A Story And A Smoke..Yes an actually story....

*Click*Click*Click*Click*Click*
Bummer.
*Click*Click*
....
Ya See, I Got This Cigarette Lighter and This Pack Of Smokes...
Problem Is..
*Click*
This Lighter Doesn't Work.
Everyday I Try To Work This Lighter. But,It Aint Happening.
My Thumb is Sore Since I've Been Trying For...
What? Five Years Now?
Those Smokes Might Not Be Any Good At This Point...
I'd Ask Someone Else For A Light But...People Don't Give A *Click*
They Just Keep Smoking and Blow That Sweet Cancer In My Face. I Want Some Of That.
*Click*Click*Click*Click*Click*Click*Click*Click*Click*Click*
How Bout a Story?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Door Slid ItSelf Closed, Blowing out cold, frosty Air Into Ronald's Face. A Single Drop of Condensation skied down from the glass of freshly poured juice to the bony knuckles on this hand. He Lifted the glass to his lips. Although the liquid was indeed sweet, it turned bitter as it meet his tongue.Ronald Studied The Yellow EnergyGuide label still attached to the refrigerator along with other tags and the user's manual. The fridge had just arrived yesterday. It was new. In fact, all the furnishings in his house were new.The house it self was built to his specifications.He made sure to place it in a quiet neighborhood only a few miles from downtown Madison,WI. . .Money Can Get You That.
He Pivoted around lazily on the ball of his foot and sat the glass down on the Honey Maple Wood Bar.He could catch the scent of the wood and he loved it. It reminded him of the Lowe's back in his hometown. A weak reflection on the marble counter top caught his brown eyes and he looked up slightly. Next to the juice sat Sparkling Grape Wine- non-alcoholic of course- and a wedge of fine cheese which was wrapped with care by his new neighbors.
Ronald Threw his head up and sighed. Upon inhaling ,the odor of his hair sleek black hair hit his nostrils. He sat in a leather stool, folded his arms, and rested his chin. He glanced to his left where the light of the kitchen lamp stopped at a dark hallway that eventually lead to a bedroom. He had two of them but he lived alone here. Even with this knowledge he couldn't fight off the feeling that someone or something would pounce from the black shadows of the hallway and take him. He jump in surprise and in fear.
" You Look Lonely. Mind If I Sit beside you?" Said a Soft voice. " Of Course you don't"
Ronald could hear feet shuffling down the hallway. A female form emerged from the shadows.As the girl neared him he looked away, preferring sight of the staircase in the corner of the room. She sat down and the sleeve of her white frilled blouse brushed against his elbow. Ronald got up and walked into the the living room, the girl's eyes followed him. She felt a little hurt, but she knew he would give up soon....Like always. This made her smile.
Ronald let himself drop on the couch, closing his eyes, and then stretched.He felt like he could sleep here and maybe die quietly. Someone placed themselves on the couch too.He opened his eyes, looking at the girl. He knew talking to her was unhealthy. But he was terribly bored. So he spoke,
"Allie, I'm starting to regret this whole thing. What was I thinking? That somehow being in this city could-"
" It can," Allie interrupted as she looked over at the small wolf figurine on the coffee table," you won the lottery for a reason, you're meant to be here, otherwise you wouldn't.You're silly, you know that? Over 260,000 people live here. You can't avoid them forever. But.... you don't need them. You have me."
She lifted his hand in hers and brought it to her cheek.Ronald could feel the warmth on his cold fingers. The mind is a terrible thing.
"You're right..." he said, "...about the people.I Can't keep Running."
He took back his hand. The warmth left immediately.Allie was stabbed again. She ignored it and flipped her long hair; more words came,
" That guy and that girl you saw next door. They invited you to the golf course to play disc golf today.Are you going?"
Ronald though back to earlier when he pulled up into the garage.His neighbors were getting home at the same time and decided to walk over and greet him. Thats where he got the Wine and Cheese.Then they left, saying they where going to the store briefly and invited him to a play disc golf with them. Seeing the two of them together made him sick. He wanted to go and be included in whatever fun they would be having, probably with more friends. But he knew he couldn't.They left him their number in case he changed his mind.
He sighed, "No.I'd Die..."
" From what?" Allie paused and then her expression turned sad,"And the young woman, did you think she was cute? Cuter than me?"
Allie knew he wouldn't answer the second question. She knew he wasn't interested in such things.But Ronald's mind mirrored the emptiness of the house.His brain pretty much dead; only processing the now and not the pass, the future, or what he would do next. Allie leaned over and Ronald felt the weight of her head on his left arm. The warmth came again.
" I'd die from nervousness and embarrassment. I don't know how to be normal...How to act. Don't tell me to be myself, Allie.. Myself is nothing. And thats exactly what I'd Do. Am I even Human? I Think I'm More Of a Rock."
Ronald Looked down at the phone on the table adjacent to the wolf figure and remained motionless, trying not to disturb Allie by moving. He Remenisted back two years ago, when he had took a gamble and when to the movies and afterwards to dinner with two classmates. He had remained quiet for a majority of the time and no matter how much he thought, he could not produce a single interesting thing to say.
"Do you Supose Charlie was Lying?"Ronald asked, emerging from his memories.' Back when I asked him if he found me boring"
Ronald Remeber the words perfectly:
"No Actually.I think you're and interesting kid honestly...A little Quiet at times.But hey, so is everyone at certain times.Nah you're not boring"
Allie giggled at Charlies words,
"No, Wishful Thinking on your part. That was a bold-faced lie...He only said that so he whould hurt your feelings..."
" I Asked him to be honest, though. It hurt more hearing a lie..."
Allie Smiled again, cuddling closer.
" So, I'll Ask you again...Will you go? Do you want a repeat of that night with Charlie? If you fail out there you know you can't run away from it. I'll always remeber.And So will you..."
He tried to imagine what he'd say. Nothing came. His brain was useless. He pictured being on the Disc golf course, trying to arch the Frisbee perfectly. He keep his mind on disc golf for maybe 5 minutes or so. And then he forgot Allie's face. The warmth retreated and he started to fall asleep.
There was the sound of barking from someone's backyard. This woke him, bring back the thoughts of going outside. He tensed up all the muscles in his body and closed his eyes. He was yelling. Not aloud or at a non-existent Allie. He was yelling at himself in his mind. When he loosened up again, tears came to his eyes.