Normal Read Online Free Page B

why. 
                 
                  The bus pulled into the Millard Johnston High School parking lot.  There were designated bus lanes.  However, the lanes were filled with the SUV’s and hybrids of the rich kids who had not been old enough to drive but too good to take the school bus and not cool enough to hitch a ride with an upper classman.  Losers until their parents bought them a car.  The brakes squealed as the tires discontinued their retarded rotation.  The children poured off as if being released from jail only to move onto the maximum security facility.  Carissa got off and waited for Rob and Scott. 
                  “What did you do to him?” Scott said as his right foot hit the ground. 
                  “Nothing,” Carissa said defensively.
                  “Bull shit.  I’ll bet you hit him in the balls,” Scott said as they began walking to the school.
                  “No, I didn’t hit him in the balls, ass hole.  He was bleeding.”
                  “Did you cut him?”
                  “No!” She laughed.
                  “Then, what did you do?” Scott asked.
                  “Shut up.” Carissa’s snapped. Scott got to her.  He felt his work was done.
                  “So what are you going to do about the grass?” Rob said being attentive to more pressing matters.
                  “Yeah, I had my money on it too,” Carissa shoved Scott.
                  “What do you want me to do?  I can’t crawl into the fucking sewer and fish it out.”
                  “You gotta job.  I’m sure you can spare a hundo to make up for the bag you lost,” Rob said.
                  “What do think I am made of money?”
                  “Oh, I’m sorry dad,” Carissa said, “but you lost it.  Again.  You gotta get some more.”
                  “Yeah, you better get me some smoke, or else.”
                  “Or else what, Rob?” Scott said with confidence.
                  “Well, I haven’t thought that far.”
                  They stopped for a moment at the brick steps leading to the front door of the school.  Maybe they were thinking about skipping, but the temptation was not great enough so they all walked up to the metal detectors and set their bags on the conveyor belt. 
                  A trophy case stood just beyond the threshold.  They did not notice it every day but a glint caught Carissa’s eye as she walked passed.  Once before, she had stopped to look at the relics of former glories.  She found that the school had once had a great football team (which in this part of Texas was a must).  But the dates on the trophies had run out about ‘92 and they had not made it to the playoffs ever since.
                  Carissa had also seen a memorial plaque to a boy that had died when he was fourteen.  He had the same last name as Rob.  She had wondered if they were related but never asked.  Carissa had her own old memories she did not want to drudge so she left this one alone just in case this was one of Rob’s skeletons that was better left alone. The plaque read “Steven Welch 1980-1994. Our hearts are broken with the loss of our son.”  The boy in the picture resembled Rob slightly but not enough to tell if they were family.
                  The main hallway, claustrophobic with the hundreds of faceless students lining the walls, spread in front of them.  Lockers imbedded on each side.  “See you, later,” Carissa said touching Rob’s arm as he and Scott peeled away down an adjacent hall.
                  “What about me?” Scott said.
                  Carissa threw up a quick middle finger as she walked away.
                 
    Carissa made