Black Box 86ed Read Free Page A

bar. (She worked third shift and would sit at the bar all day till we got out of school.)
    “Look what I found,” Mike whispered as if his passed out mom would wake up.
    I look at him, seeing what at the time looked like a funny skinny cigarette. “What is it?”
    “I don't know, but we should smoke it.”
    “O man I don't know what if you mom finds out.”
    “O c'mon you know as well as I do she just thinks she misplaces everything we take.”
    This was very true, I’m sure there are textbooks where she would qualify as an alcoholic and even if she weren’t looking back now she probably wouldn’t have cared anyways.
    “Fine but we need to go behind the house though.”
    We stood up taking one of those long lighters made for candles and sneak out the back door. I remember my heart racing as I followed him. Crouching behind the bushes we light up. He took the first hit, his face turning instantly to one of disgust as he choked out the smoke.
    “Holy crap, it tastes so bad.” He gasps handing it to me.
    Bringing it to my lips and taking the tiniest drag, yet it still hit me like a wall of bricks as I choke out the smoke.
    “God I don’t think this is supposed to be smoked, who would want to smoke something that tastes so bad?
    “I don’t know. Maybe we should have eaten it?”
    I shrug my shoulders. “I feel a little weird though is, is it working?
    “I don't know. I don't feel anything.”
    I hand it back him, he takes the smallest hit like I did breathing it out a little more smoothly this time.
    BA M! BAM! BAM! “Anyone in there? Imma bout to piss myself.”
    “Almost done,” I yell back. I realize I stopped peeing a good minute ago and am just standing here, reminiscing with my dick in my hands. I quickly zip up, put on my Mcshirt and open the door. It's Mike, “Jesus what do you want.”
    “I'm just here to say I forgive you.”
    “What? You started it.”
    “Now let’s not get into who started what, and who did what to whom. “I’m just saying I forgive you and you may go in peace.” He says drawing a cross in the air.
    “O thank you pastor I’m so relieve.”
    “You have to let me hit you though.”
    “What? No.”
    “You know we need to be even. I feel like I’m down one, so for the sake of our friendship I must hit you.”
    “O for Christ sake just punch me in the shoulder,” and as soon as I finish my sentence he hits me a little harder than I would have liked. “Feel better?” I ask rubbing my shoulder.
    “Yes, yes sir I do.”
    “Fine, let’s get back there I'm starting to make some serious inroads with your mom.”
    “OOO, real funny man I think I should get another hit. Oh, I’m gona buy a scratch off be there in a sec, and you still gotta make those monstrosities their food.”
    “Fine,” I sigh. Turning the corner passing the two behemoth women scowling at me, obviously upset about the casual nature of this particular McDans. “Sorry about the wait,” I tell them.
    “You wash your hands?” One of them spits at me.
    Immediately realizing I forgot to with Mike distracting me. “Yep sure did.”
    “They look dry to me.”
    “Well I dried them.” Ignoring their huffs of disapproval, I walk back into the grill, turning to the bun toaster throwing their buns in. My eyes instinctively glaze over preparing for another day in this McHell hole.
    Grace closes tonight though so I suppose it’s all for a good cause. I will craft every word, every joke, and every gesture towards her being mine after tonight. I stare at the bottom tray of the toaster waiting for the buns to drop. Its heat brushing softly again my face as the gears slowly turn inside. Plop, plop they drop and I quickly puzzle piece their mcburgers together throwing them onto a tray, they quickly swipe it and scurry away to the far end table to stuff their faces and stare at their phones.
    Dam I’m starting to think I’m a little pessimistic. These could be super nice people who are just really hungry. But