Purity test

Present day

July 26, 2045

Daddy the box is back!

The box? What the hell? Pondering a second. What box sweetie? She places nothing in her daddy's hands.

August 4, 2020

Dude!

What's up my ninja?

How long has that box been there?

What box? Both looking over to the front of the porch.

Walking over to it. Dude why is it covered in a brown paper bag if it's a gift? It says it's for you. Happy birthday Vinnie don't open til your birthday.

Vinnie! Sebastian! The cookies are done. A delicate voice shouts from inside the house.

Vinnie begins to hyperventilate. Sebastian looks back. Awe screw that. Being the high school's 1st line punter came in handy. Sending the box over to the neighbors house across the street. Turning around to console Vinnie. There the box he just kicked, completely undamaged next to his friend.

Sebastian ninja stop.

As if dude. This box is making you act weird. How in the hell are you the star running back having a panic or asthma attack because of a box. No dude. No.

Don't touch the box. Go get some cookies. I got a story to tell you. I'm not supposed to tell anyone.

Aw hell yeah! Rushing in the house. Hey Mrs.E can you put some in a bag we're gonna go back to my house i need help with a part in a game? Is it ok if he spends the night also?

Sure that would probably be good for him; he always gets weird around this time of the year. Always days before his birthday. After putting a few on a plate. She places the rest of the cookies in a zip lock bag. Before zipping it shut she puts one in her mouth then shuts it. Handing Sebastian the bag she hands him two chocolate milks

Thanks Mrs.E.

You're welcome. I love you Vinnie, be careful!

Love you too mom! Putting the box in his book bag.

Why don't you just leave it here?

You did just kick this thing smooth across the street did you not?

Good point.

What did you say to my mom?

You were comin' to my place to help me with a game.

Ok. Where are we actually goin'?

The club house so you can tell me the story behind this box. Should I invite the guys?

Hell no. I don't need everyone thinking I'm a nut. What's wrong with you? Did you not hear me say I'm not supposed to tell you?

After walking for fifty five minutes. Vinnie and Sebastian come upon the club house. A beat down abandoned house that looks as if it will topple over any second. Getting closer they hear a noise from the inside.

Looks like they are already here.

Shit i can't tell you here.

Dude Why not? They are our boys. They don't care if you're crazy.

Yea? My ninja! You may be right. He thinks to himself. The boys walk into the club house. Vinnie kicks the door in and with a deep voice he shouts. Hands on the floor, feet behind your back.

Frantically the other kids fail to attempt the order. As Vinnie and Sebastian walk through the hallway in the door leading to the main chill area.

Man screw you guys son. You know I'm high.

Awe why Jracke you had such perfect form. Vinnie responds.

Yeah fam, not cool. I thought yall were the cops. I can't afford to get into any trouble.

Blake, when did you get out dude?

A couple of days ago fam.

Are you goin back to school my ninja?

Naw kinda thinkin' bout droppin' out fam.

Dude where's the gas?

Sebastian, what do you mean? I threw it cuz yall wanted to play let's be cops son.

Roll up again.

Screw you backwards in Spanish with a telephone shoved in your ear fam! You roll up.

Jracke?

Up yours Sebastian. Roll son.

Vinnie?

My ninja, I don't even smoke anymore.

You lying, we smoked yesterday.

Anywho, I'm bout to tell a story.

Oh yeah right, right. I'll roll up. Cupping his hands to catch a football. Blake throws the sack of buds at Sebastian. Vinnie mom made cookies. Tossing the bag on the table.

Blake and Jracke attack with the munchies.

What story you bout to tell you finally got some booty Son?

Awe man, our little Vinnie is growing into a man. Sebastian continues to break the buds down into smaller pieces.

I wish you two were the type of twins that could feel each other's pain. Walking over to Jracke.

Why do you say that son?

Cause i wouldn't have to do this twice. Simultaneously punching the twins in the scrotum. Jracke hit with the left fist first then Blake with the right.

Ahh.

Ooh.

Haha hahaha hahahahaha. Sebastian busts out laughing. Gutting the honey bourbon backwood. After gathering themselves the twins rub their groins and grab another cookie each.

You have serious anger issues. Taking a bite.

I agree with Blake. You just lucky ya momma makes the best cookies in town. Sinking his teeth into the cookie.

After he finished gutting the dutch. Sebastian begins to pack the dutch with the mini buds. Dude go ahead and tell your story.

Walking back to his seat Vinnie huffs taking a deep breath. Remember how I told you guys I got kicked out of my last school for fighting before moving here three years ago.

Yeah. In unison.

Why fam?

That's only part of the story.

Ok so what happened dude?

Reaching into his bag he grabs the box. Vinnie puts it on the table.

Fam what the hell are you doin'?

What do you mean?

You literally just pulled nothing out of your bag and put it on the table son.

Blake, you mean to tell me you don't see the damn box dude? Finishing up rolling the backwood.

Hell no Sebastian there's nothing there fam.

Yea me either.

Jracke seriously?

Nope.

How old are you guys?

16 why?

Never seen this box?

No and still don't. The twins respond. So nobody over the age of 15 can see it. Vinnie thinks to himself.

Who got a lighter? Blake tosses the lighter from the table across the room. Flicking the lighter five times the flames starts. He lights the dutch and takes four puffs and passes to Blake. Go ahead.

It was three days before my best friend's birthday. He was turning fifteen. I was eleven. We were on the same football team in the Baby Leagues. The first two days he was given three tasks. That challenged him mentally physically and emotionally.

September 22, 2017

Day one

Walking up the stairs in their apartment building.

Hey Rosco?

What's up Vinnie?

Looks like you got an early birthday present. It has a note. Happy birthday Rosco don't open til your birthday.

Nice. Picking the box up he hands it to Rosco.

I wonder what it is? Shaking the box. But not a single sound comes from it.

Look another note. What occurs twice a week? Once a year? But never in a month?

How am I supposed to know that? I didn't create the universe.

Yeah that's a tough one. But you're the smartest guy I know.

I know. Let's go get some carrot sticks. Occurs twice a week? Once a year? But never in a month? Rosco thinks.

August 4

Fam yall are both dumb the answers the letter E. Inhaling after his third puff.

How do you figure that Blake? Vinnie snaps as Blake takes another puff.

W-e-e-k. The letter E occurs twice in it. Year only once. And there's none in a month son.

I really hate you two. Especially when one thinks it and the other says it. It's so freaking annoying.

Did he ever get the answer?

No. Blake passes to Jracke.

What happens next?

The next day when we woke up. He got another task.

September 23

Day two

Waking up, Rosco rushes to the box to make sure it was still there. It was with a new note on it. Today is a great day to become a man. Test your might. Confront your biggest fear.

Vinnie! Wake up!

What's up Rosco? He says still half asleep.

My ninja! There's a new note on it!

Jumping out of his pallet on the floor. Getting tangled in the covers getting up. He wrestles to get them off. Finally getting them off he stumbles to Rosco. What's it say?

Today is a great day to become a man. Test your might. Confront your biggest fear.

Does that mean what I think it means?

I believe it does.

You have to fight the Dubs.

Sure looks like it.

I got your back.

Let's get ready for school.

The boys take a shower. Playing the game until the other finishes and gets dressed. Then head downstairs for breakfast.

Aww man my mom hooked us up!

Yeah she did. Chocolate chip pancakes, grits, eggs, bacon, and scrapple. After fixing their plates they sit down to eat.

Man this slapped something silly.

It's so good. I wish my mom cooked like this.

After eating breakfast the boys head to school. As they walk they notice a little crowd off to the left.

It's the Dubs.

Keep walking.

But don't you have to face your biggest fear?

Let's get to school. I'm not ready yet.

Ok. They continue to walk to school. After another fifteen minutes they finally arrive. Walking into the building they head straight for homeroom. After crossing the threshold of the room the boys find their seats one behind the other. Shortly after, so does the rest of the class. Then the teacher walks in. But it's not the normal teacher.

Hello children, I'm Mr. Niarb. I'll be your sub for the day. You can open your books to page 34 and read till 44. Once everyone is done we will open a discussion on what you all have read.

After seeing everyone put their heads in the books. Mr. Niarb leaves the room. Russell Dub gets out of his chair. And walks over to Rosco. Rosco notices him getting closer. Oh no he's coming over here.

What's up birthday punk? You get any money yet?

No. Rosco mumbles.

What was that I didn't hear you?

He said no. Not like he'd give you anything anyway. Go sit down.

Hey Reese! Looks like we have a beat down to give some attention to little brother. Looking up to his little brother.

Little brother. Vinnie thinks. Rosco looks back and Vinnie looks forward at each other puzzled.

Russell grabs Rosco by the collar and lifts him out of his chair.

Any last words punk?

Vinnie gets out of his chair instantly and punches Russell in his private parts. He drops Rosco and falls to his knees. Reese then swings with a left hook. Rosco ducks. And counters with a two jab combo followed by a tackle taking Reese to the ground. Meanwhile Vinnie is on top of Russell delivering a flurry of punches. The class surrounds the scuffle and begins to chant. Fight! Fight! Fight!

Shortly after Mr. Niarb rushes in the room to break up the altercation. After separating the boys he walks all four to the office.

August 4

Yeah fam. Catching rec at eleven. How old were the other two? Passing the dutch to Vinnie.

Taking his first puff and inhaling. Holding the smoke for a couple of minutes then exhales. I want to say between 12-14 i was the youngest in the class. Taking his second puff.

What was this a school for smart kids?

Yeah kinda sorta.

Why are your grades so low then son?

After inhaling wrong he coughs uncontrollably. Then gathers the rest of his lungs. Screw you Jracke!

Fam a light weight. Blake says, shaking his head.

Dude what happened next. Vinnie hits the dutch two more times then pases it to Sebastian.

We pretty much got sent home. I broke the kid's nose and jaw. Rosco blacked the other kid's eye and busted his lip. When we got to his house. His mom lectured us about fighting then congratulated us for standing up to a bully. She didn't tell my mom cause Rosco told her I jumped in so he wouldn't get jumped. I'm assuming the school called her cause she was more concerned about me than the fight. I got expelled for breaking the kids nose and jaw. He got suspended for a week.

That's dope our mom would broke her foot off in our ass so far we'd piss pieces of heels for weeks. Sebastian hits the dutch two times and passes it to Blake.

Real shit. Blake adds reaching for the dutch.

What was the emotional test? Sebastian says coughing a little.

When we got settled upstairs. There was another note.

What it say?

Your mother and sister are about to die. You can only save one. Who is it?

Dude! Who did he choose? Blake passes to Jracke.

Obviously his mom he's the only child dummy. Jracke takes two puffs.

Up yours Blake. Sebastian responds.

Precisely. Then things get a little weird.

What do you mean?

The thing that makes me have to attend therapy every other week. It was five minutes before his actual birthday. And he opens the box. After he ripped the paper off and lifted the lid. His head jolts back and he hits the ground.

What the hell? You don't go for anger management?

Right. And no. I roll him over and there's a hole in his head. They ruled it suicide. Cause there was no murder weapon. The box disappeared. I had to go to a therapist cause they didn't believe a box killed my friend.

Where is the box?

On the table at the edge in front of the roll ups.

Looking at the box location. Seeing nothing Jracke extends his hand. Pulling back hesitantly he slaps the tables. But instead of hitting the table his hand stops six inches off the table.

Fam why is your hand not touching the table?

Cause dipstick there's a box under it. Sebastian responds.

I've noticed only kids 15 and under can see it. You being able to touch it and not see it means it's just invisible. It randomly appears 3 days before your 15th birthday. Gives you three tasks: mental, physical and emotional. If you open it before your birthday you die.

So it's like if you can see the box it's like you're chosen son? Everyone's eyes widened.

But your birthday is in four fam.

Another reason I'm confused. I've been anticipating this day for the last three years.

Sebastian, when is your birthday fam?

In a month. Looking around the room for the roll ups to roll another dutch. Um dudes? What time is it?

Everyone looks at their phones

12: 01 Why son?

It looks like you got your first task dude?

Present day

Daddy you hound us about smoking. But you used to do it.

Okay so she saw that too. It got me and my brother in a lot of trouble. Thank you sweetheart, go play. Bug! Call Vinnie!

Okay Jrackey Poo.