As school started, the quick transition from summer into fall was around the corner. Our group had become interested in longboarding at the start of the summer. I got a Never Summer board for my birthday in August. A blue phoenix graphic and the company name imprinted the smooth bottom of the board. We spent whole days riding and finding new hills to descend at uncomfortable speeds. We needed to take advantage while the sun was still present. One weekend a few weeks into school, we decided to meet up, but this was going to be no ordinary event.

We all lived in the same area, surrounded by parks and places to hang out. On that day, I grabbed my longboard and rode up to my friend’s place seven blocks away. Out of the three of us meeting up, he was the only one who didn’t share a room with a sibling. I entered his patio door, walked up the carpeted staircase and entered his room where they were playing videogames. After chatting about the most random of subjects for a half-hour an unplanned question sprouted. Before this moment I was pessimistic about the idea and had never given it much thought. One by one around the circle we answered yes, myself included.

We were lost in incompetence and didn’t know where to find it, but we knew a guy. We sent a text and waited with anticipation for his reply. “I can help you out.” It was a done deal. Butterflies started filling my stomach from the thought of trying something new. Before I knew it, we were riding towards his house. After arriving, he informed us about the procedure and stated the price. We only needed one.

The door closed behind him. We gathered around as he revealed what was hidden in his palm. I had never been so close or even seen it before that day. We took turns holding it and inspecting it. We still required his assistance even though it was in our possession. We continued to Hillcrest Park. We discarded our past plans. A couple of new friends joined us, unaware of what we had obtained. We found a concealed spot, a row of four concrete stairs leading to the basement of a building. This spot was perfect. We all sat down and pulled it out of its bag. One pulled it apart, laying down the pieces on the screen of a phone. To make the cylinder, we wrapped the thin paper around a pen. We lit it up and passed it around. I held it with my thumb and index finger. I raised it towards my mouth, pursed my lips and inhaled. The end of the paper lit up and crackled as I inhaled. I opened my mouth and relaxed my jaw, letting the smoke slowly exit and dissipate into the air. We had officially started our new chapter of highschool.