Listen To Me Page 7
CHAPTER SIX
Addiction
Max leaves Officer Rick’s office with several forms, brochures on alcohol and drug addictions, and a mind full of questions. His mouth is dry; he is really craving a drink. He does a mental search of the liquor cabinet in his house for something strong. He knows just what he wants. He can easily work around his mother. All he has to do is tell her he needs something from the store, and he will be left alone for at least thirty minutes. His father isn’t likely to be home either.
Max turns the corner and spots his mother in a chair. She hounds him with questions as soon as she sees him. Fortunately, Officer Rick is only a few steps behind Max, and he introduces himself to Max’s mother.
“Hello Mrs. Shaw, I’m Officer Rick Kent. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the duration of Max’s probation, I will answer them to the best of my knowledge. There are some things I need to discuss with you and Max together. I’ve already spoken to him, but I want you both to understand a few things about juvenile law.”
Officer Kent continues to go through the legalities with Max and his mother, making one point very clear: “Mrs. Shaw, repeat offenses are not taken lightly. We can give Max a drug test without prior notice at any time, and if he breaks the rules of his probation, he can be sent to a juvenile facility from anywhere between thirty days to a year. This is a very serious matter, and it can cost you your future, Max.” Officer Rick looks at Max with an expression Max can’t decipher. Was that compassion?
Max is anxious to get home and drown his confusion in brandy. Mrs. Shaw asks Officer Rick what seems like a million questions before they finally leave.
Max is relieved when they arrive home. He flops down on the couch and thinks over what he will tell his mother he needs from the store. He finally chooses fruit. He tells his mother he read somewhere that kiwi helps to detoxify the bloodstream, and he thinks it might help because his head is beginning to hurt.
“Max,” his mother states. “We’ve got headache medicine here if you need it.”
“I know mom,” Max uses as pitiful a voice as he can muster. “But isn’t it true that you’re not supposed to mix medicine with alcohol? I’m not sure it’s completely left my system yet, and the last thing I need right now is to overdose or go into shock.”
Mrs. Shaw tsks. “I hate to leave you, Maxie.”
Max fights the urge to roll his eyes at his mother’s nickname for him. “Mom, I’ll be okay,” he replies with a yawn. “I’ll just go lay down until you get back.”
“Alright, honey,” Mrs. Shaw kisses his forehead. “Get some rest.”
Max smiles at her as she walks away and rolls his eyes in disgust as soon as she is out of the house. He rushes to the window to watch her pull off and smiles in triumph. “Too easy,” he says to himself.
Come on Max.
Max remembers the drink he’s been craving all afternoon and goes to the liquor cabinet. He takes out a paper clip from the drawer and picks the lock with ease. His friend Martin taught him how to do it. Martin has a knack for finding a way to get what he wants, no matter what. Max shakes his head. So much has changed between them. Martin and Max used to be inseparable. Now Martin is living in a completely different universe, as far as Max is concerned.
Still, he misses their camaraderie. He used to have so much respect for Martin; not even the incident with Johnny Reese had changed that. But Martin’s turn to Christianity put an impenetrable wall between the two of them.
Max pours his drink and starts to replace the bottle, but after giving it some thought, he leaves the bottle out. One is never enough.
Max started drinking when he was thirteen. His father was rarely seen without a drink, so Max wanted to know what was so special about it. His first drink was awful. It was a lukewarm beer left out by his uncle. The bitter taste sent Max straight to the bathroom to vomit.
Despite the unpleasant result of his first experience Max continued to drink. It gave him a rush knowing that he was doing something he wasn’t supposed to. He eventually developed a taste for it, and it became routine for Max to have at least one beer a day. His father was always buying beer, so he rarely missed one or two cans a day.
Max’s turn to hard liquor occurred after Max experienced his first heartbreak. He was only 15 at the time, but there was no doubt in his mind that he’d found the girl he’d spend the rest of his high school years with. She was a pretty brunette who sat next to him in Algebra class. She suddenly moved away at the end of the year, and Max was crushed.
After finding out she was leaving, Max had gone straight home and to the fridge. Oddly, he couldn’t find any beer. Either his father had decided to quit, which usually lasted no more than a day, or his mother had been cleaning out the fridge. He looked through all the cabinets until he found a bottle of brandy. He couldn’t remember how much he had that day, but after that his parents started locking the liquor cabinet.
Max finishes his second shot. His head is beginning to buzz, and he already feels more relaxed.
That’s not enough, Max. Just one more.
Max shakes his head. He’s only on his second drink. Why is he hearing things? Max decides another shot will clear his head. By the time Max realizes that the voices are getting louder he’s consumed nearly three quarters of a bottle. Max replaces the bottle in the cabinet and locks it. He saunters over to the couch, but after watching it change form at least three times, he decides his luck might be better with his bed.
Max yawns and then realizes the scent of the liquor is on his breath. He gargles several times with mouthwash—nearly choking twice—before finally going to his room. He can still smell it.
Shoot, he thinks to himself. If his mother finds out he’s been drinking, there will be no end to her complaining. Max curls up onto his bed and closes his eyes. He falls asleep to the whispers of several voices.
Drink up, Max. You need it.