Another day in paradise by Eddie Little

Author:Eddie Little [Little, Eddie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Viking
Published: 1998-09-15T05:00:00+00:00

"Yeah baby, I'm sure. I've known for about a month now. I talked to

Syd about it, been thinking about it twenty-four seven I want to

have it, with you or without you. But it would be a lot better if you were around."

I think about what she just said and tell her, "The only way you gonna get rid of me is kill me."

If I could have seen the future, my reaction would have been different. Like Mel said, "Sooo far, sooo good!"

Mel's leaning on the bar, got a shot and a beer in front of him, the air full of smoke, tobacco, and pot. Strobe lights flickering and the Stones on the PA system. We're waiting for a local band, called Lothar & the Hand People, to get done setting up. Jewels is supposed to meet us and is running late. Mel is getting cross-eyed, the drugs and alcohol starting to show more and more. He closes one eye to keep me in focus and says, "You're nuts. Ya know that, right, kid?"

"Yeah man, been hearing that all my life."

"Ain't nothing more important than making babies. Me and Syd can't do it. Her insides got all fucked-up. I always wanted to have a kid, kinda gave up the idea. What are ya, fourteen?"

I take a minute to think and realize that I turned flfteen about a week before, say, "Shit man, I'm flfteen now. My birthday was August twenty-fifth. That's old enough to make babies."

"Making 'em is one thing—takin' care of 'em is another. How the fuck ya gonna do that? You're both hypes. You're turning into a real stand-up thief, but the thing is, the vacation plan sucks. Ya get busted, who's gonna take care of Rosie and your kid? You gotta give this one some thought."

"Shit man, if Rosie hadn't already made up her mind, I'd try to talk her into getting an abortion. The thing is, I know she wants this baby. It's her carrying it. If I try to make her get rid of it, if she does, she'll hate me, if she doesn't, it would fuck everything up between us anyhow. Look at how fucked-up our parents were—we came out OK. One thing for sure: we have a kid, it won't get beat up and shit. Plus, it'll have great godparents—I hit the pen, they'll take care of it. Won't ya, Melvin?"

130 ^ Eddie Little

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