Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty Six

Kendall could not stop thinking about her conversation with Peggy.Paige can't seem to handle the situation alone. ... Woody is trying to get off drugs.He is really trying.You don't know how amazing he is... oh, I love him so much! He needs a lot of help, Kendall thought.I must do something.He is my younger brother.I have to talk to him. Kendall goes to Clark. "Is Mr. Woodrow at home?" "Yes, ma'am. I suppose he's in the room." "Thank you." She remembered the scene at the table, and Paige's bruised face.What happened?I'm banging on the door...how can she keep putting up with this kind of thing?Kendall went upstairs to knock on Woody's door, but there was no answer. "Woody?"

She opened the door and walked in.A bitter almond smell filled the room.Kendall stood there for a moment, then headed for the bathroom.Through the open door she could see Woody.He was heating heroin on a piece of aluminum foil.As the heroin liquefied and evaporated, she watched as Woody inhaled smoke from the rolled straw tube held in his mouth. Kendall walked into the bathroom and said, "Woody...?" He looked around, grinned and said, "Hey, sister!" He turned away and inhaled deeply again. "For God's sake! Stop smoking!" "Hey, take it easy. Do you know what it's called? Playing after a dragon. See that little dragon rising up in the smoke?" He smiled cheerfully.

"Woody, please listen to me." "Of course, sister. What can I do for you? I know it's not about the money. We're billionaires now! Why are you looking so depressed? The sun is out and it's so beautiful!" His Eyes are shining. Kendall stood watching him, filled with pity. "Woody, I talked to Peggy. She told me how you caught drugs in the hospital." He nodded. "Yes. It's the best thing that ever happened to me." "No. It's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you. Do you know what you do with your life?" "Of course I do. It's called instant gratification."

She grabbed his hand and said eagerly, "You need help." "Me? I don't need any help. I'm fine!" "No, you're not good. Listen to me, Woody, we're all talking about your life, and it's not just your life. Think about Paige. You've made her live hell for years because she Love you so much, that's why you suffer in silence. You're not just ruining your life, you're ruining hers too. You've got to do something about it, before it's too late. How you started taking drugs doesn't matter It doesn't matter, what matters is that you quit it."

Woody's smile disappeared.He stared into Kendall's eyes, started to say something, then stopped. "Kendall..." "what?" He licked his lips. "I...I know you're right. I want to quit. I tried. God, no matter how hard I try, I just can't." "Of course you can quit," she said eagerly. "You can do it. We beat it together. Paige and I have your back. Who gave you the heroin, Woody?" He stood there, looking at her in surprise. "My God! Don't you know?" Kendall shook his head and said, "I don't know." "Peggy."