828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9KyUEn7r1
-
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmDNuTcExe
DREAMS don't make sense. Yes, they do. No, they don't. Here, I'll prove it to you.
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOQC42nhmO
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNxhNQ1DRP
1828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7MQXjRfDV
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z7at35275
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z7at35275
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCDL3OXWYG
I'M in the living room, sitting on the couch with my father, watching Corner Gas reruns on the TV. So far, so normal. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMRXjdwHTO
Dad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMltrm11xd
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJuJkVOrqm
"Yeah."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjjMeEDdC4
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwZhwqKqfT
"Something you want to talk about?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcqtDHSSWq
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZVqUdCVde
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kfwwrmjCa
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVRrFPx61i
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFwDf0pXeU
I consider the offer. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSgscNMe3G
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JdEPXwYw3
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPEglX3pDB
"Good. Go to sleep."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTraMxXtF0u
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHhSF4pQdX
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxzCc19nzQ
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFAu2LTbWjDad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMltrm11xd
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJuJkVOrqm
"Yeah."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjjMeEDdC4
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwZhwqKqfT
"Something you want to talk about?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcqtDHSSWq
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZVqUdCVde
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kfwwrmjCa
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVRrFPx61i
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFwDf0pXeU
I consider the offer. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSgscNMe3G
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JdEPXwYw3
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPEglX3pDB
"Good. Go to sleep."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTraMxXtF0u
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHhSF4pQdX
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxzCc19nzQ
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
2828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfG0w98Y5T7
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokzg5nsf20
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokzg5nsf20
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HOj5Ukeb6
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJOCfiLpb3
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThZVDu1MSM
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE3Hp3GLP5
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrkCf7L4Zl
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF61xsKFOuz
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0cWRPgmA0
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf9zoczeWF
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zKM0kSCg2
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfI6vkxiKs
"Drugs," he says cryptically.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxw97vHJH2
"Hmm?" I ask.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBJYdok0S4
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKuNfYHDCK
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub39KQvlTC
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?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLhtR3yADX
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC3qeYj3ap
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJhT0TWsYV
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXCZgIQjAC
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF6fXMGZHG
"So, how long are you?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mxQDjU9tG
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSHwp0ltOW
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAWw4tbS2j
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJOCfiLpb3
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThZVDu1MSM
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE3Hp3GLP5
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrkCf7L4Zl
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF61xsKFOuz
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0cWRPgmA0
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf9zoczeWF
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zKM0kSCg2
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfI6vkxiKs
"Drugs," he says cryptically.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxw97vHJH2
"Hmm?" I ask.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBJYdok0S4
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKuNfYHDCK
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub39KQvlTC
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?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLhtR3yADX
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC3qeYj3ap
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJhT0TWsYV
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXCZgIQjAC
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF6fXMGZHG
"So, how long are you?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mxQDjU9tG
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSHwp0ltOW
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAWw4tbS2j
Bitch.
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiHGiL474h
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S8TPJfsrw
3828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZAyMmUor4
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBI7ntCGzu
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBI7ntCGzu
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeNA5e5t3k
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVff8IeLDM
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrPDbP6jqm
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL63GMr47h
Some nerve.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxiItXxkpV
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZXqytcFxG
Never mind.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2UzP5nYCP
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kUsdcZvaZ
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrHf2qLzAe
The door swings open.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D71G4P6JH
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIBP8jbL7u
"Hello."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjqyNQ6T24
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxhHHylO9R
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxjP3I73hb
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWCyPiLlpa
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanZooblDuS
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LN8fqxi4a
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTF9yV6Q6J
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzFQT7GGsG
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTzGIQ8H4y
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkH63ZQD4x
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK7lCATJ4r
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj79HJpLLrp
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVff8IeLDM
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrPDbP6jqm
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL63GMr47h
Some nerve.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxiItXxkpV
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZXqytcFxG
Never mind.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2UzP5nYCP
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kUsdcZvaZ
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrHf2qLzAe
The door swings open.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D71G4P6JH
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIBP8jbL7u
"Hello."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjqyNQ6T24
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxhHHylO9R
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxjP3I73hb
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWCyPiLlpa
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanZooblDuS
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LN8fqxi4a
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTF9yV6Q6J
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzFQT7GGsG
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTzGIQ8H4y
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkH63ZQD4x
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK7lCATJ4r
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj79HJpLLrp
Huh. Funny dat.
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn15EIleTmi
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2wrEG59Yr
4
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqoTaXwMJL
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?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoK6wmV4CR
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnp32GsU8t
"Hey, Nick."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj6XhwfUWm
"Hey, Mike."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0XmVtIPtU
"What's good?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrjfHpRlp8
"Not much," he says with a sigh.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8eBmYAPGD
"How come?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp7CqwBeIN
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjH72Hhd4j
"Where?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2YLcwI65Q
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡet8iICLnFZ
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtimNsIS1x
"Who's he?" I ask.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcmEHC3xFx
"Stanley," Wannabe says.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNujEQoDI5
"Oh."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN8bNoyCvs
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9ypMoCbkb
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UGLemBrqo
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEckVQnMQFo
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NzEbXbbdH
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIctRVIyhnm
"Mike."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSWAz3mLDA
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HqBOKMwti
I keep my yap shut.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO3TMYIs7K
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2BGhtbuKQ
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7OKo6JhSS
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRkdUE7oon
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxjvzkt2Ot
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPX0YvsfXa
"Like what? LSD?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSIyaKHufG
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnHTCVc1D4
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecW5b414LC
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh53sAFP9I
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!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfaIPhYV0S
Everything changes then.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z4zeSuwBC
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRb7jBhgbt
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6HXLj1EUM
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXTIH3v99r
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIpxTbgjeg
No one listens. They laugh.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC83T41VVAT
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!828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1yqOV5hVP
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRa8Wv3FsR
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5PrERzwi6
A pull.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ruOJGK4ty
Rip.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDmd2LqVk3
RIP.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz7Inpwmer
I'm dead.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIhj4G8ON5
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnp32GsU8t
"Hey, Nick."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj6XhwfUWm
"Hey, Mike."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0XmVtIPtU
"What's good?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrjfHpRlp8
"Not much," he says with a sigh.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8eBmYAPGD
"How come?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp7CqwBeIN
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjH72Hhd4j
"Where?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2YLcwI65Q
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡet8iICLnFZ
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtimNsIS1x
"Who's he?" I ask.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcmEHC3xFx
"Stanley," Wannabe says.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNujEQoDI5
"Oh."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN8bNoyCvs
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9ypMoCbkb
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UGLemBrqo
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEckVQnMQFo
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NzEbXbbdH
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIctRVIyhnm
"Mike."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSWAz3mLDA
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HqBOKMwti
I keep my yap shut.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO3TMYIs7K
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2BGhtbuKQ
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7OKo6JhSS
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRkdUE7oon
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxjvzkt2Ot
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPX0YvsfXa
"Like what? LSD?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSIyaKHufG
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnHTCVc1D4
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecW5b414LC
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh53sAFP9I
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!"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfaIPhYV0S
Everything changes then.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z4zeSuwBC
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRb7jBhgbt
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6HXLj1EUM
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXTIH3v99r
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIpxTbgjeg
No one listens. They laugh.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC83T41VVAT
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!828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1yqOV5hVP
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRa8Wv3FsR
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5PrERzwi6
A pull.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ruOJGK4ty
Rip.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDmd2LqVk3
RIP.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz7Inpwmer
I'm dead.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIhj4G8ON5
In bed.
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcEieByyll
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiASDyF3dL
?
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw626bI490
THE Rain Has Fallen.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSl3pCFA9k
No. That's not it.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvFQWuMf8K
They Came After The Rain.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLxXcubC2G
There it is.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKDXjJS7PF
That's the one.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxPJal7HCb
The end.
ns216.73.216.82da2 No. That's not it.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvFQWuMf8K
They Came After The Rain.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLxXcubC2G
There it is.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKDXjJS7PF
That's the one.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxPJal7HCb
The end.
