The boy’s grandmother was very pleased that he decided to go to college.

“My baby is going to college!” She exclaimed when he told her the news.

She hugged and kissed him, insisting that she make gumbo that night as it was indeed a special occasion. The boy was sent off to get her ingredients, and invite the old man to join them as well. 

The boy left the store, getting into his beat up, old Toyota Corolla that he purchased as a graduation present to himself with the money he had saved from working at the old man’s shop. He decided he would go invite the old man after he got the ingredients, to spare him the trouble of the trip. 

He pulled up to the rear of the shop, and knocked on the door that led into the back rooms, using a special pattern to let the old man know it was him. The door unlocked and the old man was standing there, drunk. 

“Hey, grandma wanted to invite you to have gumbo with us tonight, I can give you a ride to the house.” 

The boy couldn’t hide the look of concern on his face.

He had never seen the old man drunk before. The old man looked at him and nodded.

“Let me get my shoes.” He grumbled as he stumbled into his room.

The boy followed, closing the door behind them as he peered inside. There was a bottle of Hennessy on the old man’s stand, with no glass.

“You ok, old man?” The boy asked, watching the old man plop down on his bed, fumbling about as he seemed to struggle putting on his shoes.

The old man managed to get on one shoe, then pulled a joint from his pocket and lit it as he leaned back, inhaling deep before blowing big O rings out as he laughed. 

“Grandpa, what’s the matter?” The boy asked again.

“Hmm?” The old man said as he looked at the boy, offering him his joint.

The boy sat down in front of the old man and took the joint, inhaling deeply as the old man had done.

“Murder is a terrible sin.” The old man said coldly. 

“Taking a life rips your soul apart. God have mercy on me! I caused that man to turn towards the road that led to his death!”

“But he was gonna kill you.” Said the boy, “It was either him or you right?”

The old man nodded. 

“But had I not cheated that man, it would have been neither of us. I must face the punishment for my transgressions against that man. Karma comes around as sure as the sun shines. It cannot be stopped, it is already written.”

The old man took the joint from the boy, puffing away at it furiously.

“Pressure isn’t getting hit. It’s the thought of getting hit that is worse than actually getting hit. And my soul is under pressure, I can feel it.”

The boy put his hand on the old man’s knee, the same comforting hand the boy had felt on his shoulders for the last couple of years, he now offered the old man.

“And I’ll be there with you every step of the way.” 

The boy said smiling up at his grandfather. 

The old man looked as if he might cry, but instead he laughed.

“Now come on, let’s go eat some gumbo!” The boy told the old man.

The old man gathered himself together, washing his face in the bathroom before grabbing the rest of the bottle of Hennessy.

“Gramps!” The boy exclaimed as the old man went outside, and with a throw of finality chucked the rest of the bottle into the nearest dumpster, shattering loudly against the empty metal bottom.

“I mean, I could’ve drank the rest of that.”Said the boy jokingly. 

The old man’s stern look returned to his face.

“Not even a nip for you until you’re of age.” Scolded the old man. 

They both got into the boys car, which now smelled very heavily of crab legs.

Next Chapter: Karma