39. Envy of God (chapter 3)-Eric




• Heide sits at her desk, sketching. Her free hand holds a phone to her ear.
  
  "Hey Tye, I need a bundle. Can you make that happen, babe?"
  
  Heide begins sketching an outline with a striking resemblance to Tanner, except that he is skeletal.
  
  A few minutes later a hallow thumping comes from the outside stairs. Tye is standing at her door, fogging a pane of glass in the brown, wood door. His hair is braided in perfect rolls, festooned with red beads at the end.
  
  One half of Heide's body tries to finish the skeleton of Tanner, while the other side seems to lean towards the door. Tye taps the window. She finally puts the pencil down and primps her shoulder length black hair. She ties it back with a scrunchy and waves him in.
  
  "Gonna let me freeze out there, woman? Storm's coming tonight."
  
  Heide smiles at him, and nods.
  
  "Want a drink?"
  
  "No can do, hun. But you're looking nice today. And a bundle? What're you celebrating?"
  
  "I did good this week, and I might be landing a big job at Jerand's."
  
  "Might be? That's good."
  
  "Yeah, and when you're a junky you celebrate even potentially good things with Boy. Every day is a holiday, whether it is or isn't."
  
  Tye chuckles, and pulls out a large bag of white powder. He carefully tosses it to Heide. She reaches inside of her her bra and pulls out the roll of bills and throws it to him.
  
  He eyes the money and says,"I think you're short."
  
  "Hmm? No, it should all be there, two-hundred and fitty."
  
  "Well, can I get a look in there? That place you hid the money? I think you could be lying."
  
  She smirks.
  
  "Very funny, Tye. But hey, you're hot. I just don't want to date my dealer."
  
  "I never said date baby."
  
  They both laugh. She walks up to him and stands on the tips of her toes, pecking him on the cheek. He puts his arms around her, but she politely moves out of reach.
  
  "You've already got a million girlfriends, Tyebud. I don't want to be just another game."
  
  "Why? Because I'm black? Oh, and I bet you think I steal and deal drugs, right?"
  
  "And I'm one of those dark, hetero-flexible, goth, art chicks, right?"
  
  Their eyes lock and a hint of a smile plays at the corner of their lips. Tye's cell phone begins ringing.
  
  "Okay, babe, I gotta dip on out."
  
  "I gotta dip too...Jerand's."
  
  "Oh, yeah. That dope's fire, be careful with it."
  
  Heide nods, and walks him out. She walks to the bathroom and pulls several syringes out of the medicine cabinet. She carries them to the stove and grabs a small measuring spoon from a drawer. She dips the spoon into the bag, and pulls it out. A small speck of white sits in the center of it. She squirts water into the spoon with the syringe and turns on the stove's top burner. She cooks the white powder for a few seconds and throws a tiny piece of cotton in it.
  
  She walks back to her sketch of Tanner and sits down, clenching and unclenching her fist. She inserts the needle, drawing back blood. She injects the solution, and a few seconds later a soft moan escapes her lips, like a small cloud dissipating. Her eyes roll in the back of her head, and she remains drifting for a time.
  
  "Wow, he was right."
  
  She walks back to her bedroom with another syringe. A black and white mackerel Tabby sits under her comforter. It looks like a skelton, with matted fur. She sits next to it, like a visit with a dying relative, and rubs its neck.
  
  "My poor baby, you need a shower. You're tough though, Mickey. You didn't give up like kevin did when the docotors told him. Well, here's your medicine, baby."
  
  She holds Mickey's paw, and carefully injects his forearm. His eyes become animated, and he licks her arm. She carries him to the bathtub and runs a sponge under warm water.