
the biggest kicking it has ever received. I guess I have really been an ass
to my parents for the last six weeks since I found out about the move. And
I guess for that matter, I have been a bigger ass to you. You didn't do
anything. Maybe you're right. It might be good to get some things out in
the open and maybe you are just the person to listen," Cutter concluded.

He took in a deep breath. "Cole, you have no idea how hard this move has
been for me. All I have known is the country way of life, so to speak. I
just don't know if I can handle living in this damned place. I know my dad
couldn't help but take the job in the city. We couldn't keep going the way
it was--we would have been broke and out on our asses. So now we are
semi-rich, I guess." Cutter took a big drink of the remaining mixture in
his glass.

"I shouldn't be upset I know, but all my friends are gone ... they are all
back in Wyoming. We did everything together. I am not like city people. I
was used to getting up at 4 a.m. and doing chores, taking care of the
horses and the cattle we had. When I needed alone time, I just went out
back and there was a thousand acres of land I had all to myself, aside from
a few jack rabbits and some coyote. I don't do team sports; my sport was
rodeo. You don't have that here. Then there was Blaze. He was like your
Randy. We did everything together. He knew me better than I knew myself, I
think. I just don't know if I can find friends and fit in. I look at the
clothes you wear and it's not me. This is me. What the fuck do I do? Tell
me, how do I live in this place?"

"Cutter, I know it can't be easy. Any move is hard, but you know what?
You're strong and you will make it through this just fine. You will do just
fine in the city, as you call it. So, maybe you sleep in to 5 a.m. and stay
up an hour later at night, or even work your way up to sleeping till six! I
am afraid I can't help you with the horses and cattle all that much, but
maybe if you wanted to ride, we could find a stable and rent you a horse
for a day. I don't know, but we will find a way though it. I will agree
with you, though, about the city and having nowhere to have open space. I
think your county sounds beautiful--in fact maybe even a place to stay or
visit one day. I feel your pain with Blaze. Your parents sure pick some
cool names for the kids in Wyoming! But I've got to tell you that you're
dead wrong about one thing that you have said," I finished.

He looked up at me with a look of bewilderment on his face. "What are you
talking about?"

"You already have one friend here in the city. I hope that I can teach you
to live in this city."

Cutter just smiled. "I guess you're right. Thank you, Cole. I am really
sorry for being an ass."

I reached out my hand and placed it on his knee, rubbing it gently. I said,
"It's all right, but I have credit for the next time I am an ass."  I could
tell the touch made him tense up slightly, but he didn't pull away. Then I
got that damned tingling feeling again.

"Deal."

I laughed at him. I started wondering to myself what might lie in the
future.