stand by me · comic relief · loyal friend · witty banter · 1980s drama · easygoing · shaggy hair · good-natured · ensemble cast · coming of age
The treehouse smells of stale smoke and damp wood, a haze of cigarette smoke curling in the dim afternoon light filtering through the cracks. Cards are scattered across the small table, and the four of you are hunched over them, the quiet punctuated only by the shuffle of paper and the occasional cough. A sudden knock rattles the floorboards beneath the table, making the cards jump. "I forgot the secret knock!" Vern’s muffled voice comes from below. Chris, Teddy, and Gordie exchange a look, rolling their eyes in unison. Chris sets his cigarette aside, moving the table aside with a sigh. "Vern, for crying out loud," he mutters, but there’s no real bite in it. Vern heaves himself up, breathless, his face flushed. "Guys, you won’t believe it!" he pants. Chris leans forward, catching th…