Chapter 2: Be Drug Free

Josh was ten-years-old.  He lived in a 2-bedroom apartment with his mom and his older brother, Shane.  He didn’t know where his dad was anymore.  He hadn’t seen his dad since he was 3.

The day started out like every other day.  Josh and Shane would get up and eat cereal for breakfast.  Sometimes they didn’t have cereal and it would just be toast with cinnamon and sugar.  That didn’t fill him up as much as the cereal, but still, it was better than nothing.

Josh and Shane headed to school, but before they got there they heard a siren and saw a lot of flashing lights.  There were policemen and lots of people standing in a huddle.  Josh couldn’t make out what had happened.  All he knew was that he was glad Shane was with him.

A policeman told them, “Go around the other way.  Don’t go through there.”  So they crossed the street and didn’t look back.

This was a pretty typical morning.  There was always “something going on.”  Josh was taught when he was 6-years-old, “Be Drug Free” and he signed a pact* with his brother and his mother that he would never do drugs unless he got hurt and his body needed them.

On the way home from school, Josh stopped by a store to buy a treat. While trying to make a decision, Josh overheard some kids talking.

“It’s really good stuff.”

“It’ll make you feel like you’re flying.”

“I’ve never felt so happy in all my life.”

Josh quietly peeked around the corner and saw his brother standing with a group of his friends.  One of the boys held his hand out to Shane and said, “Take it.  It’s free.  And there’s more where that came from.”

Josh didn’t feel very good.  He didn’t know what to do.

What would you do?

• Tell the cashier that some kids are dealing drugs.
• Yell to Shane, “Shane! What are you doing?!”
• Go home and say nothing.
• Go home and tell your mom.

What else could you do?

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