A(N) R'N R STORY: GETTING (THE ----) OUT

GETTING THE HELL OUT
*
Before they clumsily loaded me in car it finally it occurred to them to remove the tape that held me to the chair. Clumsily they helped me down into the backseat of some trashed up black Cheverly while all three of them squeezed into the front. I only noticed till after we peeled out the No Parking detached from the sidewalk. Martin was at the wheel driving below the freeway and dodging through the back alleys and shadows so they wouldn’t follow us. They started to talk about who was there and what they did. After Martin filled them in he told them about me: “We’ve been hanging for a while; occasionally I crash at his place.” I heard him say, “I was helping him come up with marketing slogans;” and some other things that didn’t make sense to me. Specifically the things about “Getting back in the game.” The two old guys seemed to be listening intently, until the one in the pink track suit announced “Martin; put your hard hat on because I’m going to knock some sense into you.” My friend began to chuckle at the quasi-threat and laughed “You? Knock sense into me?” keeping his eyes on the road “I hate to disappoint you mate but who was it that wanted to write a thesis on how dogs are taking over the world?” the one in pink waved away the comment like it was smoke “Never the less I’m going to say it.” He deeply sighed, “Martin nothing goes unnoticed. Not even when you’re crashing with some toothpaste nerd.”
“He doesn't write for toothpaste!” I’d never heard him raise his voice once and this was what it was about “He wants to start his own marketing firm!"
“Yeah-yeah whatever; he’s not a rock star,” the pink one added, “Not like you used to be.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Martin got defensive. I noticed the one with the Santa clause beard had just thrown a plate out the window, the sound of clay on pavement canceled out some of Pinkies explanation “…You can’t do this anymore;” I caught him saying “Not while they’re hunting us.” Martin didn’t’ say anything for thirty seconds until he replied, “They were always hunting us,” his voice sullen and aged. “They’ve just learned to make a little more money off it, that’s all.” I saw his hands crossed over each other on the wheel and I felt the car moved sharply around a corner. “…But can’t you see it was easier to hide during the revolution.” Pinky started up again “These guys got Sniffers on their pay roll, they’re likely to have a few with badges.” The Santa hobo tapped the pink guy and told him to shut up “…I think the kids awake.” Martin glanced in the rearview mirror and began to speak to me “Brandon; you okay mate?” I groaned in response; beginning to sit up. I saw the headlights illuminate a wall as Martin pulled us into a reserved parking space “I feel like I pulled a disk.”; taking the key from the ignition “You feel that bad-?” my friend asked with his eyes lighting up. “Nah; he’s just belly aching,” the pink one interrupted “Ol’Merlin here took a look at him before we left.” Martin straightened in his seat, at that moment I could have sworn his eyes could glow in the dark “It seems like you hit your head pretty hard; huh?” the three of them all began to stare at me. “What is this; a school yard?” that was my first question; though none of them wanted to answer it. Martin changed the subject “We got really hammered; mate;” he turned away for a second “So hammered that we smashed up our car.Right now it’s in the in pound-Here’s a few of my friends that I wanted you to meet.” He guided his finger over their heads; like he was expecting them to light up. “This is Jeff Renowlski and the other guy is Merlin.” The one in the pink jump suit droned hello and Merlin waved polity. “We were thinking about going inside for while; patch ourselves up; maybe spend the night.” I groaned again; sour all over my body “Yah…. just tell me where we are.” I could have asked to be taken to a hospital but I wasn’t in a good frame of mind. Martin bit his his lip and his eyes darted towards the window “We’re…we’re outside a bowling alley-Merlin owns it; its pretty rad.”
“You want me to sleep…here of all places?” failing to hold back my laughter; until seeing’s that Martin’s expression hadn’t changed “Where would we lie down, on the lanes?” Martin was at a loss for words so Merlin chimed in “Its got a pool table you can use.” I could tell from his eyes that he wasn’t helping. “A few comfy chairs,” Jeff looking down at his nails. Martin; looking apologetic finally replied “Its too late to drive anyway.” I pointed at the clock on the dashboard “Its only four thirty.” suspiciously they all looked at it at the same time “Why didn’t you take me home, you know where I live?”
“Because Branden….” He trialed off; seemingly glaring at his friends “The body cannot function with such a limited amount of sleep.” His voice responded hardly; though I doubt it was at me “So I’d appreciate it if you’d just kindly step inside-“
“Give me the keys;” reaching over his seat “I’ll drive you can stay here and be weird.”
“Oh no, your not driving my car,” Jeff snatched them from the ignition and held them close. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing; it all felt like some joke and I wasn’t in on it. “Fine; we’ll stay in the bowling alley.” I gave up, not even attempting to understand it.
“Thank you Branden.” Martin sounded with dry frustration; it seemed like he was reading lines and doing it badly; swiftly kicking open the door and slamming it before his friends could step out.