The Popular Depression is a book I wrote in my first year of college.

It was inspired by a cigarette pack on a coffee table that I noticed at a house party.

My eyes were drawn to the Health Canada warning on the box of cigarettes.

I think the statistic about tobacco-related deaths was supposed to be the scary one. But, for some reason, I was more alarmed by the fact more people died by killing themselves than by getting into car accidents.

I never did anything with the book I wrote. Looking back, some of the amateurish writing makes me cringe. But, the concept behind The Popular Depression is an important theme for us to think about.

Here is the twenty-third chapter from The Popular Depression.

Chapter 23

Ethan’s truck slightly fishtails on the icy street. He eases up on the gas, corrects his steering, and continues driving toward Lethbridge’s north.
He pulls up to Vincent’s house. Vincent had told Ethan he was cool to crash at his place any time. Ethan wonders if the invitation included living there as well. He gets out of the Tacoma, walks up to the front door and knocks three times. About 25 seconds later, Vincent opens his door.
“Hey man,” Vincent says, holding his fist for Ethan to pound. “I just re-supplied you a couple of days ago… don’t tell me you’re out already.”
“Nah, it’s not that,” Ethan says, clenching his fist and meeting it with Vincent’s.
Ethan stands vulnerably in front of his friend. Last year he never would’ve guessed that he would be depending on Vincent for shelter.
Vincent stands patiently, waiting for a response.
“I got in a fight with my mom,” Ethan begins. “She kind of kicked me out of the house.”
Vincent looks genuinely shocked.
“I’m sorry to hear that man… what was the fight about?”
Ethan stands on the doorstep. Subtle nervous shakes cause his hands and fingers to twitch. The wind is cold on his body.
“She found out… about the cocaine.”
Vincent shakes his head at Ethan’s unfortunate luck.
“How long are you out for?” Vincent asks.
“Until I stop using drugs.”
A pause, then, “Let me guess… that’s not going to be any time soon?”
Both Vincent and Ethan eerily chuckle at this.
“Listen dude, you’re welcome to crash here for as long as you want. The couch is yours. You don’t have to pay for rent, just buy your own food and stuff.”
“Thanks Vince, I really appreciate this.”
Vincent opens the door allowing Ethan to walk inside. The small house reminds Ethan of the druggie party he went to with Jared and TJ. A small kitchen, which doesn’t even have room for a table, is connected to a living room. In the living room is Ethan’s bed… a couch with dozens of rips and cigarette burns.
The rest of the night is spent getting high and watching some 90s movie that Ethan never caught the title of. Vincent says, “I’m crashing… got work tomorrow,” before the movie ends. He then goes to his bedroom.
Ethan watches the rest of the movie then curls up on the couch. He uses a cushion as a pillow to rest his head on. The quilt that he borrowed from Vincent isn’t enough to keep him warm and he shivers on the bed.
At some point, Ethan finally falls asleep.

“Merry Christmas,” Vincent says, shaking Ethan to wake him up.
Ethan squints his eyes, lifts the blanket off of him, yawns, stretches his back, and says, “It’s Christmas?”
Vincent nods and then leaves the room.
The last four nights on the couch have taken a toll on Ethan. Numerous body parts ache and he has a terrible headache.
He reaches toward the coffee table and grabs his cell phone… one missed call. He listens to the voicemail message from his mother.
“Ethan, I don’t know if you got any of my messages I’ve left over the last few days, but I am calling to say that I really would love it if you would come home. It’s Christmas, Ethan… your little sister was crying last night because she knew that you wouldn’t be here in the morning. I know you’re going through a lot right now, but trust me when I tell you that you can’t do this alone. I’m so worried about you, hun. I’m here for you. Please come home, or at least call… it would mean so much to me, and so much to Cindy. Be safe, son. I love you more than words can ever say. You mean the world to me.”
Ethan has trouble understanding some of the message because his mom started crying part way through. He feels like shit. He wants to come home but he can’t. He doesn’t see how there’s any possible way that his mom will actually forgive him. He ruined everything. She says that she’s worried about him, but he doesn’t understand how. If he was her, he would’ve kicked his sorry ass out of the house a long time ago. He can’t go home because there’s too much that he’s done wrong. Another reason that he can’t go back is because of Cindy. Ethan has always been so proud of his little sister, with everything she’s accomplished, and with everything she’s believed in. One of the things she believed in was her big brother. The role model that she idolizes so much was the same person that was doing cocaine right in front of her. There is nothing Ethan can say to Cindy to change that… and he doesn’t even have it in himself try.
On top of all of this… Ethan can’t go one day without snorting cocaine. He can’t risk being back at home if he is sneaking around with the drugs again. He’s done enough damage already.
“So, I got you a present,” Vincent says, walking over to Ethan with a wrapped gift.
Ethan looks very surprised.
“Are you for real? I didn’t get you anything…”
“Don’t worry about it, bro… it’s one of those gifts that I will definitely benefit from too.”
At first, Ethan assumes that it will be cocaine… but as he takes the gift out of Vincent’s hand, he notices the shape is much too big to be drugs. Ethan rips open the wrapping paper. Inside is a mini basketball hoop and ball. Ethan laughs and looks over at Vincent.
“This place was just getting too boring… at least this will give us something to do.”
“Thanks dude,” Ethan says. “But you do know that I’m going to kick your ass at one-on-one.”
Vincent laughs in disbelief.
“Alright Ethan… you may know how to play real basketball… but mini-hoop basketball is a completely different art form.”
Vincent and Ethan set the hoop up, snort some coke, and then play mini basketball for the majority of Christmas. For Christmas dinner, Vincent makes Ichiban soup. In the spirit of the holidays, they sit in the living room and watch Bad Santa. After the movie ends, they do a couple more lines of coke… play some more mini basketball… then go to sleep.

“Wake up sweetheart, it’s Christmas morning,” Diane says to Cindy, brushing her daughter’s hair with her hand.
Cindy yawns then opens her eyes; she sees her mom smiling at her. She smiles back.
“Did you sleep well?” Diane asks.
“Not really,” Cindy replies. “Is Ethan coming home?”
Diane looks down… she can’t bear to see the disappointment on her daughter’s face.
“I’m not sure, hun. I hope he does.”
Diane looks back up at Cindy. It looks as though all hope in the young girl is lost.
Diane changes the subject and puts a sincere smile on her face, “Get up sweetie, it’s Christmas morning and there’s something I want you to see.”
Cindy looks confused but she gets up, puts her pink housecoat on, and then follows her mother out to the living room. Diane points to a smaller-sized present, which is sitting on the floor under the tree. The present has Cindy’s name on it. It looks similar to other gifts that are for Diane’s daughter; however, who the gift is from is what sets it apart.
“But how did he—”
Diane gives a big smile to her daughter and opens her eyes wide to show excitement.
“I don’t know, but when I woke up it was here… your brother is sneakier than Santa Clause.”
Cindy’s face tells the story.
“Can I open it?” She asks eagerly.
“Go for it,” her mom replies.
Cindy grabs the present out of the pile and begins to tear the wrapping paper off of the gift. When she sees what’s inside she is shocked.
“It’s exactly what I wanted!” Cindy exclaims. “How did he know?”
Cindy pulls out a silver necklace that she had asked her mom for months ago. Diane helps Cindy put it around her neck.
Staring at her daughter, Diane says, “You know Cindy… your brother really loves you. He’s struggling with a few normal teen issues right now, but he will come back and everything will turn out alright.”
Cindy nods at her mother, truly believing what Diane has said. “I understand.”
The Tate women unwrap the rest of their gifts and then watch Tim Allen Christmas movies all afternoon. Later on, they eat a turkey dinner that leaves plenty of leftovers. Later that evening, Diane tucks Cindy into bed and kisses her goodnight.

Sitting in the darkness of the living room lie all of Ethan’s presents… unopened.

Previous Chapters:

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22