Pill Popper {Book One}

Pill Popper { Six }

{Chapter Six}

      "EW..." I LET out a quiet sigh as I folded a pair of my brother tidy-whities before placing them into the basket with our other clean clothes. A young girl such as myself should not have to fold her older brothers underwear. So traumatizing. 

      "Thanks for doing the laundry, Sammy." Mikey said as he walked in the kitchen, where I was folding the laundry on our little kitchen table. "We are lucky that Ms. Walker lets us use her washer and dryer every week."

      I nodded as I continued to fold. "She's a sweet old women." The unit that Mikey and I were living in did not have a washer or dryer hookup, but we were lucky enough that our neighbor, Ms. Walker did. She's been letting us do laundry every Wednesday since we've moved in.

      He gave me a small smile before grabbing a freshly cleaned black jacket from the folded pile. "Well Sammy Bear, I gotta go."

      I raised and eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

      "I got a new job." His smile grew, as well did mine.

      "Mikey! That's great! Where at?"

      He put on his jacket. "I got a job at the construction site on Old Miller Road, they are building a new apartment complex and they needed a few guys to help with welding."

      I gave my brother a look. "You're a welder?" He gave me a sheepish grin.

      "Well, not yet, exactly. They are going to train me." He let out a deep breath. "Even with training the pay is great. Starting is $20 an hour, plus an extra five if I get overtime." $20 an hour would be great. Recently Mikey had been juggling two jobs, working at a car wash during the day and then occasionally at a shipping yard at night unloading semis, and even then the combined pay was barely touching $15.

      I smiled. "Good for you, Mikey." I was glad that he was able to quit his two jobs and go down to one with more pay. He needed a break from work and time for himself.  "You know, I'll get a job too. I can help you out, you know."

      He sighed. "I know you could Sammy, but you need to focus on finishing school. Trust me, school and work do not mix very well." He would know that better than anyone. Our parents died during his senior year, which meant that Mikey had to get a job to support us. And manage to graduate.

      "What about part time? I could work a few days a week. That would help-"

      "No, Sammy. I don't want you to get side tracked from school. Okay?"

      I frowned, but didn't push any further. "Okay."

      Mikey gave me a small smile. "I got to go. Love you. " He came over and gave me a quick kiss on my forehead. "Call me if you need anything." I nodded and muttered an 'I love you' before he left.

      After I finished folding Mikey's things, I walked to his room and opened his drawer. Right there sitting in his drawer were a bunch of pill bottles. All of them, sitting out and in the open. Ibuprofen, Valium, Perc, Advil...

      I made a grab for the Advil bottle. Then I glanced over to see the Valium bottle staring back at me. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

      Valium it is. I haven't had them in what seemed like forever. I even forgot what type of high they give you...

      So it seems like I had found Mikey's hiding spot. Honestly, I never would have guessed this is where he would have hidden them. Not even locked. I figured he would have purchased a safe box, or something to hide them all in. Ah, oh well. I have them don't I?