Heroin(e)

Chapter Fifteen

I had no idea if they were telling the truth. People loved to gossip about celebrities and AC/DC were no different. Magazine articles and newspaper clippings constantly called them 'satanic' and 'possessed'. But rockstars weren't shy about taking illicit drugs. I just wanted to hear about it from Bon himself. 

It was February now and snow was starting to fall. I decided heat was too valuable an asset to keep shut off so I started budgeting more than I already was to be able to pay for it. Scout was much happier and I was too. I wouldn't ever deprive him of warmth again. Until now when I took him with me to spend the day with Bon. We walked through the park again, this time a small sheet of show covering the grass. Hardly anybody was out except us and a couple brave birds. Scout bounded through the snow, not at all bothered by the cold. Flakes fell into his fur and my hair. I chose my wool coat over my leather jacket for obvious reasons. 

"Does it snow a lot in New York?" Bon asked, kicking some up with his shoe. It sprayed from the ground into the air and Scout tried eating it. "We didn't see much last time we were there."

"It can get pretty bad," I said. "Mom said the blizzard two years ago was the worst she had ever ever heard about. So many people died and I was worried Mom would be one of them." No tears. "Luckily the storm didn't reach Queens like we thought it would."

Bon nodded as he listened. "I heard about that, that was awful," he said. "We were in Tasmania at the time....bit warmer there, ya' know?"

"Does Australia get any snow?" I asked, watching Scout roll around. He shook his fur out and snow went flying. 

"On special occasions," Bon smiled. "When it feels like it, ya' know." He picked up a small handful of snow and patted it down in his gloved hands. 

"Don't you dare," I said, pointing a finger at him. He smiled and laughed.

"I'm not gonna throw it," he said. "Jus' makin' a pet snowball." I raised an eyebrow.

"A what?" 

"Ya' know those pet rocks?" he asked. I nodded, remembering the pet rock fad all the kids went crazy for. Despite the fact that you could go outside and pick out any rock you wanted for free. And I knew my kid self would probably want one regardless. "This is my pet snowball, with a lifespan of forty eight minutes."

I laughed. "Longer if the snow keeps up," I said. 

"Yeah, but I'm gettin' hungry an' it will melt if I take it inside," he said tossing the snowball. It hit a tree and exploded into a powdery mess. Scout pulled on his leash to chase it. "Let's get somethin' to eat."

**********

We found a pizza place downtown and thankfully they allowed well behaved dogs. Scout was the most well behaved boy on the planet so I wasn't worried. I admired the place. It was a whole restaurant with a ball pit, arcade games, basketball hoops, jungle gym, and a prize counter. We found a booth and sat down with our pizza, Scout having a nap under the table after realizing I wouldn't give in to his begging. Kids who took the day off from school ran around the place, tails made out of tickets flying behind them. Games whirring and bells ringing like a casino. No grown ups in sight. 

Bon and I looked pretty out of place. 

The pizza was hot and Bon laughed as he handed me a glass of water to cool my tongue down after burning it. "It's not funny!" I said drinking. Water spilled out the sides of my mouth and dribbled all over the table. Bon was about crying from laughter and I finally gave in, water shooting into my nose. 

That only made my pain worse but it was too funny to ignore. 

Bon handed me some napkins. "You alright over there?" he asked.