The Kings Of Cool

25

Craig assumed that they were a respectable gay couple.

A little younger than the usual Laguna Beach life partners, but Craig was your basic “whatever floats your boat, dude” dude.

Dude.

Duuuuuude.

“We need a basement,” Ben told him.

“A basement.”

“A basement,” Chon affirmed.

Craig took a look at Chon and figured this was a dungeon sort of thing.

“Soundproof?” he asked.

“That would be good,” Ben said.

Whatever floats your boat, dude.

Craig showed them five houses with basements. The gay guys rejected all of them-the neighbors were too close, the living room too small, there was a school nearby.

At this last thing, Craig got suspicious. “You guys aren’t on one of those lists, are you?”

“What lists?” Ben asked.

“You know,” Craig said. “Sex offender lists.”

He’d hauled these two guys all over Laguna, Dana Point, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Niguel and they couldn’t find a place they liked. He almost didn’t care if he lost them now. Besides, the last thing he needed was neighbors picketing one of his properties.

“No,” Ben said.

“We just hate kids,” Chon added helpfully.

“You don’t have something more rural, do you?” Ben asked.

“Rural?” Craig asked. Like farms and shit?

“Like maybe out in the East County,” Ben suggested. “Modjeska Canyon?”

“Modjeska Canyon?” Craig repeated.

The lightbulb came on.

“You guys are looking for a grow house.”