A Part Of Me // Nowhere Boys

1.6 Freeganism

"Get down, it's the cops." Felix warned causing us all to crouch down behind the old thrown out furniture. The five of us watch as Gary Riles drives by in a cop car.

"You were right. By being born, I wrecked my parents' lives." Jake states sadly. I squeeze his shoulder quickly.

"I didn't put it like that exactly," Andy clarified.

"Change isn't necessarily better." I say trying to be optimistic whilst fixing my flannel sleeve.

"Really?" Jake asks with a mix between miserable and hopefulness in his voice. Andy and I both nod.

"Well... Cops have notorious cholesterol and hypertension issues. And in a survey I read, real estate agents rated below telemarketers in trustworthiness." Andy tries to reassure.

"OK, all clear." Felix states lifting up a red foldable chair, I stand up holding a green one while Jake carries a propane tank that someone threw away half full and Andy picks up a black box thing.

"I can't believe it's come to this. Other people's rubbish?" Sam complains.

"You've been a great help, Sam. Really, don't put yourself out." Andy points out cheerfully putting the box into a shopping cart though Sam really did nothing.

"Dude, if you want a whole heap of useless junk, that's your business." Sam says snarkily.

"This isn't junk. Did you know that in this country, we throw out more than $5 billion worth of stuff every year? Better to reuse what we've already got. It's a philosophy called Freeganism." Andy explains as we all start walking.

"Freegan, huh? That's pretty cool." Jake perks up from beside me looking back briefly at Andy. I nod in agreement.

"Oh, you just made that word up." Sam accused, I spun around walking backwards.

"Why if Andy could make up any word to describe freeganism would he choose a word like freeganism?" I challenge Sam who glares at me. I notice him chew in his mouth, "What are you eating?" I ask quickly.

"Nothing." Sam says immediately. I continue my questioning look as I face forwards and keep walking.

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"I don't know if the gas is gonna work, but here's hoping." Jake says lighting a match. "Turn it, doofus." He tells Andy pointing at the propane tank. Jake had set up basically a homemade gas stove with the stuff we had found.

"Oh. Oh, good work!" Andy praised. I nodded and walked over to the two of them leaving my book that I had just finished on the bed to see that Jake had indeed got the burner to work.

"Impressive." I muttered leaning my elbow on Andy's shoulder.

"Who's up for a home cooked meal? I do a pretty mean BLT." Jake said excitedly with a wide smile. I smiled amused by how happy the stove had made him.

"Small problem - we don't have food." Sam said bitterly from the end of the box table, I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag putting it on so the strap crossed my body.

"Well, we'll go shopping." Jake said simply, looking over at Sam.

"With what?" Sam asked blankly. I raised my eyebrow.

"Your money should get us some basics." Jake said pointedly.

"What money?" I rubbed my forehead and closed my eyes.

"The money you earned from skate busking Sam." I say tiredly looking at him seriously.

"Ah." He face had an 'oh shit' look. "Low blood sugar - needed chocolate."