Some people start new journeys on the toll of a new year. Some people get married. Some people have children. Some people stop drinkin'. And some people could give less of a shit about entering a new year.
Me? I spent my first night in jail with a busted lip and a black eye. Still caught myself laughin' about it, too, as I sat there in my cell. The other guy was in jail, too, but he was too butt-hurt to look me in the eye, so he sat in his cell adjacent to me with his back turned.
The door opened and someone rushed down the hall. My brother entered the jail, red-faced and sweating. He took one look at me, and he looked like the vein in his forehead was gonna bust. I bit my lip to suppress a smirk.
He spoke to the guard closest to our cell and paid him a fine to let me out. The guard took his caps and used a key on the ring hanging from his belt to unlock my cell. Out I walked, hands in my pockets, and attempting to hide my withdrawal symptoms.
Buffout withdrawal was rough. I felt like my muscles didn't wanna work right. Even a feather woulda had some weight to it. I was sweaty and queasy.
Guy and I stopped at the checkout window where the guard behind the window listed all the items that were to be returned to me.
"One house key. Sixty-two caps. One pack of cigarettes. One flip lighter. One pocket knife. One bottle of Buffout."
After every item, my brother looked more irritated.
I gathered up my items and shoved them in my pockets. I followed my brother outside and toward our house. We talked as we walked, but I struggled to keep up with his quick pace. I could tell he was still pissed.
"Didn't know you cared enough to bail me out," I teased.
"You're lucky I didn't leave you in there. Don't let this happen again, John. I'm serious. I'm not giving you any more chances."
"C'mon, Hailey didn't tell me she had a husband! She came onto me, I just went along with it. How was I supposed to know her husband was gonna show up at the bar and beat the shit outta me?"
"I'm surprised you didn't fight back."
"You know damn well why I can't fight back... Someone like me that's been hittin' the Buffout for so long, I coulda killed the guy."
"Ha. So you have some sense after all."
"Why are you such a prick?" I asked, rollin' my eyes at him.
"Why are you such a junkie? I swear, John, I should have gotten you some Addictol for Christmas..."
"Heh heh. Love you, too."

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FO4 | Book 0: The Diaries of Anarchy ✔️
FanfictionWho is the John McDonough that hides behind the ghoulish Mayor Hancock of Goodneighbor? Our story begins with a sickly little boy at the age of seven who grew up in an old house on the waterfront, accompanied by his entitled older brother, his submi...