Gunpoint on Ditch Day

By Robert Ljubas

Two teenagers, Bobby Karuko and Jeff Housner, hitchhike to the West Coast, believing they are on a mission from God. As they travel into the unknown, searching for love, adventure, and clues to their questions, their quest takes an unexpected turn filled with mystery and suspense. Girls from their high school and neighborhoods are mysteriously disappearing, and Bobby suspects Jeff knows more about the missing girls than what he's saying. When Bobby, Jeff, and a few others accidentally invade someone's hidden domain and evidence points toward two possible suspects, Bobby and the others must decide if Jeff is innocent or guilty of the most horrific acts any of them could ever imagine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662436451

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Gunpoint on Ditch Day

Robert Ljubas

Copyright © 2022 Robert Ljubas

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-3644-4 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-3645-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Cold, Wet, and Tired

Chapter 2

Ask Her Out

Chapter 3

Phone Calls

Chapter 4

Gunpoint on Ditch Day

Chapter 5

Gary's Party

Chapter 6

The Worm

Chapter 7

Greg Dent

Chapter 8

My Woman

Chapter 9

The Alignment

Chapter 10

The Pavilion

Chapter 11

Blago

Chapter 12

Westbound

Chapter 13

Paranoia

Chapter 14

Pampa and Tucumcari

Chapter 15

Denver

Chapter 16

The Colorado River

Chapter 17

Hook Me Up

Chapter 18

Fish and Bear

Chapter 19

The Wolves Are Among Us

Chapter 20

Las Vegas

Chapter 21

Kingman

Chapter 22

The Split-Up

Chapter 23

Barstow

Chapter 24

The West Coast

Chapter 25

Interstate 5

Chapter 26

The Bandanna

Chapter 27

Packwood

Chapter 28

The Waterfall

Chapter 29

Celebration

Chapter 30

Trent's Angel

Chapter 31

Things Change

Chapter 32

Reno's

Chapter 33

Were You Really

Chapter 34

Two Weeks Older

Chapter 35

You Have a Sister

Chapter 36

Airplane Surprise

Chapter 37

Reunited

Chapter 38

The Truth

Chapter 39

Vivian and Joyce

Chapter 40

The Hidden Well

Chapter 41

The Long Secret

Chapter 42

I Remember You

Chapter 43

The Storm Shelter

Chapter 44

Penny's Dream

Chapter 45

The Secret Room

Chapter 46

The Makeover

Chapter 47

Room of Prayer

Chapter 48

The Seed

Chapter 49

The Spirits

Chapter 50

Paul and His Men

Chapter 51

Twins Explain

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

To my family and friends that waited patiently.

Chapter 1

Cold, Wet, and Tired

Walking north on Interstate 5 in Washington State, Bobby Karuko was wet, cold, and tired. The temperature was in the low thirties, and the wind made it feel much colder. With his Army duffel bag secured over his jacket and left shoulder, he made it to a bridge he could rest under. He put his duffel bag on the ground and sat on it. It was after four in the morning, and not one car drove by for an hour.

He lit up a cigarette with his Zippo lighter and started thinking, It wasn't supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be us—the two of us—not by myself. If Mouse just didn't lose his cool. He spooked me. I can't get that smirk face of his out of my head. If he could of gotten away with it, would he had killed Frank under that bridge?

Bobby couldn't feel his feet anymore. Is this it for me? Am I going to lose my legs from frostbite or die out here in the middle of nowhere? He walked south toward the end of the bridge, looked up at the dark clouds, and dropped to his knees. O Lord, please help me.

Chapter 2

Ask Her Out

Sixteen days earlier

Just walk over there and ask her out. You know you want to, Jeff told Bobby as they watched Jenny Whitten take her math book out of her hall locker and start digging through her purse before the last class of the day.

I want to, but what do I say? Shit, she's already turned me down twice. I'm starting to think she's just a big tease.

Dude, I'm telling you, the way she keeps flirting with you with those eyes, it's just a matter of time. Look at those tight jeans she's wearing. I'd ask her out at least ten more times, Jeff said.

*****

Danny Ardmore made his way through the crowded hallway and talked to a few selected people before finally getting to Jeff and Bobby. Hi, fellows. My uncle, Gary, is having a small party at his place tonight. There's supposed to be at least one keg. If you bring a date or a friend, make sure it's somebody you can trust. We don't need any 5-0 finding out about it, okay? Talk to you later.

You got it. See you there. Thanks, Danny, Bobby replied.

*****

Perfect! Ask her if she wants to go to crazy Gary's party, Jeff added as Jenny glanced at both of them with a big smile and continued fishing through her purse. I told you, dude, and I heard she just broke up with her boyfriend.

"I hope so. I don't want that ugly fucker breathing down my neck, and we both know they're a couple of yoyos. Greg and Jenny must have split up and got back together three or four times," Bobby reminded him.

You only got a few more minutes left before she starts her class. Jeff gave Bobby a good push toward Jenny, who was looking into her small mirror now, making sure her hair was still in place.

After a few steps, Bobby's insides were knotting up. I hope this won't be another rejection, Bobby thought. I think I'm wasting my time. Hi, Jenny, how's that math class coming along?

Jenny turned toward Bobby, smiling with her pretty blue eyes as if he was Sir Lancelot. Bobby Karuko, this is a surprise. I'll be better after this trigonometry class is over with. It's the only subject that I'm not sure about getting a B or better in. How are your classes coming along?

I'm doing okay. I'm sure I'll have a B in most of my classes, Bobby exaggerated. Jenny, would you like to go to crazy Gary's party tonight with me? There's supposed to be a keg or two.

Greg told me about some of his parties. Is it true Gary lost his legs because he stepped on a mine during the Vietnam War?

Yes and no: the guy walking beside him stepped on a mine and died, and Gary lost his legs from the knees down.

Oh my god, I don't know. Greg told me he almost threw Gary out of a window because he pulled a knife out on him. I don't know if I want to be around somebody like that. I'd be scared he might pull a knife out on me.

"No, that's only partially true. They were both drinking one night, playing poker, and this is what I heard from at least three people. I wasn't there. They got into an argument over some money, accused each other of cheating, and Gary punched Greg in the mouth as hard as he could. That punch must of hurt Greg because he picked Gary up by his jacket, carried him over by the living room window, and shoved him halfway out the open window. Both of them had their hands around each other's necks by that time, and this is at the top of a second-story house, by the way.

Greg's yelling, ‘I should end your suffering right now, you crazy son of a bitch!' Gary's yelling back, ‘You're coming with me or you're going to prison! I really don't give a damn!' Greg pulled him back in, set him in his chair, and left. Speaking of Greg, you two did break up—right?

We broke up two weeks ago. Jenny glanced at the clock on the wall over Bobby's right shoulder. I only have a few seconds left. Jenny leaned up and kissed Bobby on the cheek and simultaneously grabbed his left hand and caressed it with both of hers. As she started to walk away, Jenny looked back and smiled. Call me.

Bobby, still thinking about Jenny's kiss, felt something like paper in his hand. How did she do that? he thought. Getting a closer look, it read as follows:

Bobby call me 312…

—Jenny

Chapter 3

Phone Calls

The phone started to ring at the house of Jenny's mother. Jenny walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her wet hair and hollered downstairs, I'll get it, Mom! She walked through the short hallway to her bedroom, sat on the edge of her queen-size bed, and picked up the phone. Hello.

Can I speak to Jenny, please?

You're speaking to her.

Hi, this is Bobby.

"Hi, what are you up to, Bobby, darling?" Jenny asked with a jolly, humorous voice.

Bobby giggled. I just got done taking a shower and blow-dried my hair. My dad's letting me borrow his car. I'm ready. I can pick you up at seven or whenever you want.

What kind of car is it?

It's a '73 Buick Riviera, his pride and joy. I wash it almost every weekend.

Oh, that's one of those big boat-looking cars—right?

Well, I guess you could say that. It's got the V-shaped window on the rear.

Yeah. She cleared her throat. Bobby, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I would feel a little uncomfortable riding in that car. It's just not me. Does your dad have another car you can borrow?

Sure. My parents have three cars. I just thought you'd like it because it's fast, built for racing, but I guess not. Anyway, my mom has a Ford Escort, and my dad's other car is a Mustang: take your pick.

How old are they?

The Mustang's five years old, and the Escort's brand-new.

Bobby, I like fast cars. The Riviera just isn't me, but the Mustang sounds good. What color is it?

It's red, and the Escort's blue, in case you want to know.

I'd feel more comfortable in the Mustang.

Great, have you ate yet? I made forty dollars cutting grass this week, and I got my allowance. Would you like to go to a pizza place? It doesn't matter to me. Any place you want.

Pizza sounds good. I'm not that finicky. Jenny laughed. Do you know how to get here?

If my memory serves me right, don't you live a few houses down from that park in Flossmoor?

That's right. It's the fifth house north of the park on the right. How did you know?

My cousin lives near that park. I spent the night at his place one night when we saw you at the park with some friends. Shoot, it must have been two or three years ago.

Really? I don't remember seeing you. Okay, seven o'clock sounds good. I'll be waiting. See you later.

Later.

*****

Jenny started to go back to the bathroom when the phone rang again.

Hello.

It's about time you answered the phone. Giggling on the other end was Jenny's old friend, Tracy Thornwood.

Oh, it's only you, Jenny said, giggling back.

Who were you expecting? Don't tell me—Greg?

No, I'm done with him. His drinking is getting out of hand. He'd rather be drinking with his friends, Randy and Jerry, and who knows who, than me.

Maybe, but it'll pass. I should know. I grew up with four brothers. Three of them are older than me. Greg Dent is one of the best athletes Bloom High had in years. He may not be the best-looking guy, but what if he gets that scholarship? And there's a good chance he will. You'd be sorry.

Yeah, we'll see, but that's not why I was with him. He makes me laugh. Maybe we just need some space between us for a while.

So, Jenny, darling, you got any plans for tonight or tomorrow?

Not Saturday, but I'm going out tonight with a friend.

Who's this friend? Anybody I know?

I'd rather not say right now.

Let me guess: Bobby Karuko?

How did you know?

I have ears and eyes all over Chicago Heights, especially at Bloom High. That she did. Tracy Thornwood was the most popular girl at school. She was on the cheerleading squad and pretty, and almost every girl wanted to be her. A little birdie told me you two were talking by your locker. You better hope Greg doesn't find out about your little date. You know how crazy jealous he can get.

We broke up over two weeks ago. Bobby's asked me out a couple times, and I just want to know a little bit more about him. He looks a little like Silver when he's wearing his bandanna. I think he's so cute.

Silver? He doesn't look like Trent Goldman to me.

"I mean his profile, like in that movie The Gun Clerk. There's just something about him, and it's one little friendly date, so mum's the word. Okay?"

Jenny, darling, if you're going to a party and some people from school are going to be there, don't you think Greg's going to find out about it anyway?

I know. I just don't want him showing up at the party when I'm there. If he asks me if I was there with Bobby, I'll deal with it then.

What makes you think he won't show up there?

Bobby told me him and Gary got into it. I doubt he'll show up there.

"Okay, you know I'm just looking out for you. We've known each other since grade school. You're like the kid sister I never had. You could do a lot better than Bobby Karuko. He ditches a lot of school, I heard. I don't think he's going to amount to anything, him and his little sidekick, Jeff Housner, or whatever his last name is. Everybody calls him Mouse. He looks more like a rat to me. I heard he bit a bird's head off once at some party. He is so disgusting. You do what you want, but just be careful. I'm going to the bathroom. My stomach's starting to get upset just thinking about it. Bye for now."

Bye, Tracy. I hope you get better.

Jenny hung up the phone, thinking, Did Mouse really do that? I have to ask Bobby.

Chapter 4

Gunpoint on Ditch Day

After treating Jenny to a large supreme pizza at Domino's in Chicago Heights, they drove south on Governors Drive (Route 50) toward Gary's place in Peotone just before 9:00 p.m.

Bobby, I heard something about one of your friends, and I have to know. Is it true that Mouse bit a bird's head off at some party?

Bobby glanced at her with a surprised look then looked back at the road. Well, it was one of those crazy nights the Army Jackets, I mean the guys, got drunk and somebody dared Mouse to do it, so he did it.

That's another question I wanted to ask. Who are the Army Jackets? Are you in a gang, Bobby?

No, I'm not. Bobby shook his head. We're just a few guys that like to drink and do some crazy things. We're not a gang, but when we do get together, we look out for each other. Somebody saw most of us were wearing Army jackets and said, ‘Hey, It's the Army Jackets,' and the name stuck. That's all, really.

Why are you wearing a leather jacket tonight, Bobby?

Probably because I'm on a date with you, Jenny. I thought you'd like it.

That's so nice of you. Thank you. I have to ask you. Do you guys smoke weed and do acid?

I can't speak for all of them, but I don't do any hard drugs. I don't know where you're getting your information, but most of us drink, and every once in a while, we do smoke. Bobby glanced at Jenny with an assuring look. We're the good guys, Jenny. One time, Jim Gibson, Don Parker, and a couple other Army Jackets were at the Joe-Orr-Road Plaza when some woman got her purse stolen. Gibson and Parker chased after him, beat his ass, and then returned the bag to the woman. She tried to give them money as a reward, but they wouldn't take it. The lady used a pay phone to call her husband. When he got there, he talked the guys into taking twenty dollars each. She had over two hundred in her purse. We're the good guys, Jenny—really.

I didn't mean to get you upset, Bobby. It's just some stuff I heard through the grapevine, as they say. So…they let the guy go?

Yeah, but he didn't get far. When the cops got there, they told them to look for the guy with the bloody face behind the plaza.

That could have been me. I'm glad they caught the dumb asshole. Jenny rubbed Bobby's shoulder a little. "You know how rumors get around. One more question, Bobby, and don't get upset. I just want to know the truth. I heard you almost got shot during a robbery. Then a week later, I hear you almost shot yourself while playing with a gun in back of the plaza. Everyone's calling it Gunpoint on Ditch Day. What really happened?"

Bobby was puzzled. I heard somebody say that yesterday at school while passing me up in the hallway, and I did get robbed. Jim Gibson was with me. We could of lost our lives that day. It scared the shit out of me. Bobby paused to light up a Marlboro Light, and Jenny rubbed his shoulder again. It was two weeks ago from today. I was walking to school in the morning. I took the trail through the woods, off Route 30, across from the library that leads to the plaza by our school. It's a good hangout place while ditching school or late-night parties on the weekend. Have you ever gone through there?

No, but I heard about it. Go on.

"I'm walking through the woods when I ran into Jim. He says he made a few bucks helping his dad out with yard work and wanted me to ditch school with him. I told him I didn't want to because school just started no more than a month ago, but Jim wouldn't stop. The more he talked about it, the more persuasive he became, especially the part about buying breakfast, lunch, and splitting a pint of Jack Daniel's with me. I was starting to get hungry too, so I said, ‘Why not? Let's do it.' We got somebody to buy the bottle for us at the liquor store. We built a little fire in the woods and spent most of the day drinking and bullshitting. He bought me breakfast and lunch at Burger King, just like he said he would.

Around one thirty, he decides to buy more whiskey. This time he buys a whole half gallon of Jack. We're leaving the liquor store, on our way back to the woods, when we ran into this black guy we knew from school named Ron. We didn't know Ron that well other than talking in the hallways at school. Ron had a friend with him. We never saw this guy before. It turned out they were ditching school too. We got a kick out of it, so Jim asks them if they wanted to drink some whiskey with us. Bobby slowed the car down and turned left down a side street at the edge of Peotone. Are you still following me, Jenny?

Yes, you should be a storyteller. You got me wanting to know what happens next.

"Well, the last store at the end of the plaza, near the woods, was boarded up with large pieces of plywood. At the far end, we were able to pull the bottom of the plywood back and slip through it, one at a time. Once inside, we were in a small area in front of the store door. The door and all the walls were made of glass. The sunlight was beaming through small holes in the plywood, and that made it a lot easier to see inside. If it wasn't for all those holes and the crack we squeezed through, it would of been pitch-dark in there.

The door was locked, and the area between the door and the plywood was no more than four feet long and the same distance wide. Jim and I had our backs to the glass door, and Ron and his friend had their backs to the plywood. Jim was facing Ron while I was facing Ron's friend, and there was no more than two feet of space between us. Bobby slowed the car down and made a right turn down a deserted dirt road. Another three to five miles, we'll be there.

Never mind that. What happened next? she asked, eagerly.

"So here we were in this small cramped space taking swigs from a bottle and talking about what we did on our extra day off from school. We were laughing, telling jokes, and having a good time. All of a sudden, Ron pulls a gun out of his coat pocket, and his smiling face turned into pure madness, yelling, ‘Don't try anything stupid or I'll put a hole through your stomach!' He was pointing the gun straight at Jim. It looked like a .38 handgun. My dad has one. Ron demanded we give him all our money. We gave him maybe five dollars between us.

I was scared Jim was going to grab for the gun because Ron started shouting, ‘Don't even think about it!' Ron and his friend looked bigger than us, so the last thing I wanted was to get into it with these guys. Ron said he was taking the bottle with him, and we better not leave for at least ten minutes after they do or he was going to start shooting. We waited until after-school hours to call the police because we didn't want our parents to find out we were ditching school. A week later, we picked Ron out of a police lineup. They're supposed to let us know when the court date is. As for Ron's friend, it looks like he got away. We forgot the guy's name and never saw him again.

Bobby turned right at another dirt road. He looked at Jenny and caught her gazing smile. What are you so happy about? Bobby asked.

Did anybody ever tell you that you look like Trent Goldman?

Yeah, every now and then, somebody'll mention that to me.

You kind of walk like him too. Why do they call him Silver?

"For starters, in the movie The Gun Clerk, he found that silver dollar in the woods."

More like they found each other. Yeah, what luck. I wish I found one.

In the old days, silver prevented people from getting sick. They would drop a silver dollar in a container of water or milk and let it sit for a while before drinking it. There's something in silver coins that helps kill off any bad germs inside the liquids. What Trent means by it is that the bad guys are the germs and he's the preventer—if that makes any sense.

I like that.

Did you watch the whole movie? He mentions that in there somewhere.

We were at the theater. I must have gone to the bathroom.

Or you can look at it like a silver bullet kills a werewolf.

Jenny felt on Bobby's arm. You are so much bigger now than freshman year.

Thanks for noticing. I bought a bench and three hundred pounds of weights from my neighbor last year. I finally benched my best, 240 pounds, the other day.

That's all? You feel a lot bigger than that.

Thanks again, but that's because I'm pumped up. I've been working out two to four times a day. Bobby started to get nerves, put a cassette tape in the car stereo, and turned it up a little. Do you like Boston?

Yeah, they're all right. Jenny giggled. When's your birthday?

November 19, 1963. I'm a Scorpio. When's yours?

December 3, I'm a Sagittarius. Wait a sec, there's thirty days in November. That means you're exactly two weeks older than me, Jenny said just before the car bounced over a couple big rocks in the road. She looked all around her. I've never been down this way. He lives in Peotone, did you say?

Gary says it is. I think it's closer to Manteno or some crazy place in between.

Jenny looked behind them and saw four headlights. Two cars just turned down this road, following us, Jenny said with a terrible thought, What if it's Greg and a few of his friends? What if Tracy or her little birdie told him?

I don't doubt it. Gary's had some big parties in the past, Bobby said, noticed her disturbed look, and then turned the radio off. You okay, Jenny? Don't worry, you're with me. If you feel uneasy when we get there, let me know and I'll take you home, okay?

I sure will. Jenny looked to the back and to the front again. I smell something burning, like a fire.

It's probably a bonfire. Gary's had a few of those too.

Jenny looked behind them again. That's strange. Now I only see one pair of headlights.

Bobby looked through both side mirrors and the rearview. They could have pulled over to piss. It happens all the time down these dirt roads.

The closer they came to the party, the heavier the smell became. The fire was between Gary's two-story house, the two-car garage, and the large shed that obstructed the view of the fire from passing vehicles. Bobby turned right onto the long driveway and parked beside a blue Corvette.

That's McGillicuddy's car, Jenny said.

You know Jim McGillicuddy?

Yeah, we went on a date once. He's so arrogant. All he talked about was that '69 Corvette. One date was all I could handle.

Bobby walked to the other side and opened the door for Jenny. A brown Ford Falcon drove past them slowly. A bald man on the passenger side was halfway out the window, wearing a green army jacket, raised his left arm over his head, trying to imitate a crane with his fingers together, pointing downward, and gave off a load crow sound, Cahhhhh! It's still on for tonight, Bobby!

Bobby and Jenny heard music and people laughing from inside the car.

Wasn't that Mouse? Jenny asked.

Bobby started grinning. Yeah, that's crazy-ass Mouse.

Is it my imagination, or did he shave his head since the last time I saw him at school today?

Yeah, that's what it looks like to me too.

What did he mean by ‘It's still on for tonight'?

Bobby giggled. It's another one of his crazy ideas. I don't want to spoil it. Actually, I don't think I could explain it if I tried.

Jenny wrapped her left arm around Bobby's right. Okay, just as long as he doesn't bite anymore bird heads off. They both started laughing, walking through the driveway.

Chapter 5

Gary's Party

It's fifteen dollars per head, the doorman said. That covers beer and pizza that should be here within the hour.

Here you go. Bobby handed the man three ten-dollar bills.

Thank you. We got two kegs—one upstairs, one downstairs at the end of the hall to the right—and there's a small fire through the back door. Enjoy the party.

Do you know where Gary is? Bobby asked.

He should be upstairs, the doorman said.

They walked halfway up the dim stairway. Bobby stopped, feeling the time was right, and moved his arm around Jenny's waist. They turned slowly toward each other and passionately started to taste each other's lips.

Jenny pulled away from him. Let's get a beer, she whispered.

That sounds like a good idea, Bobby agreed.

They turned right at the top of the stairs and walked down a short hallway toward the living room. The room was semicrowded with people drinking and talking. Led Zeppelin music filled the air, as well as cigarette and marijuana smoke. There were several joints and a pipe passed around from different sections of the room. Jenny looked around and noticed only four other girls. She didn't know them that well except that they partied a lot and her friend Tracy didn't like them. One of them was sitting on Jim McGillicuddy's lap. Bobby waved hello at Jim, and Jenny frowned and looked elsewhere.

Nine men and a woman, most under the legal age to drink alcohol, were wearing Army coats, but there were only two whom Bobby knew and trusted to be members of the Army Jackets—Tom Slavick and James (Jimbo) Holman. Bobby shook their hands while Jenny smiled and briefly said hello to them. Bobby went to grade school with Holman, Slavick, and McGillicuddy, hung out and partied with each one many times before, especially at the forest preserves. Even though Jim rarely put on an Army coat (he preferred leather or sport jackets), Bobby trusted him. Out of the three Army veterans in the house, Gary was the only one not wearing his Army jacket today. Bobby trusted them even though he only knew them a little more than a year.

Two windows on the east side of the room were halfway open, with a keg set between them. In the middle of the large room were two round tables. One had a poker game going on, and the other had a game of quarters bounced on it, with Gary sitting next to it.

There's Gary, Bobby told Jenny.

*****

Drink up, Jayson. You drink again, Gary announced after his quarter bounced into a small six-ounce glass of beer. Gary was sitting in his wheelchair, wearing a red, white, and blue bandanna wrapped around his forehead, a Guess-Who T-shirt, and an unbuttoned Levi's jacket.

Gary's old veteran friend, Jayson, chugged down the glass of beer and set it down on the table. Damn you and that lucky coin of yours, Gary. That's eight straight, and I'm taking a break before I belly up, Jayson protested.

I can't help it if I'm lucky, Gary said, laughing.

*****

Bobby and Jenny walked to the table. Hi, Gary, how you been? Bobby asked.

Gary looked to his right up at Bobby. Well, I'll be, if it isn't Bobby. The two shook hands. I've been doing well. How you been? And who is this good-looking lady you got with you?

I've been okay, going to school and partying here and there. This is my date, Jenny. We go to the same school. I'll let you three get acquainted while I go get some beers.

Have a seat, Jenny. So tell me, have you known each other long? Gary asked.

A few years, this is our first date, Jenny said, blushing, as Gary kept smiling at her, showing his stained and fairly straight teeth.

Pardon my manners. This is my friend, Jayson. We were in the Vietnam War together for two years.

Nice to meet you, Jayson. I like your beard. Jenny sat down between them. I never saw one that long and thick. How long did it take you to grow it, if you don't mind me asking?

Jayson smiled, revealing one missing front tooth. Thank you. It's been over ten years. I was shot in the leg, got on honorable discharge in '70, and stopped shaving. After a few compliments, I decided to keep growing it. Now, everybody says I look like one of the ZZ Top brothers.

*****

Bobby pulled the Budweiser handle toward him with his right hand while holding an inclined plastic cup with his other hand under the spout. He smelled the fire burning and looked outside the window. The burning wood smelled good, and it brought back good memories from the forest-preserve park. He saw a half-dozen people standing around the small fire and Jeff moving the loose branches inside it with a long stick. Bobby leaned forward next to the screen and let out a high-pitched whistle. Jeff looked all around and up at the window. He saw Bobby's dim face in the window, giving him a thumbs-up. Jeff returned the thumbs-up, and Bobby walked back to the table.

*****

Nice, Jenny said and looked at Gary. I heard you guys talking about this lucky coin of yours. What's so special about it? She looked at the quarter on the table.

Gary picked the quarter up and handed it to her. "A friend of mine gave me that coin just before he died in the war. His last words were ‘I bought it at a store for good luck. It's the same year my dad was born.' I assumed he bought it for his dad. Three years after the war, I went to find his dad in a small town in Georgia, but I found out his dad also pasted away a few years before the war even started—lung cancer, it was. I tried to give it to his mother, but she told me to keep it because her son, William, gave it to me.

She was a nice lady. She insisted I spend the night there and eat dinner with her. In the morning, she cooked me breakfast and I left. Bobby walked over and stood beside Jenny as Gary continued. I looked the coin up in a book. For a 1924, it's not worth that much. You can tell by looking at it. It's worn down, but it has more sentimental value to me than anything else.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Jenny handed the coin back to him.

Thank you. Gary looked up at Bobby. Where's your buddy Mouse at? I haven't seen you two in about a month.

He's here. I saw him outside by the fire, Bobby said.

Good, he livens up the party for some reason. You two remind me of me and some of my friends I used to hang with in my younger days. Gary pulled a half-ounce bag of smoke out of his shorts. You're going to like this—fresh from Colombia. Gary pulled a few buds out of his bag, placed them on a Budweiser tray, and handed a two-inch bud to Bobby. Tell me what you think about that.

Bobby grabbed the bud by its stem, and Gary started breaking the buds apart on the tray. Nice, I like all the brown hairs in it, and it smells so rich. I do love it.

I told you it's some good shit. Bobby started to place the bud in the tray. Bobby, I want you to keep that. We're friends. I don't see you that often, and I wish you'd come by more.

Chapter 6

The Worm

Gary broke the buds apart with his fingers the best he could. He pulled out a pack of Top rolling papers from his coat pocket and started to roll up a cigarette-size joint. Bobby pulled the plastic cover off his Marlboro pack, placed his bud in it, and then slid it down his back pocket while watching Gary roll the joint. Bobby was amazed at the beautiful artwork put into it. When Gary was finished, it looked almost like a Pall Mall cigarette but a lot better for some reason. Gary was about to light it up when he saw Jeff walking toward him with a lit joint in his mouth. Gary started to grin and giggle.

Try this out, Gary, Jeff said in a low voice, holding his hit in, handing the joint to him, and the two shook hands.

How you been, Mouse? What's with the bald-head look?

I've been doing okay. I'm trying something new. It doesn't look that bad, does it? Jeff asked, taking his Army jacket off and placing it over the back of an empty chair. He took a large white bag out of the side pocket of his coat and swung it around the nape of his neck, holding it in place with both hands in front of his chest.

To be frank, I have to get used to it, but it don't look bad. I'm just glad to see you and Bobby again. But I have to ask, what's with the garbage bag? Gary looked puzzled. At first I thought you had something in the bag for me, but now I don't know. What are you up to? Gary took a hit and passed it to Bobby.

No, I don't have anything in this bag for you yet, but I might in a half hour. It's an idea I came up with, and I'd like to try it out here at this table.

Gary exhaled. I don't mind, Mouse, but I would like to know what it is first. It is my house.

Okay, I think I got a tapeworm inside me, and I'm pretty sure I can get it out.

*****

Gary wasn't sure if he heard it right, but he felt totally tumultuous by Jeff's response. Hey, you, by the stereo, Gary started yelling, turn it down!

A long-haired fellow wearing a Jethro Tull T-shirt turned the radio down to almost nothing.

*****

Now let me get this straight, Gary told Jeff. You said you have a tapeworm inside you and you believe you can get it out. That is what you said, right?

Jeff looked around the room. Everybody's eyes were focused on him. That's right. I believe, if everything goes according to plan, I can get this worm out, have it put inside this garbage bag, and hand it to you—if you like, Jeff stated as many observers giggled.

Oh, this is good. I thought I heard everything, but shit if I did. You don't mind if I ask how you're planning to do this, do you? Gary asked.

Jeff sat down in his chair and lit up a Marlboro light. "You might think this is funny, but I've been doing research on tapeworms. I found out when starved, tapeworms will come out of the intestines and wait on the stomach walls for food and liquids to come down the esophagus. I didn't eat or drink anything for two days, and for the last hour, I've been smoking weed. I don't know if these worms caught any of the smoke I've been smoking, but if they did, they're going to