Sunday 31 January 2016

Story #159 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 14)


And the first match starts. I've got two aces, two kings, and a two. I'm already set. Better not show it on my face.
"I'll take two cards," Jim says. "Anybody else?"
"Three for me."
"I want one," I indulge.
He swipes it over as if saying "You ain't winning this, mate." I bare my teeth as I pick it up. Three of spades. It's not going to help me much.
"I fold," Stacy says.
The guy looks at me, suggesting I should do the same. I pick up my lovely two pair and throw them on the table.
"Nice. Here's mine." And he brings forth two aces, two kings, and a two. "Now what do you have there?"
I didn't think we'd be this tight, so I didn't reveal my three. Guess I'll do it now.
"Ooooh, so close. Looks like I lose."
"Indeed. Strip or dare?"
"...strip." And he takes off one sock.
"What the heck is that?"
"Stripping. I have less clothes on."
"We'll be here until tomorrow at this rate."
"Not like there's anything worthwhile tomorrow."
Funny.
I hadn't touched my can much, but after this I grabbed it and downed it. Need to be bolder.

Saturday 30 January 2016

Story #158 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 13)



My first thought as I opened the fridge door was "His parents sure have a lot of alcohol in here." Several six packs, a few bottles of cider and wine, both white and rose. "Should I go for this, or should I check out his pantry for whisky?" This is the problem of choice. When you want something so badly, but can't decide, and you feel you will regret not choosing something. "Might as well grab a six pack. Maybe they'll have some, too."

I'm back in the living room with the beer cans when I see them giggling at each other. I pretend I don't notice, or care, and take a seat at the table, then lay the booze on it.
"You're going strong," Jim says.
"I figured you might want some, too."
"I prefer wine and cider, but it's too early for that."
"I'll have a beer," Stacy says, smiling.
"Cool. So, what are we playing?"
"Anyone up for poker?"
"Stakes?"
"I don't have a big allowance. I can't play for money," Stacy says.
"How about...strip?" I say. I don't if it's the alcohol or not, but I don't care anymore.
"Haha. Might be a bit much. How about we go for dares instead?" Jim's polite all of a sudden.
"I don't mind either way," Stacy's words surprised me.
"What if we do both?" I say.
Jim shrugs.
He goes and gets the packet from a drawer, as I sip my beer. Things will get more exciting, hopefully for me, too. If I am to be the odd one out, I want some laughter, at least.


Friday 29 January 2016

Story #157 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 12)



"Hey, what'chu doin' up there?" Stacy said aloud. She had her usual smile on her face. I know why she had it, but damn was it nice.
"Chilling."
"Come down."
"Nah."
"Come on. Let's play something."
"Nah..." I pondered for a sec. "Alright. We can play something. I'll be down right away."
She smiled and walked away nonchalantly, almost skipping.
"This might turn great, or could make me curse my existence. But seeing as how I already missed the girl, probably, I don't see the point in it being worse than it actually is. Well, let's have some fun." In my head, I felt so cocky of what I had thought out, yet it remains to be seen if I can actually do it.

I made my way inside the place, near the living room, and they were cheek to cheek once more.
"So, what this game we're about to play?" I said, trying to play it cool.
Their lips departed. The red sea was no more. Hallelujah!
"I don't have any, except for cards."
"That'll suffice." I grin.
Jim grins back. "You're plotting something."
"Yeah. I was wondering if you have any alcohol."
"Boom. There it is."
"What? You wanted to have fun. I haven't had alcohol yet, and I read it's fun, so..."
"There's plenty in the kitchen and the fridge. Help yourself."
I wink at him. He chuckles.

Thursday 28 January 2016

Story #156 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 11)



The breath of fresh air was needed. Like when you grab a beer after a stressful event, not that I've had any, but my dad can attest to it. Hmm... Alcohol, I wonder if he has any. I'd like to get drunk. Heck. I wonder how that will be. I've read that people are bolder, brasher, maybe overall more stupid, and they have more fun, too. I'll go back and ask him.
As I walk back inside, with my steady pace and my chest straight, I glimpse at the shadows. They look like moths playing under the bulbs light. I think nothing of it, so I go ahead.
And I stop in the middle of the hallway.
He gives me a glance, then reverts back to her.
I, being the coward that I am, freeze, pop my eyeballs out, turn around, and briskly get out of there with my jaw almost on the floor.
On the patio again.
Yeah. Beer? More like something strong. Whisky? Absinth? Shit.
But you know, I'm acting strange, and I know he knows, however, I'm sure Stacy doesn't have a problem with that. I do. She doesn't know that, though.
What kind of a game plan should I make? Game plan is maybe too much. More like a "don't look awkward when you make eye contact again" thing.
Oh, they have a tree here. I'd like to climb it and see what fortune it might bring me.
A bit big, and somewhat hard to cling onto... 1...2...3...and I'm up. Easier than I thought. Haven't done this sort of thing since I was 10, maybe? Refreshing. Everyone should climb trees once in a while. Brings back the spirit of youth.


Wednesday 27 January 2016

Story #155 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 10)



I was cleaning the plate, or trying to clean it, as the water's jet kept going down the pipe, missing the white dish completely. Sure, my hand didn't want to behave. It stood on the edge of the sink, swinging between the cold metal and the cold stream.
"You're acting really weird." Jim popped up near me and blurted that thing out. It made me jump. I almost smashed the plate against the hard part, but I stopped when it pinched the surface.
"Don't do that."
"I'm surprised you heard me with this noise. And your narrow view." He said and placed his hands to the side of his eyes.
"Can't I be spaced out?"
"You weren't before."
"So, no?" Okay. I'll try to not be anymore."
"You don't have to be so annoying, you know? You're not as cute anymore."
I point at my chest as I tilt my head forward.
"I was joking. Jeez. What's gotten into you?" He nudged me with his elbow. "If you want a breather, I have the patio at the end of the hall."
"Alright. I might just do that."
"Stacy is nice, too." He shuffled past me on his way out. He didn't look, but I'm sure he figured I froze and blushed. Like a bloody strawberry popsicle.
I need something to cool off...
Oh, he has nachos. Cool.

Tuesday 26 January 2016

Story #154 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 9)



We ate for a while. Without talking to each other. Just listening to our cutlery banging on the plates, the jazz instruments cobbling together a piece of euphoria, and, somewhere between that, a bunch of magpies, hopping around, in their search for some breadcrumbs. They look so majestic, so free...why couldn't I be like that?
The door bell rang and broke me out of my melodrama.
"Must be your friend," he said as he stood up.
I was trying to finish the omelette when I heard chatter at the entrance. Couldn't make out what they were saying, though.
Without realizing, I cut the egg dish into such detailed pieces that it resembled her. Or maybe it was my imagination.
"Hey," she said as she came in the living room. "You surprised me when you left."
"So did I."
I think I should've added something more, but now I made the atmosphere awkward.
"Are you hungry?" Jim interjected himself in this silence.
"Yeah, a little. I can have some fruit if you have any."
"Sure. The plates over there, and I have some grapes and mangoes in the kitchen."
"I'll be fine with what you have there. I usually have bananas and apples anyway."
"You sure?" He threw in a suave grin.
"If I need anything else, I will ask you."
"Got'cha."
Why do I feel this weird? Like I can't even talk to her anymore.
While thinking that, she sits next to me with an apple in her hand. My heart rate's going faster.
I shuffle all three omelette bites in my mouth and dash.

Monday 25 January 2016

Story #153 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 8)



So, I went into his room. It wasn't as bright as the house. The drapes were grey, the light came from a small peak in the center, and there wasn't a bed in sight.
"Say, where do you sleep?"
"I use one of those Japanese things. It's in the closet."
"How come?"
"I have more space."
"Uh-huh."
"Let me show you what...I...was...the laptop's shut off. Weird. Looks like the lights have shut off. Must be a blackout."
"Guess I won't see a porn just yet. Haha." I made such a bad joke.
"In that case, let's eat. I'm sure you're hungry."

And we go in the kitchen, where he doesn't have the traditional western table.
"Is this Japanese, too?"
"Yeah."
"Isn't it annoying eating on the floor? If you eat too much, you will burst, right?"
"Don't eat too much, in that case."
"Yeah... So, what do you want to do at your place? Play some games?"
"We can do that, but your girlfriend's coming over, so we can do something in three."
"She's not my girlfriend!"
"Whoa. Didn't know it'd make you yell. Alright, alright. She's just a girl. Is that alright?"
I didn't say anything. I looked away.
He put on jazz. Great for the mood.

Sunday 24 January 2016

Story #152 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 7)



We arrived at his pad. Shit. It felt like I stepped into a museum.
White walls, paintings or artsy things on them, bright lights all around... I feel like I'm in a fairy tale.
"So, uh, what did your parents do again?"
"One's a dancer, the other's an actor, but let's not talk about that."
"Okay. You're place is awesome, though. I mean, what's this chain-like thing?"
"A chain made out of plywood, painted in red."
"Really? It looks surreal."
"Haha. I've been living with these things, so it doesn't seem like that to me."
As I was ogling my eyes in his living room, I hadn't noticed he left me alone.
"Say, where's..." I was about to burst. I went several times to the bathroom at home, at school, but it didn't happen today.
I walked down the corridor and heard moans from a room. I felt embarrassed. Guess I'm at that age, huh?
They kept rising as I went steadily ahead. Then they stopped. As I did. Ten seconds later he stepped out.
"Guess you heard that, huh?"
I didn't say anything.
"Porn is nice. What, you never seen it?"
I shake my blushed face.
"Then let's go watch some more of it."
It's a weird day that keeps getting weirder.

Saturday 23 January 2016

Story #151 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 6)



Time passed by fast in the park. And we talked for most of it, with the occasional running around here and there.
We were on our way to his house when Stacy called me.
"What's up?"
"Looks like our day's been cut short. Can I join you?"
"Let me ask." I say and put the phone against my chest. "So, Stacy says they finished, and she wants to know if she can join us."
He looks at me with his smiling eyes. "Do you want her to join us?"
I chuckle. "Well, she's alright, you know, for a girl."
He laughs. "You decide."
I put the phone back against my ear. "You can come. I'll text you the details."
"Nice."
I hung up. "How long have you had a crush on her?" He tells me after his laughter receded.
"I...uh...what? No. We just hang out."
"Sure, sure. You can try to fool, but you can't fool yourself."
I switch my eyes from him to the pavement, and back again. He didn't have to say that. Now I'll be self-conscious when I see her.

Friday 22 January 2016

Story #150 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 5)



Before I could answer, a guy wearing black clothes popped in from behind a corner. "Hey, you kids, you should go back inside." He said, flashing his flashlight in our eyes.
"What's it to you if I don't want to go inside? We're not doing anything bad. We're not talking loud, either," Jim said as he covered his eyes.
"It's my job to make sure you stay in school and not out."
"Will you lose your job if we're out?"
"No. But if something happens to ya, I'll be blamed for it."
"Tell you what. We're going to the park that's round here. It's not that big of a deal. You know it. It's safe."
"And what if something happens to ya?"
"Come on. We're in high school. We can take care of ourselves. We'll be fine."
"Well, fine. I don't want any trouble, okay?"
"You got it."
And with that being said, the bodyguard escorted us outside the premises.
"You know, since we left, we still have our stuff in there, and I can ask Stacy to bring them over, if that's alright." I say. He's smiling.
"There's no rush right now. You can tell her to keep an eye out for them, though."
"Sure do." This guy is totally different. He has no fear.

Thursday 21 January 2016

Story #149 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 4)



"Yeah. I like to have fun. I can study when I want, but I'd rather enjoy myself while I'm living with my folks."
"What do you mean?" I say as my breathing is back to regular.
"We're in school now, with no job, no worries, no money. We can relax. It's the first day, too. The first week is usually the most boring and uninteresting."
"Yeah."
"So let's do something."
"Well, I don't have any money. My folks can't give me allowance."
"No probs. We can hang out in a park, then we can go to my place. They usually leave in about three hours."
"Three hours? Oh, man."
"Yeah, I know. We'll have a lot of time to talk."
"Here's one. How come you moved here?"
"My parents are artists, and they've advanced this year. They afforded the move here, and I'm looking forward to see what this London thing is, after all. Biggest city in the world, they say. It beats Essex, though."
"Don't know. Never been."
"It's a quiet little place. Good to visit if you have a nan."
"Huh. It might be good for creativity in that case."
"Possibly. Unlike my parents, I'm more of a doer than a thinker."
"You haven't tried to write or draw or dance or anything else?"
"I tried it. Just didn't feel okay to me. I don't know. Technically, I should think like them, but I'm more grounded than they've hoped, I suppose."
"That's not a bad thing."
"What about you?"
"I'm..."

Wednesday 20 January 2016

Story #148 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 3)



"You know, for a new kid, I'm surprised that you want to do this," I said.
"Why?"
"New school, I figured you'd want to make a good impression."
"Yup. Let's make it." Jim smiled his carefree smile. Damn, if I was a girl I'd fall in love with him. I wonder if Stacy will...
We walk about the hallway, wondering what to do, when this guy freezes in the middle of the hall.
"Whatchu do¬"
He howls like a wolf, cutting me short, alerting everybody.
"You crazy?" I yell. He laughs. I hear a few doors open.
"I think we should run for it."
"You reckon?" I say, and we vamoose down the corridor, down the staircase, down to the bottom floor, down to outside.
"That woke me up properly. Haven't had my coffee this morning. I needed that."
"You're a handful, mate," I tell him as I catch my breath. He smirks.

Tuesday 19 January 2016

Story #147 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 2)



The teacher started his hour. I had my chin in my hand, wondering when it'll end.
I piece of paper flew on my desk. I looked to my left, and it was the new guy. His smile, alongside his blond locks, made me grin.
I unraveled the piece of paper.
"You seem in such a great mood. But I'm here. How about we have some fun?"
I giggled at the writing, then I glanced at him and whispered. "We can go now if we go down," and did the two-fingered stealth walking motion.
He immediately stepped down from his chair. So did I.
We squat-crawled to the door. Some people looked at us, but I turned my pointer on the side and pressed it against my lips.
A girl chuckled and the teacher froze by the blackboard.
"Did I say anything out of order?"
"No," she said. "I'm sorry. I remembered something."
"Would you like to share?"
"It's pretty embarrassing."
"Okay. Can I continue my lesson?"
"Ummm...yes..." she mumbled and moved her eyes all over the place.
"Is that a question?"
"No."
"Good."
With that, the teacher reverted back to looking at the board, my colleague turned red, while me and this guy continued our clown walk to the door.
I was careful in opening it, making sure it wouldn't make any noise.
We skidded out, and I pressed the knob ever so gently. There was a faint click when it gelled back into the wall.
"Alright," he said.

Monday 18 January 2016

Story #146 - It was supposed to be a regular day (part 1)



I woke up at 5. Class starts at 6:30.
I went about my routine, washing, brushing, eating cereal while trying to be keep my eyelids lit for longer than 5 seconds. It's such a pain to be awake at this ungodly hour. Really, who was the smart one that said school should start this early?
I made my way into the bus, that almost left without me. I catch it like that every time. And the bastard's never late, either.
I don't know why, but it feels like I'm drunk when I'm on this particular vehicle. It's bumpy, it's shaky, and my head's spinning like I had at least five shots.
I make my way into class with 5 minutes to spare, enough to arrange myself.
Most of my classmates are like me, cranky and unwilling to chat. Which is great. Of course, there are always those people who are peppy, energetic, like they have the bunny inside them, making them function at all cylinders, all the time.
"How's it goin', George?" Stacy says. She's one of them. I usually talk to her, but not on mornings. She's a nice girl. We hang out a lot.
"Grrr..." I grunt.
"How can you be cold when we're it's so hot outside?"
I shrug. I know she's waiting for an answer, and I can't give it to her. Eventually, she leaves me alone.
The teacher steps in followed by someone I haven't seen yet.
"I'd like you all to greet your new colleague, who moved from Essex." He says.
"Hi, I'm Mean... Sorry, I mean I'm Jim." I chuckle. Nobody else is, though. You should've come later, mate. "Let's have some fun." This blond-haired guy saw the desk next to me open and sat down.
I had Stacy on my right. New kid on my left.
"Sounds like fun," I thought as I was awake at this point.

Sunday 17 January 2016

Story #145 - This religious thinking...



"I know you believe in God. Tell me, what's your stance on children who die young?"
"God thinks that's their time, and take them away."
"Do you find that fair towards the parents?"
"It's not me who has to find that fair. It's God's will."
"But what about what you think?"
"Whatever God decides..."
"Do you think that's okay for the parents? What about their grief?"
"They have to bear with it."
"There is no winning with you, is there?"
"It's not my decision. It's what God decides. I can only agree with him."

Saturday 16 January 2016

Story #144 - When you drink too much



I remember when I first started drinking. I said I'll only have a pint. That turned into three. I don't remember what happened after that, but I woke up a girl's place. I had no idea who she was, I only hope it was good, as I fled the scene.
It's been five years since that time.
I had a drink every day, no exception. Some days it went in quick, one after the other, to the point where I repeated that scenario several times a week. Then there were those days when I had one, and had to go to the toilet to throw up.
I felt like shit sometimes, yet as much as I would've wanted to let go of alcohol, I could not. It's probably the same for cigarette smokers and junkies. You get addicted, and you can't stop.
I would've gone for a pint today, too, but I had to go to the doctor's appointment.
She looked sad when I came in. "What's wrong?" I said. "I have your test results." She said, raising some papers in the air. "Bad?" "Yeah." "1 to 10?" "9." "Oh, dear." I thought and took a seat. "Your liver's almost dead. I've been looking at solutions all day, but there's no one with your blood type." "Fuck." "Yeah. There's nothing I can do for you." "What now?" "You have a month, maybe two."
And I left her office. On my way home I should've cried, but I had empty eyes, the kind you have when you're sad. I couldn't do anything.
I passed by my pub grounds, where of the guys I hung out with said their greeting, and I ignored them. I couldn't say anything. I didn't know what.
This news came as a shock to me.
It's been three days and I've been in my room for the whole time. I didn't pee. Didn't need to. The belly grumbled at times, and I told it to fuck off; it did.
"Now what, huh? Now what?"


Friday 15 January 2016

Story #143 - Not your average crow foreboding (final part)



He sprinted at the opened doorway. The two cats overlapped him and made their way inside before him. And he stopped. "They vanished. They went in and vanished. What's the meaning of this?"
He walked to the door frame and put his hand inside. "I don't feel any different, just that I can't see it." He pulled it back. "Looks the same." Then took a deep breath and walked inside. He found himself inside a flat. The walls were white, blank, and the room was bland. No furniture, no carpet, no tiles. "A painted concrete slab, huh? Bright light coming from the outside. It almost feels like I'm in a lightbulb."
"You keep talking in there. Why don't you come in the kitchen?" A voice came, smooth and childish.
"I thought there was no one here." He said as he looked spooked, then moved his feet towards the words.
"You're younger than usual," she said. "Did you like it?"
He stared at the person. Her skin was dark yellow, similar to the bee's gradient, yet everything was like a normal human in their mid twenties; plump body shapes hidden under purple garments that made her more sensuous. "What am I thinking here?" He murmured in his head.
"Did I like what? Seeing a person and a cat die? Watching how a part of the street vanished? No. I did not. What is that?"
"It's a dream that affects the things you love, and puts them in an area you know."
"Huh... How do I wake up?"
"I don't know."
"What?!"
"I've had plenty of people here, and they disappeared out of the blue. I don't know where they went, or how"
"So I have to wait. At least I can relax now."
"You can. You'll see some stairs if you go outside. They lead to my room. You can rest there."
"I will do just that."

Thursday 14 January 2016

Story #142 - Not your average crow foreboding (part 5)


Soon after the far end vanished, the two cats started hissing at each other. Not only that, but they raised their spine, took out their claws, and were going about on three paws, while the forth one, their right one, was used like a weapon.
"I have front row seats at a fencing match between His Royal Highness and a ginger lad. Nice." He smiled, then heard the laughter again, yet the felines were unfazed.
He took a walk to the car. "Maybe I'll see something", he thought.
As he arrived, he noticed an open door at a flat not far from his location. He started running towards that direction when another part of the far end of the street disappeared.
"Better rush."

Wednesday 13 January 2016

Story #141 - Not your average crow foreboding (part 4)



As soon as he said if it was a game, a signpost bent in half, and the sign stating "Turn left" changed into "Doomed" with an x made out of bones, placed in the middle.
"Dandy that."
A laughter echoed the street, breaking the silence. He froze for a second, assessing its wave. "Where the heck is it coming from? Not left, nor right. Neither above or below. It's giving me goosebumps. The hair on my arms is already up and at 'em. And these...furballs are just rolling on the ground. Ugh. Why I dislike cats so much."
The laughter turned darker and louder, like your most hideous impersonification of a bad guy came alive this very moment. He put his palms over his ears, trying to cover the clamor, but unable to confer himself a little protection.
"I have to get out of here." Indeed. He ran the way he came, and although it was less than 20 meters away, the main street changed into a dead end. "Huh? How can I get out now?" As he wondered that, he heard something collapse behind him, while the laughter had silenced. When he turned around, he saw the far end of the street, filled with buildings, simply vanish, making the noise of a roller crunching everything down.


Tuesday 12 January 2016

Story #140 - Not your average crow foreboding (part 3)



And the crow fled with the cat in its small beak. The blue-haired one gently licking its paw as if nothing had happened. A bow-tie fell from the air and we both went to it. Splashes of blood were between the black and white dots. This insensitive one sniffed it a couple of time, then reverted back to cleaning itself.
"Why aren't there any other people on the streets? It's only...half six. Is this an abandoned area? No lights on from the lampposts, no shops around, no cars either. Weird. So where did this one came from? What about these felines?"
As he kept asking himself these questions, the ginger one came out of the vehicle with bits of blood near its mouth. It looked satisfied. Then it meowed, came over, and started rubbing itself against my leg, purring like a madman.
"What's with this creature?"
He wanted to push it away, when a twenty foot building block collapsed.
Bricks turned to rubble, windows to shards, and wood to spikes. The felines hid behind his feet.
"Is this a game?"

Monday 11 January 2016

Story #139 - Not your average crow foreboding (part 2)



With cats behind him, bow-ties dangling from one side to the other, he ran towards the accident spot.
"Hmm. I was expecting some blood and guts, not a freakin' lamppost bent in half. The car's lights are gushing out, though." And steam was coming out of the hood. The driver's side door was open, as well as his side of the windshield, with the other being almost shattered, not quite sure how it's being kept intact.
He walked briskly, as if on a stroll through the park, to the driver's side, and saw the person with his eyes on the floor. "I mean, his eyes have popped out." Blood was crying from his sockets, while the rest stayed motionless. "Nothing attacked from behind, so this is pretty...weird."
The ginger cat was beside him, analyzing this whole ordeal, then jumped in the car and started licking the white balls, even biting on the nerves. "Hey, get away. That's nasty and unsafe for you." But it couldn't care less.
There wasn't any particular smell coming from the holes, yet the body had its own odor. "Like this guy was sprayed with something awful, almost making me puke. Funny how the cat isn't affected."
Then he took one step away from the car and heard the crows again.
He turned around and saw one pierce the salt and pepper feline, while "Blue" stood motionless.

Sunday 10 January 2016

Story #138 - Not your average crow foreboding (part 1)



"Nothing bad will happen if I look behind," he said, turned his head around, and heard a groups of crows. He smiled.
Walking on the main street, he took a right, to get into an alley. A small, cozy place, with holes in the sidewalk and pieces of marble --from the buildings-- laid around on the ground. "Somebody doesn't know how to play the game, it seems."
As he walked on by the bobbles of concrete, he spotted, or rather was spotted, by three cats; a ginger one, a salt and pepper one, and a blue one. "Didn't know I was living near such an elite area. All collar and bow tie, petted fur, with shiny ears and button noses that turn even the cruelest bitch into a weeping girl screaming "That's so cute.""
The felines ogled him. He did the same. One felt the presence and decided to lick its paw instead. "Blue blood, my ass."
He carried on his path, followed by all the fury ones, who were keeping they're distance. Not too far ahead came a shrieking car noise. Everybody silenced. He glared at his buddies who had stern faces, almost like the three monkeys.
"I don't want to check it out, but what if that person's in trouble?"

Saturday 9 January 2016

Story #137 - The end of an era



Sometimes when you start a job you think it'll be like any other one. Something boring, pointless, where you won't put any feelings in, where your colleagues are rubbish, where you keep wondering why you're there.
Maybe there's an inside feeling that you have when you have a home. Or your parent's home.
I'm sure everyone's been there, saying "Oh, I'll be here for a little while longer, till I get back on my feet, and then I'll go in search of the unexplainable."
Then you roam wherever you may feel like, get bored, or annoyed, and return to your comfort place. You do this a bunch of times until you get annoyed at yourself for not challenging your person more.
Sometimes you have to make drastic choices, even if you're not ready.
And you'll never be ready unless you leap from an airplane without a parachute, only a paraglide.
This ride should be done more often, but we force ourselves to have a safety net, and that's not always cool.

Friday 8 January 2016

Story #136 - How your focus changes through the years



Timmy age 5 - The thing I want the most is a camera for my birthday. I want to shoot pictures with mommy and daddy, and have fun.
Timmy age 10 - I remember wanting this camera, but I haven't used it at all. I don't know what to do with it.
Timmy age 15 - It's such a piece of crap camera. How can someone expect to make something worthwhile with it?
Timmy age 20 - After such long hours at work, I finally have enough to buy a camera. I can enjoy myself with this one.
Timmy age 25 - I need the state of the art gizmo if I am to make something worthwhile.
Timmy age 30 - I have everything I need, except for time.
Timmy age 35 - I need a break. I'm burnt out.
Timmy age 40 - I remember when I bought this. I used to film everything. Where the hell did all that creativity go, I wonder?
Timmy age 45 - Whereabouts unknown. Thought to have fled to film his magnum opus.

Thursday 7 January 2016

Story #135 - Being a wallflower



He approaches the big meeting room and stops right in front of the open doors. "Please don't let anyone talk to me," he thinks, then takes a deep breath and lunges himself inside. One baby step after the other, trying to marshmallow between the groups of chatters, wondering how to stay unnoticed amidst all of this, when he sees a loophole. It's on the other side of the room, but there's an empty space.
A few more paces forward, and he's being stopped. Someone grabbed his arm.
"Danny," they said.
His eyes grew, his head tilted to 90 degrees, while his mouth remained closed.
"It's me," they continued. "Roxie foxie." She opened her arms. "Class of 2012."
His figure was the same, now engulfed in her hug.
She let go, smile wide, and looked into his eyes.
"Still the same chatty man."
He tapped his chin with his pointer three times.
"Maybe we'll talk later, if you're up for it."
"He shrugged.
She lightly touched his shoulder, then went on her way.
He sighed, turned around, and checked that space. Still empty. "Yes," he yelled inside his head.
This time he didn't care. He wanted to reach it, so he hastened his mark.
He bypassed plenty of groups, even two hands that reached out to him.
When he arrived at the designated area, he felt safe. He felt as if he could spend his time there and have nothing bad happen, until he raised his head and saw four people coming his way.
"Oh, boy," he consoled himself in his thoughts.

Wednesday 6 January 2016

Story #134 - The treadmill effect



I ran on the treadmill about 5 years ago. I absolutely hated it. The running towards nowhere, the steady roller that would flatten anything in its path if let loose.
I met one the other day. I decided to walk fast on it. Speed 7 for 10 minutes. The pace is for a very fast walking. From 8 you run. Or at least I do.
Getting back to it, the walking effect is interesting. Not only do you stare in the wilderness of the white wall, but you can also put on a swag while you change your view to the electronic device, or your feet, to make sure you don't step away from the center of the path. Boring, yeah.
Now, walking on it makes you feel like your achieving something, going a certain distance, burning some calories, getting in the process, while it's not entirely like that.
I've walked for twenty minutes the most, and the sweat was there, and not there. Just a smidgen, enough to make one excited and say that they worked out. But it's hardly the stuff of legends.
However, after I finished my thing, I stepped down and felt myself moving faster. Like in The Matrix, where they move in slow-motion, except that things don't move slow, only me moving at 2x times the speed I'm used to.
That's one cool superpower to have.

Tuesday 5 January 2016

Story #133 - That contemplation



I am looking in the mirror. I see how ugly I am. I understand why nobody looks at me. Every time I go on the street and try to see other's faces, the second we lock eyes, they divert their attention elsewhere. 
People keep calling me Dennis. It's my name, yet I hate it. I don't know what went through my folks' mind when they did that. I'm pretty sure the old man thought it would be a cool one. I'd like to punch him in the face. Shame he died some years ago. 
...there. I punched this thing instead. My rendition is on the floor, sprawled about like a puzzle missing its heart. I don't think it had one in the first place. 
Watching them watching myself feels like...it has to end. 
As I travel my finger across the shards, I prickle it against a raised piece, smaller than a toenail. 
My blood is coming out. Not enough to stain the clear glass, though. But I like the feel of it. The minuscule pain.
I wonder what it would be like to...

Monday 4 January 2016

Story #132 - First gym experience



Muscle-bound freaks doing only barbells, having arms as thick as unopened canopies, yet legs skinnier than umbrellas.
Chubbier fellows walking, some even power walking. Running is out of the question as their joints might not make it past the fifth step.
Then there are the stickmen who look out of place, although not out of shape as there isn't any. If one muscle would rise on their silky surface, their body might fall down from that lopsided effect.
There are some girls, sure, but they're boring. The runners tend to do only that. The brick-layers do a bit of running, a bit of 15 kilogram barbell lifting, and a little TRX. And those are all the girls. I haven't seen a skinny one, so I can't say.
And the last one is me. Average size, a bit over the weight limit, not really working out, yet not totally out of shape. Pretty much the definition of laziness.
Not having been in a gym, I was unfamiliar with the equipment. When I first stepped in, I looked around and wondered what the heck to those things do. Luckily, they have instructions. Of course they would. Instructors aren't always available in 24/7 gyms.
Sitting on the bike, looking at a screen with a lot of buttons, including one that says "Go", would actually mean that you'd press that button the machine would start recording your mileage. Nope. You have to pedal a bit. Weird. Different.
Yeah. I tried everything. It was fun. Relaxing. I was surprised that I enjoyed it. There's that thing about learning one new thing every day. This was the biggest one. And that there are other people who go to the gym at 3 in the morning.

Sunday 3 January 2016

Story #131 - Better put the kettle on



"Come to papa..."
"...no..."
"... That didn't last long, love."
"I go too excited. I haven't seen you in a long, long time."
"Long? It's been three weeks, hun."
"An eternity in my book."
"Oh. You know that's the smallest amount of time I see anyone, unless we see each other for a pint. But for this...I need my space."
"Oh, come on. Can we make it two weeks?"
"No."
"How about two and a half and a Starbucks coffee?"
"Tempting. Now, if your...you know...would last longer, then we might actually be talking sensible terms."
"I..."
"Exactly. You just shrug and that's all there is to it. You don't help yourself. And that's a damn shame."
"Next time. I promise."
"Haven't I heard that one before?"

Saturday 2 January 2016

Story #130 - Unfinished temper tantrum



"This has been a lovely day," John said through his teeth, without flexing his lips.
"What's so lovely about it?" Arthur replied, looking at the duck-filled pond with cold eyes.
"The feeling of being alive."
"You were alive yesterday."
"I was working. Now I'm not."
"What do you think those critters feel?"
"Oh, who knows?"
"I know they'll feel fear if I go near them."
"I know you'll feel pain if I punch you."
"Yes."
"Let's just sit here and watch life unfold."
"I'd rather we unfolded in our house. The weather's dreadful. I'm in my warm clothes and I'm still shaking."
"Is that what you want?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go."
"I thought you wanted to feel alive outside."
"You happiness is my happiness."

Friday 1 January 2016

Story #129 - Well, that was boring



Right. It's 2016. It's official. We're all a year older and filled with more technology.
We're all a bit drunker and a little fatter.
We've all kissed those people we didn't wake up with.
We've all had our bellies full of alcohol, bad food, and that something missing.
But it's a different year. We have to make changes, right?
We have to be bolder, wiser... All that jazz.
It's something man made, which means that not everybody has to do the same things, which means we can be the same as before. If it works, why break it? If it doesn't and you still like it, why plague it?
Let's just be ourselves, alright?