Friends When You Need Them

HENRY!

Henry sat in the backseat of the beaten up, multi-coloured, vomit inducing 98' ford falcon, it's hard to do much else when someone is yelling your name in your face. He sat on the worn, stained fabric of the car seat that had innumerable bodily fluids smeared into it, this car had obviously been quite transient in its life, strange grey stains on the floor and roof, claw marks from several animals on the door, and seatbelt clasps that were clearly just for show.

HENRY!

It had seemed to be getting louder, that yelling. Henry tried to look past that large abyssal maw that hurtled his name at him with the speed of a thousand angry lemurs, that voice belonged to Doug. Doug was Henrys' best friend and for over a year Doug and Henry had been two kindred spirits, just vibing along to life's sweet melodies, brought together by an ad and a phone call to a internet company with Henry showing up on Dougs' doorstep, the two had rarely left each others side since that day. Doug had grown so fond of Henry that on more then one occasion Henry had crashed out in Doug's bed, of course upon waking Doug would quickly get Henry together and find a more suitable place for him to rest.

As their time wore on together Doug had become a tad off though. There was the talking to the pigeons phase that Henry thought was cute at first and after a time became concerning. Then came the time Doug was certain that the editor of Good House keeping magazine was trying to reach him through coded messages in the crossword section, this culminated with Doug cradling Henry in one arm and crying into an emergency phone on the highway telling a tow truck operator about the real holder of the land speed record. These events had been warning signs, now Doug had asked more of Henry, and Henry, like a good friend had delivered, now they where both careening down a beach road together, dodging potholes.

Their relationship had been one sided but Henry didn't mind, he had always thought of himself as single use only and was prepared to be tossed aside that day he showed up holding a Wi-Fi modem for Doug, only to be shown that he could indeed be useful at other things, it's funny how sometimes it takes another for one to see ones many abilities, and for this kindness Henry was forever grateful. However after the last few incidents, Doug drawing all over Henrys face, Doug letting strange friends borrow from Henry and then never pay him back, all this however did not dissuade Henry, at the end of the day he really did love his friend.

"HENRY" Doug screamed, one eye peering out a dirty window the other trying to crane back to see into the back seat. "There you are buddy!, come here I need your help". Doug reached into the back and grabbed a old brown Wi-Fi modem box that had several drawings of dinosaurs and rainbows on the front and laid it in his lap.

"We fucked up this time dude, big time, she wont talk to us again, I know I said I'd stop but dude you know how I like to have fun. Fuck I can't go back in that house again, not now". Doug opened the front flap of the box, inside were little bags of brown and grey powders and a few small squares of paper, he placed one of the papers on his tongue and took a large snort of one of the brown powders. "We're getting out of this the same way we got in good buddy, I'm gonna need you soon, its gonna get rough soon".

The beat up old ford with non matching panels smashed through the gate that lead from the tourist track onto the beach proper, sliding wildly on the soft sand before levelling out on the harder stuff beside the water. Doug placed the box on the passenger seat and drove up the beach as fast as the the sand would allow. The sun had started to go down, bathing the whole beach in brilliant colours, the reds of the sky were slicing through giant swathes of blue, the green palm trees that stood at the edge of the beach swayed ever so softly in a tropical breeze. So calming it could send even the most excitable to sleep. The entire beach was at peace.

"You should probably pull over man" the voice coming from Dougs' passenger seat.

"Bro you're here!" shouted Doug.

Doug turned looking at the passenger side to see a large man with shoulder length hair had materialised to fill up the seat. This man was adorned with birdwatching glasses and graced with rainbows painted on his face and a lovely tan shirt with dinosaurs drawn on it. He sat relaxed, hand outstretched and resting on Doug's shoulder.

"Come on man, stop the car, its nice out, lets walk".

"If I stop man they will catch up, I'm out of options here, what would you do man?" said Doug

"I would just slow that roll, think a moment man, stressing and worrying about everything is what got us both here in the first place, maybe for once, lets just look to the sand for our cues you know? just be real slow about it".

"Man I don't know, it seems that after that shit we just pulled, speed and vigour is the clear option" replied Doug.

"Brother, in the time we've know each other, I've watched you surpass some truly remarkable shit, two break ups, three job losses, a misadventure with that tumble dryer, and you always found your feet, always with that same smile, always with that can do attitude, I'm telling you man look at me in the eyes".

Doug turned and faced Henry, their comparably short friendship had been much deeper then most by any standard, they practically had lived in each others pockets for a year. When he faced Henry, looking into that warm face with deep enveloping brown eyes he felt nothing but calm, he knew Henry was right.

"Lets stop the car Doug. Lets enjoy these last few minuets in this natural beauty". Doug eased his foot of the accelerator and slowly braked the car. The two friends walked around the car to the waters edge

"I remember you telling me waters no good for you" said Doug, "said something about it weakening you".

"To be honest man that's just fear, I have no idea what it would do" replied Henry in a gentle, ghost-like whisper.

"Whatever happens man, I'll be beside you" said Doug.

"Right beside you too man" said Henry.

They waded out into the warm water, the half set sun casting the most electric of colours off the water, almost like at this moment the world was preforming for these two spirits entering the water in some sort of reverse baptism, taking away a life of fear and pain and missed opportunities and giving back a pure form of wonder and hopefulness. They looked out into the sun, a warm God, one that through its heating rays and shining colourful displays lets them know that no matter what, it does and always will love them. They put this god in front of them and they walked towards it, up to their chests, up to their necks. As their heads slowly submerged under the cooling, frothing waves, Doug began to hear the sirens again.

The End