Blood Under the Bridge

by Chris Dämn

"Okay, I'm going to front you this ounce one last time. You're my best friend since birth, Eddy. I'll do anything for you. You're like family to me, ya know." Mac hands Eddy the ounce. "I love you, man."

Eddy takes the ounce with both hands and shakes Mac's hand with it. "I love you too, man. You're more than family to me. You picked me up when my bio family shoved me down. I'll never forget that. You've always been there for me."

"And I always will be, brother. Now, make me proud and come back with double!"

Eddy puts the ounce in his pocket and puts his skateboard on the ground. "You got it brother!" he says as he skates towards town.

"All you, bro! All you!" Mac shouts to him. His phone rings and he picks it up. "Package on the way to you," he says and hangs up. "I'm sorry about this Eddy, I really am," he thinks to himself as he dials a number. They pick up and he says, "Dog's loose. Just scare him. Don't hurt him."

"He doesn't know me, I don't know him, you get your product and money back. No biggie."

"Right," Mac says and hangs up.

Meanwhile, Eddy skates through the streets. Only stopping once to bum a cigarette. It starts to get dark, but he knows exactly where to go. While putting out his cigarette, he knocks three times on Jim's door. "It's Eddy, let me in."

Through the door he hears Jim shout "One moment." Then hears whispering and moving of furniture. After a few seconds, the door opens and Jim holds his hands out for a hug. "Eddy, brother! How ya been?"

"Business as usual, man." They give each other a side hug and sit on the couch. "You need anything today?"

Jim rubs his chin and says, "I don't know man. That last stuff was a little weak. Let me see what you got today though."

"Alright, I know I can trust you." He pulls the ounce from his pocket and tosses it to Jim. Right as he catches it, there's a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Jim shouts while examining the bag.

"You know damn well who it is, open up."

"Oh boy," Jim whispers to himself as he gets up and lets the guy in.

The guy walks in and looks shocked that Jim has company. "Who's this?"

"That's my friend, Eddy. Eddy, this is-"

"Doesn't matter who I am," the guy stops Jim from annoucing him and pulls out a small pistol. "Hands up." Eddy does as told. "Search them, boys." Three guys quickly come in the door and take Eddy's wallet and the ounce from Jim. "Nice doing business with ya." As quickly as they entered, they leave.

"Mac is going to be pissed." Eddy says nervously.

"Nah, you boys practically raised each other. He'll understand." Jim says while shaking.

"I gotta go man, I'm sorry." He takes his skateboard and rushes out the door. Hoping to find Mac and they can figure things out together. About two blocks from Mac's house, Eddy sees his car and tries to flag him down. The car doesn't even slow any. The passanger side window rolls down as it gets closer to him. Mac's girlfriend's hand reaches out the window and flips him off.

A moment later his phone rings. Even though it's a blocked number, he answers anyway. "Hello?"

"Look, man, I know you got robbed. I know they took my shit. You have twenty-four hours to get it back and pay me $200."

"Bro, you know I can't do that. It's impossible."

"Looks like you're a dead man then, Ed."

End