Punch-Drunk Polaroid
[Part One]
Calvin gave up steering out the window once he realized, he’s always been watching the grass grow.
- Calvin
I fight the urge to call some friends up, aware I’ll only receive a lousy excuse not to hangout. So I focus on figuring out why my friends, or anybody, would want to be addicted to these “cancer sticks”, resting next to me. My concentration was broken by the familiar squeak of my mom’s wheels as they pull into the garage. I jump up off my bed grabbing the cigarette and start sprinting around my room for a place to put them. The problem is, I don’t have a place in my room where my parents wouldn’t find it, so I give up and throw them somewhere in the back of my closet. I sigh and start down the stairs, purposely leaving comic books laying upside down, so my parents won’t catch me growing up.
“Hey Calvin, how was school”
“Fine”
“Just fine?”
“Yup…”
“Your dad called me at the studio, he wanted to know if you’d like to spend tonight with him”
“I was supposed to go to this kid Matt’s house for the night”
“And what were you planning on doing at this kid Matt’s house?”
I say “nothing”, with just enough attitude to let her know I’m still not enjoying my ninth grade school year. I finish helping her with the groceries and retire to the back yard. For some reason everything in my yard looks broken and dry. The slide is chipped and cracked and the sandbox turtle is inside its shell. So I sit down on the last swing standing.
Why did summer leave me behind, kicking and screaming? How did I miss the boat everyone else got without a problem. But most of all, why is it that only I miss how it used to be. The classic "all-nighters" walking around town, stumbling into a hectic adventure. The stupid jokes and asshole pranks. All of them so recent, but so forgotten by anyone who grew out of it.I put my head down and wish Kurt were here. My thoughts linger around for a while or until my mom calls out "phone", from inside.
I get the phone, praising god someone finally called for me. Matt's having a party at his house and coming to pick me up. In seconds I'm ecstatic, forgetting the thought of why a Senior would invite me to his party. Even though he told me he would call but I never thought he actually would. He was friends with my brother before he left to college. I've heard crazy stories of them too all my life. Everyone assumed I was going to carry on the reputation, but never did. The thing was, my brother would kill me if he found out I was going to a party. Everyone in my family was as protective over me as possible. But only now do I hate them for it. My knees feel week when I run back up to my room, holding my breath.
My first real party. Something I've been waiting for since I started this school year. Since I started growing up and loosing friends. Since hanging with my friends wasn't enough when we all started falling behind in this epic adventure of adolescence. Finally, I thought, it's time to grow up like my old friends did.
- Matt
I pack a small bowl and grab the lighter from Eric. Then scorch half the bowl and sit back in the drivers seat. It was just the three of us blazing before we picked up Calvin.
“Okay, I just called him, we just have to pick him up”, I declared to the car.
“Oh my god, this is going to be the funniest thing ever man”, said Erick taking the bowl from me.
“Yeah, but we can’t be too obvious that were trying to just get him drunk, like try to be casual about it”, I offered, as Erick took another hit.
“Yeah, I know what your saying”, replied Erick.
“Don’t make him drink too much, he could get sick and we’d get fucked for it, remember”, warned Jake while executing a huge
rip.
“Your such a pussy Jake, don’t worry it’s going to be hilarious. Plus, it’s a freshman initiation. It always needs to be over the top”, I explained.
“Whatever man”, mumbled Jake.
“Alright, this bowl is kicked thanks to Jake. Lets pick up the kid and head back to the party”, I say as we pull out of the driveway.
- Calvin
“Want a butt man?”, asked Jake.
“No, I don’t smoke”, I sighed. There was a long pause before someone said anything again.
“So you like to get fucked up Calvin?”, Erick suggested.
“Not really”, I laugh to an unexpected question. Which was odd because he said it as casual as a “whats up”.
“Well, do you blaze or trip?”, Erick asked.
“I tried smoking once but didn’t like it”. It hurt to tell the truth, but I couldn’t create a story at the time.
“So this is going be quiet a night for you huh? First real high school party”, said Matt .
“Yeah, I guess so”, I replied.
“There’s going be a lot of liquor there, are you psyched or what?”, Erick yelled more than asked.
“So psyched man”, I awkwardly say back.
The truth is, I've never drank alcohol. I've never been so drunk I started a Congo line with a bunch of strangers and puked my brains out. I've never been so trashed I blacked out, took all my clothes off, and danced the night away. I've never been honored which those experiences. I guess because I've never really liked taste of it. So I just didn't drink it, it was always that easy. Until of course, now.
“So who’s at your party”, I changed the subject.
“Let me think… Right now just a few people but more are supposed to come. Hopefully with the good shit”, answered Matt.
“Cool”, was all I could come up with.
I could only think of what the hell, "the good shit", is going to be. Even before I got in the car, I decided that I wasn't going to try any drugs or anything. Especially since I won't know anyone there, and I've never taken anything before. Even though I do admit, I've always wanted to try some kind of drug at least once, to know what its like. But tonight's definitely not the night for it. Although, I feel like I should stay sort of open, since I was going to my first party after all.
I steered quietly out the window as thy listened to music and smoked cigarettes, until we got to Matt's house. The house was on the other side of the town, where a lot of the big houses and long stretched-out yards are. There was a few cars parked in the driveway and one on the curb. Matt parked in front of the garage and started towards the house. I stayed behind him. Erick and Jake were close to the door, when Matt asked me to hold back for a second.
“Are you alright man?”, Matt whispered.
“Yeah, of course man”, I trembled.
“You ready to have a good time then?”, asked Matt trying to cheer me up.
“Yeah man, definitely”, I said confidently enough to sound honest.
“Good, because we all want you to have a good time. Who knows, maybe you’ll even hook up with someone”, Matt laughed a
little to himself.
“Just try to enjoy yourself man, and don’t be afraid to try something new for once”.
“Alright man, I can do that”. I assured him. Everyone else could tell how nervous I was though. The little talk did help me feel better about everything. At the moment, I started to relax and think about the journey beginning a few steps in front of me.
I pause again to make sure this was all really happening. Just the fact I'm hanging out with someone older than me for the first time, made me feel like I had finally grown up. At that second I fought some anxious shivers, took a deep breath, and felt a warm tranquil wave crash against my body. It felt calm and right.
I felt complete and now.
- Matt
“How you guys feeling!”, I asked.
“Pretty good and buzzed”, answered the room.
“Who’s your friend?”, asked Jen.
I introduced Calvin too everyone there, especially Jen. They had no idea the kid was a freshman, and has probably never even seen alcohol before, never mind drank it. But they did know he was a "new guy", and started firing questions at him.
“Chill man, take a seat on the couch, I’ll grab you a drink”. I sorta pushed Calvin toward the couch, but he kinda flew across
the room crashing into the couch. I thought it was hilarious, we all laughed, even him. I notice him and Jen are already talking. He looks like a champ. I shout at the room if they want some shots, and the room shouted back a mix of “hell yeahs”.
“Come on guys, lets get a drink for the new guy”, I told Erick and Jake. They both fallowed me to the kitchen, and start deciding what to drink.
“Oh my god, that kid doesn’t know what he getting himself into at all!”, Erick laughed.
“Yeah I know! I almost feel bad”, I say thinking to myself how I can slowly convince the kid to drink.
“Jesus, look at him and Jen, they look like they’re married”, Jake said.
“I know man, he’s a natural. Okay listen up, I have an idea. Instead of telling him to drink and smoke, let’s just leave him alone
the whole night and let the party do the work. Like, he’s going to try and fit in anyways, this way when he pukes all over himself, he couldn’t blame anyone else but him”. I feel like the plan is guaranteed to work, and finish telling the guys. I’m holding
four beers in each hand, when we come back into the living room.
I hold one out to Calvin to test him out, and surprisingly, he takes it without flinching.
“I didn’t think you drank”, I said sarcastically.
“Why not, right?”, he said back. I knew it would work.
[Part Two]
- Calvin
I took my jacket off and fallowed Matt through the house until I noticed everyone in the living room. There was a bunch of couches pushed into a circle. Everyone looked a lot older than me, and were drinking beer out of red plastic cups. There was a few other people scattered throughout the house, but the party seemed to be contained to the living room. Actually, it looked more like a gathering of friends, than a party. Which made me feel more comfortable about the situation.
Matt greeted everyone separately and personally. It seemed like he was life-long friends with the majority of people there. I didn't know most of the them, but recognized their faces from school. After all, these were the "cool kids", I assumed everyone knew them. Matt told me to relax and grab a seat. Then pushed me clean across the room onto a couch that was occupied by a couple of girls. I shrugged it off, and even laughed.
“So whats your name kid?”, asked this girl with a lot of make-up, and wrist accessories on. Her name was Emily. She was sitting in the middle of what seemed to be the party. I guess that fit her personality.
“Calvin”, I mumbled.
“Calvin… I know that name. Oh my god, are you Kurt’s younger brother? You guys look so alike”
“Yeah, a lot of my friends say that”
“I’m sure they do, Calvin”, she let “Calvin” linger on her tongue for a little longer after she said it.
“So what grade are you in little man”, asked this really pretty girl that was sitting next to me. She was holding a beer and seemed really nice. I noticed her from my art class, and I couldn’t miss those breath-taking green eyes. We’ve never talked
before now, but I feel really comfortable next to her anyway.
“Sophomore, actually”, Matt interrupted, as he ran back into the room holding bottles of beers in each hand.
“He can talk for himself dickhead”, she smiled at Matt.
“And you can chill out and take a few shots Jen”, Matt said playfully.
I was glad he saved me, and I started feeling more comfortable. Then Matt handed me a beer, and I just calmly grabbed it with a "Why not?", attitude. Even Matt seemed surprised, but we both played it off cool. I also think it may have impressed the girl, who's name I found out is Jen.
“Your pretty young to drink little man. Are you sure you can handle it?”, asked Jen.
“Hey, I might be young but I can so out drink you”, I claimed playfully.
“Oh is that a bet, Calvin…?”.
“Yeah I think it might be, Jen” I replied with a slick smile.
“Cheers?”, I offered.
“Cheers!”. We both drank, and felt a little connection between us. I took another sip, ignored the taste, and relaxed next to Jen.
We both get to know each other a little more, and get acquainted with the rest of the kids. We sip our beer and listen to Matt tell these crazy stories of things he use to do back in his early high school days. Like how how one time, he got drunk with his friends and drove around smashing mail boxes with the car door, all night long. Whenever he'd finish a story we'd all laugh and applaud his ridiculous past. One of the stories actually involved Kurt. I finally understood why he enjoyed high school as much as he did. I finished my beer and feel confident enough to ask for another.
“Another one? We’ve got a heavy drinker on our hands guys.”, Matt joked.
“You know it man.”
“Well, maybe we should try something a little harder… Maybe some shots?”, Matt offered.
“Fuck yeah man”, said Erick and the rest of the room. A couple minutes later Erick ran back in holding a new bottle of vanilla
vodka. The bottle alone intimidated me.
“You down for a few shots?”, asked Jen.
“Are you kidding”, I replied, trying pretty hard too play it cool. I’ve never taken a shot, but could smell it from across the room.
Matt ran back in with a few shot glasses, and placed them in a line on the table.
“Who’s first?”.
“Why not you, Matt?” ordered Emily. She seemed like girl who always got what she wanted. This time was no different.
“I guess I can show you how a real man does it”, Matt snickered.
“Yeah right bitch”, Emily threw back at him.
“Watch me slut”, Matt fired back. Emily might get what she wants, but Matt definitely got the last word this time.
clapped and cheered for him, as Eric poured three more.
Erick poured three shots as Matt emptied one after another. He couldn't have made it look any easier. Everyone
“What’s up now bitch’s!”, Matt yelled, “high-fiving” everyone in sight.
“I can top that”, Jen announced.
“Let’s see it then, Jen”, I told her.
strange face, and sat back. Again, we all clapped and praised Jen’s drinking skills.
She sat up, took a deep breath, and hammered down each one in a row. She took another deep breath, made a
“Your turn little man”, said Jen.
“Hm, alright sure”.
“Are you sure Calvin?”, Matt asked with a little tone of asshole.
“Yeah I’m sure asshole, just pore the shots”, I struck back at him. His faced looked shocked and everyone joined in “ooh”
together. I don’t know where it came from, but I felt like a bad-ass either way.
“Alright you little punk. Pour em’ Eric”, ordered Matt.
It feels like fire, and I almost spit it out, but somehow hold it together. Now my mouth and throat are burning intensely. I try my
best to not show how much this sucks. The third wasn’t as bad as the first and second, but forgot about the taste the second
everyone began cheering and clapping for me. When I put down the last shot glass, I let the room consume me and feel like a
god. Time slowed down, almost stopped, and I stood in the center of it all, alive and awake.
Eric filled each glass with the crystal clear liquid. As soon as he finished, everyone had shifted their attention towards me. I felt nervous enough to shake, but made sure to hold it back. The whole room is silent, except for the bad hip-hop, and my heart beating. I sit up and reach for the first shot, take a deep breath, and let the vodka slide down my throat.
“Hell yeah Calvin”, Jen smiled back at me. I sat back and threw my arm around her, without letting my glorious smile fade.
the music and movies we both loved and hated. I found out right away she had a great taste in music. The conversation was
casual and playful, definitely my level. We continued to chat and sip our drinks as everyone else seemed too have fun partying.
But we just payed no mind to anyone but each other, and that was enough.
Eventually everyone took a few shots and started talking again. For the most part, I talked to Jen. Mostly about
[Part Three]
“Mike you sly mother fucker!” shouted Matt, welcoming a few new people into the house. Mike stumbled into the room holding a bong in one hand and a 30-rack in the other. Behind him was a girl and a couple other guys I’ve never seen before. I
assume they were Matt’s older friends who were in college now, or at least out of high school.
“Who wants to get baked out of their fucking minds?!”, screamed Mike, in a raspy tone.
to the bottle of vodka. Then took off his jacket and pulled out a large bag, of what looked like, weed. Matt introduced me to him and his friends who were making drinks for each other. Right away, they asked me how young I was along with a list of
other questions that are always come with being the “young guy” at a party. I didn’t mind though, strangely they were the
kindest people I had met that night. After a long talk about how good Mike’s, I finished my third beer just as Jen did.
Mike took a seat in an empty chair on the other side of the room. He placed the huge glass bong on the table next
“Want another?”, I asked.
“Sure thing Calvin”, she replied with a warm smile.
the room spin a little to the side. I shook it off and started my journey to find a couple beers. Even though I’ve never been
drunk, I definitely knew I was the second I began tripping over everyone that was in my general path towards the kitchen.
Which was quiet a few people. They didn’t mind though, actually they laughed. I’m not sure if it was with me or at me, but it felt
good either way.
bathroom. We both laughed and started towards the kitchen. I really didn’t know it was a bathroom, but I think I was just
having fun being drunk. Matt grabbed a couple beers and handed them to me. they felt cold enough to make me shiver.
I mingled around an empty room I thought was the kitchen, until Matt stopped me and explained I was in the
“So how ya feeling’ champ?”, Matt asked.
“Pretty good, if I could get the room to stop spinning”, I slurred.
“I’ll see what I can do, but I heard you had to blaze to make it stop spinning”, Matt laughed. I tried to understand what he
meant before we got back to the living room.
to quite down as everyone stopped what they were doing to smoke. The room was thick with enough smoke to make it hard
to see the person across from you. The bong eventually reached me and Jen. I watched her light the bowl and fill it up with
opaque smoke. She then inhaled, coughed twice, and exhaled a massive cloud of smoke as she passed it to me.
I sat down and handed Jen the beer. By now, the bong started to get it's way around the room. The party seemed
“Do you smoke?”, she asked still coughing a little.
“I never really have, but fuck it, why not?”, I shrugged. I didn’t really want to smoke, but at the time I was having so much fun
with Jen, it kind of just, happened. Besides, if there was ever going to be a right time for it , its now. Either way, it couldn’t be
half as bad as the shots were.
while using my mouth to keep the bong up-right. I don’t struggle for long, before Jen offers some much needed help.
Jen passed me a lighter as I tried to hold the base of the bong with one hand, and flick the lighter with the other, all
“Need some help there man”, smirked Jen.
“Yes”, I said through the corners of my mouth.
“Alright”, just start sucking in when I say go”, she explained.
“Okay”, I reply with my mouth still sucked to the top of the bong.
“Okay… Go!”. She lit the bowl, and I started sucking.
couldn’t feel any of it in my lungs. Then right when the smoke reached my lips and the whole bong was filled, Jen ripped the
bowl out. The smoke shot straight into my body and clogged my lungs with only the sensation of a harsh burning. I jump back
and start to cough my brains out. I look around and everyone is falling to the floor laughing. It felt like I couldn’t breath, and
might die if I don’t stop coughing soon. Which was strange because everyone, even Jen, though it was the funniest thing they’ve
ever seen. I don’t know why I’m so funny whenever I do something in front of people. Still, after that I felt like one of the guys,
which was my goal all along. Even If I had to sacrifice one of my lungs.
I didn't understand why I wasn't breathing in anything at first. Even though I saw the smoke rise and fill the bong, I
“Some good shit, huh?”, said Mike, laughing more than anyone.
“Shit yeah man”, I muster in between coughs.
I finally start to calm down again, trying to recover from that near fatal incident.
“So how do you like it?”, asked Jen.
“My head feels light, and the music is really loud and bad”, I mumble to the blur which I hoped was Jen.
“Cool, want to go outside for a second, maybe catch your breath”, she offered.
“That sounds perfect”, I said, and meant it. I didn’t really feel the weed effect me until I stepped outside and was awoken by a
long, cool breeze.
We talked for a while outside, but this time about how ridiculous some of the people inside were. The outside helped wake me up enough to see the sky. After a moment or so, I pointed out to Jen how clear the night sky is.
“It’s beautiful Calvin”, was all either of us said for a while.
felt, simply infinite.
me how I felt for my first time being high. Then they asked me if I’ve done each and every drug I’ve ever heard of, and a few I
haven’t. Then one of Mike’s friends, who’s name is Ethan, asked me if Jen and I wanted to roll. I didn’t know what he was
talking about, but Jen seemed overly interested to do it.
The unfortunate sound of Mike and his friends coming out for a cigarette, ended our time together. They all asked
“Oh my god Calvin, you have to. I promise you’ll love it more than anything”, Jen promised as she wrapped her arms around
me. Even in the dark, her green eyes were brighter than the sun.
“Fuck it, I wanna do it!”, I said with a voice full of confidence that was sourly lacking inside me at the time. Mainly because I
didn’t know what rolling was, until Ethan took out two white tablets from a clear vile in his jacket.
eyes. I placed one tablet on Jens tongue at the same time she put one on mine. I say thanks to Ethan, and climbed back into the
house holding Jen’s hand, anxiously awaiting any effect.
throughout my body. Then I noticed the lights, and how white they made everything. Even the music started to sound good.
Time starts going by faster than normal, and I start to feel good, really good. I start to feel soothing vibrations shoot
“I…feel…so…fuckin’... good”, I whispered under my breath.
“What, did you say something Calvin?”, asked Jen. She had on a confused face.
“I’ve feel so fucking good!” I screamed back to Jen, but was loud enough for everyone to stop what they were doing, and look
at me.
“He’s rolling his face off. Oh my god look at his eyes!”, Mike said.
“Holy shit, you are rolling Calvin”, said Matt. He seemed more interested than worried. I almost forgot Matt was there. Even
though he’d checked up on me every now and than. Usually to check how I felt and bring me another drink. Which was fine with me, because I could barely taste the alcohol now.
“Hey chill out everyone. He’s fine, right Calvin?”, asked Jen giggling a little to herself.
“I still don’t know what rolling means”, I innocently say. We both broke down laughing with the rest of the room.
just leave it at that. Time went by and more people came. I checked the time, and was shocked how early in the mourning it
was. To me it only seemed like a couple hours had passed, since I got here. There was people all over the house now. Some in
circles passing a pipe. Some in circles playing a drinking game. Even some in circles just dancing. And in the middle of it all, me
and Jen just went on talking and laughing. Even though we were only talking, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
great this night had become. I start to feel the vibrations a little harder and feel the need to do something. Jen agrees and at some point, we both jump in an on-going drinking game. I think it was called “asshole”. I tried to understand the rules but failed, and started joking about how lame the music is, and how much weed Mike smokes within an hour. Everyone fell apart laughing at how true it was Even though I couldn’t play the game, I could say one word and make everyone laugh for what seemed like
forever. It was all too easy, because essentially everyone looked like cartoon character anyway. By the time the game was
over, the group of us were scattered across the floor trying to catch. I help Jen up and walk over to get another drink. It kind
of sucked not being able to learn the game, but was so worth it making everyone laugh instead.
After a while it started to get late, and people started leaving or passing out on the floor.
“I’m pretty tired, lets find a place to crash”, Jen said.
“Alright, sounds good”, I said, almost too tired to stand.
both occupied by a passed out couple, before finding some stairs that lead us right to empty room. I was overly drunk and
started to see the sun rise. We both lied down and immediately overwhelmed by how good it felt to stretch out on this huge
bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow my eyes closed, and everything began spinning. I tried blinking to stop the spinning, but
it was no use. I started to feel sick, and almost through up, until at some point my eyes stay closed long enough for me to fall
asleep.
We wonder about the house, dodging the bodies flooded across the house. We came across two rooms, that were
[Part Four]
A door slams open and wakes us both up.
“What the fuck are you two doing?! In my fucking room!”, someone shouted.
hard fist slam against my head. The punch knocked off the bed, slamming against the floor hard enough for me to black out.
knees were shaking too much to get a steady balance, so I resort to crawling towards the edge of the bed. I pull myself up just
enough to witness Matt forcing Jen against the bed, but fall back down.
and get out, so I made that my goal. I start trying to pull myself up on my feet, but fail again and again. I keep trying until I end
up on my feet, but get distracted by the room spinning faster than ever. My legs are shaking too much to support my body, and
my insides were weak. Right then, without trying, I throw up everywhere.
throw myself towards the door, but fall short and see Jen run down the stairs. My body jerks back and fourth as I look up at
Matt kicking my side. I’m able to stand up now, but can’t see much. My body feel ill, with sharp pains everywhere, but worst
of all I won’t stop shaking. The first thing I’m able to see is Matt screaming at me, with a vivid anger in his face.
The next thing I see is Jen running through the door, and Matt close behind. I pick my head up out of the vomit and
“Are you fucking kidding me, you threw up in my room, are you fucking retarded man?”, Matt went on. I didn’t know what to
do, even though there wasn’t anything I could do. I tried to talk but couldn’t say anything, at least not anything that could have
calmed him down.
“You know what your going do you fucking freshman? Your going to drink every last drop of alcohol in my house, or I’m going
to knock your teeth out of your fucking mouth”.
down the stairs, letting my body drop to the kitchen. Everyone had either left or fallen asleep. The sun was almost up, but the
inside was still very dark. The music was off, and the only light on was in the kitchen. The atmosphere felt like an eerie nightmare.
and I felt more sick after every second. I tried to remember how I got downstairs, and when I puked on myself. I couldn’t
come up with any answers, then I remembered Jen, and hoped to god if anything, she was alright. Matt stumbled around the
living room, picking up every half empty can or bottle of beer. He came back carrying an arm full of beers, and placed them all
front of me. He seemed too drunk to know what he was doing, or ordering me to do.
I sat down on a stool at the edge of the counter top, trying my best not to fall back. My body was aching in pain,
“Well, what are you waiting for Calvin, start drinking”, Matt barked with a cynical expression molded to his face.
the first one. We sat there. One after the other. Finishing every one he put in front of me. After the first few I lost feeling in m
legs and arms. Now I could only see them shake. I mumble to let me stop but only the devil answered, with another drink in my
face. This went on for a while after I started to hallucinate.
summer when I was a kid. She was sitting there in her red beach chair, reading her favorite magazine she always seems to have
on her. Kurt and I were playing tag along the edge of the beach. When I was younger, I’d have a flash-back of the long
summer days, but I’ve never seen it like this. It was like a dream, but felt real, all of it happening right before my eyes.
“dream”. After about about 15 or so beers I stop for a moment, trying to keep it all down.
Every now and then, I'd snap back to Matt yelling at me to finish a drink. So I'd drink it and fall back into my
“Whats wrong? Your not even close to finishing”, said Matt.
“I… I can’t d-... I can’t do this anymore Matt!”, I cried. I decided my dream is better than drinking with Matt so I fall back into
the nostalgic abyss.
my hand out, just inches from his back. Then all of a sudden, the beach turned into a pier that stretched out for miles away from
the beach. I look back and see my mom’s red beach chair miles away, then look in front of me still running after him, but don’t
see Kurt anywhere. I run faster but begin to feel the planks of woods crumble under my bare feet. I panic and try to stay on the
pier but start falling through. The last thing I felt was the cool ocean breeze, I remember from a kid. I was too busy swaying
with the wind, I forgot about falling. But am quickly reminded, with the sound of my head cracking against a linoleum wave.
and walk toward my mom, who won’t let her glorious smile fade.
I think I'm hurt but am perfectly fine. I open my eyes and see the sunlight bleed through the clouds. So I stand up
Matt -
“Too bad that’s not an option fagot. Keep going, don’t make me hold your mouth open”. I laughed to myself and continued to
sip the bottle of vodka.
“Whats wrong Calvin? Going to puke again? Go ahead fagot”, I ordered him. He wouldn’t stop shaking and crying. What a
bitch, who can’t handle a few drinks I thought. Then he got a blank expression, and his face turned white.
“Hey… Hello… Calvin, you there?”, I said. It looked like the game was over, so I reach for the bottle of vodka. Then
somehow, out of the corner of my eye, I see Calvin fall straight back off the stool, and hear his head smack against the kitchen
floor. I get nervous the sound might have woke the others up, but it didn’t. So I take another sip of vodka and wait for the
asshole to get back up. After a while I look across the table and try to find him. I can’t see him, so I stumble around to where
he was sitting.
“Calvin… Come out wherever you are”, I laughed.
flood of blood and puke.
Then I caught my leg on something on the floor. I look down and see him at my feet, passed out on the floor in a
“Get up man, don’t be a quitter”.
He still doesn’t move. I keep repeating until just about every beer can and bottle, is on floor near his body. I’m about to throw
another until the sound of footsteps breaks my concentration.
I nudge him with my foot over and over but he doesn't move. So I try an empty beer can, and throw it at his head.
“Matt? Wait, is that the kid? Holy shit, what the fuck happened man?”, asked Jake, steering at Calvin.
“Well he won’t move, he’s being a little bitch”, I said.
“Did he drink all of those by himself?”.
“Yeah, with a little help from me”.
“Wait Matt, we can’t just leave him there, he looks sick. Actually it doesn’t even look like he’s breathing”.
“He’s fine, don’t worry”.
“Hey kid, get up… Hey?”. Jake tried to get Calvin’s attention but couldn’t. So he pushed him up against the wall and examined
his face. His eyes still wouldn’t move. Jake yelled into Calvin’s face, again and again. Then stepped back and shook his head in
disbelief.
“Oh my god Matt, this isn’t good…” Jake rolled up Calvin’s sleeve to checked his pulse.
“He doesn’t have a pulse man…Like I can’t feel a pulse on him”. Jake slowly stood up, and looked at Matt who was sitting at
the table sipping the vodka.
“Matt? Hey Matt! Matt get the fuck up!”, Jake shouted.
“Jesus man what do you want?”, I slurred off my tongue.
“Calvin’s… dead”
“He’s fine man, just leave him there”
“Matt, Calvin is fucking DEAD!”
“Hey, chill the fuck out man, Jesus. Let me take a look”.
I walked over and checked Calvin's pulse.
“He’s not dead, he’s just chilling man, don’t worry”.
“Dude, wake up! Oh my fuck-shit. Dude he’s dead, what the fuck are we going to do. I’m getting Erick”.
can’t feel anything. I peeled back his eye lids and gaze into his pupils, which are tiny and oddly shaped. I step back and look at
Calvin again. A sudden cold sensation races through my veins, as I realize Calvin is dead. I start shaking, and feel sick. Sick
enough to collapse, but am frozen in place.
Jake ran off through the house, frantically searching for Eric, leaving me with Calvin. I check his pulse again but still
“Matt whats going on, Jake’s saying some kid di-”. Eric stopped himself at the sight of me hanging over Calvin’s body, that was
covered in blood and puke.
“Dude… What the fuck happened?”, Eric slowly whispered.
“Wait, no”.
room.
A long, drawn-out silence hovered over the three of us. Finally braking by the sound of footsteps from the other
“Alright, we all need to stop and think about how to deal with this”, Jake announced.
“I’m going to get fucked for this, my parents are going to fucking kill me”, I said, and accepted.
“Well it was your plan to get him drunk, you fucking moron”, accused Jake.
“Fuck you man, it was all our idea”, I offered.
“Okay, does anyone remember where he lives?”, asked Erick.
“No”, answered everyone.
“So where are we going to fucking bring him then?”, yelled Erick.
“It’s not like we could drop him off at his fucking house anyways dumb ass”, yelled Jake.
“At least I’m thinking asshole”, whispered Erick under his breath.
There was another pause before anyone could talk again.
“Hospital”, I trembled.
“We can’t just drop him off at a hospital, what about the poli-”.
“DUDE! Find my keys, its the only option, so hurry up”. I take a deep breath, and turn my back away from the body.
“Are you sure this is the best idea man”, asked everyone.
“Just shut up and carry the fucking body to the fucking car, before someone sees this shit, alright”, I shouted under my breath.
My hands are almost too numb to drive. All my effort is trying to keep the car on the road. We drive through town, passing the
school, the park, even the police station. No one has the balls to open their mouths, and a five minute drive feels like a hour,
but eventually, we end up at the hospital.
I turn left at the lights driving into town. It was about 5am, and we're the only car on the road. I can't stop shaking.
“Alright, you know the plan, I pull up to the front door, and you two open the drunk, get him out, and get back in. Let’s try
to do this as fast as we can”, I said trying to stutter as little as possible.
too scared to move.
I pull into the parking lot, and park at the main entrance. I stop the car and pop open the trunk. For a second, were
“Go”, I whisper.
Erick and Jake dragging out Calvin’s body. I try not to look, but am paralyzed by each glimpse. After a moment of sinful
teamwork, they both jump back into the car. I peel-out of the parking lot and reach the main rode in seconds. I calm down,
and let the moment sink in. My heart drops into my stomach, as my body violently shivers. Then suddenly, I let go. I give up. I
stop holding back and am awoken buy a gun shot of consciousness through the head. I feel a tear stream down my face. Eric
and Jake just sat completely still, and dead silent. Another tear finds it’s way down across my face, and within a few seconds, I
just brake down.
I sit in the driver's seat, looking out the windows and mirrors for any sign of police. I can't help but notice flashes of
“This never happened, okay?”. I started crying hard now and yelling, almost screaming at Jake and Erick.
“Okay guys? Hey, it wasn’t my fault!”, I cried as loud as I could, joking on the endless tears, but still crying out.
“This never happened, and it wasn’t my fucking faul-”
But his sentence fell short to the sirens and blue lights flashing behind them.
The End
by Jordan Andrews
