Chapter 4

           For the next few days, Grace went to school and came home, anticipating the weekend. The same old routine. Only she was excited about the party coming up.
           Grace was on the phone with Justin Friday night when her mom walked into the house, crying. Grace got up from her bed to see what was going on. "I'll call you back, Justin." She walked into the living room to find her mom slumped on the couch. "What's wrong, Mom?"
           The slur in her mothers voice gave away the fact that she had one too many to drink. "You....  Your d....... dad couldn't take it anymo......... more." Grace was confused. She shook her head. "H......he left us, Grace."
           Grace gasped. She didn't understand. All she knew was it was her fault for being obsessed with her brother. Tears welled in her eyes. "I'm.... sorry.", Grace said. That's all she could say. She kissed her mom on the forehead and walked away.
           Like she promised, she called Justin back. She was still a new friend to Justin but she trusted him with her life. She wasn't sure why. Grace told him everything.
           Justin was very sweet to Grace. "It's okay, Sweetie. I'm here." Grace cried and Justin listened, sympathetically, for a half an hour. Soon it was time for bed.
         Grace got tired and fell asleep on the phone. Justin heard her snoring. "Goodnight, Sweetheart." He hung up and let her sleep.
        
         The next morning, Grace woke up and found the phone under her head. Last call: four hours and twenty two minutes. Thank God for unlimited calling. Grace got up and went to the kitchen for toast.
         There she found mom at the kitchen table, coffee in hand, staring blankly at the wall. Grace made her toast and brought it with her to the table. Her mother sighed. "He's coming later today to get his things. Probably when you go to your friends."
          Her dad didn't even want to see her? "Okay.", Grace said nibbling her toast. then Grace noticed a strong smell. stronger than coffee. "What's in your cup, mom?" Her mom looked down. "Rum. Do you want some?" Grace was disgusted at what her mother just asked. "No!" She stormed off to her room and cried.
          Her mother was becoming a monster all because her dad left and she didn't know how to fix it. She texted Justin for the rest of the day until it was time to go.
         Grace packed a bag and went to say goodbye to her mom. When she found her, she was sleeping. She kissed her mother on the forehead and left quietly. Grace walked down the street and waited for Justin at the corner. when he got there, he got out and opened the door for her. "After you, my lady." they both laughed. Justin got back in the drivers seat. "Where's the party?", Grace asked. Justin smiled. "My house. My dad is gone so... yeah."
         They drove for a good twenty minutes to Justin's house out in the country. They got out of the car and walked inside. He had a nice house. Small but good enough for just him and his father.
         "I'll call the others to come over.", Justin said. Thirty minutes later the guests had arrived. All four of them. "This is the party?", Grace asked. Justin winked. "You'll understand soon."
         Justin was right. Each guest brought something to the party. One person brought tons of alcohol. Grace wouldn't touch it thanks to her mother's poor choices. Justin understood. Two others brought snacks and another brought marijuana. Justin told Grace not to touch it. He had something else in mind.
         He was the host. "I have the party right here.", he said. Justin pulled out a couple of baggies with white powder in them. He set them on a mirror on the coffee table next to a razor blade and a silver, metal straw.
        "Is that....." , Grace started. Justin cut her off. "Cocaine? Yes it is." Grace was nervous now. Justin set up two lines as Grace watched. "Here.", Justin said showing her how to sniff up a line. "You ready?" At first, Grace was scared but something took over. "Why the hell not?" She took the straw and imitated Justin.
        Within seconds she was flying. She felt great. She wanted music. Justin turned on the music. She wanted Justin. Justin wanted her. She wanted to party all night long. So they partied all night long.









Chase,

        Oh my God! Talk about party hardy. I feel kind of like God. Well, what o think god would feel like, i guess. I didn't get hurt, Chase. I think you were wrong this time around. I feel great! I hope you aren't upset at me. I love you very much.

        Grace

Reviews

[exotic flotsam]

Escapist mindset overcoming an unimaginable catastrophic life change offers brief respite. Her pain becomes tangible. It is not difficult the link from her Dad's departure. Anything to numb emotional upheaval. I'm curious about whether or not she self destructs, or reels herself in such that she might return to hersef. Darkly proufound with an unforseen outcome. Clever read.