Ty thought of all the ways he could corrupt his foster mother. She had always clung to very conservative values, coming from a right-wing Christian upbringing, and sought to maintain that in her household. She had sheltered herself from drugs and sexual experimentation and buried any rising temptation in work, family, and faith. Even though she had been adjusted to accept her gay house-boy and his young lover, most of her old views remained intact. While it would be fun to destroy her values and old personality, it would be nice to have someone he actually got along with. Ty smiled to himself as he made a wish, then a split-second later produced a bag of marijuana and paraphernalia from the cabinet and began rolling a joint. After a moment, June realized what he was doing.
"Ty, what do you think you're doing??"
"Oh, I'm just borrowing some of your weed," Ty said casually. "I hope you don't mind."
June looked confused as she processed this. "Oh...but, but I don't smoke, you know that."
"What are you talking about, mom. You've been smoking since high school. You’re a huge pothead. You love taking the edge off after a long day." June's body language relaxed as Ty sealed the joint and brought it over to the couch. " Here, you can have the first drag."
June now seemed much calmer. She was still very much the same person, but much more laid back and far-less stressed and concerned.
"Ahh, thanks Ty,” she said, taking the joint and inhaling with casual familiarity. “Yeah, it’s been pretty stressful at the office lately. This really hits the spot.”
“But Mom,” Ty said innocently, “You work at home. You harvest and sell marijuana. since it’s what you know best. You’ve been doing it for over fifteen years, and recently brought me in as a partner.”
June’s high-end business attire was replaced by a faded Daniel Johnston t-shirt and ratty blue jeans. Her hair became matted, forming into bleached blonde dreadlocks. He wore a hemp necklace and beaded ankle bracelets formed above her dirty bare feet. Her heavy makeup faded, leaving only slight lining and shadow. Her ears gained a few additional piercings. She no longer kept to her strict diet and fitness rigimen, causing her stomach to bulge significantly and her waist, butt and thighs to thicken. Thick patches of hair blossomed from her soiled armpits and wispy black hair coated her arms and legs.
“Yeah man,” June said on a exhale, “It’s great having you to keep up with the demand. No one in town’s perfected the strains like I have, and that word’s gotten around. I practically gotta beat people offa me. It’s the burden of greatness, I guess.”
The room warped around them as Ty continued to rewrite reality. June had still gone to school for business, but changed it second year to a minor with an art major. She was quite the party girl and at times barely kept her grades up, but still retained enough knowledge to carry into her own enterprise. Instead of continuing into graduate school, she put all of her energy into selling weed, painting and partying. The living room was now paved in dirty shag carpet, rock posters and psychedelic paintings lined the walls, and an old Sioxie and the Banshees album rotated on a turntable.
June had adopted Ty from a wayward friend at Burning Man years ago. It was a tough time convincing the state she was a suitable parent, but it was worth it. Plus, her old customer and party accomplice Markie helped out when she was busy with work -- or just too stoned and hung-over to move.
“Ty honey,” June groaned from her haze, “Can you tell Markie to make some mac ’n cheese or such? I’m gettin’ the munchies somethin’ fierce.”
Ty grinned. This was much more like it.