Off To Wonderland

Not a Blow Job

The rest of the week went by quite nicely, not counting the nightly beatings from Jimmy. On Tuesday she had finally told Rocky her dream, and that she didn’t want any more pills for a while. Both Rocky and Sparrow agreed she should probably take a brake since the dreams were a bit on the down side. Now it was Friday and she was eating lunch laughing with Sparrow at Rocky’s exciting tales as a drug dealer, from the crazy clientele, to the pissed off poe-poe chase.

“And then he chased my down the alley and I thought for sure I was doomed when I saw it was a dead end. The guy was still a ways behind me but he was coming fast. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw it..” he paused adding dramatic affect.

“What?” Asked Amber wide-eyed hanging on his every word, “What did you see?”

“A hole. Just big enough for me to squeeze through.”

“Did you use it,” Amber asked.

“Wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t. I’d probably be rotting in some jail by now.”

“What happened next” Sparrow said chuckling.

“Well I darted for it and squeeze through just in time, case the guy grabbed at my feet and I kicked him in the face.” Both Amber and Sparrow made a ‘ouch face’ as if they had been the ones Rocky kicked. “And that is how I survived dealing to a cops daughter,” he finished, bowing his head. Amber and Sparrow gave him a small applause for is entertaining story. They had been hanging out a lot more lately, since Amber had decide to stop taking SAND for a while, she was starting to enjoy her life and didn’t want to always be passed out in her dream land (that always seemed to go wrong) and maybe miss the interesting things around her. Amber looked at her phone. It was 12:00; and since it would take about an hour to get to the shack she decided to get going.

“Hey guys I have to get to my job or I’ll be late.”

“Job? What job? Like and actual ‘Job’ job?” Rocky asked, “Or one of those…” he made a gesture of something going in and out of his mouth. Amber rolled her eyes.

“A ‘job’ job Rocky. Not a,” she copied his gesture, “job.”

“Oh. Hey you never know with girls now a days.” He sighed, “So where you working at?” both he and Sparrow looked at her curiously.

“I’m going to help with renovations at the Shack, I’m a painter.”

“Cool. Do they need any extra hands?” Sparrow asked.

“I don’t know you guys wanna come with me and see?”

“Sure,” they both said.

“Alight-e. Let’s go!”

The Shack still looked the same on the outside when they arrived. And that was probably best, so it wouldn’t draw attention to it. The three of them walked up to the front door, the padlock and chain were now gone, and they pushed open the doors. Their mouths dropped open as they took in the sight.

“Hey there,” Mike called from the bar, that was now longer with a black counter top. Glass shelves on the wall holding new glasses and more alcohols choices that before (illegal stuff was still in the back just in case). The rest of the room was all white walls, a new black couch and table in the room, each still in their plastic; a couple more chairs and big pillows, where in the room too. Mike came out from behind the counter and walked over to them. He smiled at Amber,

“Glad you could make it,” he nodded toward the boys, “Good you brought more help.”

“Are you going to pay them the same way you are paying for me?” Amber asked.

“Yeah sure, that is if they want.” Both the boys nodded, Amber had explained it to them on the way here. “Good. Paint is over there. We have black, and purple, try to go for a toxic poison sort of feel, If you can. No butterflies and such or you’re fired.”

“No worries… I think I have something good in mind.”

“Ok then I’ll leave you too it.” By the time they had totally finished it was close to midnight. The three of them stepped back to look at the master piece created (mostly by Amber). It was almost all black with white some white designs that popped. A purple dripping skull was by the bar and what looked like purple blood, was oozing down from the ceiling. Mike whistled.

“Awesome job you guys. Looks great,” Amber beamed, while Sparrow and Rocky smiled smugly.

“How much do we get?” Rocky asked

“For the time spent, each of you gets 275. Plus the design, 50 d, that means you and Sparrow get a total of 325 bucks.” Mike answered.

“What about Amber?” Sparrow asked, “how come you didn’t say her name.” Mike smiled.

“Amber gets 500.”

“What?!” Sparrow and Rocky said!

“Hey she came up with the design its self and did most of the decorative painting. You too just did the bulk painting, so she gets extra, for the extra work.” He looked at Amber, “Spend it wisely. Oh and reopening party tomorrow at 8. Spread it to all the usual’s” He said before leaving to check on some new shipments. Sparrow and Rocky grumbled.

“Man that is so unfair,” Rocky huffed, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Is so not,” Amber replyied. “Besides you already have a job, so don’t be so mad. This was my first real job.”

“If you don’t have a job, how do you keep pay’n me for the pills?” Rocky asked.

“I steal from Jimmy when he is in his booze-snooze” she answered with a smirk.

“Nice,” Sparrow said. And they laughed, walking out and off to head back to home. Today was actually a good day Amber thought as Rocky and Sparrow dropped her off at her apartment building.

“See you tomorrow at the party!” Said Rocky doing a really funny dance, Amber giggled and waved good bye; she would tell Kimmber about the party in the morning.