Page 219 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set
“Where the hell did you get pot?” I yell. “You know how I feel about drugs. How Grandma feels about drugs.”
“I told you,” he replies. “It was the first time. I didn’t even get a chance to smoke it.”
“Why would you even have it?” I demand. “Drugs at school? Seriously?”
“It was stupid. Monty got three joints from his older brother, and he gave one to Luke and one to me.”
“So you didn’t smoke it.”
“I swear to God, Mom.”
“Were you going to?”
Silence.
Of course he was going to. He’s fourteen, and he’s curious. Fuck it all.
“Fine. So you’re suspended, but that’s just your school punishment. When I get home, we’ll discuss your home punishment. And I hope they took the thing.”
“Yeah, and I’m pretty sure Mr. Harvey is getting stoned right now.”
I sigh. Grady’s probably not wrong. His principal, Jonas Harvey, was a classmate of mine in college. He was a huge pothead. I never told Grady, but apparently it’s not a secret.
“How long is the suspension?” I ask.
“Two days, including today.”
“All right. Let me talk to Grandma, please. And Grady?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom. And thanks for not going ballistic.”
“Oh, I’m going ballistic,” I tell him. “I’m just too far away for you to notice.”
He doesn’t reply and I hear some fumbling through the phone.
“Avery,” my mother’s voice comes soft and clear.
“Hey, Mom. I’m sorry you had to deal with this while I’m not there.”
“He’s a good boy,” she says. “I feel certain this is a one-time thing.”
“I hope you’re right. I knew that Monty had a bad streak. I don’t know why Grady and Luke took up with him. Imagine, giving weed to someone who’s only fourteen.”
“It’s just growing pains, sweetie. He’ll be all right.”
“God, I hope so. He’s everything to me, Mom.”
“I know he is. To me as well.”
I draw in a breath. “Mom, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Of course.”
“Go into Grady’s room and find his comb and hairbrush. See if there are any hairs on them that have a viable root. It’s that tiny white part at the end of the hair.”
