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DREAMS don't make sense. Yes, they do. No, they don't. Here, I'll prove it to you.
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I'M in the living room, sitting on the couch with my father, watching Corner Gas reruns on the TV. So far, so normal. 808Please respect copyright.PENANAWGmICqa0PT
Dad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."808Please respect copyright.PENANArW2PwMzrZu
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."808Please respect copyright.PENANAuR0sbyV0m0
"Yeah."808Please respect copyright.PENANAfUPUxOd28Q
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."808Please respect copyright.PENANAbY7Ktd7mV0
"Something you want to talk about?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAzEPWFvwBTD
"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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAIPh1avLTIk
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."808Please respect copyright.PENANAoqiOXtai4R
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."808Please respect copyright.PENANAAH23jBpLD9
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.808Please respect copyright.PENANAQiC9KvUrof
I consider the offer. 808Please respect copyright.PENANAJH3DMM22UV
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAPL41BJRJ7t
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."808Please respect copyright.PENANAIhDPTpya2A
"Good. Go to sleep."808Please respect copyright.PENANAP5CFjyGScD
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.808Please respect copyright.PENANAb5ezn4UBNk
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.808Please respect copyright.PENANAhVLBsvAi7M
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
808Please respect copyright.PENANAsfJ3Ln8E9EDad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."808Please respect copyright.PENANArW2PwMzrZu
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."808Please respect copyright.PENANAuR0sbyV0m0
"Yeah."808Please respect copyright.PENANAfUPUxOd28Q
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."808Please respect copyright.PENANAbY7Ktd7mV0
"Something you want to talk about?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAzEPWFvwBTD
"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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAIPh1avLTIk
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."808Please respect copyright.PENANAoqiOXtai4R
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."808Please respect copyright.PENANAAH23jBpLD9
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.808Please respect copyright.PENANAQiC9KvUrof
I consider the offer. 808Please respect copyright.PENANAJH3DMM22UV
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAPL41BJRJ7t
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."808Please respect copyright.PENANAIhDPTpya2A
"Good. Go to sleep."808Please respect copyright.PENANAP5CFjyGScD
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.808Please respect copyright.PENANAb5ezn4UBNk
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.808Please respect copyright.PENANAhVLBsvAi7M
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
2808Please respect copyright.PENANAIdnqoGYB6H
808Please respect copyright.PENANA2LB9BNsJw8
808Please respect copyright.PENANA2LB9BNsJw8
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANA2PqlXvSHK5
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAtnjyGRTZuL
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"808Please respect copyright.PENANA7g2lszU4hp
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAFR1JMZ8ugY
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.808Please respect copyright.PENANAL18RbuIVjB
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAKyjEzmZONV
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.808Please respect copyright.PENANA0R4vqYzlLP
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAB8hUdTcyvP
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAxuizlU6Fus
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.808Please respect copyright.PENANAd19rf2eBQA
"Drugs," he says cryptically.808Please respect copyright.PENANATqD8vx2a09
"Hmm?" I ask.808Please respect copyright.PENANAFUMGUj9X8d
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.808Please respect copyright.PENANAop8wwNuoMO
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.808Please respect copyright.PENANAOuhbqr3V6U
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?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAHP6t35EYcj
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANACr8ramYGJC
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.808Please respect copyright.PENANAsw7xgvpbFX
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAVSaRBr81TI
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."808Please respect copyright.PENANAy2PZVsK0qG
"So, how long are you?"808Please respect copyright.PENANA8zVNCLkSh9
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"808Please respect copyright.PENANACac833URrS
"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.808Please respect copyright.PENANASTGFyypr77
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAtnjyGRTZuL
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"808Please respect copyright.PENANA7g2lszU4hp
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAFR1JMZ8ugY
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.808Please respect copyright.PENANAL18RbuIVjB
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAKyjEzmZONV
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.808Please respect copyright.PENANA0R4vqYzlLP
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAB8hUdTcyvP
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAxuizlU6Fus
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.808Please respect copyright.PENANAd19rf2eBQA
"Drugs," he says cryptically.808Please respect copyright.PENANATqD8vx2a09
"Hmm?" I ask.808Please respect copyright.PENANAFUMGUj9X8d
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.808Please respect copyright.PENANAop8wwNuoMO
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.808Please respect copyright.PENANAOuhbqr3V6U
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?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAHP6t35EYcj
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANACr8ramYGJC
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.808Please respect copyright.PENANAsw7xgvpbFX
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAVSaRBr81TI
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."808Please respect copyright.PENANAy2PZVsK0qG
"So, how long are you?"808Please respect copyright.PENANA8zVNCLkSh9
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"808Please respect copyright.PENANACac833URrS
"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.808Please respect copyright.PENANASTGFyypr77
Bitch.
808Please respect copyright.PENANA4iVQyVIYJR
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808Please respect copyright.PENANAGInhcFCubT
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAjyVzcSROr6
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZY7H5DCLl
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANA1e8bH76s9p
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.808Please respect copyright.PENANAH7fmHsD5eD
Some nerve.808Please respect copyright.PENANAzJEE3OA9QI
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.808Please respect copyright.PENANAJKMVxmsdyf
Never mind.808Please respect copyright.PENANAKVpj1k6Ktn
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?808Please respect copyright.PENANAxXKXCT3V7X
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?808Please respect copyright.PENANAxikxrSfrCZ
The door swings open.808Please respect copyright.PENANAHsBQKawOrj
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.808Please respect copyright.PENANACJ945Mgthm
"Hello."808Please respect copyright.PENANAdGBfnki640
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAV460g4lk4V
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.808Please respect copyright.PENANAHh8L7xOWx8
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAo7vVTJH50V
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAUqze6aH1xi
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?808Please respect copyright.PENANARbBdfdUU43
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAgCubTDHPYk
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAuep4H5GvBk
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."808Please respect copyright.PENANAMUCTD6YLaf
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.808Please respect copyright.PENANAxpPPS9AE8F
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.808Please respect copyright.PENANAB2ZV2ODXMO
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.808Please respect copyright.PENANAemItS8UMsU
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZY7H5DCLl
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANA1e8bH76s9p
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.808Please respect copyright.PENANAH7fmHsD5eD
Some nerve.808Please respect copyright.PENANAzJEE3OA9QI
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.808Please respect copyright.PENANAJKMVxmsdyf
Never mind.808Please respect copyright.PENANAKVpj1k6Ktn
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?808Please respect copyright.PENANAxXKXCT3V7X
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?808Please respect copyright.PENANAxikxrSfrCZ
The door swings open.808Please respect copyright.PENANAHsBQKawOrj
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.808Please respect copyright.PENANACJ945Mgthm
"Hello."808Please respect copyright.PENANAdGBfnki640
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAV460g4lk4V
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.808Please respect copyright.PENANAHh8L7xOWx8
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAo7vVTJH50V
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAUqze6aH1xi
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?808Please respect copyright.PENANARbBdfdUU43
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAgCubTDHPYk
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAuep4H5GvBk
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."808Please respect copyright.PENANAMUCTD6YLaf
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.808Please respect copyright.PENANAxpPPS9AE8F
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.808Please respect copyright.PENANAB2ZV2ODXMO
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.808Please respect copyright.PENANAemItS8UMsU
Huh. Funny dat.
808Please respect copyright.PENANAkVj9EhAh0v
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4
808Please respect copyright.PENANALdTxFTHJ1U
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?808Please respect copyright.PENANA60XMpI8GDt
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAcixnmVS7zz
"Hey, Nick."808Please respect copyright.PENANADsttUQYDpw
"Hey, Mike."808Please respect copyright.PENANAckJ9erlarZ
"What's good?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAKGDMkaHpHh
"Not much," he says with a sigh.808Please respect copyright.PENANAWUFNuGROCW
"How come?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAj0fLtE3JI2
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.808Please respect copyright.PENANAJiPyLyMJxv
"Where?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAhNM4EXQxIa
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 808Please respect copyright.PENANArfoOq3s6fG
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.808Please respect copyright.PENANA1unpT6vCDc
"Who's he?" I ask.808Please respect copyright.PENANA9Rwgl86Cvf
"Stanley," Wannabe says.808Please respect copyright.PENANAZgVZJCTxKy
"Oh."808Please respect copyright.PENANAe8U1UwWbzp
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAFpsvuFSJ7S
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.808Please respect copyright.PENANAtfai30l6eN
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."808Please respect copyright.PENANAGcxdvdG4dO
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.808Please respect copyright.PENANA2LLNvdweY1
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAawtMezOBxe
"Mike."808Please respect copyright.PENANAX6dhC5XNdc
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAT2p5jQ2KGi
I keep my yap shut.808Please respect copyright.PENANAllpR6eIWgT
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.808Please respect copyright.PENANARJAffc8f0N
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.808Please respect copyright.PENANAaDk3jgQH6R
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.808Please respect copyright.PENANAjz4HBQf5ym
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.808Please respect copyright.PENANAdFbKOXKl6X
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.808Please respect copyright.PENANAY4A0z2s5zM
"Like what? LSD?"808Please respect copyright.PENANA9gcxBBlKhB
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.808Please respect copyright.PENANAc3zq3iHS0R
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."808Please respect copyright.PENANAA67HLE8SZb
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.808Please respect copyright.PENANAUdNFlQ18lO
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!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAxhoI0ptNtc
Everything changes then.808Please respect copyright.PENANA9sM6PqjoX9
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.808Please respect copyright.PENANAxrdrZ0ug8u
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 808Please respect copyright.PENANABP4eUHAtIJ
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.808Please respect copyright.PENANAfi7JWIqJS7
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 808Please respect copyright.PENANAFqKpsK9BXo
No one listens. They laugh.808Please respect copyright.PENANAhOtX8woGBW
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!808Please respect copyright.PENANAsrOS2LGYMe
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAaPXKc8RMdF
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAS0XS6IXoCe
A pull.808Please respect copyright.PENANAMc4H4g7kE0
Rip.808Please respect copyright.PENANAZ60qS3KGBx
RIP.808Please respect copyright.PENANASnZc2Wg8ao
I'm dead.808Please respect copyright.PENANA8KGv4mlas8
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAcixnmVS7zz
"Hey, Nick."808Please respect copyright.PENANADsttUQYDpw
"Hey, Mike."808Please respect copyright.PENANAckJ9erlarZ
"What's good?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAKGDMkaHpHh
"Not much," he says with a sigh.808Please respect copyright.PENANAWUFNuGROCW
"How come?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAj0fLtE3JI2
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.808Please respect copyright.PENANAJiPyLyMJxv
"Where?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAhNM4EXQxIa
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 808Please respect copyright.PENANArfoOq3s6fG
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.808Please respect copyright.PENANA1unpT6vCDc
"Who's he?" I ask.808Please respect copyright.PENANA9Rwgl86Cvf
"Stanley," Wannabe says.808Please respect copyright.PENANAZgVZJCTxKy
"Oh."808Please respect copyright.PENANAe8U1UwWbzp
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAFpsvuFSJ7S
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.808Please respect copyright.PENANAtfai30l6eN
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."808Please respect copyright.PENANAGcxdvdG4dO
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.808Please respect copyright.PENANA2LLNvdweY1
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAawtMezOBxe
"Mike."808Please respect copyright.PENANAX6dhC5XNdc
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"808Please respect copyright.PENANAT2p5jQ2KGi
I keep my yap shut.808Please respect copyright.PENANAllpR6eIWgT
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.808Please respect copyright.PENANARJAffc8f0N
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.808Please respect copyright.PENANAaDk3jgQH6R
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.808Please respect copyright.PENANAjz4HBQf5ym
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.808Please respect copyright.PENANAdFbKOXKl6X
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.808Please respect copyright.PENANAY4A0z2s5zM
"Like what? LSD?"808Please respect copyright.PENANA9gcxBBlKhB
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.808Please respect copyright.PENANAc3zq3iHS0R
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."808Please respect copyright.PENANAA67HLE8SZb
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.808Please respect copyright.PENANAUdNFlQ18lO
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!"808Please respect copyright.PENANAxhoI0ptNtc
Everything changes then.808Please respect copyright.PENANA9sM6PqjoX9
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.808Please respect copyright.PENANAxrdrZ0ug8u
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 808Please respect copyright.PENANABP4eUHAtIJ
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.808Please respect copyright.PENANAfi7JWIqJS7
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 808Please respect copyright.PENANAFqKpsK9BXo
No one listens. They laugh.808Please respect copyright.PENANAhOtX8woGBW
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!808Please respect copyright.PENANAsrOS2LGYMe
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAaPXKc8RMdF
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.808Please respect copyright.PENANAS0XS6IXoCe
A pull.808Please respect copyright.PENANAMc4H4g7kE0
Rip.808Please respect copyright.PENANAZ60qS3KGBx
RIP.808Please respect copyright.PENANASnZc2Wg8ao
I'm dead.808Please respect copyright.PENANA8KGv4mlas8
In bed.
808Please respect copyright.PENANACKXZdkvuQX
808Please respect copyright.PENANA94N1OYb2Bj
?
808Please respect copyright.PENANAvOorett7qt
THE Rain Has Fallen.808Please respect copyright.PENANAwZucPx1FoD
No. That's not it.808Please respect copyright.PENANA5etNkUlNd2
They Came After The Rain.808Please respect copyright.PENANA8xgBSmzdv8
There it is.808Please respect copyright.PENANABdEh9Bmn2q
That's the one.808Please respect copyright.PENANAU8UwzQWOJv
The end.
ns216.73.216.254da2 No. That's not it.808Please respect copyright.PENANA5etNkUlNd2
They Came After The Rain.808Please respect copyright.PENANA8xgBSmzdv8
There it is.808Please respect copyright.PENANABdEh9Bmn2q
That's the one.808Please respect copyright.PENANAU8UwzQWOJv
The end.