Homeless by Ms. Michel Moore Page B

enough to have a car like Kevin, the now semiaddicted-to-prescription-pills teen did what he had to do when need be. If Kevin had class and was going to the city, then he would catch a ride with him. If not, the iron pimp was Lonnie’s only recourse. Putting up with the unwanted attention from suburban residents who felt like a young black teenager out in their neighborhood could only mean one thing, many days he had to swallow his pride. Part of the functioning pillhead wanted to just move back to his apartment near campus and save him not only the hassle of the travel time, but the sheer hatred he was forced to endure. Most of the women he’d come in contact with there would hold their purses extra tight, advise their kids to walk on the other side of the street, or just plain ignore him, like he didn’t exist. Lonnie knew if it wasn’t for the pills he was taking that kept him pretty much numb when it came to emotions, he would’ve snapped. Instead, he focused on his books, going to class, and getting back to the party house so he could get even higher.
    It’d been over an hour, and the bus had yet to come. Lonnie was slightly buzzed but not out his mind enough to want to miss class. He had been staying up studying for his business management test all night. Having missed a few days during the semester and getting an incomplete on his project, Lonnie knew he had to make at least a strong B on the test if he wanted to keep his scholarship intact. He’d already been placed on academic probation from the “once a month used to be bleeding cunt” dean of students, as he nicknamed her. So, Lonnie getting to school was crucial. He’d already lost a part-time job he’d gotten at a law firm through the work study program by being suspected of possibly being “high” off of some substance. In his emotions, Lonnie refused a drug test; so, of course, that was that.
    Starting to feel panicked, the always cash-strapped youth checked his pockets for cash thinking maybe he could catch a cab. Coming up with nothing but a few coins and a crumbled up dollar or two, Lonnie knew that option was straight out the window. Shit. I gotta get back to the city. I gotta get to class and take that test before they kick my black ass out of school. I can’t let my mother down! Fuck!
    Lonnie got back to the house he was staying at. Letting himself in, he found Kevin still knocked out with two naked females in the bed with him. All three reeking of alcohol, Lonnie picked up a bottle of Grey Goose that had a small amount left inside. Turning the bottle up, he killed it, along with an ice-cold beer he’d gotten from the refrigerator. Snatching Kevin’s car keys off the table, Lonnie figured he’d drive to the city, take his test, and be back home before his homeboy even woke up to take an early-morning piss.
    With not much practice when it came to driving, Lonnie was like any other dude from the hood. Where there was a will, there was a way. He knew after a few quick right and left turns to get out of the upscale community, it’d be a straight shot on the freeway. Backing out of the driveway, he popped in a piece of gum in hopes of masking the smell of his beer and Grey Goose mixture breath. Still spinning off the Percocet he’d taken when he got up this morning, Lonnie turned on the radio to try to refocus on what was really important: making his mother proud.
    Changing the station from Kevin’s annoying rock station, Lonnie found some music to his liking. With both hands on the wheel, he drove toward the freeway. As if he wasn’t mentally drained enough and worried about getting to school on time, the unthinkable happened. Tears started to pour out of Lonnie’s weary eyes as Al Green’s voice sang through the speakers. Lost in thoughts of his mother, the distraught, unlicensed driver blew by a stop sign in a crowded intersection. Before Lonnie knew what was