Shortly afterwards, Mr. Michael told his sons he was traveling out of the country. He said he was about to secure an important financial deal and might be away for as long as five months. "Five months!" Caleb gasped.
"Yes, I promise you boys will be fine. I'll leave plenty of money for you, and I'll send you more regularly," Mr. Michael said.
Money, money. That was all Caleb's father thought about. "Listen," Mr. Michael said to Caleb, almost gruffly, "I'm proud of you, and I know you can look after your brother. I'm trying to save up for your future education and give you boys the best. Things have been tough recently. Your dear mother, now resting in heaven, understood that."
What about me? Caleb wanted to shout. Responsible younger brother indeed. At that moment, Caleb almost hated him. When he left, both brothers saw him off at the airport. Caleb never thought he could miss his father, but as Mr. Michael went through the departures gate, Caleb suddenly had the terrifying feeling he might never come back.
"Chin up, bro," Lucas said when they got back home, but Caleb slumped on the bed. "Both our parents are gone now," Caleb said.
Lucas brought up a wrap. "I have something for you. A nice smoke. Are you in?"
"What's that?" Caleb asked.
"Come on, let's light up and take it. All our worries will soon go," Lucas said.
"I...I don't know. Come on, just this once. I have your back. I'm your bro, not so?" Lucas went wild. Every day, questionable visitors trooped in and out of the apartment, and every weekend was a party. He ran through his money like water.
The noise from that flat is just too much," Mr. Izaegbegbe, Joshua's father, grumbled to his wife one morning. "Poor boys," Joshua's mother said. "That is what comes out of leaving your children all alone."
That day, she made it a point to visit the boys. "Is everything all right?" she asked Caleb when she arrived.
"Yes, Ma," Caleb replied.
"Listen, darling, if you need anything or you're worried about anything, just come and see me," she said.
After she left, Caleb tried to talk to his brother. "Lucas, we can't allow those guys here anymore."
"Why not? It's my house as much as yours," Lucas replied.
"It's too much. They mess up the whole place," Caleb said.
"You sound like an old man. Relax and take life easy, bro," Lucas said.
Caleb looked around Lucas's room. There were some brownish-white powders on a sheet of paper. "What's that?" Caleb asked.
Lucas suddenly laughed. It was an ugly laugh. "You don't want to know," he said.
Caleb remembered smoking the wrap the day their father left and the light-headed feeling he got afterwards. He'd said he would never try it again. There was something in him that always wanted to try things, to take a dare.
"I'm not a kid. You want something different? Alright, fine by me," Lucas said.
"Remove your watch and roll up your sleeves. This will be the ultimate experience. Heroin," Lucas said.
Caleb's heart beat loudly, but he moved forward. He felt a sense of excitement mixed with fear. He knew he shouldn't be doing this, but he couldn't help himself.
As he looked at Lucas, he saw a stranger. He saw a person who was lost and confused, just like him. And in that moment, Caleb knew that he had to make a choice. He could continue down this path of destruction, or he could try to find a way out.
But as he stood there, frozen in indecision, Caleb knew that he might already be too far gone. Once a psychologist had come to school to give a talk on the dangers of drug use. She had mentioned heroin, one of the worst drugs out there,' the woman had said. She showed them a short film of a scrawny white man writhing and gasping in the throes of heroin withdrawal. These things happened in other countries, not in Caleb Solade's room, not with his own brother.
Maybe there was something in those drugs that could make him forget reality. It was a tempting thought. An image of his mother's face floated into his head. She was alive and glowing. No, Lucas,' Caleb whispered.
Lucas shrugged and laughed. "I didn't think so," he said smugly and left the room.
How low he had sunk, Caleb thought. He had scored disgracefully low in the last test. This had never happened before. What was wrong?" Caleb mumbled, "I'm sorry."
It was difficult to think with his brain feeling woolly. He just wanted to get through the day. Who could he talk to about Lucas? They'd all run to the police and he didn't want to snitch his brother. Besides, Lucas had never mentioned the drugs again. In fact, he had stopped talking to Caleb altogether.
Nene and Deborah cornered Caleb after class. "Caleb, are you alright?" Deborah asked.
She was staring at him intently. "Fine," he said abruptly and quickly moved off. The way she looked at him was uncomfortable.
The girls stopped to talk to Joshua after school. "Don't you think Caleb's been looking odd these last couple of days?" Deborah asked as they all walked home together.
"Yes, Mary said. Have you tried finding out what's wrong?"
"No. Maybe he's not feeling well," Caleb would never indulge in anything like that, but he's very keen on his brother and I know he's worried. Caleb needs help," Deborah said.
"Me?" Deborah cocked her head and Mary looked away. "We can go there tonight - it's Friday - and just talk to him," she said.
Joshua hesitated. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Yes, we have to try," Deborah replied.
When they got to the Michaels' apartment that evening, the door was open. The lights were dim and loud music was blaring from an unseen stereo. There were people lounging about and dancing. The three friends stood for a minute, watching everyone.
"I'm not sure about this," Mary said.
"Don't worry, it will be all right," Deborah said, straining her eyes. "Where is he?"
A boy came over. "Hey, baby, you care for a dance?" he asked Deborah.
"We're looking for Caleb Michael," Deborah said firmly.
He pointed. "Just over there, sitting on the armchair. He looks finished," he laughed.
They picked their way towards him. "Wake up!" Joshua said, shaking him.
Caleb opened his eyes and leapt to his feet, looking around flustered and confused. "Mary... Deborah... what are you - ?"
"You seem to be having a nice time," Mary said.
"Oh... we... He rubbed his neck. "Let's all go outside," Deborah suggested.
Outside, Mary started delicately. "Caleb, we've been worried about you."
He tried to smile. "There's nothing wrong. Want to join the party?"
"What party? Lying on a chair looking miserable?" Deborah snapped.
"Hey," Caleb flared. "What do you know about me?"
Mary quickly interrupted. "Caleb, we want to tell you something. Please stop all this. We need you, and we're all missing you. You can't stay here being corrupted further. This isn't you."
"You can stay with me," Joshua said. "My mother would love to have you around. Please," Deborah said softly and moved closer, her eyes bright. "Do it. Please."
He felt his knees going weak. "Oh... yes. Ok. I will... What an angel! Caleb thought.
Later that night, as Mary and Deborah walked home, Mary spoke up. "You seemed very concerned about Caleb."
"He's in a really bad way, and he's all done. Listen, Deborah, I know you like doing lots of good work, but..."
Her voice trailed away as if she was embarrassed. "What?"
"Remember, Caleb is a human being, not one of your causes."
Deborah stopped. "That's an unfair thing to say."
"It wouldn't be fair to him if you're just saying these things because you're feeling sorry for him."
"Thank you very much," Deborah said coldly and walked off.