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a sign: A DRUG-FREE SCHOOL ZONE. But Matty wasn't too sure what form drugs took. On TV they looked like flour wrapped in plastic bagsnot these twisted cigarettes without filters. |
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Michael whispered something in Bobby's ear. |
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"No friggin' way!" Bobby squealed. |
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Michael then whispered something else that made Bobby grin. "Oh, yeah." |
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While Matty lay on his backside, the three went into a huddle. When they broke, Michael held his joint to Matty. "If you're no pussy, try it." |
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"I don't want to," Matty said. He started to get up, but Bobby pushed him down again with his foot. |
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The sound in Matty's head was creating a pressure against his temples. They had to stop teasing him. They had to, because he was getting angry. His whole body was becoming angry. |
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"No, pussy. You're gonna try it." Bobby held the thing just inches from Matty's nose. Matty took it. |
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"Come on, pussy. Try it. Afraid it'll stunt your growth?" |
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"You're already a midget." |
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"Yeah, maybe you'll turn into a bug." |
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"No," Bobby said, "it's Honey, I Shrunk the Wimp." |
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While they yowled and slapped hands for their wit, Matty just stared at the joint. He raised it to his nose. It had a sweet, tarry smell. He felt a little scared because of his parents' warnings. And because of the way he felt. |
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"You're letting it burn down," yelled Michael. |
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He could feel their eyes on him. He couldn't look like a pussy. Maybe a small drag to look good. |
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That's what he'd do, one quick drag. He brought the joint up to his mouth, noting how wet the end was. He pinched it the way Bobby did, inhaled, and clamped down on the smoke. |
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But something went wrongthe smoke got sucked into the wrong place. Suddenly he was lost in a fit of coughing. Desperate for breath, he pulled himself of his knees, unaware that he had dropped the cigarette and that they were screaming "asshole" at him because it had fallen in a small puddle of mud. All Matty could do was |
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