New story fresh from my fingers

[bfj]

my karma has gone bad, i think it has to do with that fight I got into in Gainsville. Enjoy, i didn't

Inspired

I returned from Chicago around 4 p.m. on Friday. The night before I had been invited to an impromptu Thanksgiving Dinner with friends. Zelda and I had stayed up until sunrise and then slept until noon. I ended up late for an uninspiring card game with my brother, father and little cousin. Which made me late for a conjugal visit with a woman I'd been seeing here and there. I wasn't really into it and broke off early to meet up with my brother again and bar hop. By the time I got a hold of him he was already in a taxicab on his way down town. I never liked those downtown bars so I decided to go home and call it a night.

It was Friday and Jason would be moving in Sunday morning. Jason had gotten ship wrecked in Milwaukee via San Francisco via Austin. Standing at six foot three, with long hair pulled into a ponytail, he could be a dominating figure. He seemed gentle enough to me. I'd met Jason at the local pub a week ago. He was at the bar leaning over some very good poetry.

"You like Dylan Thomas, eh? I asked. He turned and smiled.

"Yeah, you've heard of Dylan Thomas?"

"Of course, of course. Brilliant poet." I mused. Jason put the book down and his eyes widened as he looked at the cover.

"I don't get it man… I'm into all this like…poetry. I don't know why. Like all the sudden there is all this poetry!" He was astonished with himself.

"Yeah it's good stuff." I paid my tab and told him I'd see him around. I was running late for something.

The next night I didn't feel like going home just yet. This was happening to me quite often these days. The house would be cold and the cats needing attention. With the days getting longer, I wasn't getting off work until it was dark out. I turned down the street and hit the local pub.

It was fairly empty but Jason was at a table reading Rimbaud and listening to music. I sat down across from him.

"Hey, you're from that band," He said.

"No, my friend is in the band. They just practice at my house. What are you reading now?" The conversation went on for four hours. We discussed poetry and plays. Jason was just getting into all this at the age of thirty. He told me how he had to leave San Francisco after waking up flat on his face with a bloody lip. Apparently he and the neighbor girl had been eating Valium and drinking Vodka all night. According to his landlord, Jason had called the neighbor a "bitch" and then fallen flat on his face. The landlord was evicting Jason and wouldn't let him back into his apartment until he showed up with a U-Haul to get his things. So he had to go to Wisconsin with his sister since his parents had cut him off.

I mentioned that I was in need of a roommate, and he mentioned he was in need of a new place to live. So I took him bu\y the cottage to show him. He was amazed with the place and told me he would think about it. We exchanged numbers.

Next time I saw him he told me he was in. He'd have to skip out on his current roommate but said he couldn't stand the guy.

At this point I was having some concerns about living with Jason. There was that story in San Francisco, and the time he'd told his sister he was going to kill her. But beyond that, he related in a very strange way. He'd look at me and then say, "Reality."

I'd say, "Well what about it?"

"It's so weird." Then he'd look away smiling for about five minutes then write "blood" on a napkin and hand it to me. "Blood man, blood," he'd say.


So like I said, it was Friday night and Jason was moving in on Sunday. He'd never called me and I'd lost his number so there were still details to iron out. Although I just wanted to go to bed, I headed for the neighborhood bar where I knew I would be able to find him.

There was Jason sitting outside the bar talking to a dog.

"Hey man," I said. Jason turned and pushed me. I pushed him back. He pushed me again. It was all friendly.

"I've got money for you." He opened his wallet. "So we're going on Sunday then?"

"Yeah, Sunday." I took the money from him.

"I was at this bar, this Taylor's… and I was sitting with these beautiful girls. I was surrounded by blonde girls. But the scene got old for me so… I went to leave and there was this, this guy. Like this guy just standing there. And I felt these like bad vibes and so I timed it perfectly with the door and the cab. So I just took my elbow and hit him!" Jason mimicked the elbow move.

"Why'd you do that man?"

"Your story, about how you fought back in like Florida?"

"Yeah Florida."

"It inspired me." Great. Five people came out the bar. Three guys and two girls. They were very well dressed and said good-byes as they waited for their cab. Jason very slowly raised his elbow to one of the guy's head. It was inches from his ear. "Like that man, like that." The guy turned to Jason and his friend stepped in.

"Is there a problem here?" The guy asked.

"No," said Jason smiling. He lowered his elbow and then yelled, "I hit the fucker! With my elbow! Then I got in the cab and was gone!" This freaked the people out and honestly me too.

"Hey let's go into the bar. Let's get a drink. I've got to piss." I suggested. Jason just stood there smiling at the people. I went in.

Eventually Jason did come in. We sat at a table and he pulled out a book. It was "Les Chants de Maldoror." He asked me to read the introduction slowly. The author warned the reader that continuing to read the book was not for timid souls. It was to be taken very seriously as the following pages would plunge the reader into the heart of evil.

"Interesting warning. Pretty brash." I remarked.

"I read forty-five pages today. I'm really into like all this evil. I'm just feeling all this evil in my heart and I like it." I kept trying to steer the conversation to the time in which we would move him in but he was still tripping on this evil thing. Occasionally he would yell at the patrons in the bar and call them heathens. He was hungry now and asked me to get some food with him.

"All right, just let me finish my drink," I answered.

We got out and it was raining now. It was about one-thirty in the morning and I was getting tired. We went to a Greek place I'd been to before. The first time I was there I met up with my ex-wife, wife at the time and her friends. They were members of a large reggae band and sung Bob Marley songs at the table. I couldn't take Marley anymore. When I worked at this grocery store in California, the produce guys would play the same Marley CD for four hours every morning--for three straight months.

We stood in line and ordered our Gyros. When we sat down to wait for our food, Jason pointed out two guys by the window. "I just want to throw those fuckers through the window. Just spill some blood all over this place." The guys were drunk and making a lot of noise but it was par for the course at two in the morning in this town. They had football player builds and short hair. Nothing like Jason and I. I think this is what pissed Jason off so much. As for me, I could care less. Jason pointed at the guys. "I could kill you."

"What? What did you say?" one of them asked. Jason stood up and took a couple of steps toward them.

"You heard me!" Another guy they were meeting walked over to the table and got in Jason's face.

"What the problem? Is there a problem here? Jason sat down. The guys laughed.

"Fuckers!" Jason screamed.

"Let's just get our food and eat man. Cut that shit out." I pleaded. I had no desire to get into any fights and no, I didn't have his back. Not for this stupid shit.

"Yeah man. Just listen to your friend, the little guy answered. Jason was calm for about a minute before yelling "Heathens!" Our food came up and I quickly ate mine.

"These fuckers!" Jason yelled. "I'm going to kill them all!" The guys got very serious and quiet. They spoke in low voices.

"Chill out man. You got all this rage in you tonight," I advised.

"Evil man. Evil." Jason smiled.

"You shouldn't read that book. You're too open to influence." Jason ate slowly. I was already done. "Come on man hurry up. I want to go to bed." The two guys got up.

"Hey!" They called out to us. "We'll see you in the parking lot. We'll have some fun." I shook my head. Jason didn't really respond.

As the late-night meal progressed the place was filling up with people. Jason began starting that yelling about killing and spilling blood to other people. I was fed up.

Earlier that week I had gone on a date with a very beautiful Indian girl. Very classy. Three of her friends entered the restaurant. Thankfully she wasn't there.

"Let's go." I got up. It was like pulling teeth to get him moving. At the door he began yelling at the patrons. I grabbed him by his shoulder bag and pulled him out of the door. Then he pointed at one of the friends of the Indian girl I'd dated. He was about to yell at the guy when I spun him around.

"Fuck man! Shut up with that shit!"

"Not cool?"

"No! Not fucking cool. I just want to go to bed."

Out on the sidewalk he rolled a cigarette in the rain. I was freezing and impatient but stood there with him. We started walking to my house. I guessed he was going to be staying over. I'd have to get used to it. I mean this guy was moving in on Sunday.

About half way down my street, a silver car passed us slowly. It appeared to be the two guys from the restaurant. They turned and were stuck in one-ways. I knew I didn't have much time to get back the house. They would be circling around.

"Come on, hurry!" I moved quickly. Jason tried to keep up but didn't know why I was rushing. I wasn't running but I should have.

I've got a rear cottage behind a larger house. There is a pathway and halfway on the pathway is a four-foot fence with a gate that swings and has a hinge that keeps it in place. When we got to the fence I heard a car stop. I knew what it was. We got to the other side of the fence and closed the gate. We weren't going to make it to the house.

The two guys came charging up the path.

"Hey how you doing?" The big guy asked. He was taking off his button shirt.

"Hey mother fuckers, let's go!" said the little guy. He was charged up.

"What's going on?" Jason asked.

"Look man, I don't want to fight guys. Just forget about it." I pleaded. We were fucked.

"Fuck that. You were talking some big shit back there. Come on. You're not just going to get out easy," said the big guy. "I got big man here with the pony tail." Jason said nothing. He just smoked and looked strangely at them.

"I got the little guy," the smaller guy said pointing at me. "I know you didn't say anything but it's guilt by association. I'm going to fuck you up!" Yes he was. I had no desire to fight. Shit I wasn't even drunk. All I wanted was to go to bed. The big guy tried to open the fence but Jason pulled it back closed. The big guy kicked the gate but there is a step in front of it so it only opens one way. Luckily this was buying us a little bit of time.

"Come on man, come on," the big guy coaxed in a gentle voice. "Just come out and play you know. We'll go over there in the grass. It will be fun. You guys will laugh about this in the morning…" He continued but time slowed down for me.

I looked back at my house. Just my cats in there. I wished my good friend Jack was there. I thought about my ex-wife. She'd been gone for three months now and I'd never missed her more than then--standing on the across from these guys. It was after bar time on Friday and if we were still together we would be having fun, drunk, sex. Or maybe we would be arguing. I didn't care. It would be better than this. I gazed out to the street and thought of that Bob Dylan song "One Too Many Mornings."

My spell was broken by the sound of the big guy kicking the fence again. "Come on you fucking pussies. Let's go!" I pulled out my cell phone.

"Look guys, I'm going to call the police. I'm not going fight you guys."

"What about this guy? Talking all that shit!"

"Just drunk talk," I reasoned. "Just forget it. Go home."

"Fuck that I'm going to kick your ass," the little guy said. He was built like a brick. Shorter than me. Probably five-six but solid. He bounced than paused, knees bent, with fist ready to flurry. He could probably hit me ten times before I could even get my arms up. I had no choice. I dialed 911.

"Milwaukee Sheriff's Office."

"Yeah, I got these guys in front of my house that want to fight. I'm trying to calm everyone dowe but I think you need to send someone over here."

"What's the address?"

"1820 North Warren Avenue."

"I'm not familiar with that address I'm going to have to transfer you." What the fuck? The phone had rung three times, and now I was being transferred. I was going to get pounded! I considered that I should put the phone back in my pocket. I was going to need to get my fists ready. I'd probably have to take off my pea coat too. It was pretty restricting. The 911 call now transferred disconnected. But I kept the phone to my ear. It was kind of working. The little guy started backing up.

"Come on man, let's go. This is gay."

"No. I'm going to fucking kill this guy." I started talking to the empty line.

"Yes. I need someone over here right now. These guys are about to assault me and my friend…1820 North Warren… Oh you guys aren't that far away then. Okay. See you soon." The big guy eyed me.

"Fuck it. You guys are going to hate yourself in the morning." He was probably right but I suspected I'd be feeling worse if I fought these guys. They got to their car.

"ARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!" Jason screamed. Fucking stupid.

I slipped my phone into my pocket. My legs were shaking. Yes, in my boots. I felt stoned as I went up to my door and let us in.

"What, what was that?" Jason asked confused. I poured some wine.

"Shit man. What do you think happens when you talk shit like that?"

"That was so weird!" he laughed. I'd saved his life. "Were those guys at the restaurant?" He didn't remember.

"Yes, of course they were. Who did you think that was?"

"They like followed us from that place. Why would they do that and waste all that time? Put on some of that Jurado." I put on the album and paced around. The music screamed "You call off guns, I'll call off the dogs!"

Shit. Fuck. That was close. That sucked. Man what the fuck? I was not happy.

"I'm sorry those guys came to your place. Why would they come on your property? That's so weird. So disrespectful."

"You called them fuckers and heathens and told them you were going to spill their blood! What did you think was going to happen?"

"I don't know man, weird."

"I'm going to bed. You need to cut that rage shit out."

"Yeah. I only get like this when I'm drunk." I went to bed. Jason talked to himself. When I woke up at ten in the morning he was standing over me drinking wine.

"Wake up," he smiled. "It's a beautiful day." I looked out the window. It was raining.

[Maverick]

Wow. I don't know how much of that was reality and how much was fiction...but I hope you're not moving in with a guy like that. Good story, but bad living arrangements.

[bfj]

aye, i know, i shouldn't live with him. but how do i tell someone like that?

[martino]

one thing i know for sure, and believe you me i learned it the hard way, is don't associate yourself with crazies. this guy will get your apartment trashed and your face kicked in, in no time. be christian and help to find him other arrangements but be firm, you owe it to yourself, rid yourself of him.

another excellently-written story but it scares me: it is not clear how it will end. is the story an amusing anecdote or a hint of foreboding catastrophy?

[bfj]

anecdote, but i don't find it that amusing, and he never called me Sunday, and I didn't go to the pub to seek him out. I think I'll just give him his money back and explain it won't work.

[Tommy Martyn]

"A stranger has come
To share my room in the house not right in the head"

Massively out of context: Love in the Asylum by Dylan Thomas.

[Sloth]

Ryan,

What's the chance of coming to visit in Seattle before March?

[bfj]

pretty good if i can scrap up the money.

I'll know in about two weeks. I need a break from this town.

[mccutcheon]

I think you should take that fuck heads money and go.

[bfj]

Epilogue on that one:

So Jason never showed or called on Sunday. I sure as hell didn't seek him out and sat down and wrote the story. After writing it, it became obvious I shouldn't live with him. The next day at work I asked my co-worker to come with me when I told him I couldn't live with him. We stopped by my place to feed that cats and were about to head to the pub. When we got outside Jason was standing at the fence. The same fence that kept me from getting pummeled. I had told the girl about him and he was living up to the billing. Just standing there at the fence smoking a cigarette. I asked him what happened to him on Sunday but he just kept looking at the girl. So I introduced her as my girlfriend (lie!). He said he needed to talk to me about a couple things so we walked down the path. She stayed behind.
First he apologized for getting me into the fight situation.
Second he wanted to borrow some of the money he had given me for rent (already at half the price of rent) I told him my girlfriend was moving in and I couldn't live with him. He thought maybe we could all live together but I said that wouldn't work cause we needed the privacy, but aren't you sleeping in the same bed? -- "oh yeah but you know, we want to turn the other room into an office." blah blah, lie, lie and we parted on good terms but he asked if he could stop over here and there and I said all right. so i'm going to have to throw some of her underwear around the place, move my computer into the other room... but at least I'll still be alive.