Excerpt:

Friday night came and Roy Chapman’s place in the trailer park was ground zero for an invasion of the Old MacDonald boys. Guys who had lived in the MacDonald house residence in their first two years. Ed had shown up with a 40 of rum and some Coke, while the other guys brought 24s of beer and pints of their own alcohol.

It was mostly a night of drinking, listening to tune and playing cards.

“Who dealt this mess?” groaned Jerry, looking at his hand

“No talking across the table!’ snapped Tim Barker studying his hand closely.

“Excuse me if I’m not sophisticated enough to pass my signals to my partner with an intricate game of footsies.”

“Them’s some good feet, bah” grinned Smitty from the opposite side of the coffee table.

“Alright, 20!” said Ed throwing in a bid.

“Pass”

“25” Said Jerry

Ed shot him a look

“Hold” said Barker

Jerry glanced at his card and then the score sheet.

“30 for 60!”

Ed shook his head.

“Yours” said Barker

“Spades”

Barker immediately threw down the 5 of Spades, the highest trump card, which ensured the tandem of Ed and Jerry couldn’t make their bid.

“That’s three ticks, so yer out there my sons,” grinned Smitty, while Barker leaned back on the couch and smirked.

“Thanks boys, a real pleasure kicking your asses.”

“What the Fuck kind of bid was that when you didn’t have the 5?”

“No risk no reward,” smiled Jerry, “I’m getting up to go take a piss.”

“Thanks for sharing.”

“Need a fourth!” Shouted Smitty,

“And a third,” Said Ed pulling up to his feet, “someone else can take my place.”

Ed moved over to the kithcenette area of the trailer where a few of the guys were talking to Smoothie.

The golden haired youth was leaning back with one elbow on the kithchen counter, his relaxed smile playing on his face.

“So I got the whole brick and I should be able to sell it off for a good setup this year.”

Careful with that shit Smoothie,” cautioned Roy, “a brick of Hash is a bit different than having a marijuana plant in your bedroom. The cops bust you for that and it’s serious.”

“Thanks, Mom, I’ll be careful.

‘That said,” grinneed Roy, “you got any on you?”

“Fire her up boys, got a few fine cubes for us right here.”

Roy cranked the stovetop elements up to high, while Benson wen tinto the drawers and produced a coupled of already blackened knives. He shoved the knife into the elements so that the were wedged in. The Elements slowly turned red hot and wisps of smoke began to curl upwards as previous residue was burnt off.

“You guys doin’ fuckin’ knives?” asked Jerry strolling out of the can.

“You want in?’ asked Smoothie

“Pass, I’ll just get pissed with my good friend Alexander Keith,” said Jerry hauling another beer from the fridge.

“That should be hot enough,” said Roy taking out a second knife and passing it to Smoothie.

Smoothie produced a small rol pf tinfoil from his pocket and unrolled to to reveal several small cubes of hash resin. –He placed on of the cubes on the cool knife, then pulled one of the knives from the stove top. Roy bent over as Smoothie brought the two knifes together, immolating the resin as it came in contact with the hot knife. The guys in turn each inhaled the smoke released form the reaction each doing their best not to let any of it escape their nostrils.

When Ed’s turn came he took in the plume in a deep breath. It felt like trying to breathe in tar as the the thick smoke worked it’s way down his wind pipe. Ed wasn’t a smoker so he found himself gagging a bit on the exhale as the unfamilar dryness constricted his throat and the smoke sandpapered it’s way across the back of his throat.

“Woah, you ok there chief?”

“I’ll… I’l be fine, “ hacked Ed.

It was long before the effects of the hash were felt by the group. Ed always found it to be a “heavier”-high than when he smoked weed. There was still the same sense of mellowness but it felt like your head was enveloped in a giant pillow at the same time.

“That’s good shit,” said Ed, flopping down on the couch.

“You know it" smiled Smoothie from somewhere across the room.

“Fuck me, it feels like I’m gargling maple syrup,” gulped Barry.

“Chill out man, it will pass," said Roy taking a seat across from Ed, his eyes already glassed over.

“You should have tried some Jerry,” said Ed

“Not my thing,” smiled Jerry taking a swig of his beer.

“Thanks for inviting me out man. I really appreciate it.”

“Hey no problem, glad you’re having a good time.”

“Yeah, y’know, I am. I’ve hardly thought about crazy shit at all.”

“Ed your whole life is based on crazy shit,” Laughed Barry.

Nah, man”

“Fuck yeah, those crazy comics, that fucked up music… and those T-Shirts. What was that crazy one… I’m dead but so’s my hot sister.”

“It was “How would you feel about life if Death was your older sister” IT’s form ‘Sandman, it’s a cool comic about this guy who’s like lord of the Dreams and stuff…”

Ed sat up and tried to explain how Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comic worked, but he stumbled over a lot of his words and being soemwhat high, the narrative ran in a circular direction. The others, being just as high all tried to follow, some of them nodding their heads sagely, but none of them really focusing or seeming to comprehend what was happening.

Jerry doubled over on the couch, roaring with laughter.

“I don’t know what’s funnier, the incomprehensible shit coming out of your mouth, Ed, or these sorry sons of bitches pretending they know what the fuck you’re talking about!”

Ed gurgled a laugh as well, a huge sheepish grin crossed his face,

“Sorry guys, I get carried away some times”

“Nothing to be sorry for bah, said Smitty sitting down with his arm around him, “We’re all friends here.”

“That’s right said Barker. Gentlemen, a toast: “To Evil!”

“To Evil!” they all chimed in, raising their glasses and bottles. In chorus of a Simpson’s episode they all enjoyed.

Fuck man, let’s head into town and find some chicks, Smitty her’es statrting to look good to me right about now.

"I’ll call some cabs."

The cabs arrived shortly after, Ed, Smitty and Barry piled in the back seat of one, while Jerry hopped in the front.

“Where to you guys? Asked the driver

“The Inn” said Jerry.

“Nah, the Pub, said Barry, the Inn will be packed already, I’d rather get a table and let the crowd come to us.

“Jerry just wants to see if Angela’s working the Inn tonight.

“hey now, blushed Jerry

“That’s right, he’s all about getting’ “Service” from the waitress.

The Driver laughed, “You boys are all about the pussy huh?”

Ed rolled his eyes, but Barry leaned forward, eager to egg on the driver.

“That’s right, man, I bet a guy like you gets crazy pussy all the time.

“Kid, the amount of tail that gets in this car every night, would drive you crazy. I love university towns.”

Yeah, you’re all about College girls, huh?”

Jerry was doubled over in the front seat trying not to laugh”

“Alright Barry…” started Ed, but Smitty shushed him.

“The driver turned around and smiled at Barry

That’s right, I’ve got my fair bit of fluff in here”

“Fluff?” Barry roared, “Is that like lint?”

“Listen you kids could learn a thing or two about an old guy like me. I know how these bitches work.

“Really? You’re a regular Casanova eh?

:”Damn straight said the driver, turn his head again,”

Live by the rule too.

“What’s that”

“If it tastes like Chicken, keep on lickin’ if it smells like trout, get the fuck out!

“Jesus,” moaned Ed as the others roared hysterically.

“You’re the best cab driver I’ve ever had" said Barry solemnly.

“You think that’s good, listen to this....”

They driver turned his head again.

Smitty whose head was lolling to one side, came out of his stupor for a second and stared at the road ahead of them.

“moose…” he muttered,

“What?” The driver turned back around, as Jerry sat up straight in his seat and screamed

“Moose!”

And then it all went to Hell.