DON’T PUSH MY BUTTONS!
By Vicki L. Dillon
Published by Vicki L. Dillon at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Vicki L. Dillon
“I am warning you, don’t push my buttons!” Donnie grumbled as he backed away from Mike, letting go with the grip of steel he had on Mike’s neck. Donnie’s arm dropped down to his side as he slowly turned around in a circle and faced Mike, his 16 year old friend. “Don’t do it man.” Donnie grumbled as he clinched his fists. “Dude, you don’t know what it does to me, I could kill you.” Mike just stood there rubbing his neck and looking at Donnie. Donnie stood there for thirty seconds just looking at the ground, getting his composure back. Suddenly Donnie raised his arm up and slapped Mike on the shoulder saying, “Dude, let’s go get some eats.” Mike just shook his head ok. He was afraid to say anything at this point.
They walked two blocks to the corner deli and told Mr. Johnnie behind the counter that they wanted two ham and rye with the spicy mustard. Mr. Johnnie was an extremely nice proprietor he got along with everyone that came in the store, except Donnie. He figured he had to be, in order to keep people coming back. He was extremely popular with the kids in the neighborhood. He had pinball machines in his deli. You could always find kids hanging out at the local gathering place, “Johnnies”. Johnnie liked the kids hanging around; his son had died in a street fight nearly seven years ago. His son Alan was only 16 when it happened. He heard there were a lot of kids there at the fight, but no one helped his son. He had been told the police were there too, but they didn’t break it up until they noticed Alan lying there not moving. Beat cops, he knew how some of them were. They came into his store all the time. He never paid them much attention. He never gave them anything free either. He basically had no use for them. Johnnie was known as a nice Boris Karloff. He looked just like him, but he was so nice to the neighborhood kids. During the school year, if one of the kids came into his store at lunch time and didn’t have enough money for the Twinkie or soda they wanted, he told them it was ‘Lucky Customer Day.’ He knew them all and they all knew him, like a huge family.
Johnnie tossed the sandwiches on the counter, rang them up and told the boys, “That will be $1.25 gentlemen.” Donnie looked up at Johnnie and said, ‘I think it’s free today old man.” With that, Johnnie looked to his right over by the cash register and reached for his broom. “Donnie, the old man said, either you cough up the money or no sandwiches.” Donnie reached in his pocket and brought out change and threw it at Johnnie. “Take it you old freak!” Donnie screamed. With that Donnie grabbed the sandwiches and walked out the door. Mike looked up at Johnnie and gave him a sorry look. Johnnie pointed at Mike and said, “One day you will see it is a mistake to hang out with him boy.” Mike shook his head in acknowledgement of Johnnie’s words and walked out. “What did that old fuck say to you?” Donnie asked Mike. “He just told me to be careful.” Mike said. “That old coot doesn’t know the time of day, I heard he molests children.” Donnie said. Mike knew Donnie said anything mean when he was angry at people. He just didn’t like Johnnie because Johnnie wouldn’t cut him a break. Mike knew Donnie was the bully of the neighborhood. He also knew that Johnnie had heard that it was Donnie’s brother Danny that killed Johnnie’s son. Mike looked at his watch and told Donnie he had to go home. He had to get ready for work. Mike worked the night shift at the steel mill. He only worked 5 hours twice a week, sweeping up the floors.
It was a filthy job, but he made good money. He worked there to help out his mom. Mike’s dad died in the Korean War and all he had was his mom and a flag to remember his dad by. His mom worked as a waitress in the local diner/bar. They both got off work at 10 pm, so Mike would walk across the street to ‘Tony’s’, and escort his mother home on those two nights. He enjoyed their walks, it was only a fifteen minute walk, but he liked hearing from his mother about how proud she was of him to be helping her with the bills. He felt important, he felt like a man.
His mother, Alice had worked at the diner for three years and got really great tips. She always told Mike that one day, they would move from this place. She didn’t like the area. It could be dangerous if people weren’t careful. She always worried about Mike because of the element he hung out with. She didn’t harp on him about it; she just once in a while would talk in a motherly way about her fears for him. She definitely didn’t like him hanging around Donnie. That boy had a very bad reputation, with neighbors and the cops. He was the worst bully anyone had ever seen. Mike knew that she worried greatly about him, and he wanted and dreamt of moving away from Mackey Corners.
Mackey Corners was an old area. It was on the outskirts of York. It was a very rundown, poor and tired old town. It had been built around the steel mill. It used to be a booming town of the poor. People used to come from a hundred miles away to work in the mill. The town had always consisted of drunks and trash. People wanted to work there; they just didn’t want to live there. The majority of people that lived there didn’t have jobs, they were on disability, or cab drivers, and they lived there because it was affordable to them. They didn’t want to live in a nasty dirty town, but they had no choice. Mackey Corners just seemed to be a stick in the mud town.
Johnnie was sweeping his floors as he opened the next morning, when Donnie came in. Donnie wanted a pack of smokes. Johnnie asked him if he had the money before he walked back around the counter. “Yeah, yeah, old man, I got it, now shut up and get me my smokes!” Donnie yelled. Johnnie made an unpleasant grumble and walked in back of the counter, grabbed a pack and tossed them on the counter. He rang it up and Donnie grabbed the cigarettes. Johnnie yelled, “Hey!” Donnie started laughing and slowly walked around the counter. Donnie’s face grew angry and Donnie screamed,”Hey!” throwing both hands up in the air. “What old man?” Donnie questioned. Donnie’s hand lunged forward and grabbed Johnnie by the throat. “What old man?” he asked again. Donnie kept a snug grip on Johnnie’s throat. Johnnie started choking and turned purple, but he didn’t try to fight off Donnie, he just stared at him the whole time. “Want your broom old man?” Donnie snapped at him. “Don’t push my buttons ya’ old fuck!” Donnie screamed in his face. Donnie pushed Johnnie backwards and released his neck. Johnnie stumbled and fell against the side counter, and was gasping for air.
A policeman walked in and looked at Donnie, slowly the cop reached for his nightstick and asked what was going on. “I was just coming back here to help the old man up, he fell or something.” Donnie said as he looked at Johnnie. “Get back.” The policeman said as he walked towards the back of the counter. “Johnnie, you ok? He asked. “Johnnie told the policeman he was fine. The officer helped him up from the floor. Johnnie looked around and saw that Donnie was gone. “Are you sure you’re ok? The officer asked again. “I’m fine Harry, really.” Johnnie told him. Johnnie would not forget this as far as Donnie was concerned. He was getting tired of that boy. Harry asked Johnnie if Donnie did something to him and Johnnie told him no, it was like the kid said, he just fell. Harry told Johnnie he would start coming in more often, he was concerned about Johnnie falling for no reason. He told Johnnie he should see a doctor too. Johnnie thanked the officer for his concern and assured him that he would be fine.
After school that day when Mike was walking home, Donnie caught up with him and started walking with him. He began laughing and told Mike what he did that morning to Johnnie. Mike wanted to say something, but he knew not to tell Donnie what a jerk he was or he would be the next one to get hurt. He listened to Donnie for the rest of their walk and told Donnie he had to go home and do homework. Donnie slapped him upside the head and told him homework was for fools and sissies. No one ever got anywhere doing homework. It was real life that made you smart, it was the streets that made you tough. Mike then told him, “I really need to go home, mom is getting off work early tonight, it’s her birthday, and I want to have the house cleaned for her. I need to do my homework too. “You panty waste! You’re such a loser!” Donnie hollered at Mike. Mike started walking to the right when they got to his street and Donnie continued straight on. “Jackass!” Donnie hollered. Mike heard a loud laugh, an evil laugh emanating from Donnie as he walked down the other street.
Mike got home, sat his books down in his bedroom and walked back into the living room and glanced around. He thought maybe he would rearrange the furniture and make the room look different for his mom. That would be a pleasant surprise he thought. He rearranged the room, vacuumed and dusted, and then he went out to the backyard and picked some tulips. He brought the flowers in and put them in a drinking glass with some water and placed them on the table next to his mother’s recliner. He looked at the clock and it was 5pm, time to go. He walked out the front door and locked it behind him. He started up the street and was feeling pretty good. He was happy and he hoped his mom would be pleased when she walked in the door.
He took his time, but arrived and surprised his mom at the diner. She was happy to see him. Tony the owner greeted his favorite worker’s son. Tony told him in honor of his mother’s birthday, dinner was on him. Mike could pick anything on the menu for dinner IF momma would get off her feet and the clock, sit down and have dinner. Mike looked at his mother and said playfully, “please momma I am starving, come sit,” and Mike pointed to a chair. He loved the food at the diner. He turned to Tony and gave him a thumb up and a wink. Tony let out a bellowing laugh. Alice went in the back and clocked out and returned to the front and walked over to the table Mike had picked. Tony walked out in front of the counter and had a glass in his hand. He bent over and took a knife from the table in front of him. He tapped on the glass he was holding to get the dinner diner crowd’s attention. “Excuse me my friends, I would like to propose a toast to the woman of the hour! She has been a faithful employee and from what Mike, her son tells me, she is a great mother. It is her birthday my friends. Would you and could you all join me in wishing her a happy birthday!” Tony smiled. Everyone applauded Alice along with a few hoots and hollers. Tony cleared his throat, “Excuse me folks, we are taking up a birthday collection for Alice. No set amount, we are passing a biscuit basket around for any birthday donation you would like to give, and believe me friends; all donations are appreciated for this fine woman.” Alice sat so embarrassed but smiling at Tony. He walked over to the table her and Mike sat at and bent down and whispered to her, “It’s the least I can do for you.” He gave Mike a wink and told him he’d be right back to take their order. Mike sat there and rubbed his hands together. “Just think you won’t have to cook tonight mom, He said, and I have a surprise for you when you get home.” Alice looked at Mike the only way a mother could look with pride. Tony came over and they ordered their dinner. Tony hollered the order to the cook and Mike and Tony bantered a little and soon Tony was walking around entertaining the customers. Before long their food was ready and served to them. Tony got up and grabbed a piece of Mike’s Garlic bread that came with his Spaghetti, walked over to the counter, let out a woohoo as he looked at the biscuit basket and turned around and walked it over to Alice. Tony sat down with them at the table. He called out to Doris, one of the other waitresses to grab a sandwich bag and bring it over. As Alice and Mike ate dinner, Tony counted and straightened the money. “Wow. Darlin, looks like about $185.00.” Tony whispered. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet and said”Ooops, I miscounted, you have $200.00 even.” Alice smiled, but wanted to scream out loud. She needed that money for her fund for her and Mike to move.
After dinner, Mike thanked Tony for such a great evening and for making his mom so happy. Tony hugged Mike and told him he would do anything for her. She was what kept the customers coming in and kept him in business, they loved Alice.
The two started walking home the short but long walk. They had a short time and long talks. Alice asked Mike, as they stopped walking for a second, how school was and he told her he had homework, but he thought he was carrying a ‘B’. She reached up and softly touched his face and smiled. She told him she figured they would get away from the area someday. He would be able to go to college and make something of himself. They began walking again and talking about Mike’s future. They turned right as they got to the corner of their street. She looked at Mike and told him, “You know you are the reason I keep going, the reason I keep trying, I could just give up, but I want you to have something to live for, something to strive for.” He looked at his mother and smiled and told her everything would be alright. As they started to cross the street, Mike noticed a light on in the house. He knew he didn’t leave a light on in the house. He put his hand on his mom’s arm and told her to stay there. He ran across the street and then stopped at the curb, walked up to the front door and saw the window in the door was broke. He looked in through the window and saw the house was a mess. The furniture was tossed around and there was broken glass everywhere. His blood began to boil as his mother called to him. “Mike? What’s wrong? Mike?” He turned around and told her to stay there.
Mike grabbed the bottom of his shirt and grabbed the door knob with it. “Michael? His mother yelled. He ignored his mother’s calling and walked into the house. He fell to his knees when he saw his father’s military flag ripped up and laying on the floor that had been folded up in its display case.
The next door neighbor came out to all the sounds of Alice yelling to Mike. Thinking something was wrong; she ran over to Alice and asked what was going on. Alice told her neighbor she didn’t know for sure. The two women walked cautiously across the street towards the house. Alice saw her son just inside the door, down on his knees weeping. The neighbor lady gasped when she saw how the inside of the house looked. “I’m going to go call the police.” And she walked off. Mike’s mother put her hand to her mouth as she caught the sight of the flag and began crying. She reached down and put her hand on Michaels shoulder as he was still knelt down on the floor crying. “Michael, she whispered. Please Michael, who would have done this?” He turned towards her and told her he didn’t know.
The police arrived and made Mike and his mom stand back while they checked the house to make sure that no one was still in there. Officer Mathews told the other officer he could go talk to neighbors while he made out the report. Officer Mathews asked Mike if there was anyone he thought might do this. Mike told him no, then Officer Mathews asked Alice and her reply was the same. It was a long night as the police took fingerprints and bagged up a few items. They made a list of anything stolen and were gone well after midnight. The rest of the night was spent cleaning up. Some neighbors came over and helped until the wee hours of the morning. With the combined help of everyone, the house became livable once again and everyone except Mike and Alice left. Mike couldn’t sleep and neither could Alice. In the morning Alice called the school and told them Mike would not be there and why. The secretary said she would write it in as an excused absence and expressed her sorrow for the unfortunate occurrence and hung up. Alice was able to finally go into her bedroom and fall asleep. Michael couldn’t, he wasn’t even tired. He walked outside and sat on the front stoop. Pretty soon, Donnie came walking down the street and saw Mike and asked why he wasn’t in school. Mike told him he was sick to his stomach. Donnie told him he needed to get up and go with him to Johnnie’s Market for some cigarettes. Mike said no at first, and then thought for a second as Donnie gave him three kinds of hell about being an idiot and a loser. Mike finally said ok and walked with him to Johnnies. The two boys walked in and Johnnie was slicing some meat. Donnie shouted, “Hey you old bastard, I want a ham sandwich and a pack of smokes.” Mike remained silent and just followed Donnie. Johnnie looked at Donnie sternly and said he wanted him out of his store. Johnnie reached for his broom. “You old fart; no one cares what you want.” Donnie shouted. Donnie began to take food cans off the shelves and toss them about the store, breaking other things in the process. “Hey old man, DON”T PUSH MY BUTTONS!” Donnie screamed. Johnnie started walking towards the back of the store where the boys were, with the broom raised up in the air. “I’m gonna mess up your store like I messed up this losers house last night.” Pointing to Mike and laughing at Mike. Johnnie looked at Mike and watched the look of death overcome his entire face. When Mike heard Donnie admit what he had done to his mother’s house on her birthday and thought of his father’s memorial flag, he lost control. He grabbed Donnie by the throat and threw him down on the floor, as Johnnie backed up. Mike looked at Johnnie and Johnnie handed him his broom. Mike screamed at Donnie and told him he never should have picked on his friend Johnnie either. Mike slammed the broom into Donnie’s throat, smashing his windpipe. As Donnie laid there gasping for air and choking slowly to death, Mike stomped him in the chest with his foot and then bent down and screamed right in his face so loud, Mike yelled, “Don’t push my buttons asshole!”
As Donnie took his last breath and Mike and Johnnie looked down on him, Officer Mathews strolled in. He ran to the back when he noticed Johnnie and Mike standing there. “Back away, back away.” Officer Mathews had his gun drawn and began to put it back in its holster and asked what happened. Johnnie looked every bit of his 50 years as he turned to the officer and told him that Johnnie had come in and tried to rob him and while he was fighting with him with the broom, Mike came in and tried to protect him and Donnie ended up dead. “Good riddance to bad trash I always say. Officer Mathews stated. Let me call this in and I’ll be with you in a second.”
Johnnie walked up to Mike and gave him a hug and thanked him. He told Mike he was afraid that Johnnie was gonna tear up his store this time. “He won’t be tearing up anything now, Mr. Johnnie.” Mike said. “Mike, Johnnie said, I know now is not the time, but anything I can ever do for you or your mom, let me know.” “Thanks Mr. Johnnie.” Mike said.
Officer Mathews holstered his walkie-talkie and looked down at Donnie. Slowly shook his head and said, “Well he won’t be terrorizing the neighborhood anymore. Maybe people will feel safer around here now. Well, there’s an ambulance coming, there’s nothing we can do.” Johnnie asked Officer Mathews if he wanted a sandwich and the officer said he’d take one with him, but he may not eat till tonight after seeing Donnie over there. “Well as I saw it, Johnnie said, this here boy Mike is a hero, Donnie over there had been terrorizing me for months and he began throwing my goods around the store today and may have killed me if Mike hadn’t shown up.”
The three men stood around talking waiting for the coroner to arrive. Johnnie talked about how people always buy groceries in waves and the officer talked about how much better Johnnies coffee was that that chain stores coffee. Donnie looked at Officer Mathews and Officer Mathews asked if there was a question he had on his mind. Mike asked him why people called the police coppers. “Well Mike, back in the old days in London, the officers there were the first ones to have uniforms. Those were some really fancy uniforms; the uniforms were so spectacular that the buttons were made of copper. For a very poor time, much to-do was made about those uniforms. The criminals started calling them all ‘coppers’. Mike looked at Officer Mathews’ uniform and asked if they still were today as he pointed at one of them. Officer Mathews took two steps back and chuckled as he raised his hands, “Don’t push my buttons.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this short e-book. If you enjoyed this one, you may enjoy my others such as: Where’s Jesse, Ty, The Recyclist, A Real Christmas, My Life in A Nutshell, The Good- Bad and the Nutty, A Living Nightmare or The Lost. Just look for my name in your fav e-book catalog. Again, thank you and happy readings.