Planting the Seed
by Aaron Worley
Josh twisted the bottom of his shirt as he saw the gold Z-28 pull into the 7-11 parking lot. He remembered Shane had said that was his car. When he accepted this guy's offer earlier at the head shop, Josh didn't have the fuzzy feeling in his feet he had now.
"Hey boy, you ready to smoke some dope or what?"
Hopping into the car, Josh grinned but decided not to say anything as a reply. They bounced their heads to Rancid as Shane took him to a neighborhood where all of the houses looked the same, and they stopped in front of one of the tan brick varieties. Shane slid out and strolled up to the house in long strides while Josh struggled to keep up and stay in a rhythm. Once he got inside, Josh noticed two men in what appeared to be a living room smoking a joint. Shane gave out a yell as they walked in, sat down, and awaited their turn for a hit.
Josh gazed at the joint hovering two feet above the ground as each of the guys took power hits while listening to 70s tunes on the CD player. A red lava lamp in the corner and three candles glowing in the middle of their man-made ring were the only lights on in the house. Although a brown suede sofa and matching lazy boy were in the room, the three men and Josh sat on the thick brown carpeted floor.
"So, Shane told me he met you at Toadies today."
"Yeah, I was, um, I was gonna get a Dugout. Y'know, so I could smoke in public without a lot of hassle."
"Mmmm, so let's see it."
"I didn't get it. It was a little more than I had, so I just got some screens for my pipe. Um, what's your guys' names? I feel kind of goofy in people's houses that I don't even know their names. I mean I met Shane, but fuck, I mean, it's just weird. I'm Josh."
"Sorry. I've never remembered the names of people unless they mean something to me, so I don't ask, and consequently, I sometimes fail to tell people mine. I'm Morris, and this big boy who ain't saying much is Cornbread."
"Cornbread?"
"Southern motherfucker. Real name's Cornilius, but he don't really answer to that much anymore. 'Sides, as much as this black boy eats, you know he grew up eating a shit load a something. Ain't that right?"
Cornbread rolled his eyes and took an extra long drag, leaving Morris with little more than a roach. Morris reached back, sliding his hand across an end table, and pinched the pin resting on it between his fingers. He poked the pin through the rest of the joint, and handed it to Josh.
"Go ahead and finish it."
Josh took a cautious first hit which tasted better than what he usually had, so he finished off the rest of the joint with his next inhale and looked the guys. Cornbread was at least two-fifty and full of muscles, but because of the darkness, Josh couldn't see him very well. Shane was a little smaller, but otherwise a white version of Cornbread. He had a big green tattoo of a marijuana plant on his right shoulder and slicked-back hair. The tattoo was what got them talking earlier that day.
Morris looked much different. His light brown skin and slim frame gave him a common look, but it was his dark brown eyes that made him stand out. The other two guys were always squinting while his eyes were wide open as if he was aware of other entities in the room.
Morris noticed he was being watched. "So Josh, Shane tells me you're in high school."
"Yeah, I go to Marshall. Fucking sucks though. I don't know if I can take another two years of that. Teachers always bitching for one thing or another, and there's this one, Mr. Calley, oh he's a fucking dick. Every day in class he asks me if I'm on something. Right in front of everyone. And it's just because he caught me frying one day. Once. That's it. And I haven't done nothing in there since that day 'cept fall asleep, and everyone does that. Jesus. He teaches history for fuck's sake. Like I haven't learned about the Revolutionary War since third grade. I think he just, he just--"
He realized that all three of the guys were looking directly at him and that they were long past their high school days. They probably didn't care about his problems with Mr. Calley or anything else to do with high school. He started to wish he wasn't there anymore. He didn't even know these guys, and yet he was subjecting them to his bitching.
"Uh, sorry about that."
Shane gave a big yellow smile, "Man, it didn't take long for this shit to kick in."
Cornbread and Shane busted out into full blown cackles which made Josh start giggling. Morris gave a closed-lip smile but didn't join in on the laughter. Josh was again comfortable with his surroundings and felt like talking.
"Who is this we're listening to?"
Morris' eyes bulged, "Who is this? This is Steely Dan."
"I think my parents listened to them. It's kind of mellow, isn't it?"
Morris rolled his eyes. "You're making me feel old here."
Cornbread looked over at Shane and they broke into the chorus at the same time: "The Cuervo Gold, the fine Colombian, makes tonight a wonderful day."
Josh looked at both of them with his mouth half open. "That's not what they really say is, is it? Man, I know I've heard that song a few times, and I don't ever remember them saying that."
Shane's hand slapped down on the CD cartridge and flung it over. Josh pulled out the cover and looked at the words. It was hard to read in the dim light, but the words were written down exactly how the guys sang them. The song now had a nice rhythm to it. It seemed to move like his body was feeling. Light and drifting, yet consistent. He started swaying back and forth with the downbeats. In a matter of thirty seconds, his entire view of the song and the band had changed.
"So Josh, tell me more about Marshall," Morris said as he licked another joint shut. "Lots of young trim around for a young white boy like yourself, I bet."
"Oh yeah, but they're not exactly beating down the door to get to me. I mean they talk to me just fine, but I think I'm ready for something a little more serious."
Cornbread, who had just took a hit, shot out all of the smoke at once and began a coughing laugh. Shane also giggled and then left the room. Even Morris forced out some rhythmic breathing that could be taken as laughter. Josh looked at Morris trying to figure out what he had said that was so amusing. He wasn't trying to make a joke. His whole body began to spin in a downward spiral, and an incredible discomfort stung his skin. Morris glanced at Josh and whacked Cornbread on the back trying to calm him down. Cornbread appeared to try and stop laughing, but he didn't succeed for another twenty seconds.
Morris focused back on Josh. "I'm sorry, man. It's just, well, you must be what, fifteen? Seems like kind of a young age to start talking about finding a piece to hang on to. When I was fifteen, I'd already been to the boys' ranch once, and women were little more than a good feel. No man, don't get me wrong, you got the right idea. It's just that you're still pretty young to be settling down."
"What do you mean? I ain't no fucking mama's boy. Just cause I haven't never been suspended don't mean I don't mix it up with people."
"That's not what I'm saying at all. And I ain't saying you're a pussy either. It's just cool to meet a kid who's got a low profile with some traditional ideas in his head."
"I ain't a fucking kid. Jesus, I can fucking drive," Josh blurted out. He slumped down realizing the absurdity of his proof.
Shane entered the room with a small tray a small bag with white powder. Josh looked over and his eyes fixated. He had never seen coke before. Well, in the movies, and once for real, but that was at a drug awareness assembly. This was real life, though.
"You guys up for an up?"
Cornbread got a big smile on his face and nodded his head. He leaned over, turned off Steely Dan, and replaced it with Fishbone. Shane worked on the first line which he made three inches long.
He looked up and announced, "Let's do this."
Josh looked on in wonderment as Shane casually slid the line up his nose with a small white tube. It reminded him of when the vacuum, with the long attachment, sucks up dirt off the window sill. He started to fidget as he saw Cornbread make a line half an inch longer than Shane's. This time, it didn't even seem like Cornbread was inhaling and yet the line disappeared.
"Why don't you guys do that in the other room. I want to talk to Josh here for a minute. Cool, Josh?"
"Uh, sure."
Shane looked at Morris who raised his right eyebrow slightly. Cornbread didn't even turn his head and was already going to the other room.
"I saw that mesmerized look in your eye, Josh."
"Yeah, I never tried blow before."
"That's cool, I don't do it much myself. Hyper-reality ain't my style. I don't know why they even brought it out here. So you're a pot man?"
"Yeah, pretty much, but you know, I don't want to bring down the party. I can keep up with you guys."
"No, no, no. Know your limits, boy. Never compete. It's way more cool to enjoy the feeling than keep up with the crowd. Coke ain't evil, but it's nothing to get worked up about. 'Sides, Cornbread can put down your entire weight of coke in a night."
This got both of them laughing. Josh felt a warm buzz in his chest as a layer of fear fell to the floor. He felt like he now had someone watching out for him, and he hadn't had that feeling in a while.
"You see how I talk to Cornbread?"
"What, you mean that talking shit crap?"
"Yeah. That's called primary talk. It's not disrespect. In fact, it's more of a compliment. Y'know, like you're willing to speak to them in the way they're most comfortable with conversing. If you can talk the different kinds of slang, hell, that's just as good as a foreign language. Because they'll respect you for respecting them. See?"
"Yeah, it's like when you talk to adults, I mean, like teachers or family. You just talk to them so they don't get mad at you."
"Yeah kinda, but you can get some benefits, too. Take for example, what do you your parents do?"
"Um, my Dad's a trucker, and my mom's a, you know, insurance lady. They're just fuckers, though. Can we change the subject?"
"Hey sorry, I was just making conversation. I ain't trying to get personal." Morris picked up the roach smoked the rest of it. "So, you said you can drive. How you feel like going to a bar?"
"Yeah right."
"Serious."
"Man, there's no way I could get in. Even in the dark, I don't look twenty-one, and I don't have a fake ID."
"I guarantee, the place we go, I can get you in. What do you say? A little cruising. A little drinking."
"Um, OK. Sure you won't get in trouble?"
Morris gave a big grin. "That's what I like about you, kid. You're trying to look out for me. Man, I definitely want you on my team. Let's go for a ride."
He gave a shout to Cornbread and Shane who came back almost running and agreed that going to a bar would be a great idea. They all got up and went outside. Josh noticed the difference from inside the house. The air was super clean, as if it had all been washed before put into the sky, and he took deep breaths to take it in. While Shane offered to drive, Morris shook his head.
"I think we have another able driver in our midst. Hey, Josh."
Morris threw his keys over and pointed to the faded red Nova in the driveway. Josh had assumed that was just a car that was being worked on, but it looked a lot better when he found out it was Morris'. On the road, Josh was floating but found that his hands and feet were doing everything he wanted them to. The tape that was playing in the car was an old Bob Marley collection, and Shane and Cornbread sang along. Shane's voice was loud and clear, while a raspy sound came out of Cornbread.
Josh glanced over at Morris, who was just nodding his head, and then he quickly focused back on the road. He realized what these guys must do for a living, but could not think of the best way to put it so as not to offend them. He had to ask casually or use primary talk, or they might get pissed off and kick him out of the car. "Hey Morris. Can I ask you a personal question?"
"I believe that question in itself is personal, so you might as well not stop."
"Heh. Do you deal?"
"Up front about your thoughts. I like to see that in the youth today. Well, I like to say I dabble a bit in the free enterprise. Why do you ask?"
"Well, when Shane picked me up to take me to his house, he had a big gold Z-28 with a kicking sound system, and well, you got--"
"I got a piece of shit Nova with the upholstery coming apart and a seventy-five dollar stereo system, and I wear clothes that any motherfucker could own. You want to know why I don't have a flashy car?"
"Yeah, 'cause I thought that's what you do when you have money."
"The difference between Shane and me is that Shane wants to be seen, and I don't. You see?"
"Um, not really. If you're seen, girls will see you. Guys will want to have your stuff, people will want to know you"
"And cops will want to follow you. You see now?"
"Oh."
"Now, Shane can do what he wants with his money as long as it doesn't come back to me. At least I got him to move into a low profile house. And as far as girls seeing me and people knowing me, they do anyway. Take a left up here on Madison."
"OK."
Josh didn't say anything else on the way to the bar except to agree when Morris said to turn. He thought he'd offended Morris, even though the man did not appear to be bothered by the question since he'd began humming to the music. When Morris looked out the window, Josh shot quick glances over at him. When no one was looking, he tried raising his right eyebrow like he'd seen Morris do with the guys. Most of the older guys he'd met fit Shane's description. Flashy, cocky, yet cool. Morris somehow was cool without all of that and still demanded a little respect, and both Shane and Cornbread gave him that--like when he asked them to leave the room. They just did it, and those were guys who didn't have to listen to anybody. After a few more minutes, they reached a place called Tips n' Tops.
They got out of the Nova, and Josh immediately gave the keys back to Morris. Walking up to the door, Josh started fidgeting with his pants and looked for a place to put his hands. It wasn't just the fact that he wouldn't get in, but the idea that he was the only one who wouldn't. Cornbread and Shane went in first, and the bouncer just nodded at both of them. Then, Morris and Josh came up.
"Hey Morris, you sure it's cool?"
"Don't worry, my brother."
"Mr. Morris, who's you're friend?"
"This here's a possible seed. Let's hope he grows, eh?"
"Let's hope. Just take him to a back room."
"I wouldn't think otherwise. Tony, here?"
"Nah, probably tomorrow."
"Very good, tell him I stopped by. Have a good evening, Mr. Tom."
Morris gave the bouncer a ten dollar bill as they went in. Josh had never been to this part of town and had no idea where he was. Shane and Cornbread were already sitting in front of the stage although no girls were on at the moment. Morris motioned to the side room on the right, and they both nodded and began talking again.
Josh looked around trying to remember everything about the scene, so he could tell his friends. The air had changed again. This time, it was much warmer and smelled of cigarettes and draft beer. Neon lights were along the walls with most of them saying "Girls" and "Babes." This didn't make much sense to Josh because they were already in the place and knew there would be women. Why did they need to be reminded? Techno music filled the rooms, reminding Josh of the all-night raves he had been to. Red and yellow floor lights highlighted the stage, but Morris was taking him to a side room shielded by a bead curtain. When they got to the other side, there were two dancers sitting at a table.
Morris leaned over to Josh whispering, "A blonde and a fake blonde."
The fake blonde looked at them both. "Morris, honey, where have you been? I thought you were going watch me dance on Saturday, and we were gonna hang out. You didn't even show up."
"I'm sorry sugar, but I had some things to take care of. Mind if my friend and I join you?"
"Well, you promise to hang out with me tonight?"
Morris sat down, and Josh followed his lead. "Can't tonight baby. I've got a guest here, see."
"Kinda young, isn't he?"
Josh tensed up. It was as if the cops themselves had found out he was underage. He shot a quick glance over to Morris who slowly raised that eyebrow and gave a hard stare to the girl.
"Are you insulting a personal guest of mine, or are you insulting me for having such a guest?"
The girl's face quickly went from a mocking smile to a fearful quiver. "No, no. I didn't mean it like that. I was just meaning that he's young. I mean, you don't usually hang out with little, no, I, mean--"
"I believe what you mean to say is that you are sorry for insulting my good friend, Josh."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Josh. It's been a long night. Well, it's only nine-thirty, but you know, I haven't been right today."
Josh sat with his mouth hanging open, but he shut it after the girl looked at him. "Um, don't worry about it. You're not the first person to say I look young."
She gave him a thank you smile, and then whispered something into Morris' ear. He just rolled his eyes. "Talk to Shane about that shit. I don't work like that."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know he was here. I'm sorry. I'm just gonna talk to him. OK."
"Get us some beers, too. Dos Equis, OK, Josh?"
"Sure."
"Four Dos Equis, baby." Morris used a gentle tone, the girl's shoulders dropped two inches and a big sigh came from her mouth.
"You got it, Morris." She left the room quickly, and Morris just rolled his eyes again.
The true blonde stared directly at Morris. "You know, her name is Shawna."
"That's it. Man, I thought I was going to have to go ask Shane. Thank Miss--?"
"Wanda."
"Wanda, you've been quiet throughout this unfortunate scene. I don't believe I've seen you before. You new?"
"New here, but not new to this unfortunate scene."
Josh blurted out into laughter finding it still impossible to completely control his actions, but even Morris smirked at this statement. Wanda leaned over and winked at Josh. "Nothing wrong with a little youth, Josh. It sure as hell beats none at all."
Morris smiled. "When do you dance tonight, Wanda?"
"Well now. That depends on how busy I am, but let me just say, boys, one at a time."
"I love a lady who has some sort of policy. Actually, just one of us will be needing any company." Morris turned his attention back to Josh. "You think you can handle a woman with rules?"
"What, you mean me? Aw man, I don't know. I mean, I told you that the girls haven't been after me. Besides, I don't have any money. I can't afford--"
"I'll take care of it. Wanda, will you see to it that he learns correctly?"
"Learns? Oh man, it's been a while since I've done one of these."
"One hundred, you get the cash now, but I want a good report. I will get a refund for shoddy service."
"I'm sure you would. C'mon Josh, let's break you in."
As Wanda led Josh, who was stumbling, into a different room, Shawna walked back in carrying four Dos Equis with lime slices jammed into the necks.
Her eyes avoided direct contact with Morris. "Shane asked me to sit with him and Cornbread. Is that OK? I mean, would you like to join us out there?"
"I think I'll just wait for my youthful friend in here. Tell Shane not to wander off."
She reached down to take away two of the beers, but Morris slid his hand over to hers and gently pushed it away from the table. Josh popped back into the room and fidgeted until Shawna left.
"Uh, Morris."
"Yeah."
"Thanks for this."
"Have fun. I want to talk to you when you're done though."
"OK."
Within four seconds, Morris was alone in the room.
Halfway through the fourth beer, Morris looked up to see Josh in the room. Josh's skin pricked him all over, and his eyes were watery. His body felt empty as if somebody had flushed out all of his organs, and he was able to drift above the ground. Morris motioned for him to sit down. Josh hopped onto the seat next him.
"Man, that lady is good. I mean I knew what to do, but she showed me how to--"
"Let's talk business, Josh."
"Sure."
"Would you be interested in becoming part of my business?"
"You mean deal?"
Morris nodded, "You've sampled the herb I currently have. So, you can start with that. Shane will give you an ounce tomorrow after school. Meet him in the parking lot of the Wendy's. Start small. Just with people you know. You know about Amway?"
"Yeah, kinda."
"Well, it's just like that. Get about five or six guys you trust to get shit from you. Whatever they want to sell to others is their business. You concentrate on supplying your guys. Now, Marshall's been a pretty dry school as far as pot and coke go, right?"
"Yeah, we've had to go downtown to get stuff usually."
"Well, not anymore." Morris slid him a piece of paper with a phone number on it. "This is Shane's beeper number. Anytime you need anything, call it. Meet at a place and don't make it the same twice in a row. You think you can round up five or six guys?"
"Yeah, maybe. I can think of three right now, and I can probably get five more."
"No. No more than six. You spread yourself around, and you're gonna get bit. Got it?"
"Sure."
"Sell quarters for twenty-five, and you'll get six. Ounces for eighty, and you'll get thirty. Any bigger buys than that, run it through Shane. We'll get you started on blow next week. Got any questions?"
"Nah, I think I know what to do."
"Good, but don't be afraid to ask Shane anything. He's your contact. Now, you've had yourself a night. Let's get you home. Cool?"
"Cool."
Morris got up slow, shaking off the beers he'd put down as they entered the main room. Shawna was on stage still mostly clothed in a pseudo-business outfit. Shane got up to meet them.
"Me and Cornbread were gonna stick around for a while. The show's just starting. Is that cool, Morris?"
"Yeah. Don't get stupid, though."
"Nah, man. Never. Do we have ourselves a Marshall connection, eh Josh?"
"I guess so."
"Well all right then. I knew I had a good eye for this kind of thing, Morris. Told you, man. Been scoping the scene for two weeks, and I knew he was the one for the job."
"We'll see. C'mon Josh, let's go."
Morris and Josh nodded identically at the bouncer on the way out, and Morris gave Josh the keys to the Nova again.
"Your place."
Josh didn't say anything for about ten minutes. He was recapping the night in his mind. He thought about Shane and Cornbread, cocaine, dealing, Wanda, but most of all he kept thinking about Morris. Josh knew this was one of those nights. It was one of those he wanted to remember for years and tell when people share their finest moments.
Without thinking, Josh shot out, "I'm gonna do this right. No fuck ups. You'll see, Morris. I'll make you proud that you chose me to do this. And I won't be flashy. Just cool."
Morris just flashed a quick grin and turned up his Bob Marley tape. Once they got Josh's house, Morris received the keys. Josh jumped out of the car. He wanted to thank Morris for everything, to please him, but he didn't know how to say it.
Instead he tensed up and said, "How will I know if I'm fucking up?"
Morris raised the eyebrow. "Josh, if you ever see me again, you'll know you're fucking up. Just make me proud like you said." He shifted the Nova into gear and rolled away from Josh.
Josh slowly turned, walked up to his house and unlocked the door. After getting inside, he looked around at the darkness and then went to every room in the house, turning on the all of the lights. The sudden brightness gave him the feeling that someone else was there.
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