667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWKhvJZjmT
-
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq0WDdZdvE
DREAMS don't make sense. Yes, they do. No, they don't. Here, I'll prove it to you.
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeynR7mHlv
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahtQJxv0E3
1667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6J9gha4WXh
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1peuHAGoj
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1peuHAGoj
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl1vLKiy5V
I'M in the living room, sitting on the couch with my father, watching Corner Gas reruns on the TV. So far, so normal. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGu5HFU2OZ
Dad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQMmh3caxe
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMUG0scOKJ
"Yeah."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57PiC8OUvB
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSm0fnLZyq
"Something you want to talk about?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5rGCX10fr
"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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStv38hW95O
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmzHW60KrE
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifv2ISQURY
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2bL7JrqUN
I consider the offer. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd21ozptQiR
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtJOhnjeqo
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYp3ASWeE8
"Good. Go to sleep."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X7d5NoCci
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsYcypuHzt
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9ccODXs4K
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDLsuWqoPXDad turns to me and says, "You look sleepy. Mike. You've got a vein on your forehead."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQMmh3caxe
"Oh, yeah? Bizarre."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMUG0scOKJ
"Yeah."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57PiC8OUvB
"Ponderous, father," I say. "Simply ponderous."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSm0fnLZyq
"Something you want to talk about?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5rGCX10fr
"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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStv38hW95O
"I know," Dad says. "You're fading away."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmzHW60KrE
"I know," I say. "It isn't fair."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifv2ISQURY
"Maybe you should go to sleep," Dad offers.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2bL7JrqUN
I consider the offer. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd21ozptQiR
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtJOhnjeqo
I say, "You know what? Maybe you're right. I am tired."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYp3ASWeE8
"Good. Go to sleep."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X7d5NoCci
Suddenly, the mirror me is no more. Vanished. Into thin air. Into nothingness. I've faded away.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsYcypuHzt
"I'm gone!" I say, not trying in the slightest to keep the astonishment out of my voice.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9ccODXs4K
Dad says, "That's what you get, Mike. You're dead."
2667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY7UJj2HEL
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKTJpT1Ho5
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKTJpT1Ho5
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXaEbVpGnW
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq8rHXIId8
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySYWKBSoiA
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaYWUovlaq
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFLMLsE81R
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHFb2Mjzwv
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1Yb5nzixv
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CiFGM7FxW
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL87fF2W9w7
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwHXwVyf7R
"Drugs," he says cryptically.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVFI1uIaC8
"Hmm?" I ask.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC2GgKuyWg
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAkUQDgkQ8
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbPmHjN8X8
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?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmTDCfTd9B
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUk6YMYXOd
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6VwqZMJxj
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH2bGXUmyB
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdoAMRtpp6
"So, how long are you?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH2wlLg1jC
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78R9SCCbrs
"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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrrpkLCQou
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq8rHXIId8
"Prick!" says my old friend Brandon from behind. "God damned Russian prick!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySYWKBSoiA
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaYWUovlaq
The doll takes the abuse admirably, if I do say so. It doesn't even make a peep.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFLMLsE81R
"That's what you get for hitting my sister! Potato water–drinker! Snow-sucker! Filth! Rubbish! Filth!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHFb2Mjzwv
I'm confused. The more Brandon talks, the less Brandon sounds like Brandon.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1Yb5nzixv
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CiFGM7FxW
"Filth! Rubbish! Filth!" is heard amidst cheers of "You get 'em, Branflakes!" and "Go, you!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL87fF2W9w7
I shake my head and roll my eyes just as Brandon's dad, Brian, walks by.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwHXwVyf7R
"Drugs," he says cryptically.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVFI1uIaC8
"Hmm?" I ask.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC2GgKuyWg
"You heard me. Get out!" he screams, pointing to the front door.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAkUQDgkQ8
I ignore him and he walks onward, sitting in a rocking chair where he begins to knit an ugly ball of yarn.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbPmHjN8X8
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?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmTDCfTd9B
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUk6YMYXOd
"I've been writing," I say, growing excited. I'm starved for human contact and connections.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6VwqZMJxj
"Oh yeah? Like a novel?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH2bGXUmyB
"I wish. No. I've been working on one but I haven't finished it yet. Short stories, I guess."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdoAMRtpp6
"So, how long are you?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH2wlLg1jC
"I dunno. 14 pages, I think?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78R9SCCbrs
"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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrrpkLCQou
Bitch.
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSU8EbxKwT
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0XjhxJm6I
3667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X31GLEqYz
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMqkAUpKmE
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMqkAUpKmE
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWvJfGK5WG
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrghXCI0yJ
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKobPpozIN2
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLJroLIACW
Some nerve.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFjmjgRrgD
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrysdOTQBs
Never mind.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD6oFNXTkD
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw1Pm2J2VM
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvf6yXDSpH
The door swings open.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHLQo7YJCl
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaVImDPMpZ
"Hello."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgCsGsCHZ5
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM4PACPasa
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd2KPRpNEx
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJab4HhWHS
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ2rTFyqcE
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAoZH9Slc2
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0puj7Fm9fv
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxufe0tX3Gk
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRZMxOvaQR
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq1vz6wKoG
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnHv7PgfmX
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQkPzKBqOO
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrghXCI0yJ
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKobPpozIN2
Ginger is disturbed. Bear is perturbed.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLJroLIACW
Some nerve.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFjmjgRrgD
I crash into my chair. Time to relax.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrysdOTQBs
Never mind.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD6oFNXTkD
There's a knock at the door. Who could it be?667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw1Pm2J2VM
I go to answer it. Two girls. Blonde Sarah. Brunette Fiona. What the hell do they want?667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvf6yXDSpH
The door swings open.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHLQo7YJCl
"Heeeeey!" I hear both girls say.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaVImDPMpZ
"Hello."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgCsGsCHZ5
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM4PACPasa
"Abuse! Abuse!" they say.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd2KPRpNEx
"What in the steamed hobo scarves are you two talking about?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJab4HhWHS
"Abuse! Dogs, cats, food, poop!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ2rTFyqcE
Anger rising. Rage-foam forming at the corners of my mouth. Feel my hands tremble. What is this?667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAoZH9Slc2
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0puj7Fm9fv
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" they squeal. "Abuse!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxufe0tX3Gk
Grab for the nearest shoulder. Spin the girl around. Speak into her face, "There's no abuse here."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRZMxOvaQR
Fiona cringes and backs away. Sarah and her exit the house.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq1vz6wKoG
Wonder what sent them packing. My breath, perhaps? I ponder such trivialities as I return to my chair.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnHv7PgfmX
I gaze into the reflection of my mouse. I'm dressed like Spider-Man.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQkPzKBqOO
Huh. Funny dat.
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD97QbJ29VZ
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4U7Oz0Ihw
4
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkJEirliBS
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?667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELc7naPIV4
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURC7GN0PhC
"Hey, Nick."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ248H5FbOVg
"Hey, Mike."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv6duOaNj7
"What's good?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5lGVhWutw
"Not much," he says with a sigh.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZU2llvpgNP
"How come?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgowg1ISTKU
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1Md9uAhF5
"Where?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XrA3oGYWJ
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0e8IdvEhS
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumf5xBTDta
"Who's he?" I ask.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZIrdPZMOd
"Stanley," Wannabe says.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Xc1QAYf8e
"Oh."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzaOSvCj9Z
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVWs9b3AHV
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkt4FeVqFLz
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQblTYlUkv2
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA1s9g2ied
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKNCMIDu7e
"Mike."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhVUD39xnT
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqDuagcFrG
I keep my yap shut.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvAKFPIcJf
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlePFlEZRe
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqCUu6M6OA
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo2x0WLl2U
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHjLYQTUsm
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9J4LwqOoX
"Like what? LSD?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LbFDEphiO
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQibIttG8B7
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7SwgfAmA2
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOakfyE8wF
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!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5h0eIuhsV
Everything changes then.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6MzKN5MqL
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc38KxaZNc1
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwb2MT4o3V
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGiHGdn6mv
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzTRlpdrKp
No one listens. They laugh.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNba7uiswh
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!667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32rUTei05G
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QtLzYsYli
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4ZywoIxZe
A pull.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSurezVZoc
Rip.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6ZZ3gR0Zq
RIP.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp3xI5XZZB
I'm dead.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n1oUHNgh3
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURC7GN0PhC
"Hey, Nick."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ248H5FbOVg
"Hey, Mike."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv6duOaNj7
"What's good?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5lGVhWutw
"Not much," he says with a sigh.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZU2llvpgNP
"How come?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgowg1ISTKU
"Trouble is coming." He casts paranoid glances around and around.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1Md9uAhF5
"Where?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XrA3oGYWJ
"There." Nick aims a finger to my right, past my shoulder. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0e8IdvEhS
Some wannabe-badass teen who walks from the portable classrooms to where Nick and I are standing. Under the sycamore tree.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumf5xBTDta
"Who's he?" I ask.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZIrdPZMOd
"Stanley," Wannabe says.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Xc1QAYf8e
"Oh."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzaOSvCj9Z
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVWs9b3AHV
I knew a tirade was coming. I was right.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkt4FeVqFLz
"Becky says I can't smoke my Camels anymore. Dumb bitch. I smoke what I want to smoke. I'm hard."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQblTYlUkv2
Nick nods but doesn't say anything. I follow suit.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA1s9g2ied
Stanley looks at me with contempt. "Who the shit are you?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKNCMIDu7e
"Mike."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhVUD39xnT
"Yeah, well, I'm hard, Mike. Harder than you, okay?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqDuagcFrG
I keep my yap shut.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvAKFPIcJf
"Yeah, I'm hard, alright. I'm the baddest kid around." Stanley takes a long drag off his cigarette.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlePFlEZRe
He is a kid, alright. I say nothing.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqCUu6M6OA
Stanley offers the smoke to Nick, who declines.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo2x0WLl2U
"Alright, bitch. Suit yourself." Another pull.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHjLYQTUsm
"Anything in that thing?" I ask him.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9J4LwqOoX
"Like what? LSD?"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LbFDEphiO
Sarcasm. Or maybe just stupid. Acid is destroyed at burning temperature. "No. Weed," I say.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQibIttG8B7
"I don't smoke that shit, bro. Not yet."667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7SwgfAmA2
I laugh. What a badass. Wannabe badass. Plans his drug-induced future. What. When. Where. Why. How. Please.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOakfyE8wF
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!"667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5h0eIuhsV
Everything changes then.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6MzKN5MqL
Kids come scurrying out of every hideaway hole and hovel imaginable.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc38KxaZNc1
Stanley gives me a hard shove. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwb2MT4o3V
I fall on my ass, quickly get to my feet and try to run.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGiHGdn6mv
Too many kids. In the way. "Move!" I say. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzTRlpdrKp
No one listens. They laugh.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNba7uiswh
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!667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32rUTei05G
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QtLzYsYli
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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4ZywoIxZe
A pull.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSurezVZoc
Rip.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6ZZ3gR0Zq
RIP.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp3xI5XZZB
I'm dead.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n1oUHNgh3
In bed.
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9k3ihULBEW
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVns1MzcKwU
?
667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR5TzqqLCR
THE Rain Has Fallen.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiT4zg5VEM
No. That's not it.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyyKzQ5Jd3
They Came After The Rain.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaYLGEYDGz
There it is.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzbm9GRedw
That's the one.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HC8NvDdr0
The end.
ns 15.158.61.21da2 No. That's not it.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyyKzQ5Jd3
They Came After The Rain.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaYLGEYDGz
There it is.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzbm9GRedw
That's the one.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HC8NvDdr0
The end.
