Dave's Dream
by Sandy Knauer

EXCERPT

To all the Dave's …
Never lose sight of your dreams

Chapter One
1975

“Hurry up, Callie. It burns fast.” Dave pinched the joint between the nails of his thumb and index finger and held it to his girlfriend's lips, reminding everyone that Johnny Taylor had lost the roach clip. “Pull in some air with the smoke and hold it in your lungs as long as you can.”

She followed his instructions, imitating what she had seen the others do. Her throat betrayed her, convulsing the smoke back out before it reached her lungs. A deafening honk rattled through her head before it escaped through her nose. Her busted eardrums convinced her that everyone else had surely heard the sound over the music.

Disappointed and embarrassed, she buried her face in Dave's shoulder and tried to stifle her cough and hide her shame. He patted her on the back, took another hit, and reached around her to pass the joint to Gina.

Great. This added a few more things to Callie's list of reasons to be miserable. Mostly, she felt sorry that she had given in and tried something that she swore she would never do. Add to that the fact that her honk provided Gina with yet another opportunity to make fun of her, and this was easily becoming the worst night of her life.

Gina Ash threw her head back and tore loose with a taunting cackle, still mindful to draw her lips over the metal braces on her teeth – a practice she adopted after everyone yelled at her for shooting spit and rubber bands. “I choked the first time I smoked pot three years ago.” She rolled her eyes and emphasized the word three.

“It's not like a cigarette, Callie. Whoops. My mistake. You've never smoked a cigarette either.” Gina laughed louder, looking around to see who had joined her in laughing at Callie.

Callie sat up and glared at Gina, hoping she would take the hint and shut up. But she expected more than Gina could deliver.

“You get used to it after a couple of times,” Gina coached. “You didn't hold it in long enough to get a buzz. Try again. Anybody here know CPR, in case she chokes to death this time?”

Dave told Callie not to let Gina get to her. “She's jealous because she's a fat whore and you aren't.” Gina gave Dave the finger and giggled.

Someone on the other side of the circle yelled for Gina to take her hit and pass it on. Callie watched the joint make its round, wondering why everyone else seemed so anxious to burn their lungs. Even if the lucky ones managed to get a little buzz, it didn't seem worth it to her.

Dave seemed more anxious than any of them; that was the worst part. He wanted to smoke every day now. Ever since his accident, he drank more often and smoked way too much pot. That worried her.