Best Summer Ever, edit 4? 5?

“I control the drugs; the drugs don’t control me!”.

Later in life, Ben wondered whether he and his friends should have confronted Brad about all the abuse. He wondered whether they should have tried to convince him to take it easy.

But those questions didn’t occur to him at the time. He was wrapped up in his own little world. He had a hard-enough time getting through most days without taking on anyone else’s burdens.

“Who wants to smoke some weed?” Ben asked.

“Let’s go up to my room” Brad said. “I’ve got some good shit you’ll want to try”. He laughed. His laugh tended more towards a cackle when he was this high.

Brad, Gus, Parker and Ben went inside, heading to Brad’s room. There was loud music, a few people dancing, a lot of people drinking heavily; celebrating graduation day by getting so drunk they wouldn’t remember it.

Ben stepped away from the others to say hello to an old friend from grade school. Before he got there, one of the girls screamed!

Ben turned to look.

Brad was foaming at the mouth and shaking violently. Then he collapsed. There was a moment of stillness; the only sound was the music. Then, like a spell had broken, everyone bolted!

Ben wasn’t a man of action; he didn’t take charge in a crisis. He preferred to stand back; let someone competent handle things. For a moment, he waited for someone competent person to step up. When no one stepped up, Ben realized that, for the first time in his life, he was going to have to be the competent one.

Ben had once seen an adult take care of someone having an epileptic seizure. Ben tried to do what he had seen. He got down on his knees beside Brad and pushed his wallet between Brad’s teeth.

“Gus”, he said, “get me a couple of pillows to put under his head. And Parker, turn off that fucking music!”

Kaitlyn had come running in and stopped dead when she saw Brad on the floor.

“What’s wrong? Is he going to be alright? What should I do?”

Ben could see she was panicked, her eyes wide; fear, confusion, panic all at the same time. He wanted to say or do something for her, but Brad needed his attention first.

“Kaitlyn, Brad needs an ambulance. Can you call for one? Then come back and let me know. OK? Can you do that?”

Kaitlyn nodded and ran to the phone. Ben looked around the room. It was a complete mess; plastic cups and paper plates all over the room.

“Gus, Parker. Can you start cleaning up a little? No sense in letting anyone know there were a bunch of drunk teenagers here tonight. When Kaitlyn gets back, I’ll help you.”

“The ambulance is coming”, Kaitlyn said. “What else can I do?”

She looked calmer than a few minutes ago, but still shaken. Ben told her to sit with Brad and just keep talking to him.

“Tell him it’s going to be OK. Tell him it will be over soon. I think your voice will be more soothing than mine.”

“Call me if anything changes, OK?” She nodded.