x
571Please respect copyright.PENANA1sUoK64uk9
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571Please respect copyright.PENANAc0R5ZXzGMj
DREAMS don't make sense. Yes, they do. No, they don't. Here, I'll prove it to you.
571Please respect copyright.PENANAiTPvW4Ohgj
571Please respect copyright.PENANAHW5zBwhR4Z
1571Please respect copyright.PENANAwI8CTa6AIz
571Please respect copyright.PENANAekvS0X7rZJ
571Please respect copyright.PENANAekvS0X7rZJ
571Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZjWYhGXAP
I'M in the living room, sitting on the couch with my father, watching Corner Gas reruns on the TV. So far, so normal. 571Please respect copyright.PENANAvK3HWGtw70
Dad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."571Please respect copyright.PENANAg3rvmQu5Hv
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."571Please respect copyright.PENANAROGciqco1H
"Yeah."571Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2ks5Voo7J
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."571Please respect copyright.PENANARX5UYvuWh8
"Something you want to talk about?"571Please respect copyright.PENANA95erDNvGn7
"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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAQJTGLxwSnF
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."571Please respect copyright.PENANAihgnBmNBpj
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."571Please respect copyright.PENANAzvohq6g5C6
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.571Please respect copyright.PENANARYjPvbaCA4
I consider the offer. 571Please respect copyright.PENANAYrYXDHqTb2
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAOEEC9hWc6t
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."571Please respect copyright.PENANArGY6s3omek
"Good. Go to sleep."571Please respect copyright.PENANA7TKC0xVZ7b
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.571Please respect copyright.PENANAzUViMUSr1Z
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.571Please respect copyright.PENANAJZ4IM3RGIs
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
571Please respect copyright.PENANA91CnxpFCS9Dad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."571Please respect copyright.PENANAg3rvmQu5Hv
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."571Please respect copyright.PENANAROGciqco1H
"Yeah."571Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2ks5Voo7J
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."571Please respect copyright.PENANARX5UYvuWh8
"Something you want to talk about?"571Please respect copyright.PENANA95erDNvGn7
"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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAQJTGLxwSnF
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."571Please respect copyright.PENANAihgnBmNBpj
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."571Please respect copyright.PENANAzvohq6g5C6
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.571Please respect copyright.PENANARYjPvbaCA4
I consider the offer. 571Please respect copyright.PENANAYrYXDHqTb2
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAOEEC9hWc6t
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."571Please respect copyright.PENANArGY6s3omek
"Good. Go to sleep."571Please respect copyright.PENANA7TKC0xVZ7b
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.571Please respect copyright.PENANAzUViMUSr1Z
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.571Please respect copyright.PENANAJZ4IM3RGIs
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
2571Please respect copyright.PENANA0GDTYG58A1
571Please respect copyright.PENANALRqVIL6eoq
571Please respect copyright.PENANALRqVIL6eoq
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANATq0HWEJlfP
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAt7VJl2hBAj
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"571Please respect copyright.PENANArujwiUcaAI
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANA8uvdrbRtkP
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.571Please respect copyright.PENANAhP7aPCl92Z
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"571Please respect copyright.PENANA53mKlE8DWA
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.571Please respect copyright.PENANAuKRXV1blzi
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANA8L0oWmlpeA
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"571Please respect copyright.PENANAa5KIQCHD6c
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.571Please respect copyright.PENANAEJOxrAI8Nw
"Drugs," he says cryptically.571Please respect copyright.PENANAXSwtYIvKc2
"Hmm?" I ask.571Please respect copyright.PENANA82HNonTzNa
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.571Please respect copyright.PENANAXNiOQ6bxAP
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.571Please respect copyright.PENANASekHEpyOxV
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?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAknMVELrlWr
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAwSh302KUNg
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.571Please respect copyright.PENANAQXveUlyjoj
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAe6KMDmQCjO
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."571Please respect copyright.PENANAMd8Z5xlbTG
"So, how long are you?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAyV9YJupDe3
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"571Please respect copyright.PENANACuxgqEwb2x
"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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAebdA2MC5Ob
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAt7VJl2hBAj
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"571Please respect copyright.PENANArujwiUcaAI
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANA8uvdrbRtkP
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.571Please respect copyright.PENANAhP7aPCl92Z
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"571Please respect copyright.PENANA53mKlE8DWA
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.571Please respect copyright.PENANAuKRXV1blzi
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANA8L0oWmlpeA
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"571Please respect copyright.PENANAa5KIQCHD6c
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.571Please respect copyright.PENANAEJOxrAI8Nw
"Drugs," he says cryptically.571Please respect copyright.PENANAXSwtYIvKc2
"Hmm?" I ask.571Please respect copyright.PENANA82HNonTzNa
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.571Please respect copyright.PENANAXNiOQ6bxAP
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.571Please respect copyright.PENANASekHEpyOxV
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?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAknMVELrlWr
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAwSh302KUNg
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.571Please respect copyright.PENANAQXveUlyjoj
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAe6KMDmQCjO
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."571Please respect copyright.PENANAMd8Z5xlbTG
"So, how long are you?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAyV9YJupDe3
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"571Please respect copyright.PENANACuxgqEwb2x
"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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAebdA2MC5Ob
Bitch.
571Please respect copyright.PENANAPTJXG3WUmN
571Please respect copyright.PENANAws7A4WGwo3
3571Please respect copyright.PENANA6EJ5ZUmPMk
571Please respect copyright.PENANARdyWIXuRbJ
571Please respect copyright.PENANARdyWIXuRbJ
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANA46r4RaQACm
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAtPmp0ghmC1
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANA9Iw9dKl30h
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.571Please respect copyright.PENANAa6qxY7Mao4
Some nerve.571Please respect copyright.PENANAWOoKNm6ga4
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.571Please respect copyright.PENANA9lSh3pBBvQ
Never mind.571Please respect copyright.PENANA76DD5X2BoB
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?571Please respect copyright.PENANAANA2Yb2qap
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?571Please respect copyright.PENANAWw0rUQZ5xC
The door swings open.571Please respect copyright.PENANAynenT0XU9K
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.571Please respect copyright.PENANA3hVfPgxff8
"Hello."571Please respect copyright.PENANA3T6HsBJ3J7
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAdxZlEPud7t
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.571Please respect copyright.PENANAcfi4s2c8F5
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAezvMiiJojh
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"571Please respect copyright.PENANAs6vIp6WosR
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?571Please respect copyright.PENANAv853mDq1HT
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAQqe4zF9kX1
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"571Please respect copyright.PENANAcM3Etl6AtC
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."571Please respect copyright.PENANAdiPIm2YeFC
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.571Please respect copyright.PENANAWcZHANeVuv
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.571Please respect copyright.PENANAqD2zyj0k2v
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.571Please respect copyright.PENANALFw043bxhl
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAtPmp0ghmC1
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANA9Iw9dKl30h
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.571Please respect copyright.PENANAa6qxY7Mao4
Some nerve.571Please respect copyright.PENANAWOoKNm6ga4
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.571Please respect copyright.PENANA9lSh3pBBvQ
Never mind.571Please respect copyright.PENANA76DD5X2BoB
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?571Please respect copyright.PENANAANA2Yb2qap
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?571Please respect copyright.PENANAWw0rUQZ5xC
The door swings open.571Please respect copyright.PENANAynenT0XU9K
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.571Please respect copyright.PENANA3hVfPgxff8
"Hello."571Please respect copyright.PENANA3T6HsBJ3J7
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAdxZlEPud7t
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.571Please respect copyright.PENANAcfi4s2c8F5
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAezvMiiJojh
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"571Please respect copyright.PENANAs6vIp6WosR
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?571Please respect copyright.PENANAv853mDq1HT
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAQqe4zF9kX1
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"571Please respect copyright.PENANAcM3Etl6AtC
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."571Please respect copyright.PENANAdiPIm2YeFC
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.571Please respect copyright.PENANAWcZHANeVuv
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.571Please respect copyright.PENANAqD2zyj0k2v
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.571Please respect copyright.PENANALFw043bxhl
Huh. Funny dat.
571Please respect copyright.PENANA6fmzV91jQ7
571Please respect copyright.PENANAoomSKLQeUq
4
571Please respect copyright.PENANAphxb6iGct1
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?571Please respect copyright.PENANApJJSFcf4uw
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAR4JNdZV10X
"Hey, Nick."571Please respect copyright.PENANA6QJ8Gzjre1
"Hey, Mike."571Please respect copyright.PENANAkQsHociz36
"What's good?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAgX6N4riiR7
"Not much," he says with a sigh.571Please respect copyright.PENANAWpe2Ov2EJ9
"How come?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAwSt91J40Af
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.571Please respect copyright.PENANA1rYLw4t4d7
"Where?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAcueeyWayJs
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 571Please respect copyright.PENANApwN580Bv9z
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.571Please respect copyright.PENANAqGMOV8Xhkw
"Who's he?" I ask.571Please respect copyright.PENANAgeOCcdGFkD
"Stanley," Wannabe says.571Please respect copyright.PENANAdx5Eu5GDsG
"Oh."571Please respect copyright.PENANAGWfRQvsEA9
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANACOJ3V9a0fa
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.571Please respect copyright.PENANA0KD0KUGbwO
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."571Please respect copyright.PENANAXfvAwoMcW2
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.571Please respect copyright.PENANAB0si2ximaE
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAt8t1lREbWI
"Mike."571Please respect copyright.PENANAkg7ejpuXbB
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"571Please respect copyright.PENANABQR8rcf7kS
I keep my yap shut.571Please respect copyright.PENANAo8swxY5hk8
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.571Please respect copyright.PENANA3nodT0CSQY
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.571Please respect copyright.PENANAoKaLzzfw02
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.571Please respect copyright.PENANAGEfrwt8XTi
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.571Please respect copyright.PENANASeYoi82kW1
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.571Please respect copyright.PENANA9HVxkGlROo
"Like what? LSD?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAAQilpqfyjP
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.571Please respect copyright.PENANA7Up03UvzRr
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."571Please respect copyright.PENANAj5ftOX9w0H
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.571Please respect copyright.PENANA9CFelPTMI5
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!"571Please respect copyright.PENANA27PgC2Bq1A
Everything changes then.571Please respect copyright.PENANAOaX99Cffnb
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.571Please respect copyright.PENANAugJhUkFDPs
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 571Please respect copyright.PENANA5lpy9yBD5j
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.571Please respect copyright.PENANAWgnvxqS2ND
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 571Please respect copyright.PENANAN0duX0raBk
No one listens. They laugh.571Please respect copyright.PENANA695DMIm3Jw
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!571Please respect copyright.PENANACTuqXBmK2w
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAvS95ahkj9u
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAuWRhnsLM8S
A pull.571Please respect copyright.PENANAMOiJ4EgdxD
Rip.571Please respect copyright.PENANA1MzUvczwWR
RIP.571Please respect copyright.PENANAokUXrRDXR2
I'm dead.571Please respect copyright.PENANAmEJRm6lLd8
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAR4JNdZV10X
"Hey, Nick."571Please respect copyright.PENANA6QJ8Gzjre1
"Hey, Mike."571Please respect copyright.PENANAkQsHociz36
"What's good?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAgX6N4riiR7
"Not much," he says with a sigh.571Please respect copyright.PENANAWpe2Ov2EJ9
"How come?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAwSt91J40Af
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.571Please respect copyright.PENANA1rYLw4t4d7
"Where?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAcueeyWayJs
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 571Please respect copyright.PENANApwN580Bv9z
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.571Please respect copyright.PENANAqGMOV8Xhkw
"Who's he?" I ask.571Please respect copyright.PENANAgeOCcdGFkD
"Stanley," Wannabe says.571Please respect copyright.PENANAdx5Eu5GDsG
"Oh."571Please respect copyright.PENANAGWfRQvsEA9
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANACOJ3V9a0fa
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.571Please respect copyright.PENANA0KD0KUGbwO
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."571Please respect copyright.PENANAXfvAwoMcW2
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.571Please respect copyright.PENANAB0si2ximaE
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAt8t1lREbWI
"Mike."571Please respect copyright.PENANAkg7ejpuXbB
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"571Please respect copyright.PENANABQR8rcf7kS
I keep my yap shut.571Please respect copyright.PENANAo8swxY5hk8
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.571Please respect copyright.PENANA3nodT0CSQY
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.571Please respect copyright.PENANAoKaLzzfw02
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.571Please respect copyright.PENANAGEfrwt8XTi
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.571Please respect copyright.PENANASeYoi82kW1
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.571Please respect copyright.PENANA9HVxkGlROo
"Like what? LSD?"571Please respect copyright.PENANAAQilpqfyjP
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.571Please respect copyright.PENANA7Up03UvzRr
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."571Please respect copyright.PENANAj5ftOX9w0H
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.571Please respect copyright.PENANA9CFelPTMI5
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!"571Please respect copyright.PENANA27PgC2Bq1A
Everything changes then.571Please respect copyright.PENANAOaX99Cffnb
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.571Please respect copyright.PENANAugJhUkFDPs
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 571Please respect copyright.PENANA5lpy9yBD5j
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.571Please respect copyright.PENANAWgnvxqS2ND
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 571Please respect copyright.PENANAN0duX0raBk
No one listens. They laugh.571Please respect copyright.PENANA695DMIm3Jw
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!571Please respect copyright.PENANACTuqXBmK2w
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAvS95ahkj9u
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.571Please respect copyright.PENANAuWRhnsLM8S
A pull.571Please respect copyright.PENANAMOiJ4EgdxD
Rip.571Please respect copyright.PENANA1MzUvczwWR
RIP.571Please respect copyright.PENANAokUXrRDXR2
I'm dead.571Please respect copyright.PENANAmEJRm6lLd8
In bed.
571Please respect copyright.PENANArPFmnElrZs
571Please respect copyright.PENANAZY4DScBl6d
?
571Please respect copyright.PENANA5jgea8CFa1
THE Rain Has Fallen.571Please respect copyright.PENANAsl7qjUNvuT
No. That's not it.571Please respect copyright.PENANANO9z7LKrg2
They Came After The Rain.571Please respect copyright.PENANAXN5yWCQjae
There it is.571Please respect copyright.PENANA7ck0dpkMAS
That's the one.571Please respect copyright.PENANAAIUoITnMWE
The end.
ns 172.70.127.22da2 No. That's not it.571Please respect copyright.PENANANO9z7LKrg2
They Came After The Rain.571Please respect copyright.PENANAXN5yWCQjae
There it is.571Please respect copyright.PENANA7ck0dpkMAS
That's the one.571Please respect copyright.PENANAAIUoITnMWE
The end.