Page 4 - Contrast19731974

Vision

The Young Indian looked out along the dirt
road, lit by the lights of a pick-up truck chugging

up and stoPPing by his shack. A young man slipped
out of the truck and softly spoke.

"Tommy, open Your door."

Tommy did so. The light from a kerosene lamp,

along with the weak glow of a dYing fire, revealed

aandragsgterdaigIhntdialneggweidth long dark hair, a dirty coat
trousers.

"fruckin'cold. Man. you get no wood?"

Tommy had.simply been Wearing h18 coat, a good,
warm protection against the sub-zero cold. The wind
roanttthleedfitrhee.Whole shack. He tossed one small log

ttl got drugs."
"Reds?"

you on"eR.edsTharnede fbiuvceksh.ittts of mescaline. I'll sall

Tommy wanted the mescaline. He wanted to try
something new and different. There were always

downs around. He knew he needed foed and firewood.
All the money he had earned over the summer he'd

spent building this little home and bUYing some old
furniture a11d supplies. He had ten dollars. He

got ten dollars a week from the agency_ These days
he pretty much had to have at least a few reds
around. He handed ever six dOllars.

"Give me ten, and the mescaline. I can pay
the rest on Monday.

"All right."

Tommy took the capsulee and. dropped them in a
small bottle. The ragged Indian PUlled out

cigarettes from his pocket. Tommy was abtut to
ask for one figuring this guy had made many a
dollar off him; he can part with a smoke. But the
Indian passed one to him before he spoke.

They lit up and smoked in Silence. Tolll1l1Y
felt tired and was glad When his companion put out
his Cigarette, stood up and said good-bye.