Free Getting Higher by Robert T. Jeschonek Page B

groin. Doubled-over and howling like a fixless heroin addict, the massive creature heavily dropped again.
    As he lay there helpless, Rocky moved to stand over him. "Hey, dumb shit," he summoned, smirking down at the beaten menace. "You feelin' okay?"
    "Yeah," hissed the guy at Rocky's feet, stubbornly taunting. "Yeah, I feel fuckin' great !"
    "Jeez, that's too bad," said Rocky, mockingly concerned. Then he drove the toe of his boot like a mallet into the guy's kidney. "How about now, man?"
    The man sneered, baring his teeth. "Oh, you're...you're real funny...you mother fucker. Go ta' fuckin' hell, man!" Groaning, he clutched his battered cock.
    "Oooo! Scare me some more, mister tough guy! I'm standin' here shakin' in my booties!"
    "Wait," the loser grunted from the floor. "Wait till I fuckin' get up. We'll fuckin' see who's fuckin' tough!"
    With that, Rocky's face became serious. "Look, pal. You don't cause trouble at my party, see? You don't start no fights, you don't beat on people, an' most of all, ya' don't never touch my friends." Rocky pointed down the hall. "Get outta' this damn building. I mean it, pal...now. Either you leave on your own, or we throw your ass out. Now move!"
    For a minute, the caveman glared angrily up at Rocky, gritting his yellow teeth and trying to summon enough strength to charge him. Then, breathing heavily, he pulled himself to his feet. Resisting the overwhelming pain, he hobbled away down the hall, stooped and limping like an old man.
    Rocky watched until he was through the door at the end of the passage; then, he turned and re-entered his apartment.
    When he walked in, everyone was silent, either gathered at the door watching the creep slink away or standing by the bathroom where Crank was sequestered. Striding to the center of the room, Rocky scooped a bottle of beer from his chair and whistled loudly.
    "Yo, folks!" he belted. "Sorry about that little misunderstanding. Now that I took out the garbage, we can start havin' a good time again. Drink up, people!" Whooping wildly, he swallowed a gusher of beer. "All right!!"
    Somebody else yelled too, and everybody started yukking it up and mingling again. Quickly, the party resumed its normal chaos.
    Seeing that things were again in order, Rocky went to the bathroom to cheek on Crank. When he got there, the redhead was sitting on the toilet seat, swabbing his face with a rag. He seemed to be okay, except for his puffy swelling red eye, soon to become a major shiner. Joe stood beside him, drinking some punch, and the brunette was sitting on the edge of the bathtub.
    Crank looked up as Rocky entered. "Hey, Rocky. What's up, dude?"
    "Not you, man, that's for sure!"
    "Aw, c'mon, Rocky," chided Joe. "Crank's doin' great! He really handled that asshole!"
    "What th' fuck?" Crank looked irritated. "He nearly ripped my damn face off! I didn't have a chance, man. What're you talkin' about, Joey?"
    "Well, you're still alive," answered Joe. "I'd call that pretty good." He drank some more punch and burped.
    Rocky was worried about his buddy. "You okay there, Cranky? You took some bad knocks, man."
    "Yeah, sure. I'm fine. Don't sweat it. It takes more'n some asshole like him ta' put me away. Who was he, anyway? I never saw the dick before in my damn life."
    "His name's Mickey," identified Rocky. "He used ta' work for Global Steel. We met at some bar once, an' went drinkin' together. Other'n that, I hardly know the guy. Somebody invited to th' party brought 'im along."
    "Bad move, man," said Joe. "He was definitely trouble."
    "Aw, don't worry about it," Rocky said. "He just had a little too much to drink. He'll cool off."
    Once he had wiped all the blood from his nose and face, Crank threw the rag in a corner. Then, he stood. "I need to get stoned," was all he said.
    Joe held up his cup, as if in a toast. "I'll drink to that, man!"
    The brunette, who had kept quiet until now, laughed. "Well, Mister Crank, I just happen to have some...medication that'll help you