CHAPTER 3
Meanwhile, Benito crept noiselessly toward his friend’s guest rooms down the hall, tiptoeing down the thick carpet spanning the hall. He paused in front of Silvo’s doorway, then knocked softly. “Come in,” his friend’s voice called.
Benito pushed the mahogany door open. “Hello, Silvo.” Benito softly closed the sitting-room door behind him and entered the bedroom adjoining that room. Silvo reclined on his king-sized bed, hands folded under his head. His eyes twinkled as he pushed himself into a sitting position, swinging his legs over the edge. His fingertips made soft dents in the blue satin bedspread; the mattress sagged and creaked underneath as he shifted position.
“I’ve got some marijuana. Here.” Silvo handed a joint to his friend. Silently, perching side by side on the edge of the bed, the two boys lit their joints and puffed on them. A sickening sweet odor filled the guest bedroom, accompanied by smoke.
“The celebration starts tomorrow.” As usual, Benito sat slouched. “My uncle’s going to make a speech, then Tess is going to sing. She’s not only an incredible organizer, she’s a good singer, too.” He smiled. “I’ve heard her.”
Silvo grinned. “I can’t wait to hear her, then! I really don’t want to listen to a speech, though.” He grimaced. “Your uncle’s not bad, but...well...”
“I know.” Benito made a face. “His speeches are so long and dull!” His joint dangled between his fingertips.
Silvo raised a finger to his lips, then slipped into the walk-in closet to his left. When he came out, a small leather bag swung at his side. “I’ve got something to show you,” he whispered.
He unzipped the bag and held it open for Benito. As the other boy peered into it, he whistled. “What is that?”
“Crack.” Silvo grinned. “A pusher sold it to me, before we came. It cost me my whole gold allowance, that I’d been saving for months. But I knew you’d want to have some, too.”
“I sure would!” A smile spread across Benito’s face. “So, let’s get started!”
Silvo raised his hand. “Not so fast, Benito! I’m not giving it to you—not for free. I need back some of the gold I gave that pusher, so you can only have some if I sell it to you. If my father ever found out my gold is gone, he’d want to know why, and then he’d be furious, so I’ve got to get it back! Your uncle gives you gold, doesn’t he, along with a bank account?”
Disappointment welled up in Benito’s heart. After a long moment, he rose to his feet. “Yes, he does. I’ll be back. I must find my gold. It’s a good thing my uncle does give me some, seeing as we can’t buy and sell with money anymore. My debit card will do me no good with this.” He dropped his half-smoked joint on the bed, then reached over to snuff it out with his handkerchief.
Silvo sighed. “No, it won’t. It’s hard to sell privately, now that we can’t carry money anymore.” He shrugged. “I’m glad we still get to use gold! Go back and get it; I’ll wait for you.”
When Benito re-entered his own bedroom minutes later, he opened the wooden crate he kept in his own walk-in closet.. Unknown to him, an invisible Monica stood on the other side of the king-sized bed from the closet, apprehension surging in her heart. She caught her breath as she watched, wringing her hands.
“No,” she whispered. “Please, Father, no!” These two boys must not destroy their lives over drugs! Somehow, she had to keep that from happening. “Please, Father,” she prayed, “hide Benito’s gold!”
A loud groan startled her. Benito peered into his open crate, then rummaged through it. “I don’t believe it!” he muttered. “What happened to my gold? It was there this morning! I saw it.”
With a sigh, he tossed it on the bed. “No crack tonight.” Shaking his head, he trudged out of the room, slamming the door behind him. A relieved angel breathed out a prayer of thanks.
Benito returned to Silvo’s guest quarters and sagged onto the bed. “I couldn’t find my gold,” he said. “I thought it was in my room, but it’s gone.” He shook his head, shoulders slumped. He rubbed his fingertips against the bedspread’s silky-soft texture. “I could have sworn I saw it in there this morning.”
Taking a deep breath, Silvo nodded. “I’ll hold the crack till you find it.” He put a hand on Benito’s shoulder. “Come on, I’ll show you my new CDs. My papá got them for my birthday last month.”
With a sigh, Benito pasted a smile on his face. He would get some of the crack yet—he just had to be patient. With slouched shoulders, he followed Silvo into his sitting room, and perched on the soft, thick carpet to admire his friend’s new music CDs.
END OF CHAPTER 3