Ain't No Mountain High Enough

"Smooth Criminal"

"Have you been able to get the truth out of him?" I asked as I rolled myself into the kitchen, where Ms. Harlow was organizing her collection of coffee mugs.

"He's barely spoken since last night," she replied as she placed a mug with her name painted on it back into the cabinet. "I can't get anything out of him, let alone the truth."

I heaved a sigh. That was Arjun for you. "What do you think he's been up to?"

"It's probably got something to do with his father, but I can't be sure." She brushed her hair away from her face and turned to me. "I'm just going to wait on him. Usually prying into his business just makes him clam up even more, so all you can do is wait."

I'd always known that about Arjun, of course. But I really didn't have the patience to deal with his attitude. But I guessed I could do him a favor and mind my own business for a while. After all, I was having to deal with my therapy sessions now.

As the day went on, it was clear that Arjun was making it a point to avoid us. As aggravating as it was, I let him. Like Ms. Harlow said, there was no way he was going to tell us what happened. We'd just have to wait for him to do it on his own terms...if that ever happened.

So instead, I focused on what I would do with myself now that I was getting the therapy I needed. I wanted to finish my degree in programming, but I needed to get a job so I could afford to get myself through the last two semesters of credits I still had to get. Maybe that programming job didn't work out, but surely there was something I could do. I spent the next few days searching for a good job and planning out how I could get back to school that Fall. Surely by then I could save up enough money to get through at least one semester. Not to mention that I could apply for scholarships. I decided I'd do whatever it took to get it done. I needed something to look forward to, anyway.

A week after Arjun had been grounded, the day of my next therapy appointment, Ms. Harlow suspended his punishment so he could take me. We got into the car. To my surprise, Arjun was a lot more talkative than the last time we made the drive to the Mental Wellness Counseling Center.

"I'm sorry," he said soon after we had pulled out of the driveway.

"What for?" I asked. I mean, of course I knew why, but I was going to make him say it.

"For the way I've been treating you and Mom."

"You should say that to her, then. You've treated her worse than me, I think."

He sighed. "I guess you're right...."

"So are you going to tell me what's up?" I glanced at him to see that look he always got on his face whenever he was mentally debating something.

Finally, he heaved a sigh. "You have to promise not to say anything about it to Mom, okay? I'll explain everything to her soon." He glanced away from the road for a split second to give me one of those looks that said he'd kill me if I told.

I nodded. "Of course I promise." I crossed my arms. "Now spill." I'm not sure what I was expecting to hear from him, but it certainly wasn't what started coming out of his mouth.

"It's about my dad," he started, which was reasonable enough considering that I thought that might be the case in the first place. "I got in a fight with him the other day."

"Is that where the bruise came from?"

"No, he didn't do that. His son did. My half-brother, I mean."

I raised my eyebrows. "What were you fighting with him about?"

"Long story." He shook his head. "But that's besides the point."

"And the point is...?" I watched him, trying to read his expression. But as usual, I couldn't read his face. I never could.

"Well, the other night when I left...I was going to confront my half-brother— Nathan, about the stuff he's getting into. I'm not sure how it all happened, but he's been dealing drugs."

"Um...okay," I said. It was the last thing I had been expecting. "How does that affect you, though? Can't you just ignore him?"

"I guess I could, but he's trying to rope me into it." He shrugged almost helplessly. "He...he wants to be friends. I thought I might be able to swing it at first, but then he told me everything he's been doing, and how he wants me to get into it too. For the money. The thing is, Dad doesn't know about any of it. I guess Nathan thinks I'll tell."

"Is that why he hit you?" I asked.

"That's part of the reason." He was quiet for a moment as we stopped at a red light. "But I'm trying to figure out what to do about Mom."

"What do you mean?" The whole thing suddenly felt ominous, like this was bigger than Arjun knew. But what could a guy like me do about it? Arjun wouldn't want me involved anyway. "What's your mom got to do with it?"

"Nathan," he said, sighing. "He threatened me... If I don't keep this to myself, and help him...he threatened to come after Mom."

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Sorry this is a bit late, and thank you for your patience!

Listen to "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson!

Peace✌️~ A.J.