Shameless

133| Father Frank, Full of Grace

"Is he dead?"

Lip asked. "Faint pulse. Hypoxic." Ian said as Carla adjusted Emma on her hip. "High what?" Kevin asked. "Barely breathing." Veronica answered.

"What's that smell?" Debbie asked. "Grampy went tinkle in his pants."
Franny said. "Ugh,damn it. Not on the new couch." Debbie said as Carl walked in. "Hey,what's going on?"

"Frank OD'd again." Ian said,taking the needle out of Frank's arm. "How much heroin did he do?" David asked. Liam grabbed two empty plastic baggies. "Wow." Kev said.

"Oh." Ian mumbled. "And he's not dead?" Tami asked. "Yet another disadvantage to decades of copious narcotics use." Lip said as Ian used Franks belt as a tourniquet.

"Should we,like,call the paramedics or something?" Debbie asked. "No,he's done this before a bunch of times." Lip said.

"He may be trying to kill himself." Liam said,making everyone look at him. "He's been depressed. The dementia's getting bad." Liam added.

"Hand me that syringe." V said. Ian handed her the syringe. Everyone grimaced when V stabbed the needle into Frank's hand.

"Unresponsive to pain." V said. "Stroke?" Ian asked. "Or he's already brain dead. That happens with overdoses." V said.

"I guess it's up to us to finish him off.
Quick shot to the head,dump his body in the lake. I don't think anybody's gonna miss him." Mickey said.

The Gallaghers looked at him like he was crazy. "What? we'd just be helping Mr. Fuckup finish the job." Mickey said when a girl,Heidi walked downstairs a

"You could pillow him." Heidi said. "That's what my dad did to my grandpa so we could sell his double-wide. Couldn't afford his oxygen refills anymore."

"Who is that?" Tami whispered to Carla. "Debbie's got a new friend." Carla whispered back. "Hey,check his pockets. See if he got any money on him." Heidi said.

"Trust me,he doesn't." Carl said. Everyone just stared at Frank's unconscious body. "I gotta get to work. Is there any coffee?" Carl asked. "Yeah,I made a pot." Lip said.

"All right." Carl walked into the kitchen. "So now what?" Carla asked. "We wait,I guess." Ian asked. "For what?" Debbie asked.

"Sees if he dies or not." Ian said. Everyone stared at Frank again. "Said there's coffee?" Ian asked. "Yeah,kitchen." Lip said as everyone walked their different ways.

~~

Carla watched as a car pulled into a handicapped parking place. She sighed as she started the meter maid vehicle and drove behind the car.

Carla grabbed the ticket machine and got out of the vehicle,typing the car's license plate. "No,no,no,please." The woman said,walking out of the coffee shop.

"I just ran in for a second. I'm leaving right now." She said. "Are you handicapped,ma'am?" Carla asked.

"I...was keeping an eye on the street,and if anyone would have—" the woman made an excuse. Carla sighed, "Do you have your handicapped placard?"

"Please. I promise I won't do it again." The woman begged. "You know who uses these spots, ma'am?" Carla asked. "Veterans. Who lost their legs fighting for our freedom in Fallujah. Children born without spinal cords. Old ladies who are paralyzed by Tesla hipsters too busy watching Tiktoks to look up when they approach a crosswalk."

"Come on,please?" The woman walked up to Carla. "I've learned my lesson,Officer. I won't do it again." The woman said.

Carla bit the inside of her cheek before handing the woman a ticket. "You have a good day, ma'am." Carla said before getting into the meter maid vehicle and drove away.