Part 25 (1/2)
CHAPTER.
23.
Sat.u.r.day Becca felt somewhat better than she had been feel- ing, but not enough to leave the house. We spent the day together, camped in front of the TV, this time for a Buff y marathon.
”Maybe I should have my Make- A-Wish about Joss Whedon.
Like, meet him or something.”
”Screw that. You have cancer. Up the ante and wish for him to create a show about a bada.s.s bounty hunter and make you the star.”
”Yes! Opposite Jamie Bamber!” she cooed.
”Speaking of muscular men, what's going on with you and home- school boy?”
”I can't believe I didn't tell you. Yes, I can. I have total cancer brain- but he sent me fl owers! Like, a bouquet he picked from his garden. With a note. It's over there.”
-1- I hopped off the blue chair and walked over to a wonky, 0-
1-
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paint- dappled vase fi lled with wild- looking fl owers, although not necessarily wildfl owers. ”Where's the note?” I asked, not fi nding it tucked into the bouquet.
”Oh. I hid it under my mattress. Mom and Helen are nosing around my room way too much. I think they suspect I'm smoking pot, which I'm totally not. I wish I were. It's supposed to work mira- cles on nausea. Maybe you can score me some!”
”Score you some? Who talks like that?”
”I do. Now get me some pot.”
”Where am I going to get pot? You're the one who was all toking it up with Davis. Maybe you can call him in the army to score you some.”
”What about Leo? Could he get me some pot?”
”Leo doesn't smoke pot. I don't think.”
”That doesn't mean he can't get a quarter. Or a gram. However they mea sure it. Ask him. For me?”
”We'll see. Isn't it legal now for medicinal purposes? Can't you just get a prescription?”
”Can you really see my mom going to Walgreens to pick me up some joints?”
”Duly noted. Now where's that note?”
She accepted my weak commitment to getting her pot, and dug Caleb's note out from under her mattress. Inside a blue envelope was a neatly printed note.
Dear Becca, I hope these fl owers brighten your day just a little.
If you need anything, throw a rock at my window. I --1 -0 -+1 145.
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might have something to help with the pain, too, if you're interested. Take care of yourself.
Wis.h.i.+ng you well, Caleb ”He totally wants to bone the cancer right out of you,” I told Becca.
”You got that from the note? I thought it was much sweeter and homeschool- y than that.”
”What did he mean when he said he might have something to help you deal with the pain? Do you think he meant pot? Is he grow- ing marijuana in his little homeschool garden?”
”There is no way. He's not like that.”
”Ah, but Leo is.”
”You know what I mean.” I brushed off the insinuation that somehow Leo was pottier than Caleb. ”But do you think that's what Caleb might have meant?”
”It's either pot or his p.e.n.i.s.”
”I'd take either.”
”Should we throw a rock through his window and fi nd out?” I asked.
”I believe it was at his window. And no, not while my mom is home. I prefer this to remain a secret homeschool aff air.”
”That sounds pretty hot,” I acknowledged.
”Speaking of hot,” Becca transitioned, ”tell me about your eve- ning with Mr. army jacket.”