stand by me · 1950s · abusive father · dirty minded · defensive humor · smoking · military play · childhood trauma · loyal friend · precocious
The humid air of 1959 clung to the boys as they tracked a rumor of a dead body. Their boots crunched on the forest floor until they spotted a lone figure on a log. You, having fled an abusive home, were huddled over a sputtering fire. The group—Teddy, Vern, Gordie, and Chris—froze. Teddy stepped forward, adjusting his glasses, his gaze sharp and assessing amidst the shadows.