Traiterous Heart

    Thinking back on our live's. It's not hard to remember when Davis kind of came into our family. They moved into our neighborhood right next door to us when I was five.  I guess to quote a cliche...The Boy Next Door...I laugh over that statement now!  As he started out being the neighborhood bully.      My brother Marc the Champion of the underdog always has been and alway's will be. Meets Davis as he is picking on one of the kids in our neighborhood. I guess to be more accurate that wasn't really a meeting as much as it was fight between the two. Marc stepped in to defend Greg and winds up fighting Davis out in front of our house!     I started screaming as Davis punched Marc in the face knocking him flat on his a**...Running toward Marc to defend him as both sets of our parents coming running from the house,  I push Davis backward with both hands sending him into complete shock as Marc get's up to hit him! He shoves me backward pushing me away from them both when their fists flying at each other. Our Parents grabbing each to seperate them pulling them away from each other!     Standing there glaring at each other like death,  Marc has one hell of a shiner coming on and Davis has blood pouring from his mouth. Our Parents are yanking Marc around asking them why are you boy's fighting and Davis' parent's are asking him why he couldn't make it one day in a new neighborhood without being a bully!  Wow!  What a question to ask a kid!     Marc doesn't say a word and won't answer! He may be champion of the underdog but Marc was no snitch, he handled things his own way. The other boy Davis just stood there Glaring like he could burn a hole stright through his parents. I honestly thought maybe he could!  It was me and Greg who spoke up earning us both death stares from Marc and Davis! Oh, how I had wished the earth would swallow me up at that moment. Davis looked completely Evil! and Marc was even more pissed than he was pummeling Davis!     I recieve an angry shut up Jennifer from Marc. Dang was I stupid!!!  My dad jerked him back around and said " Stop It Son"  Settle this now!  How in this world could I get courage to speak up against him, the new neighborhood bully! I wasn't scared but I was mad that he hit my brother. I can't believe I ran up and pushed him either!     Davis' parents are forcing him around telling him he better apologize! Standing there as if he didn't have a care in the world after fighting still just glaring at Marc! I look into his eyes and wonder how someone our age is so mad but Davis wasn't my age. He and Marc are both getting ready to turn 9. My parents are forcing Marc back around as well and he refuses to apologize for doing what is right. Still glaring at Davis like they are in standoff!  It seemed like forever before Davis spoke and said  " I am only apologizing because you a making me and so I can go home" His dad squeezed his shoulder's very tight and Davis winced! " Sorry" he said angrily. His dad telling him to get his a** in the house he would deal with him in a minute making his eye's glaze with fear. He took off running toward home, before Marc could apologize! My dad grabbed Marc by the shoulder and told him to go home son, we will talk when we are done here. Pointing at me he said " You go with your brother"...     What an interesting way to meet the new neighbor's!  Their Kids fighting and then Forcing their kids to apoloize to each other and introducing themselves in the yard after sending all of us kids inside. Not a good start.     They had moved in during the summer hoping for Davis to make friends before school started. Davis didn't seem to want to be friendly at all. He stayed to himself for a while watching as we rode bikes, walked or played in the neighborhood. Always sending glares toward Davis and myself. I think he was trying to figure out the best way to get back at us. I guess hating us was easier than trying to make friends. He always looked so mad!     He and Marc had a few run in's after the first one. Marc punched him for walking by and yanking my hair. Later for him pushing me down. The worst fight happened when Davis was walking down the street while we were riding our bikes. Danielle got to close to him with her bike while going around one of us. He screamed watch where you're going and roughly shoved her causing her to lose control and wreck her bike.      She screamed and Marc came off his bike to check on her she was cut up pretty bad on her elbow and leg. Causing Marc to see red and charge Davis like a raging bull pummeling him unmercifully. Davis was shocked at first not fighting back and never having seen Marc lose all control. It took him a moment to realize he was getting the crap beat out of him.     Marc slung him to the ground sitting across him hitting him in the face before Davis rolled him off and got up to fight. Swinging blows wildly both managing to do some damage to each other. I tried to stop them only to wind up getting punched in the face falling to the ground and crying. Sending Marc into more rage pouncing onto Davis once more getting him to the ground. Screaming you hit my sister you son of a b****. Hitting him while I watched helplessly from the ground.     I am still sitting there holding my face when my dad yanks Marc off of Davis jerking him up in the air like a rag doll. Getting him away from Davis, Marc was like a mad person still fighting with dad holding him in the air. My mom running to us both not know which way to go as Davis' parents show up shocked to see their baby boy lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Bleeding profusely from his mouth and nose looking at all the damage Marc had done I was terrified!  His eyes were swelled shut and his face was black and blue all over.  I thought for sure he was dead! He wasn't moving as his dad put his fingers on his neck to check for a pulse... Marc had killed him I just knew it and I started crying uncontrollably.     My mom knelt down to me and pulled me up off the ground picking me up and holding me. Don't be dead Davis. Don't be dead, please. I kept saying over and over scared for my brother but so traumatized from what I saw! He's breathing his dad say's and tell's his wife to call an ambulance I am scared to move him honey. Someone get me some towel's, I need to stop some of this bleeding.      My mom set's me down running for the house and bringing back a wet wash cloth and a white towel. Trying to help clean him up and we all stand there in the terrible silence. Davis finally starts to come around after being knocked out for the longest time! Feeling the cold wash cloth moving over his face he starts spitting out blood. My mom and his dad trying their best to keep him from moving not knowing what damage Marc had done.     THE NEIGHBORHOOD BULLY HAD MET HIS MATCH!     Even Marc is standing there in complete shock at what he had done! My dad standing there looking over Marc's head as he watched my mom and his dad cleaning him up! He looks down at Marc in shock and takes a deep breath as the Ambulance arrives to take Davis in to get checked out and my mom then realizes that Marc needs to be checked to. He is standing there with his eyes glazed over with dad holding onto him. So the ambulance takes them both with Davis' dad and my dad riding with them both in the same ambulance.     My mom goes to get the car and realizes Davis' mom is in shock watching the ambulance leave. She turns back and goes to speak to Mrs. Miller. Why don't you get your things and ride with us to the hospital. She doesn't answer and mom gently takes her by the arm to lead her to the car asking her where her purse is located. Still no answer,  so mom makes me stay with her and she just goes and locks up both the houses coming back with two pocket books.     Mom is driving so fast I am scared to death. I finally just lay down in the back seat covering my eye's waiting for the impact of hitting something. I remember an etermity of lying in the back seat still thinking Davis would die and we were next. Finally Mrs. Miller screamed during the ride. " Don't kill us getting there for God's sake". Scared me to death because that's the first she had spoke since seeing Davis on the ground. My mom broke into serious nervous laughter!      Glad to see you are back with us Betsy! Then begins to apologize for Marc beating Davis half to death! Oh, Rebecca just stop it RIGHT NOW she snapped! I know Davis had his part in this he alway's does! My son's temper is beyond belief at times! Let's just see what damage is done before we jump to any conclusions. My mom was shocked. I sat up just as mom slammed on the breaks pulling into the hospital.     Mom literally jerks me out of the car. Running so fast towards the door that she is dragging me until she swoops down and picks me up carrying me as fast as she and Betsy can run! Seeing my dad and Davis's in the lobby running towards them. Listening my dad says they just took them back! All we can do is wait. My dad looks down at me for the first time and see's the huge bruise and knot on my cheek bone. Seething with anger he asks did Davis hit you?     I nodded trying to explain that I tried to stop them daddy! Tears well up in his eye's sorry for not being there to stop it sooner. He leaves to get me an ice pack for my face coming back and placing it gently on my cheek and kisses my forehead. Mrs. Miller turns to me and say's "Oh baby,  I am so sorry he hit you" tears rolling down her face she asks if I am okay. I just nod and start crying again! Cause I am sure Davis is dying! Not knowing why I would care if he did! I can tell she is scared for Davis too! She had this look of pure panic on her face after seeing him lying on the asphalt. Once she got to the hospital and walked into Mr. Miller's arms she broke down crying uncontrollably. Asking Mr. Miller what are we going to do with him James? This has to stop it is too much!     We waited for hours it seemed. Dad and Mr. James Miller talking about us kids and to much fighting between us. Mr. Miller apologizing for Davis being the cause and knowing that his son no matter what he does to try to help him he always seem to end up fighting with someone! Hoping against all hope that this will be the last time and a reality check for Davis. Praying he make's this his last. Both set's of parent's are at a loss as to how all this happened.      So they start asking me questions and I am answering as best as I can. Mr Miller clentches his jaw in anger as I tell him that Davis pushed Danielle off her bike. Causing Marc to lose it and start beating Davis! Mr. Miller looks at his wife and say's if he wasn't beaten so badly Betsy, I would probably be doing the beating right now. I will not tolerate his disrespect to women Betsy. Do you understand what I am saying? Yes dear, I do understand and neither will I!  Danielle, oh my gosh...no one checked on Danielle! My mom starts immediately calling Danielle"s mom to see if she is okay. She is just bruised and scraped up. Leaving us a short sigh of relief.     My dad told Mr. Miller not to worry about the medical bills because he and mom were paying them. After all Marc did the most damage here, which was shocking to us all! At that time the Dr. finally came out to bring us all back to see Marc and Davis! They had put them in the same exam room of all things!  It was a tight fit.   When we walked in Marc and Davis were laughing at how ridiculous the other looked!  None of us were laughing at all. We all just looked at them like they had lost their minds!     Beat, banged up, bloody and bruised. They both looked like H***!  But laughing like they were on the same side of the fight was just too weird for all of us. The doctor was filling in our parents on both patients. Davis has a slight concussion, bruised ribs, and loose teeth. Yep, he was going to the dentist alright. Sucks to be him I thought. Marc, was just badly bruised on his chest, ribs, face and a black eye. He was just thankful he didn't kill Davis as we all were!     They would both have to be watched for a while keep an eye on their ribs and breathing. Davis shouldn't go to sleep with that concussion. Try to keep him awake for at least 12 more hour's the doctor said and give them tylenol and ibuprofen for pain every 4 to 6 hours. Going to keep them for observation for a couple of hours and then they can head home.     After being home Marc wanted to go over and check on Davis. Thinking it was odd that they wanted to actually talk to each other had me scared it would start all over again. It Never did. Marc did go over and apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Miller and asked if he could check on Davis.      Which they allowed with them in the room to begin with to make sure nothing escalated between them. Davis apologized to Marc that day for everything. Saying he had a lot more people to tell them he was sorry. He asked Marc to bring me with him the next day.     The next day the whole family went over to check on Davis and mom took him some home made chicken noodle soup. Since most of his front teeth were loose he was having to eat soft foods. Marc and I went up to his room to see him and he looked awful. He was so bruised up on his face you couldn't tell where his nose began and ended.     He looked up at us and tried to grin but it was lost when he saw the huge black and blue mark on my cheek. He looked like he was going to start crying. He finally said Jenny come here please even though I was too scared to move,  Marc pushed me towards him going with me. Davis sat up in the bed as best as he could, looking at my face.      He said; Oh God Jenny...I am so so sorry! He reached out and touched my cheek making me flinch at his touch! Don't be scared Jenny, I promise you that I will never hurt you again! No one else either will. I will make sure of it! I just looked at his blue eyes and knew he meant what he said to me. He leaned up to kiss me on on top of my hair. Telling me again how sorry he was!       I truly thought that they had both lost their minds!   That was how their lifelong friendship began and they were truly insepreable after that!       Davis was no longer the neighborhood bully!        It took Davis a long time to heal,  but Marc and I went over and played games with him to help him occupy his time. If we got to laughing too hard he would grab his ribs and just scream out in pain flopping down on the bed. It scared me and I would reach over trying to comfort him and rub his hair. One time he reached up with his other hand and I thought he would stop me, instead he just held onto my hand for comfort. Thank you Jenny, I don't deserve such good friends he said. Laying there forever holding my hand.