The Trigger Effect
© 2005 By Ken Glassmeyer
© 2005 By Ken Glassmeyer
CHAPTER TEN
Jeren shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he listed to the conversation between Deshon and Snake. He had no idea just how deep his friend had gotten into the G.D.'s He suddenly realized that he was probably never going to make it over to Sasha's house. He tried to sink lower into the seat as the Talon sped down the street and passed the church his mother and grandmother were playing bingo in. He wished he had just stuck to his original plan. Suddenly he longed to be in his father's big comfortably "hoopty" sedan. He caught the glance of Snake in the rearview mirror and tried to act cool. Deshon punched his thigh and gave him a look that probably meant he should stop acting like a little kid. The problem was, Jeren wanted to be a little kid. Now he was beginning to wish he was back at the church they just passed. Even the childcare program would be better than being in this car.
The mean-looking dude next to Snake flashed him an aligator smile as he held up the blunt he had been rolling. He flipped open a butane lighter and blazed the thick joint up, not even bothering to be discreet as the drove around town.
"Here you go little man. This will calm you down." He held the smoldering stub toward the backseat. Jeren tried to crawl out of the car through the closed window to get away from the marijuana. The two guys in the in the front of the car thought that was the most hilarious thing they had ever seen. They smiled knowingly at each other and began to laugh loudly as Deshon grabbed the thick joint between his calloused forefinger and thumb and took a deep long drag. He held his breath for a moment, and then smiled as he exhaled, aiming the stream of blue smoke right into Jeren's face. Jeren tried to hold his breath, but the cloud of tangy smoke semmed to invade him. It made him dizzy.
Snake turned in the seat and faced Jeren as he tried to feel for the window controls to get some fresh air. Snake smacked Jeren upside the head and fixed him with an evil grin, "What are you, a coney?" He looked over at Deshon and winked. "Hey D, why'd you bring this bannana-head with us?"
"Jeren's ah'right once you get to know him. He's a choirboy. . . give 'im time to get used to the game. Besides, he is wicked smart, and while his game is weak, he does have jokes."
Snake's face went blank into a poker stare. "Forget jokes, we need 'dat money. D says you be book smart. What do you know about car alarms?"
Jeren couldn't explain what suddenly changed in his mind or where the words that came from his mouth were formed, but suddenly he wanted to earn the respect of the two men in the front of the car. "Well, my dad owns an electrical contracting business. . ."
