Read Online Leaving Serenity by Alle Wells - Free Book Online

you kill him?”
    Jack waved his hand. “Nah, Man. I mean I literally shot the guy in the ass.”
    I was engrossed in the story, staring wide-eyed at the ringlets falling freely around his manly face. “Wow, he’s okay, right?” I asked.
    “Aw, yeah. He just couldn’t sit down for a month.”
    We all laughed at that until Andy asked, “What did they do to you? I mean, did you get in trouble?”
    Jack took another swig from his drink bottle and sat back down to eat his burger. “They threw me in the brig for six months, and then I got a discharge. Being here is a lot better than being over there, that’s for sure.”
    Andy shook his head. “Hey, that’s a real drag. What was it like in the brig? Was it bad?”
    Jack pondered over the question. “Far out, enlightening, Man. You find out all kinds of stuff in prison that you’d never learn about out here in real life. I met some really smart dudes in there, Man. Dudes that know about things you and me would never dream of, like conspiracy. Do you know what conspiracy is?”
    Andy and I shook our heads.
    Jack pushed his empty plate away and explained. “Conspiracy is what the establishment is all about, Man! The politicians, the bankers, everybody over thirty, they all want to turn us into a controlled society. You know, like we’re nothing but a bunch of worker bees while the fat cats sit back and tell us what to do. It’s been going on for years. The establishment has your whole life all planned out for you, even before you get a chance to live it.”
    Jack shook his head. “I’m telling you, Man, never trust anybody over thirty!”
    Andy scratched his chin and answered quietly, “Yeah, I see what you mean.”
    Jack stood up. “Well, Dude, I gotta jet, places to go and people to see.”
    Jack reached over the counter and shook Andy’s hand like a real grown-up. Andy nodded and smiled at him. I nearly fell through the floor when he turned to me, stared directly into my eyes, and actually kissed my hand!
    “Until we meet again, my pretty lady.”
    Then he dashed out the door. My heart felt like it jumped out of my chest and ran out the door behind him. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen in real life or on TV.
    “Oh God, Andy, did you see that? He kissed my hand like I was some kind of princess.”
    Andy smiled. “Yeah, Jack’s all right, a real straight up guy.”
    “Yeah, cute too, and so smart! But you know what? He didn’t pay!”
    Andy leaned over the counter and whispered, “Yes he did.”
    He opened his hand and revealed the marijuana joint. Then I knew why Jack shook Andy’s hand.
    Andy gave me a half-smile. “If you want, we can smoke this tonight after work.”
    “I don’t know, Andy. Smoking’s not really my thing.”
    “This is different. Trust me, you’ll like it.”
    ***
    Business was dead, so we closed the café early. Andy showed me a quiet hillside just outside of town where we could watch the sun go down. I coughed and sputtered when the harsh smoke hit my throat. But the weed (that’s what Andy said to call it) smelled good and made my mouth water. We talked about how pretty the sunset was and how we wished we were somewhere other than Serenity. Afterwards, we stopped by the 7-Eleven. I picked up three candy bars and a Dr. Pepper. Andy made me nervous when he laughed so hard at every little thing. I dropped Andy off at the café and ate the candy bars on the way home. By the time I walked in the front door, the effects of the joint were gone.
    I slipped through the foyer and turned toward the hallway. Mama was sitting on the couch in the den watching The Carol Burnett Show . “Is that you, Annette?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    She didn’t turn around, but said, “You’re coming in later every night. You know you have to be up in time to go to church tomorrow.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    I hadn’t even gone to bed yet, and Mama was already telling me what I was going to do the next day. It’s just like Jack said, “ T