Trying2beVegan

Continuation of the shadow story.

Chapter 4.

Jim was parched in the sun. He stepped inside a coffee shop in the arts district. I waited outside for him because as with most coffee shops in the city the lights were too low to make any shadows so there was no room for me. The reason for them being so dark I don’t know, maybe something to play with the bodies subconscious to make you feel sleepy so you will buy more coffee. You never know these days. 

Jim’s order was always the same americano cold brew black with an extra shot and shot of simple syrup oozed in and whisked with a straw. He drank at least three a day. An unholy amount but it worked for him. Kept him moving in one direction or the other. Jim this time again hadn’t wasted much time getting over the break-up with Susan. By the time he was coming out of the coffee shop he was leaving with a girl named Jenny. They were flirting and she was playing with her hair. He asked for her number and she willingly gave it, with a promise to be in contact we set off with a coffee cup in hand. The cool coffee was a relief to Jim, I could tell and the quick bounce back to another fling definitely helped to brighten his mood. 

Jim’s next stop along the way was his friend Dick’s house. A run down shabby looking place near the edge of town. The roof was always somehow at a slightly different angle everytime we seemed to go to Dick’s place. The usual rabble were round at Dick’s as they always were. There was Dick, Alan and Jack all friends since middle school and all stuck mainly in that age groups mindset even after a decade had come and gone since then. 

Jim didn’t knock as he never did and walked up the few steps in front of the house and straight in through the front door. Dick called from in the front parlour “Who’s There? Is that you Jim?”. Jim shouted back “Of course it’s me you silly bastard”. “Ah as pleasant as ever to your gracious host I hear, come in brother and make yourself at home” Dick laughed back. Dick Harrington was a cooky kind of guy with amable features and a welcoming tone to all. He was sat cross legged on his lazy boy facing the middle of the room as he would always do when Jim entered the room. 

Alan was laid out on one couch and Jack was sat with his back against the couch that he was on. They were sharing their fifth blunt of the day and both barely opened their eyes as Jim came in. They had only recently started on their Marijuana binge but it was in full swing now. Their eyes were bright red and bloodshot, looking like they had not slept for days. “You two are smoking that shit again?” shouted Jim. He wasn’t a fan of the stuff himself, the time he had tried it was an easy shift for me he just laid there all day. I didn’t have to move once. Jack and Alan’s shadows were sat there enjoying their easy shifts too I could see instantly when I came in behind Jim. 

“Aww Jim why you gotta be so grumpy humpy? Your girl not make you happy this morning?” chuckled Jack.  “She ain’t my girl anymore, we finished this morning, that’s the end of that.” Jim snapped back. He was still a little sore and the guys could tell. “I’m sorry to hear that Jimmy boy, if you wanna smoke to cheer you up be our guest” Jack said as he offered up the lit joint. “I’m good but thanks for the offer, you know that shit messes with my head, I definitely don’t need that right now” Jack said back. 

Dick had been sat there pensive in thought under the influence too, even though it was barely the afternoon. “Guys is it just me or do you ever feel like you are being followed?” Dick said slowly. All the shadows in the room looked at one another, thinking the game was up. However just then the room erupted into laughter at Dick’s silly thoughts. “Oh Dick you have some fun ideas when you smoke that stuff you crazy fool” Jack said still laughing at the paranoia of Dick.