Religious Ritual (Part 1)

12:05 a.m., it’s getting late. I get up and walk over to the closet. I open it up and rummage around through the pile of clothes until I find what I’m looking for, the green pants. I pick them up and reach my hand into the back pocket. The bag inside is still sealed which is a good sign. I pull it out and walk back over to the desk. I take the skins out of the dresser drawer and grab a solid book to work on.
Two papers, that’s how I like it. Some of my friends don’t understand, but I like the stability and firmness that the two papers offer. I seal the papers together and sprinkle a pinch of the contents of the bag on to them. I rake around the contents and roll up the paper with my thumbs and forefingers. The glued edge is licked and I set the finished product to the side to allow it to dry. I sit back and wait. Patience is key for these kinds of things. No need to rush, allow it to dry on its own.
I switch through the channels on the television and try to find something good that’s on. There’s nothing on and I decide on some stupid B-Movie about zombies. It’s dry by now and I grab the lighter and walk over to my window. The lighter is flicked and fire is produced. The flame is put to the tip of the joint. I place my lips to the opposite end and slowly inhale. The flame takes and it’s lit. Blue smoke drifts up and swirls around. I take another drag. The smoke fills my lungs and I hold it in. I wait until the pressure begins to hurt and I exhale. The smoke shoots out in a steady stream into the night. Another drag, I exhale, another drag, hold it, and exhale.
After repeating the same process for a few minutes, the joint begins to dwindle down. I can feel the heat on the tips of my fingers and put it out. I close the window, fold the roach up in an envelope, and put it in the back pocket along with the bag. I throw the pants in the closet and lay down on my bed. I wait for the familiar feeling to wash over me. This is good stuff, it takes a minute for it to fully take effect, but still, it’s worth the wait. I can feel it now, my worries drift away, the pain is gone. Nothing bothers me now. All I think about is how good I feel. I watch the B-Movie still on my television. Blood, gore, exploitive sex, and an utter lack of meaningful dialogue, perfection. My eye lids grow heavy and I fall asleep. Religious ritual in its purest form.