Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Romance

*This is the next chapter in my love story, “MyFriendJack.” It’s told through Jack’s point of view. Remember, he’s a street kid and has bad grammar. 

Chapter Four—Quickie

     I can’t believe that asshole did what he did. What sick bastard does that? He’s lucky that little chick said something, otherwise, I would’ve killed that mother fucker. That fat, old fuck had a thick head, too. God damn, my hand hurts!
           I’m holding my bloody hand while also dope sick as shit right now headed to big Tommy’s place. He’s a friend, but moreover, my dealer. He’s got a place just on the other side of the highway. It’s about a twenty minute walk from our squat, depending on how shitty traffic is. 
           I’ve been awake since dawn trying to make some money for my morning shot of dope. That’s one of my many problems: I’m a junky. A homeless junky. My dad left me and my mom when she got hooked on ice. That shit will fuck your life up. I’ve seen it. It takes out your face and body from picking. Then it’ll screw up your teeth cuz you be running around everywhere clenching them. Then you’re nothing but skin and bone. And if you bring the needle into the mix, all that shit will come quicker than you could say, Damn, I really fucked up.           
           My mom, thankfully, hadn’t reached that part yet. She’s missing some teeth and all but she’s alright I guess. She has good enough willpower to tell herself not to pick at her skin. Just not enough power to quit. Speaking about my mother like this damn-well makes me a hypocrite. But I believe everyone is a hypocrite. I’m hooked on the damn needle, too. 
           When I turned eighteen, she didn’t have enough money to take care of her habit and feed me, so she, after we had a huge fight, told me to hit the streets. So here I am. Been doing this for over a year now. Living in the bittersweet streets of Austin, Texas.          
            I see my homie Vinny headed my way. Vinnie‘s a cool cat. He’s probably the only hood rat I can trust. I mean, we’ve been buds ever since I became homeless. He, too, had a bad upbringing. He’s like two years older than me and has been on the streets for three. So he kinda took me in, getting my back, and watching out for me when I first came out here. 
           He already had some money this morning before we started spanging. He would ‘spare for change’ while I did the same, but would also read fortunes with tarot cards. I’d usually charge three to five to sometimes ten bucks depending on how advanced a reading they wanted. I had learned to read tarot from my mom years ago. But needless to say, nobody wanted a reading in the morning while they were late for work, so Vinnie had a big head-start on me. 
           “Hey! So how is it?” I yell at him. 
           He walks a little closer so he doesn’t have to yell. Vinnie’s always real chill like that. 
           “Same shit as last night,” he said. 
           Vinnie had a shaved head, brown eyes and a funny, round nose like a teddy bear almost. All the drag hags wanted him and every guy respected him. He was just an all-‘round nice guy. He was my best friend, I can say with confidence        
           “Shit, that’s fine with me. I just gotta get something. I nearly puked walking here,” I admitted. 
           “I know what you mean, Quickie. I hate this walk. How’s your hand?”
           I held it up so he could get a good look at it. I unwrapped the bloody bandage I had wrapped around it last night to stop the bleeding and gave him a quick peak like it was a big secret. Which it kinda was. If anyone said it was me who busted up that old man, cops would be on me like hookers on a loaded John. They love me down at the precinct, let me tell ya. 
           “It's nothing a shot of dope won’t fix. So that’s what ima gon’ to do.” He and everybody call me Quick or Quickie. Not cuz I’m a I’m a quick one in the sack neither. It’s just a street name I picked up. 
           “What you got going on?” I asked. 
           “ I’m gonna get Jill then, I dunno…”
           “You dog, man. Well, alright I’ll catch you around Vinster.”
           “Alright, Quick. Peace.”
           Jill was this new chick to the streets. She had come up to me a few months ago asking for a place to crash. She was cute with real blonde hair and blue eyes. And short like a pixie girl. She looked like she used to be hot until her parents had beat the shit outta her. She still is cute with those scars across her face. Apparently, her dad used to whip her with his belt buckle, and not on her ass either.     
           Her and Vinnie clicked instantly. She actually convinced him to beat the shit outta her dad, which he did. Now, they were in love. 
            I used to be in love. Heather was her name. But she had overdosed on some laced shit. It happened about two months after I joined up with the homeless kids—the drag rats and hags. I don’t like to talk about it, though. But I do think about her daily. 
           That’s just how this life is, man.