Chapter 11

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"You said I could have the gun after three days."

"If your background check came back okay ---and it didn't---come back----okay," the attendant at the gun counter is getting to know me. That can't possibly be a good thing.

"Okay fine---just---just give me the gun," I sighed.

"I can't do that---it would break the law, and stuff," he said.

"I will pay you," I said, "I need that gun."

"What are you gonna do with it?"

"Shoot something."

"Well, how much would you pay me?" he asked.

"Ten of these," I said, holding up hundred dollar bills.

"No."

"I need bullets then, a lot of bullets---and a case," I said.

"Okay, you're gonna get like, arrested for this—"

"Yeah wouldn't be the first time," I said.

"I know, man, I read your background check, dude, how do you work at a school?" he asked.

"How do you know I work at the school?" I asked.

"You're wearing the badge----and you taught me sixth grade English----ah---what're you gonna do with the bullets and the case and no gun?" he asked.

"I'm going to pay someone who can pass a background check to come and buy it for me," I said, picking up the cases of bullets and the gun case, "Thank you."

"Um---you're welcome."

I checked out then walked outside. The main issue with this was I had no friends who would do that sort of thing.  Because I had no friends at all. Thankfully, in my experience, people would do a lot of things for money.

"Why wouldn't they let you have the gun?" Del was standing beside me. I looked down at him.

"Because they have to check your background, before they sell you a weapon, like that," I said.

"What's in your background?" he asked.

"Things that make them think, I shouldn't have a weapon," I said.

"What things?"

"Bad things."

"You won't tell me?"

"No," I said, shaking my head.

"Why are you doing this for me?" he asked, wiping his face on his sleeve. "I'm not here anymore."

"I just do things," I said, shaking my head. "Just---just don't worry. I'm going to kill it."

"I don't think that gun will work," he said.

"I'm going to try," I said, starting to walk again. I looked around. There was a diner or something near here, wasn't there?

"When it runs at you, don't scream. It doesn't help, as it's tearing you apart. The screaming only makes it worse," he said, "And no one can hear you."

"I heard you."

"Not in time."

**

"It came!!" Enoch and I ran up to the porch, each taking an end of the huge box that contained the swords.

"Awesome!" Enoch said.

"Come on, let's get it upstairs," I said, picking up my end. With him pushing and me pulling, we had the swords halfway up the stairs by the time Jade heard the racket.

"What's going on---Merry? I thought you were at your mom's today," Jade said, confused.

"I was---I am---but we needed to finish something first," I said, trying to cover the label of the box which said "swords and things" which was the company we'd gotten it from. The label was almost the entire length of the box. 

"What're you two up to?" Jade asked, trying to smile then thinking better of it like we really shouldn't be smiling right now.

"We're rebuilding the tree fort," Enoch said, quickly.

"It didn't seem right that it should stay messed up," I said.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Just an old box we got from school," l lied, "We thought we could use it."

"You're right, it isn't good that it got ruined---we should rebuild it," Jade said, "But cardboard won't do, that'll melt in the rain. En, why don't you and I go to the hardware store and get some wood? Merry, we could drop you off at your mom's."

"Okay," I agreed, "We'll just put the box in my room, just in case."


**

"Okay, I need you to be very quiet and listen to what I say," I said, sitting down on the red plastic of the booth.

"Oh my god, are you robbing us?" the waitress asked, almost excited, stopping mid chew of her gum.

"N-n-n-no---no I need you to help me," I said, pulling out a few pieces of paper, "I'm going to pay you a lot of money---and you're going to Walmart, and buy a gun for me---this is the one. And in three days, I'm going to come here and get from you."

"Why?" she asked, my hand was on her wrist, "No."

"Please," I said, "I need to do this."

"What?" she asked, "Why don't you buy a gun?"

"Because if you've been involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital, then you can't buy a weapon---at least I think that's it. That or my juvenile record," I said, "Either way, I need to buy you this gun for me."

"What're you gonna do with this gun?" she asked.

"I'm going to shoot something," I said, "Then I'll give it back to you."

I looked up. Violet was standing behind the counter, staring at me. She knew I don't come inside places if I can help it. I stared back at her then broke my gaze.

"What are you going to shoot?" she asked.

"A beast," I said, "That killed a little boy, a few days ago."

"And what are you going to do if I say no?" she asked.

"I'm going to ask you nicely again," I said, tightening my grip on her wrist. I am very strong. I also have zero plan if she does say no other than start crying. 

"And what about when I walk into the store. how are you going to stop me from calling the cops?" she asked.

"You're not going to. because you know that this is right and true. And that this is what has to be done," I said, staring into her eyes, "And you will not say no to me." Violet was still looking at me.

"When?" she asked, looking around. 

"Now, I'm going to walk out, then you are, this is more than enough money," I said, taking the envelope from my coat, "You will be fine. This is what must be done."

"Okay," she said, staring into my eyes.

Then I stood up and left. And she stood staring out the window after me.


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