Cody pulled into the Conoco station with a jerk as he tried to gaze casually at the large Ford truck that had just rolled to a stop at one of the dozen fueling islands.\u00a0 The truck was on the inside of the terminal, so Cody slid up next to the pump on the opposite side of the island, the side further from the store.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will be perfect,\u201d said Cody.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d responded Ray, working to snub out his cigarette – a difficult feat with the car\u2019s sudden change of trajectory.\u00a0 \u201cI thought we were on our way to Garret\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI need gas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI need another pack anyways.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna run in real quick – you want anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u00a0 Just shut up and sit there for a minute.\u201d\u00a0 Cody\u2019s voice was stern, and although he fumbled around in the car\u2019s center console as if looking for his wallet, his eyes never cut away from the driver of the truck.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeriously, what the fuck?\u00a0 Garret\u2019s waiting for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, but just shut the fuck up for a second.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna show you a trick I learned.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The driver of the truck killed his engine and offensively loud metal music died with it.\u00a0 The door swung open as a man lumbered out his seat and reached for the pump.\u00a0 The man looked like a giant from Cody and Ray\u2019s perspective, sitting low in their 1982 Toyota Corolla.\u00a0 This small dirty car, once painted a muddy-diarrhea brown, was nicknamed Sir because, as Cody saw it, a car much older than himself deserved to be regarded with some respect.\u00a0 But the man paid no attention to Sir, nor it\u2019s two scrawny occupants, and moved with concentrated efforts as he swiped his credit card, pressed the premium button, and started the slow and steady flow of gasoline.<\/p>\n
The man was in his mid thirties and well over six feet tall.\u00a0 His hair was cut close to his head, and his broad chest was quickly losing the intimidating quality it might have once had, as superfluous fat now bloated out from his sides and gut.\u00a0 He wore a t-shirt, cut off cargo pants, and tan leather boots.\u00a0 It was clear to all who saw him: he was another ex-soldier returning home from service.\u00a0 They seemed to be everywhere around town these days, and all had the same air about them.\u00a0 Once in peak physical shape, they now lived a life of excess; a life of continuous vice.\u00a0 Drinking coffee until beer and beer until coffee, smoking cigarettes and eating fast food.\u00a0 They all returned home and wanted whatever they could find, whatever was offered.<\/p>\n
The soldier reached into his truck, pulled out a used 64 ounce fountain cup, and trudged his way across the parking lot leaving the gas to continue flowing as he shopped.\u00a0 This was the moment Cody had anticipated.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, let\u2019s go.\u201d Cody sprung from his seat.\u00a0 In one step he was across the island, taking the pump from the truck and swinging the nozzle back around to his car. \u00a0Cody had removed the gas cap from his car and thrust the pump into place.\u00a0 The interruption to the flow of gasoline was almost nonexistent, the tally of the total cost once again keeping perfect time.<\/p>\n
Ray ran around from his side of the car.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you fucking crazy man?\u201d he sputtered.\u00a0 \u201cWhy would you fuck with that guy?\u00a0 He\u2019s going to murder us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Cody said.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019ll never even notice.\u00a0 Once the car is full just move the pump back to his pickup and make sure the gas is still flowing.\u00a0 And Ray, you fucking pussy, don\u2019t switch it back until my car is full.\u00a0 It’s not everyday Sir gets to feast upon premium.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d\u00a0 Ray asked, with obvious strain in his voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m gonna stall him – just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Ray could object, Cody moved toward the store with long, lanky strides. Through the glass doors he saw the ex-soldier standing in front of the soda fountain, filling his cup with Mountain Dew.\u00a0 Cody slowed his pace and tried to walk in casually.\u00a0 There was an elderly woman at the register buying lottery tickets, and Cody jumped in line behind her.\u00a0 She had already purchased what she wanted, but now stood at the counter scratching at them with a nickel.<\/p>\n
The kid behind the counter was named Michael.\u00a0 He was the same age as Cody and they nodded at each other as he walked in.\u00a0 They weren\u2019t friends, exactly, but they ran in similar circles and had had a couple of classes together.\u00a0 He was smart but, like most kids in town, he didn\u2019t have much money. It was this dilemma that made it possible for army recruiters to have a larger office in the high school than any of the guidance counselors.<\/p>\n
The woman, now coming to the realization that she would not be leaving with any money, turned and began to shuffle out the door, leaving her pile of discarded tickets on the counter.\u00a0 Michael had been reading absent-mindedly from an old copy of Cat\u2019s Cradle<\/em>, but he now pushed that aside and began to pick up the litter.<\/p>\n \u201cDoes anyone ever win?\u201d Cody asked as he moved up to the counter.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not really.\u00a0 I wish they would just throw their three dollars in the trash and save me the hassle of doing it for them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but what\u2019s the fun in that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever,\u201d Michael scoffed.\u00a0 \u201cNo one buys those things because it\u2019s fun.\u201d\u00a0 He balled together the tickets to toss in a wastebasket beside him, then turned back to Cody.\u00a0 \u201cNow, how may I help you<\/em>?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 \u201cYou need some gas?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Cody blurted.\u00a0 His eyes darted out the window and saw Ray still standing beside the car, nervously hunched over the pump.\u00a0 He tried to gaze over his shoulder wanting to know where the soldier was.\u00a0 The man had finished his shopping and was moving to take his place in line.\u00a0 With the ex-soldier now towering behind him, less than two feet away, Cody quickly turned back to Michael.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019m just grabbing some cigarettes.\u00a0 But hey, how\u2019d you do on that physics test yesterday?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I did alright.\u00a0 Nothing special.\u00a0 You?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPretty good, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, you always have like the highest grade in there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but physics is easy.\u00a0 It\u2019s all just cause and effect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever. \u00a0What kind of smokes do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n Nervousness began to creep upon Cody as he could feel the impatience growing in the man behind him.\u00a0 He heard a package of jerky tear open, followed by large, noisy bites.\u00a0 The man chewed vigorously on the meat with loud, slurping, sucking sounds, like a plunger attacking a toilet, and then washed it down with a gulp of his drink. It was a hot day, and Cody was sure the man smelled like corn syrup.\u00a0 He managed to survive RPGs, <\/em>thought Cody, but let\u2019s see how he fares with diabetes<\/em>.\u00a0 Welcome to the golden age of prosthetic limbs.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou guys got American Spirit blues?\u201d Cody finally asked, returning his attention to the counter.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have the yellows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot the blues?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the fuck, Cody? \u00a0You\u2019re in here at least once a week – you know what we have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, alright, I\u2019ll just take a pack of Pall Malls.\u201d\u00a0 Cody laid his cash on the counter and waited to collect the change.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know that was Vonnegut\u2019s brand of choice,\u201d Michael stated as he handed over the money and cigarettes.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah I know, you tell me that every time I buy them.\u201d\u00a0 Cody peered out the window again, but this time couldn\u2019t see Ray, which he hoped was a good sign.\u00a0 He turned back toward Michael and asked, \u201cSo what are you going to do after graduation?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Michael shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI hate to say it, but maybe sign up for the army or something.\u00a0 Maybe the air force.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know; anything is better than working here for the next ten years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you\u2019ll get lucky and land a job at Wal-Mart,\u201d Cody scoffed.<\/p>\n \u201cShit, just strap a parachute to me right now.\u00a0 At least I can choose if I want to pull the cord or not.\u201d<\/p>\n Cody chuckled, and then turned to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about you?\u201d Michael asked, hoping to continue the conversation, a welcomed distraction from his work.\u00a0 \u201cYou made any plans yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, nothing serious,\u201d Cody responded. \u201cJust working on survival.\u201d\u00a0 Cody began to walk away, but before he made it to the door the man\u2019s voice froze him into place.<\/p>\n \u201cHey kid,\u201d the ex-soldier stated in a loud, commanding voice.<\/p>\n Cody felt a tinge of panic at the base of his skull.\u00a0 With his eyes closed, he braced himself as he imagined large, bear-like paws grabbing him by the shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I offer you some advice?\u201d the man continued.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t waste your time with the military.\u00a0 No matter what they tell you, you are just going to find yourself back here again, anyways.\u00a0 And that hero\u2019s return bullshit, well, the only people who talk to me around here are the ones who want something in return.\u201d<\/p>\n When Cody realized that the man was speaking to Michael, and not him, he slipped out the door and moved with fast strides across the parking lot.\u00a0 He was relieved to see that Ray was back in the car, the nozzle of the pump back in the truck, and the gas dial still marching steadily upward.\u00a0 Cody hopped into Sir and tossed the package of cigarettes onto Ray\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Ray said with irritation. \u201cCan we get going now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019d say we better,\u201d Cody uttered.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go see if Garret actually has those shrooms like he promised.\u00a0 Oh, and don\u2019t tell him about this.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to make him pitch in some gas money for making us drive all the way out to his house.\u201d<\/p>\n Cody started the small engine, let out the clutch, and began to creep toward the exit that would point him in the right direction.\u00a0 As he circled around the parking lot he saw the ex-soldier standing back at his truck, obviously annoyed by the fact that his tank was still not full.\u00a0 He moved to the rear of the pickup and slumped down on tailgate.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d be amazed how often that works,\u201d Cody said to Ray, as he pulled the small car out onto the highway, heading north out of town.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to get your teeth kicked in,\u201d said Ray, his voice still thick with anxiety.\u00a0 \u201cThis town is filled with assholes just aching to beat the shit out of people like us, and you run around looking to give them a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, the people here are friendly enough,\u201d Cody shrugged.<\/p>\n The car slowly began to pick up speed as it vibrated down the asphalt, and a hot, loud wind, thick with dust and sage ripped through the cab.\u00a0 The boys squinted as they drove in silence out toward the country.\u00a0 After a few minutes, Ray opened his cigarettes and packed them on his knee the way all new smokers do.\u00a0 He lit two and passed one to Cody.\u00a0 In continued silence the two smoked their cigarettes, each feigning satisfaction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cody pulled into the Conoco station with a jerk as he tried to gaze casually at the large Ford truck that had just rolled to a stop at one of the dozen fueling islands.\u00a0 The truck was on the inside of the terminal, so Cody slid up next to the pump on the opposite side … Continue reading “Premium”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/watchyourhead.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/watchyourhead.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/watchyourhead.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/watchyourhead.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/watchyourhead.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=346"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/watchyourhead.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/watchyourhead.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/watchyourhead.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/watchyourhead.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}