Those Skid Marks on the Roads by John Argo

= THOSE SKID MARKS ON THE ROADS =

Dark Fantasy

by John Argo

Ben came home carrying a canvas bag with his shaving things in it, his underwear, a prison Gideon, that kind of thing. Mick hugged him in the hall, and Ben hugged him back. "They're framing me, Mickey. They're framing me, and I can't do nothing about it. They have all the power. What are people like you and me and Lisa compared to that?"

Mick felt sorry for his brother. He felt sorry for Ben's fears and delusions and paranoia. Their father had beaten Ben regularly, and their mother had thrown him out for smoking a little marijuana. They'd gone a lot easier on Mick, although the old man had made fun of him and said he looked like a faggot when he was proud for winning first place in a city-wide art fair. Ben had stood up for Mick; it was always like that, through thick and thin.

Mick told Lisa about it late that night and she rolled her eyes up. "Oh no!" She took off her false eyelashes and slipped into bed with him. He shuddered at her cold legs and hugged her to warm her. "Your brother cannot keep his act together," she told Mick. "Listen, Mickey, I've been thinking. What do you say we split for California?"

Mick shook his head. "Huh?"

"California." She cupped his privates in her hands and stroked them seductively. "We can make a real life for ourselves. Get a house. Not live in a spare bedroom no bigger than a closet. You could have a room all to yourself for painting."

"Ohhhhh," he sighed, writhing pleasurably. "What about money?"

She shrugged, kissed his nose. "There's always money. Besides, you'll be selling your paintings soon."

"What about Ben?"

"Ben can take care of himself."

"We leave him here? Ohhhhhh—."

"Ben has his own life to live."

"Ohhhh..."

Thank you for reading. If you love it, tell your friends. Please post a favorable review at Amazon, Good Reads, and other online resources. If you want to thank the author, you may also buy a copy for the low price of a cup of coffee. It's called Read-a-Latte: similar (or lower) price as a latte at your favorite coffeeshop, but the book lasts forever while the beverage is quickly gone. Thank you (JTC).

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