Space Bound

Four

Sunday, August 16, 1999

Marshall's POV

I parked my old raggedy car on the side of the street in front of Deshaun and his mama's house. The pit that was chained to a single metal pole started to go insane and barked like his life depended on it. Before I could even step on the first step to the porch, the door flew open with Deshaun behind it. He had a crazy big smile on his face.

"What's up my homie?" He slapped my hand and pulled me into a hug.

"Nothing much. Just in the need of a place to stay." I said in a sarcastic way.

"Well, you have one...if it's okay with my mom." He said scratching the back of his bald ass head.

I asked, "You haven't asked your mama yet?"

"Have you forgotten that you called me late at night? I didn't want to bother her with a question that I could've wait to ask in the morning." He explained himself.

"Ask me what boy? Oh, hey Marshall." His mama, Yvette, walked to the kitchen sink to put an empty bowl in it.

Yvette was more of a mom to me than my own. She had cared for me the same way she cared for Deshaun. I believed she's the reason why I stayed out of most trouble.

"Hey ma'am. Um, I have just gotten kicked out of my apartment. Can I stay here until I can find another place?" I asked politely.

She nodded, "Yeah, but I'm not letting you freeload like Deshaun. You have to at least try to get a job."

Deshaun smacked his lips at her remark. She peered at him like she was about to slap him across the face.

"You don't have to worry about that. I already have one." I corrected her.

"That's good. You are welcomed to stay for as long as you need."

"Thanks very much. I won't be causing any trouble."

Deshaun and I went to his room that was located at the end of the hallway. We both sat on his bed. He pulled out a Jordan shoe box from underneath his bed. I knew what exactly that box contained.

"You down to smoke?" Deshaun opened up the box revealing two small ziplock bags of weed, a lighter, and some paper.

I accepted, "I'm down."

He took one of the bags of weed out. The bag hadn't even been open yet and the smell was already so loud. Then, he took a piece of paper and tore it into a smaller piece. Lastly, he put some weed in the paper and licked it thoroughly before rolling it up. He began to pass it over to me but I stopped him.

"What's the fucking deal?" Deshaun asked acting like he doesn't know.

"I'm not taking that after you covered it with your nasty ass spit." I complained.

He lit the joint for himself and began making another one for me.

"Here you go." He passed me mine.

I took a hit. The effects of marijuana struck me right away. I swear that Deshaun gets better weed than I do. His would make you high in one hit while mine took ten. Anyways, my mood started to lift and everything seemed to be better again. The power of a good joint.

"Hey, Deshaun." I said pushing myself backward until my back hit the wall.

"Yeah?" Deshaun responded.

I wiped the newly formed sweat on my forehead, "I met a girl last night."

"That was quick." Deshaun teased.