Drugs ... or friendship

By Camille Johnson
Berlin Elementary School, Grade: 5

Noah had been friends with a boy named Logan since the sixth grade. They were in 8th grade. Noah did not consider Logan to be smart. He was always in trouble of some sort because he was trying to be cool. Noah, on the other hand, was as sharp as an axe. He could do anything from algebra to understanding Shakespeare. The only thing that Noah lacked was courage. Noah always envied Logan for his courage.

Logan’s brother’s name was Alan. He had blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. He resembled the celebrity Owen Wilson. Alan, like Logan, was always in trouble, too.

Noah was looking out his window at the gloomy Vermont clouds that towered over the mountains. Noah was an only child. His house was silent except for the faint ticking of the clocks. It was Sunday at 5 p.m., though it felt like it was still early morning. Noah had done all of his homework and he was dying of boredom. Logan was busy today. He had not said with what though. Noah was sure that he was up to no good. In the past when Logan wouldn’t tell Noah where he would be or where he was going, Logan got himself into a lot of trouble. Logan wouldn’t tell Noah what happened because he was too ashamed.

Logan sat in his room shivering with excitement. He had not told Noah what he was about to do because he truthfully did not know what exactly lied ahead. In an hour or so, at dark, he was to meet his brother Alan behind the drugstore. His knees quivered as he tried to picture what Alan could be preparing for him.

He waited and waited until the time came to depart and headed for the drugstore.

“Mom, I’m leavin’,” Logan yelled as he shuffled down the stairs. His mother, Mrs. Jeffrey, met him at the bottom.

“Where are you going, my dear?” she asked with a quizzical eye.

“Ummmm….. to Morgan’s.” Logan hoped that she would believe that he was going to Morgan’s house. Morgan was a girl that he used to be friends with. She had moved, though, Logan hoped that she did not know that part.

“Hon, you haven’t been friends with that girl since second grade, plus she moved to Moretown last year.” Logan’s Mom said with a skeptical look.

Logan had to think fast or she would not believe a word that he said and would not let him go anywhere. Logan decided to act nice and play her.

“Ah Mom, you can tell every time. I bet you already know where I am going because you are such an amazing mind reader. Well actually I am going to the school. It seems that I have lost a few papers of dear homework.” That was good Logan thought.

“Honey, are you sure that the school is open?”

“Well I am pretty sure because Mrs. Meyers said that if any of us forget anything, she will be there on Sunday. It may be awhile because my locker is so unorganized. I think I might as well organize it while I am there. So it might take until eight.”

“Okay, hon.” Mrs. Jeffrey said as she kissed him on the cheek.

“Bye,” Logan called as he rushed out the door and slammed it shut.

Logan ran down the sidewalk with hushed steps. He then crossed through the intersection and reached the drugstore.

The drugstore was small and one story. The paint was peeling off the brick walls. The drugstore was named, The Carter’s Store, after the Carter family who owned it. Alan was friends with the Carter’s son, Malachi. Malachi created chaos much of the time. The word that described him was “trouble.”

Logan went around back. There sat Alan and Malachi by a dumpster. They had a small fire going. Malachi was dressed in scrubby, old ragged clothes.

“Ey, over here man.” called Alan.

“We got a ‘sprise for ya.” Malachi said.

Logan went over to them and sat down. There was a strange odor near the fire. Alan said, “Seein’ you little tired and lousy lately. Well check this out.”

Alan pulled a long, white stick from his pocket. It looked like it could fall apart but the particles held it together.

“Cocaine,” Malachi sneered. “My pa got it, found it in his coat pocket.”

“Take a whiff of it.” Alan said. “If you need some more you know wheres you can get it. Plus, if you want to stash some of yours here, you can share our place with us.”

“What’s that smell?” Logan asked. He was starting to get uneasy.

“Marijuana, you burn it in a fire.” Alan replied. “You can just get high if you take a deep breath.”

“You best go on home or your Mommy goin’ to miss you,” taunted Malachi.

Logan rushed back through the intersection towards home with the cocaine safely tucked in his pants pocket.

***

Noah was at his locker when Logan came bouncing up. Something was wrong. Logan was not himself at all. His eyes seemed wider then usual and he couldn’t even complete a sentence. He seemed to jump from one subject to another.

“Hey Noah,” Logan chimed.

“Logan, what’s wrong, you aren’t yourself?”

“Tell ya at recess. Man, it’s awesome!"

Noah was left to ponder Logan’s statement. Noah sat in algebra, since he had already made his formula. He sat wondering about Logan. What could be making him act this way? Noah could not find an answer that fit the situation. He felt puzzled. Finally, when break arrived Noah met Logan in the cafeteria.

“Ey man, over here,” beckoned Logan. Noah rushed over. He is acting in that strange way again.

“Tell me,” demanded Noah.

“Not here, it ain’t safe and did you get the algebra problem?”

“Bring me somewhere where you can tell me now!”
They strode out of the cafeteria and flew down the hall and they ducked into the boy’s bathroom. They locked the door.

“Now spill it.”

“Check this out.” Logan pulled a white stick out of his pocket.

“It cocaine and marijuana, you can sniff. But man, they both make you feel great.”

“Heard about his stuff, it isn’t safe. Are you sure you want to be doing this?”

“Ah man, you gotta try it.” Logan stuffed it in his face. Noah backed away.

“No!!!!” Noah said firmly. “You have to stop, Logan, you hear me?”

“If you tell any adult I will be made. There is a bunch of children around today.” Again Logan was changing subjects.

Noah left the bathroom and went to his locker. He leaned against it and crossed his arms thinking. How could he tell an adult without betraying his friend? Would he hurt me if I tell? How could I tell and who?

Weeks have passed and still Logan was taking the drugs. Noah knew that he had to do something but he still could not muster up the courage to tell anyone. Lately he noticed that Logan had been getting high more often. Noah’s heart burned in fear and anger that he didn’t have courage. He couldn’t even just quickly tell an adult.

Late on a rainy night Logan found himself behind the drugstore where he had taken drugs for the first time a few weeks ago. He pulled the drugs out from under the dumpster and started sniffing as usual. On this night he seemed to need more to get high. Without realizing what he was doing he kept sniffing.

Noah was shivering in fright as he crept up the steps to Mrs. Jeffrey’s house. He knocked twice on the door.

Mrs. Jeffrey opened the door with a smile.

“Hello Noah, where is Logan? He said that he was at your house?”

“Uhh, he’s not. This is really hard for me …. but …. umm Logan is taking drugs.”

“Why, that’s absurd.”

“It’s really true.” It all came out. “I have seen him when he’s high. It’s cocaine.”

“My Logan, are you sure?”

“Yes,” Noah said.

It was too late. They found Logan lying by the dumpster at 3 a.m. in the morning.