I can’t sleep.

I lay on an air mattress, staring at the television.  A news reporter talks about tracking Santa Claus.  

     I flip over, peeking across my mom’s living room.  Aunt Scarlett lies asleep on the couch opposite me.  

     I tip-toe into the hallway bathroom, producing a joint.  

     Spark.  

I hold the smoke in extra long, wondering where I’m gonna release it.  

     I flip on the fan.  A loud, screeching sound shoots out of the vent, forcing it back off.

     Spark.  

     Knock.

My eyes shoot toward the door.

“Lawrence?”  My aunt’s voice creeps under the door.

I exhale.  

“Wanna share?”     

Roger McDaniel is a writer living in Florida.