Chapter 43
About a week later, things seemed to calm down even though the wedding date was drawing closer.
Montana had picked up Kira from preschool and taken her to the pediatrician for an annual checkup and then to a play date with one of her little friends. Montana had arrived home just in time to see Mac getting off the bus.
“Hey, sweetie,” she said cheerfully. “Go on in; your dad should be there by now. I’ll be right in.”
“Thanks,” Mac grinned before skipping into the house and spotting Paul at the computer and sipping coffee.
“Hi Papi!” she cried, giving him a hug from behind.
“Hey, sprout. How was school ?”
“It was good. Sister Roseanna had someone come talk to the class today.”
“Oh?” Montana asked, putting things in the closet. “Anything good? I always liked when teachers brought in speakers.”
“Yeah. His name was Sgt. Lestanko from the police. He’s something called a narcotics officer.”
Paul spit out the last swallow of coffee, barely missing the screen in front of him. “What?”
“He talked to us about drugs,” Mac continued.
“Oh God. It’s official; the system has gone to hell.”
“Come on now, Paul, kids should really know the dangers of using drugs,” Montana pointed out.
“Yeah, true, but second graders?”
“Trust me, there’s kids out there that started out as dope dealers in second grade. The earlier kids know about this, the better. Even you’ve gone in schools to talk to kids about this stuff, so I can’t understand why you’re having a fit about it.”
“Uh….the last time I checked, I wasn’t a narc, either.”
“Oh for the love of cookies, what’s the difference if it’s you or someone in law enforcement?”
“Sgt. Lestanko talked about weed,” Mac spoke up. “He says it’s dangerous and can give people brain damage.”
“Uh huh,” Paul replied. “Then explain why marijuana is used to treat some illnesses like cancer and glaucoma.”
“You’re not going on that ‘legalize marijuana’ tear again, are you?” Montana asked.
“No, just making a point.”
“There are a few exceptions,” Montana agreed. “Medical use has its limits, but as a whole, the officer is right; it is as dangerous as any other drug.”
“So is crack,” Mac added.
“That narc dude discussed crack too? Jesus, is nothing sacred in school anymore?” Paul asked.
“Yep,” Mac nodded. “Sgt. Lestanko talked about all kinds of stuff. Crack, weed, metha…”
“Methamphetamine?” Montana filled.
“Yeah, that’s it,” Mac replied. “And he talked about how some pain killers you get from the doctor can be dangerous too if they aren’t used right.”
“Sounds like your class got a very good lecture,” Montana said.
“I thought so. Sister Roseanna said she brought him in because we needed to know about drugs even though we were too young to have any dealings with them. And Sgt. Lestanko says only dopes use dope.”
“Well, I can agree with that part,” Paul responded, still stunned such a thing went down at his daughter’s school.
“Things have changed since we were in school,” Montana said, “even from the time Papi over there was, and that’s been over ten years ago.”
“Gee, Papi, you guys are getting old,” Mac chimed in, wide eyed.
Montana could only laugh in response. Ah, the things kids say, she thought.
“Thanks a lot, Mac,” Paul answered. “Now go change out of your uniform and get that homework done.”
|
