time.”
“I know. Anyway, so I had a blast at his party. People were smoking pot and taking other stuff, too, but I just drank soda, I mean pop. Then a couple of people came running in from his bedroom—it’s just his granny living with him and she’s practically deaf. His mom died three years ago and his dad split when he was born. Anyway, this couple runs in, they’re seniors, too, one’s a football player, I think, and they say they’ve just come back from the dead. So they tell their story. They’ve seen their loved ones and stuff. A few days later, I call Raleigh and ask how I can have a near death experience, too. So he gets me the ketamine. And now you know the whole story.”
Therese filled with inexplicable excitement. “Do you think he could get me some, too?”
Vicki smiled. “I thought you might be interested. I thought maybe next time I try it, we could do it together, you know?”
Therese nodded. “Yes. Let’s do. But isn’t it risky? I mean, has anyone actually stayed dead?”
“I did a whole bunch of research before I did it, Therese. Out of the thousands of cases, a few have gone wrong, but the researchers attribute it to something avoidable—like the subject took too much of the drug, or inhaled a powder form rather than injected a liquid, or did consecutive doses, and stuff like that. I think as long as you do the right dose, inject it in liquid form, and wait at least a week in between episodes, it’s really safe.”
Therese would do her own research, but in the meantime, she’d go ahead and plan this thing with Vicki. Maybe there was a way she could actually see her parents. Certainly she would see Than, wouldn’t she? She could plead with him to come back for her, or to at least let her know how much longer he thought it would be before they could be together again. “So next weekend, will you be ready?”
“I’ll have to get more from Raleigh. It costs money, though.”
“How much?”
“Fifty bucks a pop. Raleigh gave me the first dose for free, but he says he’ll have to charge me next time. It’s expensive stuff and hard to get. And right now lots of people are into it.”
“I can pay for both of ours. I have a lot of money saved up. I’ll give you the money tonight at the festival.”
“Oh, the festival! That’s right! We need to get you home so you can rest. It’s almost three.” Vicki jumped up and Therese followed her out of the room.
During the car ride home, the two girls talked some about what they were going to wear that night and when Matthew was supposed to be by to pick up Vicki. Matthew was going to drive Vicki, Therese, and Jen. Pete would have to go early in his own truck to set up his equipment with the rest of his band. Mr. and Mrs. Holt would drive Bobby out there in their truck. Todd and Ray would meet them all there, too.
Once the details were worked out and the girls grew quiet, Therese thought about the NDE drug and the possibility of seeing her parents and Than. She was excited, though a little frightened. She would definitely have to do some research first. But so what if she did die? She’d be with him and her parents and untie the lonely knot in her gut. She’d rather go as a god, of course, but the risk seemed worth taking. Besides, Vicki had said only a few had died and the researchers believed the deaths had been avoidable.
Therese went straig ht to her room after saying hi to Carol and Richard. She checked on her pets. She turned off Jewel’s lamp and wished the tortoise a good night. Puffy still didn’t look so good. She gingerly took him from his tower—she knew it was selfish of her, for the vet had said to leave him alone and just keep him comfortable, but Therese felt the need to kiss him and tell him she loved him. She wanted to hold him in her hands and feel his soft, furry body. He was breathing so fast now, it wouldn’t be long. She returned him to his plastic tower, washed her hands, and crawled under her covers.
“I know. Anyway, so I had a blast at his party. People were smoking pot and taking other stuff, too, but I just drank soda, I mean pop. Then a couple of people came running in from his bedroom—it’s just his granny living with him and she’s practically deaf. His mom died three years ago and his dad split when he was born. Anyway, this couple runs in, they’re seniors, too, one’s a football player, I think, and they say they’ve just come back from the dead. So they tell their story. They’ve seen their loved ones and stuff. A few days later, I call Raleigh and ask how I can have a near death experience, too. So he gets me the ketamine. And now you know the whole story.”
Therese filled with inexplicable excitement. “Do you think he could get me some, too?”
Vicki smiled. “I thought you might be interested. I thought maybe next time I try it, we could do it together, you know?”
Therese nodded. “Yes. Let’s do. But isn’t it risky? I mean, has anyone actually stayed dead?”
“I did a whole bunch of research before I did it, Therese. Out of the thousands of cases, a few have gone wrong, but the researchers attribute it to something avoidable—like the subject took too much of the drug, or inhaled a powder form rather than injected a liquid, or did consecutive doses, and stuff like that. I think as long as you do the right dose, inject it in liquid form, and wait at least a week in between episodes, it’s really safe.”
Therese would do her own research, but in the meantime, she’d go ahead and plan this thing with Vicki. Maybe there was a way she could actually see her parents. Certainly she would see Than, wouldn’t she? She could plead with him to come back for her, or to at least let her know how much longer he thought it would be before they could be together again. “So next weekend, will you be ready?”
“I’ll have to get more from Raleigh. It costs money, though.”
“How much?”
“Fifty bucks a pop. Raleigh gave me the first dose for free, but he says he’ll have to charge me next time. It’s expensive stuff and hard to get. And right now lots of people are into it.”
“I can pay for both of ours. I have a lot of money saved up. I’ll give you the money tonight at the festival.”
“Oh, the festival! That’s right! We need to get you home so you can rest. It’s almost three.” Vicki jumped up and Therese followed her out of the room.
During the car ride home, the two girls talked some about what they were going to wear that night and when Matthew was supposed to be by to pick up Vicki. Matthew was going to drive Vicki, Therese, and Jen. Pete would have to go early in his own truck to set up his equipment with the rest of his band. Mr. and Mrs. Holt would drive Bobby out there in their truck. Todd and Ray would meet them all there, too.
Once the details were worked out and the girls grew quiet, Therese thought about the NDE drug and the possibility of seeing her parents and Than. She was excited, though a little frightened. She would definitely have to do some research first. But so what if she did die? She’d be with him and her parents and untie the lonely knot in her gut. She’d rather go as a god, of course, but the risk seemed worth taking. Besides, Vicki had said only a few had died and the researchers believed the deaths had been avoidable.
Therese went straig ht to her room after saying hi to Carol and Richard. She checked on her pets. She turned off Jewel’s lamp and wished the tortoise a good night. Puffy still didn’t look so good. She gingerly took him from his tower—she knew it was selfish of her, for the vet had said to leave him alone and just keep him comfortable, but Therese felt the need to kiss him and tell him she loved him. She wanted to hold him in her hands and feel his soft, furry body. He was breathing so fast now, it wouldn’t be long. She returned him to his plastic tower, washed her hands, and crawled under her covers.
Similar Books
