I Just Don't Know
-
Madeleine Gome, Grade 9
-
Short Story
-
2013
"What," she demanded, jumping aside to avoid the foam dodge-ball, "Was he thinking? Wow. Like, WOW!”
"I heard someone else was involved: dealing them for Tristan," Tammi added softly.
"Numbskull. But if anyone was going to be involved, it'd be him." Jackie threw a ball at the opposing team before continuing. "Tristan was always talking about that kinda thing, but I never thought he'd actually do something like that."
"I know. To think we were having that argument about guns just the other day. I mean, God knows I was thinking you ignorant nitwit, but he's always talking about that kinda thing: always telling that racist, sexist, not-even-funny joke. But actually acting on his ridiculous views. I mean, we're fourteen!"
"You got to hand it to him though: clever businessman. He knew what he was doing, just not really..."Jackie trailed off.
"Do you think he'll go to gaol? He's a minor, but dealing drugs. At a school." Tammi paused, aiming a shot at her nemesis, then said, "Did you know any of this was going on?"
"Not really. I'd heard some rumours but I thought that was it."
"Miranda said they offered her some, kinda jokingly and she thought they were just kidding. Not that they actually had some. What was it?"
"Ecstasy probably. Maybe weed. Surely nothing worse," Jackie added uncertainly, narrowly avoiding the ball thrown in retaliation to Tammi's. "Oh, we're going to get so many lectures now. Tristan," Jackie muttered darkly, leaning against the wall and trying to wrap her head around their discussion.
The whistle blew and a new game was set out: a row of balls along the centre line. The two girls stood back as the balls were scattered, knocked, thrown around, reminding Jackie considerably of her thoughts and feelings.
Silence.
"Apparently the police were out the front at recess. Do you reckon they know?"
They exchanged a glance.
"About Marie?" Jackie asked.
"Well... the only reason we know is 'cause she tells us everything: it's the rules of best-friendship."
"The police'd get it out of her. Surely."
"Only if they talked to her. Besides, Marie is a pretty good liar and she seems pretty innocent. I hardly believed her when she told me. That was really clever and wrong. She knew Tristan wouldn't question where it came from, he'd just take it like a business chance: put the money where he was supposed to and sell it for enough to give him a good profit," Tammi soliloquised.
"Why are we friends with her again?" Jackie asked and they both turned to watch her flirting at the other side of the gym.
Tammi laughed dryly. "Not entirely sure," she said, shaking her head. "So should we tell them? Marie'd kill us, but we should, shouldn't we?"
Pause.
"I don't know. I don't know. I just don't know," Tammi said, slightly panicked.
"Argghh. We shouldn't have to think about this, know about this, deal with all this!"
"I know. I know."