Jebbermeister
I've been living in apartment 87 of Wilshire for 5 months now. I still don't know anyone in this building. This place, this town is so scary giving me second thoughts about leaving my abode. All I've done so far everyday is eat and watch TV. That lifestyle has caused me to put on at least 20 pounds.
Today I'm going to change it all though. I'm going to start looking for a job while I'm at it. It's time to brave it all. And to lose some weight while I'm at it too. That last part is a bonus.
Ahh light so bright! The glare is on my glasses and is burnin' my eyes!....Ahh I'm used to it now. In that case, it's time to get my jog on.
*Pant Pant Pant*
Twelve feet and I'm exhausted already....a new record...
I don't recognize my surroundings though...D&D....No way, a Dungeons & Dragons apparel store! I have been needing to upgrade my 87th level Javelin Elf!
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ReplyDeletePokey's day started out the way it always does. He fixes his cereal, pours the milk, and sits at the varnished table that belonged to his grandmother. She had this apartment before Pokey. When she died, Pokey was living with her at the time. Everytime he sits at the table, he remembers the day he tried to wake her before he went to work. The sun reflected off the floor, across her bed and onto the wall. She looked comfortable. Pokey wasn't sure what to do on that day. He went to work and called his mother to tell her that Nanie wouldn't wake-up. When he arrived home that night, his grandmother was gone and his mother sat at the table, having coffee and waiting for Pokey. This morning, the sun was missing from the south-facing window. The only sound was the scraping of the spoon on the bottom of the bowl.
ReplyDeleteAs Pokey settles into the parking attentant's booth just inside the entrance to the parking garage, the first sounds of day filter in through the slight crack in the glass window. He hears the hissing of sleet, and the belching of the breaks from the butcher's supply truck as it lurches onto Katz Avenue. He looks up to see the puddles forming at the end of the deck .
Pokey reminds himself that if Mr. Gorlomi stumbles into the parking deck to get his keys, Pokey is to lock the door to the booth. Mr. Rocco told him, "Never give him his keys if he can't walk straight." Pokey gets upset when Mr. Gorlomi yells at him. Pokey just keeps the door to the attendant's booth locked and puts his headphones on. After a while, Mr. Gorlomi gets tired, or his bottle is empty, and he simply turns around and walks away shouting something over his shoulder. After those times, Pokey listens to Keith Jarrett on his cd player.
This morning Pokey hears Mr. Tayuka's cart before he sees him. Pokey walks to the parking entrance and smiles at him and his dog. He hands the dog a small biscuit. At one point, Pokey asked Mr. Tayuka what kind of dog it is, but Mr. Tayuka never answers Pokey. He looks off into the distance and continues to walk as if he sees the bus he needs to catch, or the vendor he needs to speak with. Except, as far as Pokey can tell, Mr. Tayuka rides no bus or speaks with anyone. As he turns to go back to his booth, he sees a startled young man running by. Pokey thinks this man is in pain, or maybe he's afraid of something.
Rain ruins everything. Communities of green fuzzy mold overwhelm the red umbrella. Most people stay inside when it rains. Freezing rain especially keeps the sidewalks clear. Mr. Takuya however was one of the few wandering around during this particular downpour. New to town, Mr. Takuya had no where to go but the dingy wet streets. Despite their dirty appearance, the streets were comforting to Mr. Takuya...these streets held secrets. These streets were the only ones that knew what actually happened in this eerie town.
ReplyDeleteMr. Takuya was used to sleeping on sidewalks and under awnings with just his cart to shelter him. However the constant and dark drizzle made it difficult for him to stay dry, even with the umbrella above him. When Mr. Takuya awoke, the drizzle continued. The morning weather conditions upset him, yet Mr. Takuya decided to push on because he never knew who would be wandering about looking for something to eat on days like today.
Warm smoke danced out from under the umbrella, embracing the cold drizzle. The sweet smell of Mr. Takuya's red bean cakes and baked sweet potatoes engulfed every inch of sidewalk the little cart was pushed down. Mr. Takuya pushed his cart down the sidewalk, keeping his head pointed at the ground looking up only ever so often to make sure his path remained straight. As he turned onto Mercy Road, a large figure caught his attention. He parked his cart on the edge of the sidewalk, in front of Wilshire Tower. Mr. Takuya parked his cart in hopes that this man would buy a snack, not that he really needed one. In fact, Mr. Takuya wasn't even sure the sidewalk was big enough for both cart and the man. As the man came nearer, Mr. Takuya's palms became clammy, not from the rain but from nerves. Before ducking into the apartment building, the man stops. Pointing his nose towards the sky, he smells the air. Such a savory aroma, the sweet dough of red bean cake and slightly burnt sweet potato skin enter his nostrils.
"Hey! Whaddya think you're doing? How am I supposed to lose weight with you and that damn cart filling the street corner with such delicious smells?"
Startled by the man's sudden outburst, Mr. Takuya fumbles over his words...
"My name Mr. Takuya."
"Well look Mr. Takuya, what are you selling from this cart of yours. If it isn't good, well shit. You're wasting my time, level 88 awaits me. Takuya...what a strange name."
"Try satsuma. It sweet potato. Rearry good on cold day like to day."
And with that, Mr. Takuya handed the man a satsuma, baked sweet potato, and continued on his way.
"Uh. Thanks. Wait, you want some money or something for this thing?!"
Mr. Takuya didn't listen to the man yelling after him. The streets were calling him and he wanted to hear what they had to say.
I sleep longer than usual today. I wake up at what I think is around 8 pm. I'm practically frozen. I'm covered in ice and snow. I really have no idea how I am alive. I bottle of liquor in my hand and packet of smokes in the other. I don't really know how I got here, but I'm lying behind Precinct 315. Even though I know these boys in blue won't do anything, it's still a good idea to get out of earshot from the precinct. It is a government building and if I've learned one thing from Gregory, it's stay away from the feds. I seem to have misplaced my body billboard. I think I'll go look for it.
ReplyDeleteUgh. I should've slept longer, I can't even stay on the sidewalk.
I take back my previous statement as I start to drink the bottle of liquor in my left hand.
As I walk past Wilshire Tower and stumble along looking for my missing sign, the power goes out. At first I think it's the government looking for me, So I quick dive into the nearby alley. I realize that it's just a power outage from someone in the tower yelling "NOOOOOOO MY TELEVISION...MY INFINITE SOURCE OF POWER!" "MY LIFE IS OVER AS WE SPEAK!" I know that voice, it's my long time neighbor Jeb.
I search and search. I drink and drink. I stumble and fall a few times. I still can't find that damnable sign. I could make a new one, but that would involve going into my likely to bugged apartment. I think I've been wandering too long. It feels like forever.
Before I know it it's midnight. Because of my drunkenness, I end up stumbling into the street. As I start to get up, I notice headlights, and odd occurrence on the streets of this dilapidated town. It seems to be driving way too slowly. As I start to wonder, Gergory comes out of nowhere, runs towards me screaming, "IT'S THEM IT'S THEM! RUN! DO SOMETHING! DON'T LET THEM SEE YOU!" Without questioning Gregory's statements, I run as fast as my body will let me. The alcohol seems like it was a bad idea. As I stumble while running, the alcohol in my stomach is sloshing around. I know that feeling, I feel a heave coming on. As I fall to my knees, I release the contents of my stomach all over the ground.
I stand up and remember that taking main roads while being chased isn't the smartest thing to do. I sprint towards the parking lot of the Royal Motel. I hide in the bushes and watch intently as the gray van dawdle by.
"You're safe, for now" Gregory says as he randomly appears.
I sigh a few breaths of relief, dust all of the snow and ice I have accrewed since my journey began. I've been out since 8 and I'm just starting to feel cold. As I start to head back to Shanty Town, a white blur in the distance catches my eye. I walk under the underpass, and see my beloved sign. "Under the underpass?" I ask myself, what an awkward place for one of my prized possessions to be.
There has to be some story behind this.
Topics of Discussion
ReplyDeleteBruce is taking good care of me these days. Hes the one person you can always depend on ... even in weather like this. When everything else goes out ... like the stereo Bubby Doestein gave me for my Bar Mitzvah 20 years ago ... Bruce still plays on, for that god forsaken battery-powered tape player doesn't depend on the electricity like the other un-self sufficient IDIOT appliances in my walk up. You know sometimes, honestly, I have to get on my knees and act like I know what I'm doing in order to give respect to my toilet. Toilets aren't Jewish ... why would G-d choose them? SO, they don't know that when I am on my knees with my elbows inches apart and hands clasped holding each other like the hands of two people in love that I have no f***g idea what I'm supposed to be doing down there ... like what I'm supposed to say ... I don't pray to idols ... usually ... I mean it's not within the guidelines of my religion ... BUT it is within the respect of my budget so I do it in order to avoid a visit from the plumber, Doc.
Shit do I feel bad for that fat kid ... Jeb ... that I met in the elevator the other day. I know I have to go up like 5 more floors than him, but I am not carrying 90% body fat. I think he said he gained something like 20 lbs.? What a schmuck ... except I bet he's not ... HES F***G HUGE! The elevator not working is probably the worst thing that could happen to him ... he doesn't deserve it. So he's probably definitely not taking up that invite for LS tonight ... he couldn't make it up here.
Taking all things into consideration, like the fact that the only appliance that is working right now is my tape player, which at this rate I will probably marry because Bubby Doestien doesn't have much time and she wants to do the hora one more time before she you know .., the meeting tonight might be a little ... dark.
So what about lyric interpretation? "Nothing man" has a lot of underlying meaning ... AND let's not forget a side of self worthlessness ... WHICH could lead to a detour roof-top visit. Fuck. I am so tired of seeing people jump ... I mean at least with the sleet and freezing temperatures maybe this time something different could happen ... like a slip instead of just a JUMP. BUT that is totally last resort worst case scenario ...
Just saying though ... I mean if someone WERE to do it ... and tonight is one of those nasty nights where it's just written in the sky "SOMEONE WILL DO IT," it would just be much appreciated if I could have a different story for the doctors and family.
O.k. no "Nothing man." No one is doing it tonight on my watch ... and YES ... THAT is battery run, too.
How about something positive ... likeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ... cheese. Shit, what if someone is allergic. Lactose intolerance these days is way to freaking common.
Future plans? Like traveling? OFCOURSE!!!! Not. No one travels anymore.
I need something that has to do with LIFE .. c'mon JOHN ... this is LIFE SUPPORT ... not BOREDOM support, or FOOD support ...
Why the hell do I run these meetings again?
So now I'm at this boring job. I don't even know why there is a laundry mat in this rundown town, since it seems like no one wears clean clothes anyway.
ReplyDeleteSitting hear, I decide to draw what I see outside the laundry mat window. I see Mr.Takuya walking this big rat looking thing, and begin to doodle. There is something not right about that guy. Who has a big rat as a pet. And why is he walking right now anyway. It is brick cold outside and raining.
Anyway...Mr.Takuya's image is gone, and now there is this dreary, depressing feeling outside. It is 12 noon and I begin to grow hungry. I know no one will come to wash clothes, so I decide to take my lunch, and instead of returning to work, I'll just go to the butcher shop, pick me up some of that crappy meat and call it a day.
I hate going into the butcher shop. Dave, that nasty son of a gun, always tries something with anything that walks....Especially when he is drunk. His shop doesn't even smell like meat. It smells like sex and alcohol.
UGHHHH...I guess I have to deal with it if I want to eat. Hopefully he is sober.
On my way to Styx Meat, I see this guy. I have never seen him before but for some reason he attracts me. Not because he is hot or anything, Probably because of how out of place he looks. He looks like he has no clue about his surroundings. He's just walking with his head low near D&D. He probably doesn't know what the store is, since he seems really interested. For some reason when I see him, my dad's letter pops into my mind. Maybe he knows him
I'll have to find out.
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ReplyDeleteWhile crossing part of the street that was especially slick from the ice frozen overnight, Macy kept her eyes focused downwards in order to pick her way carefully. "Ooof," she exclaimed as her face smacked into a large pile of blubber. Or at least that's what it felt like. Macy looked up into the face of a very large man. As she examined his droopy cheeks and inset eyes, the man rather reminded Macy of one of the species her friends had introduced her to while she was aboard their spaceship, one they called "gluk," who were known for their large gravitational force.
ReplyDelete"S'cuse me," the man muttered, wattling on his way.
Macy said nothing, the vivid memory of happier days bringing an overwhelming flood of emotions to her mind. Saddened, Macy entered the library only to be scolded by Edith for her tardiness. Macy apologized numbly, hung up her coat, and grabbed a small stack of returned books waiting to be shelved.