“What just happened then, man? How did my old buddy end up getting capped right outside my veterinary practice on a summer evening?”
“Well, I'm the p
rincipal of JFK High now.”
“No kidding?”
“Yeah, I just started this week.”
“Sheesh, and what a way to start! You must have some rough kids there if they're shooting the principal. In our day, we shot spitballs at our teachers, not freakin' nine mil rounds!”
I had to chuckle.
“Yeah, Jimmy, only thing is, it wasn't a kid who shot me.”
“Well, who was it then?”
“Drug dealer.”
“Everett, you're a high school principal, what the heck are you doing getting involved with drug dealers? Tell it to me straight, man, are you on something? You taking something to help with flashbacks? You can be honest with me, and I can help you to get off whatever it is.”
“No, no, nothing like that. See, at JFK High, and a number of other schools in this town, there's an epidemic with this new, nasty drug called Rocket.”
“Oh yeah, I've heard of that stuff,” he said. “Bad, bad stuff. And the kids love it, huh?”
“Yeah, unfortunately, they do. And that's who these dealers are targeting – kids.”
“Ugh. Scumbags!”
“You're telling me.”
“So you're out there like Batman, trying to shut 'em down, huh?”
“Yeah. I got word earlier that one of the kingpins was gonna be here. I raced out, witnessed a drug deal – and it turned out that I'd been in such a rush to get there that I hadn't brought either my phone so I couldn’t call the police to handle it.”
“Oh, man,” he exclaimed with a chuckle. “You're the worst Batman ever!”
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, there we go,” he said. “You're all stitched up. The wounds should stay closed as long as you get a lot of rest and don't make any sudden movements. It'd be best for you if you slept right now, actually. And I'm gonna put you on a drip; you need it.”
“I... I'm supposed to be going out on a date tonight.”
He laughed.
“That ain't gonna happen, Everett, that ain't gonna happen. Vet's orders. You need to get a drip hooked up to you, stat, and then you need to get into bed and try sleep.”
“But—”
“Call her and tell her what happened when you get home. I'll drive you there right now, set up the drip, and get you into bed. Come on, man, you've just been shot! I know it ain't the first time, but you know as well as I do that it ain't no scratch you can simply brush off. Rest, now. That's an order.”
“Alright, alright.”
“Come on. My car's out back,” he said, and he helped me off the table and supported me as I limped out through the back door. We then got into his car, and he drove me home.
“Nice place,” he said as we pulled up to the house.
“Yeah, I just moved in. And just moved to Irvine two weeks ago.”