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☼ ○ ▬
With Darren and a few friends sitting in a church service of predominantly black people. Earlier we were close to the front listening and engaging with the preacher giving the sermon. Now we chose to move behind a curtain further away from the Pentecostal antics. Darren purposefully spills purple ink on my pants creating a decent sized splotch. At first I reprimand him with sarcasm...
"Dude, what the fuck?"
He just smiles mischievously.
I'm whispering harshly as to not cause a scene, "Seriously! Give me something to clean it off with!"
But then I just smack him across the face. In my mind I'm justified because he's being an asshole. I look around. A few nearby audience members take notice to the incident.
"Look at that. He just slapped him in the face."
▬ ○ ☼
Waking up around 1:30 p.m.
Strawberry Toaster Pastries. Orange Juice.
Stopping by Kroger to return a watermelon I bought yesterday because it wasn't a good one. I was going to get another one to replace it but decided to just get my money back. To my surprise they have a produce policy that states when a customer is not satisfied with something they get twice their money back. The customer service lady gave me about $9. I had only paid four and some change for the watermelon. Wow. That's great customer service.
Dropping the glasses off at the post office then to the thrift store, talking with Elliott. Snagging a few drinking glasses, a copy of The Stranger, a kids book, and an old frat party record.
Grilled Cheese with Tomato and Hummus. Goldfish Crackers. Honey Green Tea.
Watching End of Watch (2012).
On the courts near Mill Dam Road with Moe and Anthony. We get involved in a full court game. And then a 3-on-3 game with our Chinese brothers from last time. Just another night on the basketball courts.
Anthony and I arrive back home. A few friends gathered at the dining room table.
James: "Hit the showers, Robert."
Me: "I am."
Haircut party at the house. Becca brings her clippers and haircutting supplies to offer cuts to anyone who wants one.
†
Kofi brings over some homemade dinner to share with everybody: Eggplant, Chic Pea, Tomato Mix with Pasta and Potatoes.
†
I pull out the Sega Genesis for fun, competing in Primal Rage, Mortal Kombat, etc. Of course Art and I battle it out in NBA Jam but it only ends in upsetting him when I win multiple times. His angry Russian side comes out and causes laughter in all of us.
Art: "Dammit, Robert! It always happens!"
He thinks I'm cheating but I can't possibly. We're both using the same settings, the same hot spots, the same power icons, and the same juice mode. This is just my dominant game.
Making, baking, then sharing Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Hanging out in the living room with Ana, James, and Ken Nishimoto; other people in and out. At first it was merely a fun idea to play Sonic the Hedgehog 2 but it turns into a serious endeavor to beat the game. I control Sonic while James helps me with Tails. Pummeling through zone after zone and collecting chaos emeralds via the special stages that eventually lead us to activating Super Sonic. I can't explain to you how rewarding that feels. It's quite the accomplishment. We're committed now to beat the game. Death Egg Zone, the last level. Here we are. All the patterns and sequences of the game and the enemies/bosses come back to me, like second nature. Robotnik, Sonic's arch nemesis and the enslaver of all animals, is defeated and the victory music starts. With all that video game adrenaline a victory dance is well deserved. Everybody gets up to celebrate and dance to the end credit theme music.
"Hell yeah! Robotnik is done! We fuckin' did it!"
*
*
It's a nostalgic time travel for James and I...both remembering all those times when we were kids having sleepovers staying up late playing Sega games like this and not going to sleep until one of us beat the entire game.
Time became irrelevant. It's almost 5 in the morning. People depart. Ana stays behind and to spend the night, or rather just nap for a few hours until she has to get up for work at 7:30. Before we drift off I read us a bedtime story I picked up from the thrift store called King Bidgood's in the Bathtub.
* Images by Becca.
† Images by me.
† Images by me.
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