A Can of Coke

Dead Calm

Crickett

"Hell of a job melting it down, Dr. Frankenstein." JJ smirked while holding the blob of gold Kie had torched earlier. 

"Like you could've done better." She rolled her eyes. 

"I could have done much better--I took a welding class. You..." 

"Whoa, whoa. Hey. Sh!" John B shushed the two of them nervously and urged them to:

"Chill out, okay?" 

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one that has to pawn this piece of shit off." JJ groaned. "How did I get this job anyway?"

"'Cause you're the best liar." 

"And why do I have to go too?" I asked nervously--so scared I'd blow the entire mission. 

"You calm him. If you're around he'll only be reasonably stupid." Pope chuckled, causing mine and JJ's cheeks to grow red in embarrassment. 

"Dude that's not true, I'm very calm and chill."

"When? When have you ever been 'calm' or 'chill?'" Pope poked at him, causing me to chuckle.

~~~

Entering the pawn shop, the door jingled and JJ greeted the pawnbroker.

"Afternoon, ma'am."

"Afternoon."

"Afternoon."

The air felt heavy and guilt-ridden. I was so anxious. 

"I see you buy gold." JJ continued talking. 

"That's what the sign say, don't it?" The lady rolled her eyes as she fiddled with nicknacks on the counter. 

"Well, I sure hope you buy a lot of it, because I'm about to blow your mind." 

"I ain't got much mind left to blow, so have at it." The lady responded, pushing her glasses further up her face. 

I stifled a laugh as JJ elbowed me to stay quiet. 

Whipping the gold blob from his pocket, JJ placed it on the counter and asked: "How about them gold apples?"

"That ain't real." The lady tutted, barely even looking at the shiny metal placed before her. 

"That ain't real?" 

"It can't be." 

"Feel how heavy it is." I urged. 

"Mm-hm. Mm-hm!"

"Let's get some light on that."

"Spray-painted tungsten."

"Spray-painted tungsten? Really? Okay." JJ sarcastically threw his hands up. 

"Why don't you see how, uh, soft it is?" I added, desperate for this to go well. 

"You mind?" The lady asked before scratching it.

 "No, go for it."

"Wow. Would you look at that?" JJ smiled the proudest grin. 

"Hold your horses. We ain't got to the acid test yet." The lady snapped. 

"Ooh! The acid test. My favorite, guys." JJ nudged me excitedly, causing a large, warm smile to spread on my lips. 

"Well, it ain't plated, and it ain't painted." The lady scratched her head in disbelief. 

"Ma'am, I'm telling ya, this is as real as the day is long." JJ nodded. 

"It looks like somebody tried to melt it down."