798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Qxhm22YlG
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798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklXP1hhdPP
DREAMS don't make sense. Yes, they do. No, they don't. Here, I'll prove it to you.
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UHi2GI6kh
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ia8TjDqN
1798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuTnz7t8zJ
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtDdGNHsfr
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtDdGNHsfr
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KduwX8gQy
I'M in the living room, sitting on the couch with my father, watching Corner Gas reruns on the TV. So far, so normal. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKCsMAflJh
Dad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pyOtzPLv5
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKSCU6fTIv
"Yeah."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE9BQTivuH
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSUA9IEKmk
"Something you want to talk about?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwVU08E71V
"I see myself." I point across the living room, to where my doppelgänger is hiding behind double doors, peering out at me. He grins devilishly.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cVlAHNKtz
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLB5wbK1Sy
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38Y293HWxE
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrlatWYsFD
I consider the offer. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28D6fsW4W9
During the time it takes for me to make my considerations, the other me waves and waves and waves, trying to grab my attention. I don't give me any attention. Positively none.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqwtqWHOmb
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZccORFuZdX
"Good. Go to sleep."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHOiXhe1un
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNC3Dz7n93g
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4pgodx45H
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQFJ4ZIdkGDad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pyOtzPLv5
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKSCU6fTIv
"Yeah."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE9BQTivuH
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSUA9IEKmk
"Something you want to talk about?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwVU08E71V
"I see myself." I point across the living room, to where my doppelgänger is hiding behind double doors, peering out at me. He grins devilishly.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cVlAHNKtz
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLB5wbK1Sy
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38Y293HWxE
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrlatWYsFD
I consider the offer. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28D6fsW4W9
During the time it takes for me to make my considerations, the other me waves and waves and waves, trying to grab my attention. I don't give me any attention. Positively none.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqwtqWHOmb
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZccORFuZdX
"Good. Go to sleep."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHOiXhe1un
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNC3Dz7n93g
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4pgodx45H
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
2798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9UOKrmvMk
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCQcgVX1DA
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCQcgVX1DA
NOW I'm at a party. People I remember from my past are present. People are together who were never together. Sense is not the language being spoken.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE8EZtgwmc
I'm on the couch. Again. A different couch. Alone. Nodding off from sheer boredom. This is why I don't go to parties. I'd much rather stay home and occupy myself in ways only I can relate.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmkHyubHNg
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xf6WF5aEE
I turn to take in the ruckus. Brandon is pummelling a cute little mooshka doll, bashing and beating in its brains with a baseball bat. White, fluffy stuffing leaks from the ever-growing head wound. Soft skull battered, bruised, and cleaved. I'm both troubled and amused by the scene.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUZlQTIGx2
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYFU7JVo73
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1fnCDvpKI
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkCxHCznYe
As my old friend continues his savage beatdown of an innocent dolly, other partygoers disengage themselves from tepid conversations and instead opt to play witness to the ongoing spectacle.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJUTolVxwT
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfbUIBvOdX
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGBaoT1X2C
"Drugs," he says cryptically.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMXsHMVret
"Hmm?" I ask.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllKAaITLg8
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNq66FN9j4
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIorpsUtRj
A blonde-haired girl I used to know—Sarah—sits beside me on the couch. With a shocking immediacy, she turns to me and starts to talk: "Hey, Mike. What's new with you?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CEhScrS1u
I look into her shocking blue eyes. So blue. Does she like me? She said she loved me once. But that might have been smoke. Words. Without meaning. Just words. In any case, I never loved her. How could I? We never really connected.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC908Alrkvh
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfWOiNI5O5
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9flbByoJ8o
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcMEpRHDpx
"So, how long are you?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8HaAUd1pq
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcDWdDBKKv
"Oh." She loses interest. Scoots over to the other end of the couch, as far away from me as she can get, and into the arms of her brown-haired girlfriend, Fiona. They giggle and hold each other.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA42BhjfpB
Bitch.
I'm on the couch. Again. A different couch. Alone. Nodding off from sheer boredom. This is why I don't go to parties. I'd much rather stay home and occupy myself in ways only I can relate.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmkHyubHNg
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xf6WF5aEE
I turn to take in the ruckus. Brandon is pummelling a cute little mooshka doll, bashing and beating in its brains with a baseball bat. White, fluffy stuffing leaks from the ever-growing head wound. Soft skull battered, bruised, and cleaved. I'm both troubled and amused by the scene.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUZlQTIGx2
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYFU7JVo73
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1fnCDvpKI
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkCxHCznYe
As my old friend continues his savage beatdown of an innocent dolly, other partygoers disengage themselves from tepid conversations and instead opt to play witness to the ongoing spectacle.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJUTolVxwT
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfbUIBvOdX
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGBaoT1X2C
"Drugs," he says cryptically.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMXsHMVret
"Hmm?" I ask.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllKAaITLg8
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNq66FN9j4
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIorpsUtRj
A blonde-haired girl I used to know—Sarah—sits beside me on the couch. With a shocking immediacy, she turns to me and starts to talk: "Hey, Mike. What's new with you?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CEhScrS1u
I look into her shocking blue eyes. So blue. Does she like me? She said she loved me once. But that might have been smoke. Words. Without meaning. Just words. In any case, I never loved her. How could I? We never really connected.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC908Alrkvh
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfWOiNI5O5
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9flbByoJ8o
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcMEpRHDpx
"So, how long are you?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8HaAUd1pq
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcDWdDBKKv
"Oh." She loses interest. Scoots over to the other end of the couch, as far away from me as she can get, and into the arms of her brown-haired girlfriend, Fiona. They giggle and hold each other.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA42BhjfpB
Bitch.
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHobdEeB1I
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQhls3BrPW
3798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IUSULoQUU
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokEt448iUQ
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokEt448iUQ
WE pull into the driveway. I'm quick out of the car and even quicker into the house. I just want to sit and see my cats.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6yP98Od5F
In the house. Through the hallway. Ginger is on the stairs, peering over the edge of the staircase like a scared little owl. Afraid of strangers. I'm no stranger to him and his ways. Bear is sleeping on my bed—peaceful, tranquil.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqh2zw0GBX
My sister Lesley and her husband Jason enter the house. Riley, their dog, yaps behind them. Noisy bugger. Which is odd. He's usually quite quiet.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCctlOQOTum
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOxONKcPIh
Some nerve.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT8D9FXz54
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnXHuL7OPd
Never mind.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXvKpkKXVx
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMNzoBy7mG
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wYazxtvQm
The door swings open.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDHAqM9Eco
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhOkfuOcBw
"Hello."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipphgb0VdH
They don't wait for my approval before storming the castle. God damnit. What the hell happened to this world. Where did respect die, I wonder, so I know which hole to hide in.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrPivHKLVb
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnBLFTT0G0
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrNP0LPKvD
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksmkDD9jqS
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUJz11KfsR
The girls push me back through the hallway and there's nothing I can do to stop the flood of them. Woe is me. Oh, sweet woe.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0ygZe6b53
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvDJsEiLfn
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YAyvCy4SW
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUU6oGmjtx
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs0VsOkQbM
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvvHoVGvlU
Huh. Funny dat.
In the house. Through the hallway. Ginger is on the stairs, peering over the edge of the staircase like a scared little owl. Afraid of strangers. I'm no stranger to him and his ways. Bear is sleeping on my bed—peaceful, tranquil.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqh2zw0GBX
My sister Lesley and her husband Jason enter the house. Riley, their dog, yaps behind them. Noisy bugger. Which is odd. He's usually quite quiet.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCctlOQOTum
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOxONKcPIh
Some nerve.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT8D9FXz54
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnXHuL7OPd
Never mind.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXvKpkKXVx
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMNzoBy7mG
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wYazxtvQm
The door swings open.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDHAqM9Eco
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhOkfuOcBw
"Hello."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipphgb0VdH
They don't wait for my approval before storming the castle. God damnit. What the hell happened to this world. Where did respect die, I wonder, so I know which hole to hide in.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrPivHKLVb
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnBLFTT0G0
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrNP0LPKvD
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksmkDD9jqS
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUJz11KfsR
The girls push me back through the hallway and there's nothing I can do to stop the flood of them. Woe is me. Oh, sweet woe.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0ygZe6b53
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvDJsEiLfn
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YAyvCy4SW
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUU6oGmjtx
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs0VsOkQbM
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvvHoVGvlU
Huh. Funny dat.
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46gPtVi91a
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdPo3epV6j
4
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYkRcmXOcs
WALKING down the street. There's my old school. Through the playground. The yard is empty. Where are all the kids? Oh yes, it's Monday. Wait. That doesn't make a lick of sense. What time is it? My non-existent watch says noon. Weird. What's the season, I wonder? Feels like summer. What year is it? Have I even been born yet?798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8I3uXI0Kl
There's an old friend. Down by the sycamore tree. The tree that was never there. Interesting. It's grown mighty tall since I was last here... when it was never here. I meet the friend. Nick. Used to sell me drugs. Good stuff, too.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY97S7UJTs
"Hey, Nick."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s8gnVf17I
"Hey, Mike."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6GL1Ilnr5
"What's good?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9VjqI836T
"Not much," he says with a sigh.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgIBeiObpo
"How come?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF2Vw0aaTy
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETeXJBtQLX
"Where?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnrc7fYvsE
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZxu3b00ag
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpVMoQcrkl
"Who's he?" I ask.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzNIDJRDOd
"Stanley," Wannabe says.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5Wm5rdJB7
"Oh."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuyepX4Vsm
Stanley wears a black leather jacket, and blue Levi's jeans. His brown hair is slicked back and he smokes a filtered cigarette. "Bitches, man," Stanley says.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMToR2NPqqk
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw1nKwsv8J
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdROxn6ypcn
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmjlaVXTfr
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq8FlIaArx
"Mike."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3DnfutZbX
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLlicFO4nP
I keep my yap shut.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡablhiAIDPt
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWAAN5UY7o
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTHUGTn0Dm
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNYUAFxZvY
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9kRtZDzRn
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOzr6gvT4O
"Like what? LSD?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiB9ZbVlKZ
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJRUOVyXW6
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f38szR7j2
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj9HOxUH33
Stanley doesn't take my laughter kindly. "Easy, playa. I'm hard. Harder than you." Veins were popping out of his face in places I never knew veins existed. He looked about ready to pop. "I may not smoke drugs yet, but I will. What, you think I'm not bad? Huh? LOCKDOWN!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwjj0m4PQo
Everything changes then.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq8kfz43Av
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVlijrQ6io
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq07Vw4Kgg
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mKjO8BcTS
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9vqcUa1sq
No one listens. They laugh.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAq7dQVRvZ
I try to get by a wall of rats when I feel two hands grip me around the kidneys. I look back and there's a smiling little girl. We've formed a chain. A chain of kids. Gripping each other. Gripping me. Let go. I don't like to be touched. Stop it!798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpOa6yGnUm
The pain is excruciating. Feels like fire. What the hell is wrong with them. They won't let go of me. I smack hands and attempt to remove them. They push harder. Feel the burn. Against my flesh. What is wrong with them. Why won't they stop.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTcFhHtKpf
I'm driven mad as fingers pierce skin and blood is drawn. Bleeding out. A hand enters one side of me. Another hand. Other side. Feel a tug on my organs.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTXfNPOie0
A pull.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1M2A0xpGMm
Rip.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0YAppO3SR
RIP.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFdILG8LnL
I'm dead.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L4tXWcCCy
In bed.
There's an old friend. Down by the sycamore tree. The tree that was never there. Interesting. It's grown mighty tall since I was last here... when it was never here. I meet the friend. Nick. Used to sell me drugs. Good stuff, too.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY97S7UJTs
"Hey, Nick."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s8gnVf17I
"Hey, Mike."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6GL1Ilnr5
"What's good?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9VjqI836T
"Not much," he says with a sigh.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgIBeiObpo
"How come?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF2Vw0aaTy
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETeXJBtQLX
"Where?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnrc7fYvsE
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZxu3b00ag
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpVMoQcrkl
"Who's he?" I ask.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzNIDJRDOd
"Stanley," Wannabe says.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5Wm5rdJB7
"Oh."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuyepX4Vsm
Stanley wears a black leather jacket, and blue Levi's jeans. His brown hair is slicked back and he smokes a filtered cigarette. "Bitches, man," Stanley says.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMToR2NPqqk
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw1nKwsv8J
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdROxn6ypcn
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmjlaVXTfr
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq8FlIaArx
"Mike."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3DnfutZbX
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLlicFO4nP
I keep my yap shut.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡablhiAIDPt
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWAAN5UY7o
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTHUGTn0Dm
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNYUAFxZvY
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9kRtZDzRn
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOzr6gvT4O
"Like what? LSD?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiB9ZbVlKZ
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJRUOVyXW6
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f38szR7j2
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj9HOxUH33
Stanley doesn't take my laughter kindly. "Easy, playa. I'm hard. Harder than you." Veins were popping out of his face in places I never knew veins existed. He looked about ready to pop. "I may not smoke drugs yet, but I will. What, you think I'm not bad? Huh? LOCKDOWN!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwjj0m4PQo
Everything changes then.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq8kfz43Av
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVlijrQ6io
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq07Vw4Kgg
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mKjO8BcTS
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9vqcUa1sq
No one listens. They laugh.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAq7dQVRvZ
I try to get by a wall of rats when I feel two hands grip me around the kidneys. I look back and there's a smiling little girl. We've formed a chain. A chain of kids. Gripping each other. Gripping me. Let go. I don't like to be touched. Stop it!798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpOa6yGnUm
The pain is excruciating. Feels like fire. What the hell is wrong with them. They won't let go of me. I smack hands and attempt to remove them. They push harder. Feel the burn. Against my flesh. What is wrong with them. Why won't they stop.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTcFhHtKpf
I'm driven mad as fingers pierce skin and blood is drawn. Bleeding out. A hand enters one side of me. Another hand. Other side. Feel a tug on my organs.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTXfNPOie0
A pull.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1M2A0xpGMm
Rip.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0YAppO3SR
RIP.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFdILG8LnL
I'm dead.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L4tXWcCCy
In bed.
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2KbOtDdwD
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOpz8T4RX7
?
798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraYcd6O3oJ
THE Rain Has Fallen.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7266MIgxfj
No. That's not it.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BVCqQ0qZr
They Came After The Rain.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfUwP90Q7g
There it is.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomJHtyb73a
That's the one.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDffwI4niBd
The end.
ns216.73.216.238da2 No. That's not it.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BVCqQ0qZr
They Came After The Rain.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfUwP90Q7g
There it is.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomJHtyb73a
That's the one.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDffwI4niBd
The end.
