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Sunday, May 18, 1980
“That’s not fair!” screamed Nancy as she stormed up the stairs. She slammed her door as loud as she could and flopped on her bed.
Going on their annual end-of-school family vacation? Fine. Meeting up with their stupid little cousin for part of the trip? Fine. Well, not fine, but bearable. Mike getting to bring a friend so he wouldn’t drive the rest of them insane, especially now that Mom had to focus on baby Holly? Fine. More than fine, honestly. Nancy not getting to bring a friend? Not fine. Not fine at all.
It really wasn’t fair. Mike was a little shit and got rewarded for it. She always followed the rules and got punished. Maybe she’d just need to be a brat too.
They were finally going somewhere cool this year too. Usually Dad brought them to a motel on the edge of some mosquito-infested national park and they’d have to hike every day. Well, Nancy and Dad and Mom hiked. Mike mostly whined and complained about his noodle legs until they got back to the motel, where he’d immediately start running everywhere and splashing around in the pool and generally annoying the bejeezus out of everyone in the general vicinity.
So, no, she didn’t begrudge Mike getting to bring a friend. It would be better for everyone involved. She’d made a dramatic exit before she could get all the details, but she assumed he’d ask Will. The two of them were practically inseparable, even though the neighbor kid Lucas was also part of their Nerd Brigade. It had better be Will. Will was a good influence on Mike.
A few years ago, they’d gone to the beach for their vacation. Well, not a real ocean beach, but up to the lakeshore. Nancy had thought she’d be able to lie on the beach and read all day. Instead, she spent at least fifty percent of her time stopping Mike from trying to bury her in sand. So anything that could distract him was a good thing. And the Byers were poor so Will must be thrilled to have an out-of-state vacation experience.
This year they were going to Sandusky, Ohio, after Nancy had dropped hints and begged her parents for months. There was lakeshore and a real amusement park, with supposedly some of the best roller coasters in the world. When she found out that they were actually going, she immediately called Barb to share the news. Barb loved roller coasters – or, thought she would, anyways. It’s not like they’d ever been on a real coaster. The tiny ones that came to town every year with the carnival didn’t count. Barb had expressed excitement and they bemoaned together the fact that only Wheelers were allowed on Wheeler family vacations.
But apparently now that Holly was born, rules had just gone out the window. She wasn’t surprised. As the eldest child, she had all the rules, and followed them to a T. Mike had fewer – both because he was second, so they’d figured out where they didn’t need to be as strict and because he’d simply ignore them, so their parents had to pick their battles. She was used to the little unfair things, like Mike getting an allowance the same time she did, even though he was three years younger.
Someone knocked on the door. “Go away,” Nancy shouted.
“Nancy, can I come in?” It was Mom.
“No, Mom, go away!”
Nancy heard her mom sigh. “I have some good news.”
Wait, what? Nancy sat up on her bed. “Come in,” she said petulantly.
The doorknob turned slowly and Mom entered the room. “Your dad and I were talking,” she began, “And we agree that it’s not fair to let Mike bring a friend but not you. However.” Her eyebrows raised. “How you reacted was inappropriate and there need to be consequences. No phone privileges for a week, do you understand?”
Nancy thought quickly. It was the last couple weeks of school and everyone was starting to hang out again now that the weather was consistently warm again. But based on past experience, Mom would still take messages, so her friends could still invite her to things. And if she pushed harder, there was a decent chance of grounding.
“I understand,” she sighed. “And thank you. Can I call Barb now to make sure she can go, though?”
Mrs. Wheeler pursed her lips. “Yes, I suppose so. Make it quick, though!”
“I will,” Nancy promised and ran downstairs to the phone. She quickly dialed Barb’s number then let it ring. “Pick up, pick up, pick up,” she muttered.
Someone finally picked up on the sixth ring. “Holland house, Marsha speaking.”
“Hi, Mrs. Holland,” Nancy said in her best phone voice. “It’s Nancy, Nancy Wheeler. Can I talk to Barb?”
“Of course, honey, just one moment.”
Nancy tapped her fingers impatiently as she waited for Barb to pick up.
“Nancy?”
“Barb!”
“What’s going on? I’m hanging out with Robin today, if you were looking to do something…”
“Oh, no.” Robin and Nancy were friends by association. Robin and Barb were best friends growing up, but Nancy had started to get closer to Barb now that they were in middle school and had more classes together. There wasn’t anything wrong with Robin, per se. Something about her just rubbed Nancy the wrong way whenever they hung out in a group. All those band kids were a little weird. “I actually have some really good news!”
“Mmm?”
“So you know how we’re going to Ohio? My parents let Mike bring a friend this year so he’d be less of a tiny terror, and I convinced them to let me bring a friend too!” Karen raised an eyebrow as she entered the kitchen. Nancy shot her a glare.
“No. Way. Seriously?”
“Yes!”
“So…”
“Yes, of course I’m inviting you! Can you come?”
“When was it again?”
“The first week of June!”
“I think so. Let me check with my mom real quick.” There was a whispered conversation on the other end that took entirely too long in Nancy’s opinion.
“I can come!” Barb crowed after a minute that felt much longer.
“Yes!” Nancy broke out in a grin, only for Mom to make a wrapping-up motion. She rolled her eyes. “Anyways, I have to go. My negotiation tactics were a little… unorthodox, so I kind of lost phone privileges for a week. But you can still call and leave messages?” Mom nodded in acknowledgment. “And I’ll see you at school tomorrow, okay?”
“Sounds perfect!” agreed Barb. “Bye, Nancy!”
“Bye!” Nancy couldn’t stop smiling as she hung up the phone.
* * *
Monday, May 26, 1980
There was always something special about the first bike ride of the year. It was a little bit on the chilly side, sure, but nothing compared to the feeling of freedom as the wind whipped through your hair and the pavement zipped by underneath you.
The weather had been fairly nice all month, but things had just been so busy. Middle school actually had finals she needed to study for and she’d been out with Ally and Barb and family and then she’d realised too late that she needed to inflate her tires and, well, better late than never, right?
Barb lived closer to the center of town – only an eight-minute ride or so. She’d traditionally gone to watch the parade with Ally, but Ally was gone and Barb invited her and, well, it was fun to do things with Barb. Maybe even more fun than with Ally. That didn’t make her a bad person, right? Just – people change as they grow up, and maybe she was more compatible with Barb now than with Ally.
She squashed that train of thought as she pulled into Barb’s driveway. She ran her fingers through her hair as she approached the door. It opened before she could knock to reveal Barb on the other side. “Nancy!” she cried and leaned forward to hug her. “Let’s go.”
“So,” asked Nancy as they headed down the sidewalk, “Are you looking forward to the end of school?”
“Hmm.” Barb thought for a moment. “Yes and no. I’m not going to miss all of the idiots we go to school with, but I do like most of my classes. And it gives me something to do, y’know?”
Nancy giggled. “Oh, you must get so bored without essays and math worksheets over the summer.”
“You’re not an only child! You wouldn’t understand. It can get lonely sometimes.”
Nancy scowled. “Better lonely than murderous.”
“Is Holly sleeping through the night yet?”
“Most of the time now, yeah, so that’s a relief. I was referring to the other one, though.”
“Oh, the goober, got it.”
Nancy rolled her eyes. “The closer we get to summer, the more energy he gets. It doesn’t make sense!”
“Maybe he’s a reptile? They have more energy when it’s warm out.”
“Or a fish,” Nancy chuckled, “Or a…” She trailed off.
“Or a...?” Barb prompted.
“I was gonna say frog, but apparently some of the kids at school bully him by calling him Frogface, so…”
“I mean, I can see it, but…”
“Yeah, exactly.”
There was a lull in the conversation as they looked for an open stretch of curb to sit on. “Oh!” called Barb, standing on her tiptoes and peering over the crowd, “Over there!” She grabbed Nancy’s hand and pulled her through the milling throng.
They just managed to nab the real estate before another family did. “Oh no,” Nancy breathed as soon as they sat down.
“What?” asked Barb. She followed Nancy’s gaze across the street. “Do you have a problem with Jonathan?”
“What? No. But Will’s there, which means…”
“Right. Nerd brigade. You know they’re not actually telepathic, though, right, Nance?”
Nancy glowered. “Of course I do. But you mark my words… By the end of the parade, Mike will be right there across the street and expect me to walk him home.” She sighed. “It’s not even that far!”
“Would you trust him not to get lost?”
Nancy snorted. “Yeah, yeah. So anyways, have you started packing yet?”
Barb’s face lit up. “Yes! We’re leaving this weekend, right?”
“Yeah, early Sunday morning!”
“And how much room do I have for luggage?”
“Oh, we’re going to take two cars. It would have been tight with the five of us, but there’s no way we could fit seven people in one car.”
“So I can pack the big suitcase then,” Barb grinned.
“Oh my god, don’t pack more than two books, Barb. We’re going to be going out and doing things!”
“Hey, I can read in the car, or on the beach.”
“Don’t forget that our lives will be ruined from Tuesday onwards.”
Barb turned in confusion.
“Richie,” Nancy muttered.
“Ah, yes, the mysterious cousin Richie.” She poked Nancy in the side. “How terrible it must be to see your relatives.”
“No, you don’t understand.” Nancy was still scowling. “I just – you’ll see what I mean.”
Barb raised her eyebrows, but just then a police car appeared at the end of the block. “Look! The parade’s starting!”
It was a fairly typical Memorial Day parade – veterans marching, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the high school band in their dorky uniforms, local businesses, and sports teams. It was never as fun as the 4th of July parade – no candy, for one – but she supposed it was supposed to be a solemn affair.
“Did any of your family serve?” asked Nancy.
“No,” replied Barb, “You?”
“My grandfather did at the beginning of World War II. And Lucas’s dad did in Vietnam, so I’ve heard a lot about that.”
“Lucas…?”
Nancy scanned the crowd across the street and, sure enough – “Nerd number three,” she pointed.
Barb nodded in recognition. “Right, right. When did they even get over there?”
Nancy shrugged. “I swear, the three of them have magnets inside them. They’re always together.”
“Hey, it could be worse,” Barb pointed out. “Soon they’ll discover girls.”
“Eww,” Nancy wrinkled her nose. “I’m not thinking about that until I have to. Maybe Mike will just keep hanging out with Will until I go to college.”
“Yeah, keep dreaming,” teased Barb.
Sure enough, at the end of the parade, Mike spotted her and demanded to be walked home. Mrs. Byers offered to drive him, but Nancy knew she’d never hear the end of it if she let that happen. He and Lucas chattered behind them all the way to Barb’s house. It seemed that Lucas was aware of the Ohio trip but didn’t seem bothered that he wasn’t invited. Boys were so weird. “Three more days!” called Barb as she headed up her driveway. “See you tomorrow, Nance.”
“Three more days,” Nancy echoed as she picked up her bike to walk it home.
* * *
Sunday, June 1, 1980
Nancy didn’t understand boys. Will had slept over last night, and she knew they’d stayed up late because she could hear them giggling through the walls. And now it was 5:30 AM. She could barely drag herself out of bed, and Mike and Will were racing each other down the stairs. How did they have so much energy?
She put on the clothes she’d laid out the night before and slowly made her way downstairs. Her dad was sipping on a coffee and the boys were already pouring themselves heaping bowls of cereal while Mom was distracted in the kitchen.
Nancy rolled her eyes, then stifled a yawn. “Did you even sleep last night?” she managed.
“Of course!” Mike said indignantly and glanced at Will for back-up. Will looked guilty.
“Oh my god, you guys.” Nancy shook her head.
“We were just so excited,” Will explained, “It was too hard to fall asleep.” Well, Nancy could relate to that – Christmas Eve was always difficult.
“Yeah, and there were so many comic books to read!” Mike added.
Nancy sighed as Will frowned at him. At least one of them had some sense.
She went about the rest of her morning routine in a haze, and soon enough it was time to go. She double-checked that she’d packed her toiletries and carried her bag downstairs. Everyone was in the entryway ready to go, except –
“Mike?” called Mom, “Are you coming down?”
“It’s not my fault no one told me to pack underwear! Do you want me to go commando all week?” Mike yelled from upstairs.
Nancy grimaced at the mental image. Their mom had given them packing lists over a week ago. Of course Mike had ignored his.
Finally, they made it to Barb’s house to pick her up. Barb was standing outside the front door, suitcase in hand all proper and punctual. She smiled as Barb got in the backseat with her.
“All buckled up, girls?” Mrs. Wheeler called over her shoulder.
Nancy grinned. Splitting the cars into girls and boys had been a streak of genius on Barb’s part. Four hours free of goobers.
* * *
Nancy felt tired again as they pulled in to the Stadium Diner for dinner. She’d woken up in time to enjoy the park, but they’d been there for so long that she just needed some quiet time to rest and recharge.
She’d thought that surely Mike and Will would have crashed by now, but apparently they’d slept most of the car ride up and ingested enough sugar for a week and now they were practically bouncing in their seats.
“So what were your favorite rides, boys?” Mom asked.
“Oh man,” started Will, “They were all great!”
“I loved the Nestea Plunge!” cut in Mike.
“Oh yeah, that was great! Your hair –” Both boys started giggling.
“But what about you, Will?” Mike asked after a moment.
“Oh, uh, I really liked the…” Will trailed off and made some sort of circular motion with his hands.
“Oh yeah, that was so cool! You could probably see back to Hawkins from up there!”
Barb raised an eyebrow. “Care to enlighten the rest of us, tiny humans?”
Mike scowled and was about to retort but Will put a hand on his arm. “The… The giant wheel! That’s what it was called, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s right. And we’re not tin- Ow! What was that for?”
Everyone was silent as Will sat still, looking entirely angelic as he avoided Mike’s gaze. Nancy snorted.
“What about you girls?” Mrs. Wheeler asked.
“The Gemini was so cool!” Nancy replied. “We tried both tracks!”
“I loved the Corkscrew,” grinned Barb.
Both boys’ jaw dropped. “You went on the Corkscrew?” asked Mike, pointing at Barb. She nodded, “You too, Nancy?”
“…Yes. Why?”
“Whoa,” breathed Will. “Doesn’t it go upside-down? Like three times?”
“It does!” replied Barb, still grinning.
“That sounds so awesome,” said Will, staring at her in undisguised admiration.
“Uh, yeah. Sure,” Mike agreed half-heartedly.
Nancy narrowed her eyes. “What, you don’t think so, Mike?”
“What? I didn’t say that. Who said that?”
Barb snorted. “It’s okay if you’re scared, Mike.”
“I’m not –” Mike started, his voice raised.
Will kicked him under the table as Mom shushed him. “Don’t scare Holly, Mike,” she admonished. Holly just cooed from her highchair, seemingly unconcerned.
“I’m not scared,” Mike muttered.
* * *
The sleeping arrangements were less than desirable. Her parents were renting two adjoining rooms at the Maples Motel. Mom, Dad, and Holly got one room with a queen bed. That left her, Barb, Mike, and Will in the room with two double beds.
She didn’t have an issue sharing a bed with Barb. That’s what they normally did during sleepovers. She thought Mike and Will might be weird about it because they either slept in bunk beds in Mike’s room or separate sleeping bags in the basement when Will was over, but they didn’t seem at all concerned.
Nancy insisted she and Barb use the tiny bathroom first before Mike could ruin it, which turned out to be a wise decision. Somehow, Will caused Mike to laugh as they were brushing their teeth, spraying the mirror with toothpaste.
“Boys,” muttered Barb primly.
Her parents stopped in for lights out and her mom kissed all of them on the forehead, despite Mike’s ferocious scowl. At least the boys kept their whispering to a minimum as she rolled over and fell asleep.
* * *
Monday, June 2, 1981
“So where are we going today?” called Nancy through the door that connected their two motel rooms.
Her mom yawned. “Uh, today is the boys’ day, so that means… the deer park and the Edison house!”
“Yeah!” chorused Mike and Will excitedly.
Nancy shared a tired look with Barb. The motel beds weren’t amazing but weren’t terrible either. However, there was a train crossing just across the road, and the periodic train whistles made it difficult to stay asleep.
“How did the two of you sleep so well?” asked Barb.
Mike shrugged. “How didn’t you?”
“Uh, the train?” interjected Nancy.
“Train?” asked Will, confused.
Nancy and Barb just stared at him. “You didn’t hear the train?” asked Barb.
Will shrugged. “I guess not.”
“I did,” Mike offered, “But I just fell back asleep.”
Nancy shook her head ruefully. Why couldn’t she have those falling-back-asleep genes?
It turned out the deer park was closer, so that’s where they headed first. “What exactly do we… do here?” whispered Barb as they got out of the girls’ car.
“You get to feed the animals!” smiled Will as he jumped out of the other car.
“What kinds of –” Mike cut off as he almost tripped leaping out of the car. Will helped him catch his balance, rolling his eyes fondly. “What kinds of animals are there?” he finished.
“I’m guessing deer,” Barb supplied.
“Well, duh,” Will replied, “But there are goats, too, and sheep – and llamas! And there are some birds too, like peacocks and emus.”
“Didn’t emus win a war?” asked Mike.
“A war? Against whom?” asked their mom, who had apparently been listening in this whole time.
“Australia,” said Mike confidently. “The emus won.”
Barb and Nancy silently agreed not to follow up.
Dad paid for some feed for all of them. It was a pleasant enough way to spend the morning. “I’m surprised Goober’s behaving so well,” Barb commented. They’d split up, but the park wasn’t that big so they kept crossing paths. “Normally he’s a holy terror whenever he’s bored, and this doesn’t exactly seem like his cup of tea.”
Nancy glanced over to where Mike and Will were patiently luring some goats with their feed. “This was Will’s choice,” she explained.
“So?”
“So, anything Will wants to do, so does Mike. I wish we could replicate his powers, honestly.”
“Hmm,” said Barb thoughtfully.
Nancy glanced over at her.
“It’s nothing,” Barb replied.
“Oh, come on!”
“No, seriously, it’s nothing. It’s just – just kinda cute. None of the guys in our grade are this close to each other. Most of them are jerks. I kinda wish they… didn’t have to grow up, y’know?”
“Yeah, middle school guys are dumb,” Nancy agreed, “But so’s Mike. He’s only tolerable when Will’s around.”
* * *
And sometimes, it turned out, not even when Will was around. She knew they were nerds, but really, this was just excessive. Mike’s pick had been the Thomas Edison House, where he’d been born. His wife had turned it into a museum and now they were on a 45-minute tour. Well, it was supposed to be 45 minutes, but Mike kept derailing the tour guide. Like, “Does anyone know how many patents Edison acquired?” shouldn’t have been a hard question, but Mike had to specify whether they were talking about American or worldwide patents, and whether duplicates counted once or twice, and instead of knocking some sense into him, Will just kept giving Mike this admiring look.
“Knock it off,” Nancy hissed as they moved to the next room.
“Knock what off?” Mike whispered back.
“Being a know-it-all! It’s embarrassing.”
Mike stuck out his tongue. Will whispered something in his ear and Mike nodded, grinning.
In the next room, it was Will who raised his hand. “Edison didn’t actually invent the light bulb , though, did he?”
“Incandescent light bulb,” the tour guide specified.
Will frowned and, at the urging of Mike’s elbow, continued speaking. “That’s not right either, though. They were heating wires to incandescence in the 1700s. And there were a lot of people who’d made light bulbs before, but they weren’t commercially successful. And Edison’s patent was ruled invalid because it was based on William Sawyer’s work.”
Nancy stared. That was probably the most words she’d ever heard Will say in a row. Indeed, he was now blushing furiously, but he held the tour guide’s eye. The poor tour guide – who was probably a high schooler or college student – looked flabbergasted, but quickly pulled himself back together.
“That patent ruling was overturned in 1889,” he managed.
Barb elbowed her. “Byers keeps Goober in line, huh?”
“I didn’t know he could say that many words,” she whispered back, causing Barb to giggle as they headed into the next room.
* * *
“Why did you choose the Edison house if you and Will have such a grudge against him?” Nancy asked as they walked around downtown Milan.
Mike just shrugged. Will grinned. “Mike likes arguing,” he offered.
Nancy and Barb both snorted at that.
Mike looked indignant. “Do not!”
“Do too,” Will countered.
“Do – Oh, shoot. That was on purpose!” Mike glared at Will and punched his shoulder as Will looked like the most innocent being to ever grace the earth.
“Plus someone needs to set the record straight on Edison,” Will continued blithely.
“Set the… elaborate?” asked Barb.
“Everyone thinks Edison was this amazing inventor,” explained Mike, “But he stole most of his ideas.”
“Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing!” Will continued. “That’s how most progress is made. But he was a very good businessman and stole credit for a lot of things he doesn’t deserve. We just wanted to set the record straight, that’s all.”
“Yeah, Nance, that’s all,” Mike chorused. She sighed.
* * *
Tuesday, June 3, 1980
It was entirely too early in the morning when the Toziers arrived, but Nancy wasn’t sure if there was any suitable time. There was a knock on their parents’ door, her dad answered, and there were her uncle and aunt. Her dad gave Aunt Maggie a half-hearted hug and Uncle Went a curt nod. The next thing she knew, the little gremlin was in their room.
“What’s up, motherfuckers,” Richie greeted them.
Nancy glanced around the room. Mike’s lips were pursed tightly shut. Will looked a little scandalized, but not surprised – that’s right, he’d met Richie over Christmas a couple years ago. Barb’s mouth was hanging open in shock. She kept glancing between Richie and Mike.
“Why, hello there,” Richie drawled in one of his stupid accents. “Mike. Nancy. Williford. And who’s this pretty lady who can’t seem to keep her eyes off me?”
“I’m Barb,” said Barb coolly. “Charmed.”
Richie flashed an ingratiating smile. “It’s been too long, cousin o’ mine,” he said, turning to Mike. “Bring it in to dear old Richie!” He held out his arms for a hug. Mike stood stock-still, eyes spitting fire. “Oh, is Mike Wheeler too high and mighty for hugs nowadays? Or is it, perhaps, that I’m of the gentlemanly persuasion? Don’t be gross, Mike… We’re family. Willfred has nothing to be jealous about, scout’s honor.”
Will flushed slightly. “His name is Will,” Mike forced out between clenched teeth.
“Beggin’ yer pardon, mister,” Richie replied smoothly, doffing an imaginary cap. “I’m new ‘round these parts, you see, and –”
Mike turned and stalked out of the room without a word. Will glanced around nervously, then slunk out after him.
“You – He –” Barb struggled to form a thought, but Richie could tell what she meant.
“Look alike? Got the same sweet rockin’ bod?” He preened. “Hell yeah. Only difference is I got worse vision –” he took off his coke-bottle glasses and squinted. “Genetics is a bitch. But I got the bigger wang –” He made a crude gesture by his crotch – “So…”
“Richie.” Nancy narrowed her eyes.
“Right, right, delicate ladies present, my mistake, officer. It won’t happen again, I swear. You see –”
“Richie!” called Aunt Maggie from the other room. Richie flashed a grin and was gone as quickly as he had arrived.
Barb blinked a few times, then frowned. “Evil Mike?” she asked.
“Evil Mike,” Nancy confirmed.
“They look so similar. They’re not –?”
“Nope,” Nancy shook her head. “Thankfully. Mike jokes about how maybe they were twins and they chose to send Richie away, but I was there when Mike was born. There was definitely only one of him.”
“Thank god,” said Barb.
“Thank god,” Nancy echoed.
* * *
The adults decided to go off to a winery for the day, sending the kids to Cedar Point and appointing Nancy and Barb the responsible adults in charge. Nancy had snorted at that. Like they could control Mike, never mind the hellstorm that was Richie Tozier. Her mom had raised an eyebrow, so of course they agreed to hold onto the money and meet up with the boys for lunch and dinner in the park. It had taken a while for the Toziers to get settled (their room was on the other side of hers – joy of joys), so they got lunch right when they got to the park. Now she and Barb were waiting on a bench impatiently for the boys to arrive.
“We said 6:00, didn’t we?” asked Nancy, bouncing her leg.
“It’s only 6:10, Nance,” Barb said calmly, placing a hand on Nancy’s knee to stop it from bouncing. “They probably got stuck in line somewhere or took a wrong turn or something. They’re fine.”
Nancy frowned and didn’t reply.
“Seriously. They’re gonna show up any minute and then you’re going to regret ever wishing they were here, you know that, right?”
Nancy sighed begrudgingly. “I know. I just – it makes me nervous when they’re my responsibility, and – oh. There they are.”
Barb turned to follow Nancy’s gaze to see Richie walking backwards towards them like a tour guide, Mike and Will following and not looking impressed.
“Just saying, I’m game if you wanna go to the bathroom and compare, Byers,” Richie was saying as he came into earshot. “I already know I’m bigger than good ol’ Mike here, and I can only assume that –”
Nancy reluctantly put out a hand to stop Richie from crashing into the bench. “Do you need to use the bathroom, Richie?” she asked neutrally.
“Yeah, I gotta piss like a racehorse – I mean, beggin’ yer pardon, ma’am, I –”
“Will?” she asked, cutting him off.
Will shook his head, looking uncomfortable.
“There’s a bathroom over there,” Nancy pointed. “We’ll wait for you.” She watched Richie sprint off and sighed as he nearly hit several pedestrians. When she turned back, she watched Mike and Will visibly relax. Will shifted his weight towards Mike and Mike put out a hand so Will could lean back into him, closing his eyes.
“You guys okay?” asked Nancy.
Mike glanced down at Will, but his eyes were still closed. “Richie is – a lot,” he managed, then coughed, jostling Will a bit.
“You can say that again,” Will mumbled. Mike shifted his weight back and forth, rocking him and Will, and Will sighed in contentment.
“Is Richie being mean, or –” asked Barb.
“Yes,” said Mike.
“No,” said Will. “Well, not intentionally,” he amended. “He just… doesn’t have a filter.”
“Or a memory,” Mike scowled. “I’ve told him thirteen times that your name is Will, but he keeps coming up with these stupid nicknames.”
Nancy frowned. She’d definitely heard Mike call Will all sorts of strange things. Maybe it was one of those things like how it was fine for her to rag on Mike but she’d kill anyone else who did.
Mike abruptly separated himself from Will. “I’m back!” she heard Richie calling from over her shoulder. “What’s for dinner, o wise and beauteous Nancy?”
“Pizza?” she suggested.
“Ah, a classic,” Richie continued. “We have this place back home where –” She tuned him out to watch Mike exchange a look with Will, then both of them nodded. She and Barb started walking, not caring if Richie followed or not.
“How long are we staying?” whined Richie. “Can we ride more rides after dinner?”
Nancy glanced at her watch. “Nope, sorry. Our parents are meeting us at 7.”
Richie’s face fell. “But Nancy, I wanna ride the Corkscrew.”
“You had all afternoon,” Barb pointed out. “We rode it again.”
Richie’s mouth fell open indignantly. “These losers wouldn’t go on it with me! Wildred said he wasn’t feeling up to it or some bullshit like that.”
Nancy turned, a little confused, to see Will looking guilty and Mike flushing.
“Sorry,” said Will, without sounding sorry at all. “I didn’t really feel like hurling on anyone today.”
Richie made a face. “You could’ve just said that. I thought you were just being a pussy about it or something.”
Nancy got to watch this time as that spark appeared in Mike’s eyes. She smacked Richie on the shoulder, causing him to yelp, and the spark lowered to a simmer. Will leaned to bump their arms together and it disappeared entirely.
“Hey, Richie,” asked Barb, “Wanna play a game?”
“Yeah! I love games! I bet I can beat all of you!”
“It’s called the silent game,” Barb smirked. “Whoever talks first loses, starting now.”
Richie glared at her in betrayal. Nancy shot her a grateful look. Barb bumped her shoulder, and all was right in the world.
* * *
Wednesday, June 4, 1980
“The Earth Crack?” Richie quipped as they piled out of the cars. “More like a butt crack, right, guys?” Mike, Barb, and Nancy all rolled their eyes. Will of all people let out a little snort.
Mike lightly smacked his arm. “Don’t encourage him!” he whispered.
Barb’s choice for their trip had been Seneca Caverns, just a half hour away from their motel but billed as “one of America’s most fascinating geological wonders”.
“How far down do these caves go?” asked Richie to no one in particular. “How many people have died down there?"
Nancy shuddered, but Barb’s eyes lit up. “Do you think there’ll be ghosts, Nance?”
Nancy silently pointed at the graveyard on the other side of the parking lot.
“Ghosts and rocks!” Barb crowed. “How could this day get any better?”
“Richie mysteriously disappears?” Mike muttered under his breath, causing Will to let out a surprised laugh.
They’d arrived just in time for the tour they’d booked (of course it was Mike who’d held them up – he could never get anywhere on time), so Dad ushered them in and they were off. Barb was as excited as Nancy had ever seen her, running her hand along the rock wall as they descended to the foyer and exclaiming over the quality of the limestone.
“Why’s it called limestone?” asked Richie, somehow popping up behind her. “Does it taste like lime?” He licked the wall, then spluttered.
“Pretty sure it’s poisonous,” said Will lightly.
“What? No! It’s just a rock! You’re not serious, right? I can’t die, Willy-Billy –” Mike’s face, which had been on the edge of laughter, fell into a scowl – “I’m too young! There’s so much left to live for! Too much I haven’t done! Specifically, girls. I mean –”
“Limestone isn’t poisonous, Richie,” Barb cut him off.
“Oh thank god, Eds would kill me if I died. Never mind his hot mom.” Richie winked.
“Who’s Eds?” Nancy asked, trying to steer the conversation, since Richie not talking clearly wasn’t an option.
“Oh, the Edster? Only a guy’s best friend. We met in kindergarten, and stuck together ever since, like lichen on rock. I’m the rock, by the way. He’s the lichen, if lichen had a smoking hot mom.”
“Kindergarten?” repeated Mike, tuning in for a moment.
“Yesirree,” Richie replied.
“Evil Mike!” Barb whispered in her ear. Nancy snorted.
* * *
As they descended into the cave, Mike and Will peeled off more and more from the main group. “Are they okay?” Barb asked.
“Who?”
Barb jerked her head at the pair. “Goober and Mini-Byers.”
Nancy glanced over. Mike seemed fine, but Will looked a little tense. “Maybe Will’s claustrophobic?” she suggested.
“Yeah, that would make sense,” Barb replied.
“What would make sense?” asked Richie. “That they’re homos?”
Barb levelled a stare at Richie. “What.”
“Homos,” Richie repeated. “You know, homosexuals. Guys that –” he made a crude gesture and leaned in to whisper, eyebrows raised – “Up the butt.”
“Richie!” Nancy scolded. “They’re not – that. They’ve just been friends since kindergarten, like you and Ed.”
“Eddie,” Richie automatically corrected.
“…Like you and Eddie.”
“Yeah, but see, the difference with me and Eds, is, uh…” Richie paused to think, “We’re not so touchy-feely. Eddie’s a huge germaphobe and I’m the only person he lets touch him… unless I was just outside getting dirty or something.”
Barb raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, okay, bad example, I’ll admit. But, um.”
“Or you could leave them alone,” Nancy suggested.
“I could, but…”
“Or we could throw you down the Devil’s Loop,” Barb casually suggested.
“The what-now?”
Barb pointed at the sign.
“Ha! Like you could even –”
Barb moved towards him and moved to pick him up. Richie blanched and backed up.
Nancy and Barb both laughed. “That’s what I thought,” said Barb.
“Geez, the bitches do be crazy,” he muttered. “Sayonara, fair dames.” He drifted off towards Mike and Will.
Nancy breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally.”
Barb had turned her attention back to the cave walls. “Look, it’s not limestone anymore!”
“Uh-huh,” Nancy smiled and nodded, then shivered. “What’s dripping on me?”
“They’re cave kisses!” Barb exclaimed, then sobered. “Or dripping ectoplasm from departed souls.”
Nancy glared. “You heard the guide. No one’s died in the caves.”
“That they’re telling us, anyways. And it could just be a ghost from that graveyard upstairs, chilling down here in the shade.”
Nancy shivered again. “You don’t actually think –”
Barb shrugged. “You never know!”
“But –”
“I don’t think all ghosts are evil, Nancy. There are probably lots of nice ghosts, too. But think about the news. You always hear about the crazy evil people, the axe murderers and the cult leaders. You don’t hear about the nice boy who helped an old lady across the street. That’s not newsworthy. We know we hear about these horrible, evil ghosts. Maybe there are friendly ghosts that you just don’t hear about because they’re not as interesting.”
“Have you ever – seen a ghost?”
Barb’s mouth twisted. “No, I wish though. My parents were the first family to live in our house, so no ghosts there.”
“Yeah, same.”
“But every culture has stories of ghosts or spirits or ancestors. Every single one. That can’t be a coincidence. ‘All good stories have a basis in truth’, right? That’s what Mr. Lindemer said?”
Nancy acknowledged this with a nod. “But then why don’t we have any proof, if the idea’s so universal?”
Barb shrugged. “Maybe science doesn’t have all the answers. Maybe there are just things out there we don’t have the technology to discover yet. I just know that when I die, I want to come back as a ghost!” She grinned cheerfully, but the flickering light of the cave cast eerie shadows.
Nancy smiled and nodded. “Uh… Good luck with that.”
* * *
Thursday, June 5, 1980
It was the last day they were going to the park, and Nancy and Barb had certainly made the most of it. Nancy didn’t think anyone could love roller coasters more than she did, but Barb was definitely giving her a run for her money. It had been a cooler day, not even reaching 70, so there weren’t as many people in the park. Nancy’s favorite was still the Gemini. Nothing quite compared to the swoop in your stomach at that first big drop. Barb of course still favored the Corkscrew, loving the upside-down parts. Nancy liked it, sure, but couldn’t ride it twice in a row without getting queasy.
“And what did you boys go on today?” asked Barb as they met up to leave the park that night.
“We finally went on the Corkscrew!” bubbled Will excitedly. “I thought I was gonna get sick, but it was actually Richie that almost did!”
Richie grimaced weakly, still looking a little green. “What did you think, Mike?” Nancy asked cautiously.
“It was great!” said Mike enthusiastically. “It was great! I didn’t think I’d like it that much, but I really, really did. I wish we’d been riding it all week.” He grinned and slung an arm around Will’s shoulders.
Will blushed but still leaned in slightly towards Mike. “I knew you’d like it,” he teased.
“Yeah, yeah.” Mike rolled his eyes. “How are you always right? It’s not fair.”
“I’m just the best,” Will grinned.
Richie mimed gagging. “Are they always like this?” he asked.
Will tried to peel away, but Mike tightened his grip and wouldn’t let him. “Like what?” he asked challengingly.
Richie waved his hands vaguely. “So… sickly sweet. Like, seriously, don’t you two ever argue or get into fights?”
Mike and Will glanced at each other. “Not usually?” asked Mike.
“Not big ones, anyways,” Will confirmed.
“Man, I fight with my friends all the time,” complained Richie. “They’re a bunch of losers.”
Mike muttered something that caused Will to elbow him sharply and glare. Instead of arguing, he just deflated and whispered, “Sorry.” Nancy would love to learn that trick someday.
* * *
Back in the hotel room, Nancy and Barb decided to have a girl’s night. The boys would find a way to entertain themselves like always… hopefully with fewer farts than the previous night. Mom wouldn’t let her have her own make-up yet, but Barb was able to bring some, so they were going to get pretty tonight.
Of course, tonight was the night the boys apparently couldn’t entertain themselves. “Hey,” said Mike, plopping himself on their bed, “Watcha doin’?”
“Girl stuff,” Nancy replied brusquely. “Go away.”
“But we’re bored,” Mike whined.
Barb shrugged. “Sounds like a personal problem. Didn’t you bring a ton of books or something?”
“Finished them all,” Mike explained.
“Finished them – of course you did,” Nancy sighed. “Why is that our problem?”
“Watcha doin’?” Mike repeated.
“Girl stuff,” said Nancy emphatically. “Unless you want us to put make-up on you?”
Mike snorted and moved to leave when Will piped up from across the room. “I think you’d look good in make-up, Mike.”
Mike scowled. “Boys don’t wear make-up.”
“Some do,” Barb chimed in. “Actors all wear make-up, for plays and movies.”
“And I’ve showed you Queen,” Will continued. “Freddie Mercury wears make-up and it looks really cool.”
“Wait, really?” Mike sounded confused. “But Dad said –”
“Dad is not as cool as Freddie Mercury,” Nancy cut in drily, causing the other three to laugh.
“And not everything dads say is true,” added Will.
The boys shared a meaningful look, then Mike nodded. “Alright. I’m in.”
Nancy blinked. “Wait, really?”
“Yeah,” Mike said. “But make sure to make me look cool like I’m a rock star.”
“You got it,” said Barb, grinning.
Mike wasn’t the easiest test subject. He squirmed so much that Nancy sent him over to Barb. He was still squirmy, but at least he didn’t talk back as much to her. She started getting ready to do her own make-up when Will shuffled over. “Can you make me look like Freddie Mercury?” he asked softly.
Nancy glanced over at him. He held his body stiffly, like he was ready to run or take a punch – where had that thought come from? – but a mix of fear and determination shone from his eyes. “Of course,” she replied. “Well,” she amended, “I don’t know exactly what his make-up is like, but I can put some on you, at least, and you can look in the mirror and tell me what you want more of. We’ll just start with some foundation.” She reached for the brush and moved it towards Will’s face, but he jerked back and tensed up. Nancy paused. “Do you want to do this, Will?” she asked softly. “You don’t have to just because Mike is.”
“I do,” said Will fiercely. “I just –” He seemed to crumple in on himself and started breathing heavily.
Nancy hesitated, but before she could do anything, Mike was there, an arm around Will’s shoulder. She backed away. “Hey,” he whispered. “He’s not here. He’s not here. He can’t stop you from doing what you want to do.”
“I know,” Will breathed. “But I –”
Mike brushed a thumb across Will’s cheek. “Back-to-back?”
Will smiled. “Okay.” The boys rearranged themselves so they were both sitting Indian-style on the bed, their backs touching. Nancy blinked. Barb shrugged. They returned to their stations.
Will still tensed when she approached with the foundation brush, but she was able to apply it without incident this time. Blush, mascara, eyeliner, and lip gloss followed in quick succession. Will remained tense, but being in contact with Mike seemed to ground him.
“All done,” said Nancy after twenty minutes or so, “Go ahead and have a look.”
Will went into the bathroom and gasped.
“Let me see!” Mike called and vaulted off the bed.
“I’m not done!” Barb called after him.
Mike paused at the bathroom entrance. “Whoa,” he breathed.
Will pulled back. “Good whoa or bad whoa?” he asked cautiously.
“Good,” Mike replied slowly. “Really good. Have you seen yourself?” He turned Will back to the mirror.
“You’re pretty too,” said Will.
Nancy saw Mike scrunch up his face in the mirror. “Boys are handsome, not pretty.”
“Freddie Mercury’s pretty,” said Will softly.
“Oh.” Mike paused to take in the information. “Okay.”
“You have really long eyelashes,” said Will turning to face Mike.
“All boys do,” called Barb. “It’s really unfair!”
“Ha!” Mike returned. “But, uh, you did a really good job, Nancy… Barb. Thanks.”
Of course, at that moment the door had to open. “Kids?” called Dad. “Time to get ready for bed.” He glanced around the room suspiciously. “Did you lose Mike?”
“Right here, Dad,” said Mike, popping out of the bathroom.
Dad frowned. “What the heck have you been doing? Boys don’t wear make-up, Mike.”
“Mr. Wheeler!” called Barb. “I’m sorry, it was my idea. I wanted to practice some new things and it’s easier on them because they… have smaller faces.”
“Hmph,” he grunted. “Just make sure you take it off before anyone sees you like that. Wouldn’t want them thinking you’re one of those queers.”
Nancy watched Mike visibly deflate as Ted left the room. She moved to comfort him, but Will was already there. “Not everything dads say is true,” Will repeated as he wrapped Mike in a hug.
* * *
Friday, June 6, 1980
It was their last day in Ohio and it was the perfect beach day, sunny and in the low 80s. From experience, Nancy knew that the boys would be busy playing in the water and building sandcastles, so she and Barb would be left alone to sunbathe and read and talk.
Of course, nothing could be simple with Richie there. He forgot to pack his swim trunks or didn’t own swim trunks or something, so once they got to the beach he stripped down to his underwear.
“Look at the ghosts,” Barb teased. All three boys were very pale – although at least Will and Mike had a hint of a farmer’s tan going – and the forcible application of sunblock wasn’t helping matters.
Mike wasn’t pleased with this turn of events. “Looking at Richie is already like seeing myself in a mirror. I don’t need to see myself basically naked,” he complained.
“Sounds like someone’s jealous of my rockin’ bod,” Richie retorted, striking a pose to show off his equally-nonexistent muscles.
“It’s not like I haven’t seen you in your underwear before,” Will muttered, although he appeared to flush and seemed to be trying to avoid looking at Richie.
“What’s the big deal?” asked Barb, turning to Nancy. “It’s not like he’s showing much more skin than they are.” Indeed, Mike and Will had both grown since last year and their already short suits were definitely too small now.
Nancy shrugged. “Who knows. Boys are weird.” She watched as they ran down to the water.
“At least they’re better than the boys in our grade. I swear, as soon as I started growing boobs, it’s constantly been ‘eyes up here’.”
Nancy sucked in a breath.
“Your time will come,” said Barb, reaching over to pat her on the shoulder. “Enjoy it while you can, honest. Boobs are not all they’re cracked up to be. Especially when little pervs like Richie keep glancing at you.”
“Ew, he’s my cousin.” Nancy made a face. “Never mind three years younger than me.”
“Yeah, but Will wasn’t looking at you either.”
“Mmm…” Nancy said noncommittally.
“…What?” asked Barb.
“It’s just –” she hesitated – “Do you think they might be?”
“Who might be what?”
“Will and Mike,” Nancy clarified. “Might be, y’know…”
A beat of silence passed. “…Queer?” asked Barb softly.
“Yeah.”
“Would that be a problem?” asked Barb slowly.
“What? No! I mean. I want them to be happy and safe no matter what. I don’t… really understand but… I don’t understand a lot about Mike, and I still love him. …Somewhere deep down,” she said wryly.
“I just didn’t know, with your dad and all…”
“Dad says a lot of bullshit,” Nancy replied bluntly. “Usually if he doesn’t like something, it means I should.”
“Okay, good.” Barb looked relieved.
Nancy narrowed her eyes. “Why do you care so much?”
Barb looked shifty-eyed. “I’ve mentioned my Aunt Cara, right? And her roommate Kathy?”
Nancy’s eyes widened. “No way. Really?”
Barb nodded. “My parents keep it quiet, obviously. It’s not something you want to be spreading around. But… they’re not any different than my other aunts and uncles, even though most of my family pretends they don’t exist. But – what makes you think that about Will and Mike?”
“There was a day in third grade,” said Nancy slowly. “Mom picked us up. And Mike said he and Will were going to get married. Mom obviously told him that two boys can’t get married, and I didn’t take it seriously, but…”
“They were in, what, first grade?”
Nancy did some mental math. “Nah, kindergarten.”
Barb snorted. “Well, that doesn’t mean anything. And they’re only in fourth grade now. I mean, when did you start – noticing boys?”
Nancy thought. “Sixth grade? Maybe fifth grade?”
“Exactly,” Barb replied. “And boys mature slower than girls. They’ve still got time.”
“But –” Nancy wasn’t ready to let it go. “You’ve seen them, right? Most boys their age fight and play with trucks and play sports. Mike’s, like, allergic to being outside.”
“And yet.” Barb held out a hand towards Mike and Will building a sandcastle together, protecting it from both the incoming tide and the ball of chaos known as Richie.
“Yeah, Will’s good for him,” Nancy admitted. “That’s why you got to come along, remember? Mike got Will so Mom could focus on Holly, then I got to bring you because equality.” She grinned.
Barb looked deep in thought. “But Mike’s good for Will too,” she said after a moment.
Nancy frowned. “What? Mike is a terrible influence!”
“Is he?” Barb rolled over on the towel to face her.
“Mike’s a bad influence on everyone.”
“Okay, yes, he’s your brother and you’re obligated to say that, but think about this week. Who took care of Will when he was claustrophobic in the caves? Who made it okay for Will to try looking like Freddie Mercury? Obviously Will makes Goober mildly tolerable as a human presence, but Mike pushes Will out of his shell to do things that are good for him.”
“Huh. I never thought of it like that before.”
Barb shrugged. “I’m good at figuring people out, seeing what makes them tick. They’re the textbook definition of co-dependent. It doesn’t mean they’re – y’know, gay. It just means they’ve never had to figure life out separately. You’ve seen how Mike always checks in with Will before making a decision, right?”
Nancy scoffed. “Of course.”
“And does he do that for anyone else?”
“I mean, certainly not me, or Mom and Dad. And his only other friend is Lucas.”
“The black kid, right?”
“Yeah, exactly. But, no, he and Lucas are at each other’s throats a lot more. They always make up, but… it’s different than how he is with Will.”
Barb nodded. “Well, either they’ll discover girls in a few years, or… they won’t.”
Nancy glanced over at Barb. “…Thanks for being so cool about this. It’s not something I’ve ever really talked about before and… I wish everyone were as levelheaded about it as you are.”
Barb gave a wan smile. “That’s what friends are for, Nance.”
* * *
Saturday, June 7, 1980
Nancy watched sadly as the car pulled away from Barb’s house. There was something – intimate about just constantly existing with someone for a week. The furthest she and Barb had been apart was when one of them was in the bathroom. And even though Mom and Holly were still in the car with her, it still felt – empty. There wasn’t anyone to joke around with, to share whatever random thought popped into her head with, to just – exist with. Obviously, there wasn’t normally, but to have it taken away left her feeling... hollow. Anxious and hollow.
They pulled into their driveway right behind Dad’s car. Mike got out first and slammed the door before stalking inside.
“What’s wrong with him?” asked Mom.
“He wanted to sleep over at Will’s tonight,” Dad chuckled, “Like they haven’t seen enough of each other already.”
Nancy furrowed her brow. Would she want to sleep over at Barb’s tonight? Right now, yes, definitely. Anything to fill the hollow void inside her where Barb belonged. But realistically they both needed their downtime. Nancy needed to recharge and get back into a routine, and she worried if they spent much more time together, they’d start fighting.
But Mike and Will? They never fought, at least so far as Nancy had seen. Barb was right – they were good for each other. And honestly, it was cute to look over every morning and see them tangled in each other’s limbs. She and Barb had always remained on their own sides of the bed, but Mike was a chaotic sleeper. One night he’d ended up horizontal, his head on Will’s lap and legs dangling over the side. And no embarrassment when they woke up, either – like this was normal, expected.
“Can you call your brother down for lunch?” asked Mom, interrupting her thoughts.
“Mike!” she called up the stairs, “Time for lunch!” Mom glared at her. “Ugh, fine.” She started heading upstairs.
She knocked lightly on Mike’s door. “Go away,” he called from inside.
“It’s Nancy,” she said softly. “I’m coming in.”
Mike was lying face-down spreadeagled on his bed. He groaned into his pillow. “Tell Mom I’m not hungry.”
“I know you miss Will,” she replied.
Mike went stiff, then slowly rolled over. “Huh? What do you mean? Who told you that? I just saw Will all week. Why would I miss him?”
Nancy barely managed to not roll her eyes. Mike was good at many things, but deflecting was not one of them. She sat down next to him on the bed. “Because I miss Barb. I get it.”
“You do?” Mike looked suspicious.
“Do you feel… hollow inside?”
Mike thought about it. “Yeah. Everything’s just – better with Will. He’s my best friend. My –” he hesitated – “My forever best friend.”
“Sure.” Nancy nodded solemnly. “I don’t think Mom and Dad’ll let you sleep over tonight, but they’d probably let you call him and make plans for tomorrow.”
Mike finally perked up. ‘You really think so?”
Nancy smiled. “I do. But wait until after lunch to ask, okay?”
“Uh-huh, sure,” said Mike in a tone that meant he absolutely was not listening. “I’m hungry. When’s lunch?”
Nancy rolled her eyes fondly. “Right now, you goober.” She watched as Mike shot her a glare then ran out of the room. “No running on the stairs,” she called after him.
Barb was her best friend now, but it wasn’t the same as having someone all the way since kindergarten. Whatever they were to each other, Nancy was happy and a little bit jealous. Maybe someday she’d mean as much to someone as Will did to Mike.