Cloudy Mirrors

by Shane Robert

  “How old are you?” he asks, peering up at me, with big questionable eyes.

  “Eighteen,” I answer.

  His eyes grow wide and his mouth forms into the shape of an ‘O’.

  “Whoa, you’re really old!”

  I can’t help but burst out laughing at that. I’m far from old, but I guess to a six-year-old, eighteen feels like a lifetime away.

  “Really old then, huh?” I say, laughing at his assessment.

  “Yeah! You are old... Let’s race!” he exclaims. Making car noises, he pushes another car across the floor behind mine before pulling them up to the race track. We set them up and Hunter counts down,

  “Three, two, one...GO!” he yells, before smacking his launch button and shrieking with excitement as his car makes it all the way around the upside-down loop, and beats mine as it rolls across the finish line first. My cheeks start to ache from the big ass smile that doesn’t seem to want to leave my face.

  Kids, they don’t lie and their attention span, at least for Hunter, is short but it keeps you on your toes. He grows bored with the track and decides instead to start pushing the cars across the hardwood floor, making them practically fly across the living room before crashing into the wall he built out of wooden blocks. Hunter is overly excited to have someone to play with as we spend a good half hour playing together on the floor with his cars before dinner.

  Scottie’s voice echoed through the room as he called out my name, “Michael! Michael! Man… come look at this!”

  Hunter and I jump to our feet to see what the urgency is.

  “What’s up?” I question, reaching the back of the couch where Seth sits laughing. Scottie is standing in front of it with the Xbox controller in his hand,

  “Can you believe this? I just had a twelve-year-old boy beat me at my own game?” Scottie is shaking his head in disbelief.

  “Man, you had me worried for a second. I wasn’t sure what was going on. Good job Seth!” I congratulate Seth on his win by giving him a pat on the back, and he gives me a smirk in return. His face lights up with pride. “I want to play the champ here,” teasing Scottie, motioning my head towards Seth.

  “Dinner is about ready boys, let's set up the table,” Megan says from the kitchen, interrupting what I had hoped would be a one on one game with Seth. “Guess that means we’ll just have to play when we are done eating. How’s that?” I ask Seth. Seth nods in agreement as we all walk over to the table Megan has set for dinner.

  It’s been quite some time since I’ve sat at a table for dinner and I actually feel I belong. I can’t help but to watch Megan make sure everything is in place on the table, making sure her kids had everything they need. How she talks to her kids in such a gentle yet firm way, randomly breaking out in laughter at Hunter’s silliness. I feel as if I am there, but not. Scottie is different than the party guy I hung out with last night, not really like I would’ve expected. He’s far more family oriented than I ever would have thought, considering the lifestyle he lives and the parties he throws.

  As we finish up dinner, the boys ask us if we’re done with our plates, and after confirming we are, they take the plates to Megan, who is standing at the sink in the kitchen waiting to clean them. Just like last night she is dressed very casual. A simple long sleeve white shirt, a pair of blue jeans and her hair is up in a loose bun, small pieces falling across her face. Scottie and I continue to sit at the table conversing about how Seth won the game and how he’s getting really good at them. Seth joins in to brag about his skills, as he finishes wiping the table down from dinner.

  “Hunter, Seth, how about you guys go down to the game room for a bit, we have some adult things to take care of,” Scottie said.

  “Let’s play ping pong!” Hunter shouts to Seth as he runs down the stairs.

  “We’ll call you guys back up when we’re done,” Megan tells the boys.

  Scottie walks behind the bar, grabs a mirror and an entire brick of cocaine. He brings it over, sits down on the couch, and starts to cut it up.

  “Really... that’s why you sent my kids downstairs, so you can do drugs?” Megan exclaims, anger and a hint of disgust evident in her tone.

  “Megan it’ll be ok. They won't even know,” Scottie tells her nonchalantly while still working on cutting up the coke.

  I look at Megan, feeling suddenly slightly uncomfortable about the situation. I have to agree with Megan on this one. I don’t feel comfortable doing coke with two little kids only a few feet away from us. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to upset you over this, Megan.”

  “It’s whatever...just you know how I feel about this shit, Scottie, I don’t care what the fuck you do on your own time, but when you’re around my kids you don’t touch that shit,” Megan states emotionally, shaking her head.

  Scottie packs up the illegal activity because he doesn’t want to upset Megan anymore and walks downstairs to talk to the kids. I walk into the kitchen to converse with Megan as she seems upset. I want to make sure she isn't upset with me, considering I just met her and I would really like us to start off on the right foot and not with her hating me after only knowing me a total of a few hours. I lean on the counter while she is half bent over the sink, rinsing off dishes. I notice her beautiful curves, the way her jeans hug her ass perfectly, her long sleeve shirt draping over her body so delicately. I can’t help but find myself wanting to wrap her in my arms, and cup that perfect ass in my hands and kiss her.

  “Megan, why do you come to Scottie’s knowing he’s like that, even around the kids?” I ask.

  She lets out a frustrated sigh as she turns off the water, and spins around to face me, propping her body up against the kitchen countertop.

  “They have never had a male role model in their life and I want that for them so bad. My fiancé passed away when Seth was only a little older than Hunter is right now. Hunter never even got to meet him. So, they’ve spent the last six years with nothing but a mother and occasionally Scottie. They need a male role model in their life that they can go to for questions and support on things I may not be able to help them with, you know guy talk. I hate that they don’t have a dad to help them practice sports, or take them fishing, or cheer on the sidelines at their little league or football practice. I try my hardest to fill the place of a mom and a dad but it’s hard, especially with Seth. He’s at that age where he’s trying to deal with changing from a little boy to a teen. He needs a guy he can trust, and go to, to talk about whatever it is he feels he needs to talk about. Sadly, my only option is Scottie at the moment. He tries but it’s not his responsibility to fill the role of their father. I’m lucky that he tries; no matter how badly he may fail at it sometimes, his heart is always in the right place being as best at it as he can. I just hope for Seth’s sake he can get some male interaction before he is off on his own in the world,” she states while choking up.

  “That makes a lot of sense. Since you are in charge of them, I’d love to take them out to the ski resort sometime; show them around the mountain if that’s all right?” I ask. “I know at his age I loved hitting the slopes with my friends, spending hours snowboarding and hanging out at the lodge with my buddies.”I am suddenly feeling this overwhelming need to take away her pain and the burden from her past off of her shoulders.

  “How about you take me on a date first, something real? No influence from Scottie, and definitely no drugs. Make sure I can trust you before I let you take my kids on your own,” she says with a smirk on her face.

  “You got it! How about tomorrow night? We can see if Scottie will watch your boys and we’ll have a night out downtown?” I state.

  Scottie and the boys come back upstairs with Hunter yelling, “I’m the winner!”

  “Hey Scottie, do you mind watching the boys tomorrow night for a few hours? I have a date to attend to,” Megan asked while half laughing at the question.

  “Yeah, I guess I can manage watching them; it’s about time you get out there and date! Have some fun for once.” Look
ing from Megan, to me, he asks, “Let me guess? Michael asked you out?”

  “Well, he wants to take the kids out on the slopes, but I have to make sure I can trust him so he’s taking me out first,” her eyes twinkle with excitement, revealing to me she’s not just going out with me because she wants to see if she can trust me with her boys. It’s because like me, she can feel that there’s something between us that neither her nor I can or want to try and deny.

  I sit back, watching her and Scottie talk about things. I was so lost and awestruck with her, I could get lost in her eyes daily. I really didn’t pay attention to anything they were saying because I was too busy trying to figure out why I felt like I was staring at an angel. I don’t understand why I feel this way, I really moved here to get away from the lovey dovey perfect life. To live this epic life of a young, single bachelor finally out in the real world on his own. Now here I am trying to take a woman on a date and hang out with her kids. That’s the furthest from raving bachelor as any guy can get if you ask me.

  “Hey boys it's getting late, go start the car, I’ll be out there shortly,” Megan tells them. “I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, Michael. I have to make sure you can handle these wild boys out on the slopes,” she teases before pulling open the front door.

  I smirk at her while she turns away and walks out of the house, watching her amazing ass the entire time.

  “Scottie, you ready for me to be part of the family?” I ask, jokingly turning my attention away from the now closed front door, and back to my new best friend.

  “We’ll see about that man, but you ready for what we have wanted to do all night?” Scottie asks while walking behind the bar and grabbing everything we need for a fantastic high.

  On the mirror already is some cocaine chopped up from earlier. I watch him finish cutting it up and start to place lines on it perfectly. Scottie takes 3 lines, no hesitation, then slides the glass plate over to me. Snorting 3 lines, I sit back and feel the substance roll down my throat and bring my mind and body to a sensational feeling.

  Scottie hands me the rest of the brick and says, “The rest is for you man, head on out. I have some business to take care of. We’ll be in touch.”

  “Wow thanks man I appreciate it, let me know if you ever need help with any business!” Realizing I may have just offered to help in the drug selling business, I shake his hand and head for the door, hopefully not too high to drive home.

  Driving home, my favorite reggae playing I can't help thinking how nervous, excited, scared I am to take Megan out tomorrow. She knows exactly what she wants and is looking for in life. Me on the other hand, I am exploring who I am and who I want to become. The other thought on my mind, was the business I offered to help Scottie with. I knew his place in the drug world when I told him I would help out. Not sure what I was thinking, I could use extra money in my life and some great adrenaline as well, but if it’s anything like the movies we’ll end up dead.

  Must have been lost in the sauce. I pull into my driveway, stroll upstairs and flop into my bed. Not able to sleep, I decide to fire up the Xbox and play for a few hours, hoping to get tired. I’m so restless from this cocaine, that my mind feels wide awake and unable to wind the fuck down.

  Finally, after a few hours of gaming, I’m able to fall asleep. I spend the entire night dreaming about a beautiful angelic blonde, who I’m becoming more attracted to every time I see her. Especially the way she handles her two boys; grown women attract me.

  •••••••••••••

  Buzz, Buzz, Buzz I roll over grab my phone off the table and see Scottie is calling me. I look at the time first and realize it is almost noon, and realize that I have a killer headache.

  “Hey Scottie, what’s up man?”

  “Yeah, so, you said you wanted to help out with the business, well I’m going to need you over to my place by 1:00. I’ll fill you in when you show up,” Scottie states anxiously.

  “Uh, you got it man. I’ll be over shortly; I just need to shower and get dressed,” I utter. I hate when I’m on the phone with a friend, and realize I have a raging boner makes things weird. Having morning wood when you are alone is always the worst, especially when in a rush. I grab a fresh pair of boxers, and head to the shower. Not really thinking on what Scottie has in store for us, I’m really just nervous about the date, and how she is way too beautiful for me.

  Hot water dripping down my body, all the way to my morning wood, which I’m not letting go to waste even though I’m in a rush, I begin to relieve myself. It’s always the best in the shower; hot water always helps and also there is no mess to clean up.

  Now let me tell you, I am way more nervous about going on a date with Megan than I am involving myself in the drug business with Scottie. I can’t explain this woman; no words are enough to explain the tingling I get thinking about her. The way she raises two boys on her own and how well behaved they are. The sparkle she has in her eye, knowing she is just missing that loving connection.

  It was never my plan to come here and start dating so soon, but she is too beautiful to not give it a shot. I enjoy Scottie’s friendship we have built so far, which allows me to be around Megan often since that’s her cousin. I figured why not give it a chance; just because we are going on a date doesn’t mean we’ll end up together by any means.

  Man, I have been in this shower way too long. Turning off the water and grabbing my towel, drying myself off, I throw my boxers on, and see that I have 20 minutes to get ready and get to Scottie’s, which is about a 15-minute drive.

  Rushing to my closet I grab jeans, a black T-shirt and a hoodie, put them all on quick and grab a button up for the date later. With only a few minutes to spare, I go to my trusty stash, and chop up a couple lines, inhaling them in an instant. This has become exactly what I’ve done the last couple mornings since first trying it; it really does keep you going throughout the day.

  The ride over to Scottie’s is always smooth in my white Pontiac Grand Prix, which ironically, I nicknamed Yeyo. When I received my car at 16 I thought it would be cool to name it that, now I’m actually out here doing yeyo. Yeyo is the common street name for cocaine, and with my car being pearl white I thought that was pretty cool. Before I know it, I’m pulling into Scottie’s place, walking in with seconds to spare.

  “Yo Scottie, I’m here,” I yell through the house as I step inside the entryway.

  Coming around the corner, Scottie appears, “Thanks for offering to help me out, bro. You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”

  Shrugging my shoulders, I tell him, “No problem at all. So, what is it we’re doing?” as I follow him towards his office down the hall from his entertainment room. As I watch him use a key to unlock a drawer in his desk, I wonder what he needs to get.

  “Just a quick in and out job. You’ll need to carry this, but fists come first unless we need to use the piece,” he says as he hands me the pistol he just pulled out of his desk.

  Hold the fuck up. A gun? Why the fuck do I need a gun? What have I gotten myself into? I’d rather live long enough to actually take Megan out on this date.

  “Holy fuck dude, I don't want to kill somebody!” I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air and taking a step back.

  “You said anything I need help with and you are a decent sized dude. This guy owes me money; if all goes well he’ll have the money and nothing bad will happen,” he says sternly, narrowing his eyes at me all the while still holding the pistol out towards me.

  Even though everything in me is saying to tell him no I tell him, “All right man, let's do this then, get it over with. I’ll help you with whatever you need so I can get back and get ready to take Megan out. No speaking about me helping you to her though, you got it?” I question.

  Scottie nods his head and we walk out the door. Walking towards the garage, he opens it up and there is a blacked-out SUV with no plates or decals on it. On the ride to see this guy, neither of us speak, no game plan. I just stare out the
window wondering what or how this is going to go down. Hoping I don’t die the first time I help Scottie out with business.

  “We’re almost there, just be prepared for the worst and let me do the talking,” he states in a nervous tone.

  “You got it man, I got your back,” I tell him, pulling up to the guy’s house. We park at the end of his driveway, making it easier to leave. Reaching the door, Scottie bangs on it and this unfamiliar guy to me opens the door. As soon as he sees Scottie's face, he takes off through the house. I start chasing him through the house, leaping over furniture, and finally catching up to him midway into his house. I tackle him, and land a few solid punches to his face, dazing him.

  Scottie sits him on the couch, shows his gun and asks him, “Where’s my fucking money?”

  A look of complete terror flashes through his eyes as he stammers out, “I. I. I don't have it right now man; give me a week and I’ll have it. Please don't hurt me.”

  “You have one fucking week!” Scottie cocks his arm back and pistol whips the guy right across the face as his blood splatters at me. I turn my head, wincing and we walk out of the house, leaving the guy wounded and beat.

  Getting to the car, I feel my adrenaline wear off and tell Scottie, “Holy shit! I can’t believe we just did that! That was fucking insane.” Running my hands over my face, I shake my head, letting out a long-staggered breath as I try to shake off what just happened. “Please tell me you have some blow in the car? That was a rush but I need something to take the edge of before my date, give me a nice high, to get my mind right before taking Megan out because after that back there, I’m fucking wired.”

  “Middle console, man; you did great handling that. Looks like you may be a great addition to this business and my friendship.” Scottie smirked as he spoke.

  “I agree man, that rush was great, If you keep me satisfied with this blow, and we keep Megan out of it I’m your guy, I’ll keep making sure the money comes in,” I told Scottie, assuring we would keep Megan out of it.