The Kings Of Cool

179

So John smirked when he heard Chon’s story about snapping the quarterback’s arm.

“Still defending damsels in distress,” he said. “So what do you want from me?”

“You have lawyers.”

“I do?” John asked, smiling. “Why would you think I have lawyers?”

Chon looked him straight in the eyes. “Because you’re a drug dealer.”

“Was,” John corrected. “I was a drug dealer. I paid my debt to society, as they say. Now I put roofs on people’s houses.”

“Right.”

John got himself a beer and offered one to Chon, who refused. John shrugged and said, “If you’re man enough to get yourself in this kind of trouble, Chon, you’re man enough to get yourself out. You want some advice about how to get by in the joint, I can give you that: never accept a favor or a gift because you’ll end up paying with your ass.”

“Personal experience?” Chon asked.

John said, “Here’s what you do, kid-you go join the navy, get your ass out of town. There, I helped you.”

Chon left and found Ben.

Ben drove him down to San Diego.