The heavy beats shook my teeth. Benny wasn’t going to hear me if I banged with a sledgehammer. I tried the door. It was open. I stepped back and nudged the door open with my foot. The music punched my eardrums. A wave of dope smoke blew in my face. I leaned in and peeked inside. Benny wasn’t on the other side pointing a gun so I went in.
He sat with his fat kid brother on a tattered couch staring at the black TV screen. Only movement in the room was the shake of the subwoofer.
I admire you Benny. You’re out of step with the world but you somehow make it your own. Nothing matters. You know this. You don’t pretend. The future isn’t real and you’ve burned the past. You sleep well.
The jam ended and the subwoofer settled. My ears rang. I knocked on the wall.
Benny jerked to life and turned to me. The next deafening beat began. He pointed a black object. I ducked. The music stopped. He threw the remote control across the room. The back cover flew off and the batteries rolled across the wood floor. He cussed me out for awhile. I took it, then waved him down and told him to relax. He fell backwards on the couch. His kid brother bounced. I told him what was up.
“When’s Marcus need this done by?”
“Now.”
Benny’s brother grunted. “I used to go to school with that sum a bitch.” He said it to the TV. “If it’s going down, it’s going down, but you can count me out.” He turned to the window. A tube of sunlight ran through the smoke cloud and made a yellow puddle at his feet.
Benny nodded. “My answer too.”
I said it’d be a favor.
“I helped you yesterday. Favors flow the other way now.”
I offered to pay him.
No.
I’d erase his gambling debts.
No.
I’d pay him and erase the debt.
“Add some zeros to that number and I’ll think about it.”
I pulled out my cell. “Fine. I’ll just hit up Marcus. Tell him you’re too busy to do your job.”
“I don’t give a fuck. Anyways, ten bucks says he told you to do it.”
Even a stoned Benny’s right once a day.
I tried out Marcus’ firm jaw, fixed stare, flared nostrils. Benny looked at me as if I had just shit in his sink.
He pulled himself off the couch and picked up the remote control.
“Please Benny.”
He found the back cover of the remote under the stereo, next to a battery. He hunted for the other battery on his hands and knees, under a chair, under the TV cabinet. He reached under the couch.
“Benny please.”
His hand came out holding the battery. He tucked it in the remote. “Stop playing me and start being a man.” He pointed the remote at his system. The subwoofers danced. Benny crashed next to his brother who I think was asleep. My visit was over.
I’ve seen people kill. It’s nothing. A trigger. A blade. A flame. It’s over in seconds. Then it’s time to forget. Tell yourself it’s a job and move on. No big deal.