[i]
☼ ○ ▬
Traveling on state roads through the Midwest. I come across a huge mall center of a spectacular kind. Apparently, it's known for it's obnoxiously tall halls and mile stretches of stores. I park my car and follow a crowd inside. I spot posters for upcoming movies. It's taking forever to get to the entrance for the theater. In the men's room I take a piss. As I'm exiting the bathroom a black dude is mimicking boxing swings as he leaves the stall. He accidentally, but then intentionally, starts hitting my back in an intimidating playful manner. Later, outside in the parking lot. I'm napping in the backseat of my car. The windows are down. A group of rowdy agro black dudes, including the boxing guy from the bathroom, approach their car next to mine. With my eyes half shut I watch one of them reach their hands in and steal my phone. Immediately I hop out and react.
Me: "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
On edge. Stressed, as I've never been before. They run off. But the front door to their black Charger is open and the car is running. So I get in and drive circles in the parking lot. I pull up near the entrance to the mall where there seems to be a lot of commotion with the cops but unrelated to my situation. Cracking the window I demand the guys return my phone in exchange for their car back. Eventually the youngest of the hoodlums hands my phone back to me. I try to inspect it under the dome light but it's too dark. I get out and offer the keys to their car. Everything still feels uncomfortable but I have my phone. I laugh it off and give the youngest one some dap, knocking our fists together. It feels like it was just one big joke we played on each other. It was just a game.
Me: "That was funny."
His sentiment is the same.
Me: "People just can't take that shit personally. Alright. Peace out."
They head off into the mall and I walk back to my car. I check my phone and to my dismay it's not my phone that was returned to me. That piece of shit switched it out with a lower grade model, something called SkyStar. How did I not notice this earlier? Those bastards! I flicker my eyes quickly to wake up and escape this nightmare.
▬ ○ ☼
Waking up at 11:08 a.m.
Plain Bagel with Vegan Cream Cheese. Orange Juice. White Peaches.
All day shift at China Wok.
Typically slow for a bright sunny afternoon.
PB&J and ½. Lentil Curls. Honey Green Tea.
Sometimes I feel everything I do, everything I say, the whole image I portray, is all just plumage, not only for the woman, but for the whole world. As Thomas Parke D'Invilliers once said...
"Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry 'Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!'"
Kevin shows up to help with the dinner shift.
This past week I observed him hanging out with this girl that he likes, "I see your still hanging out with Jessica."
He smiles half-embarrassed, "Yeah. She's got me on a leash."
Me: "Don't you just love girls? They keep you on a leash and then dispose of you whenever they want. She keeps you around because she knows that you like her. It makes her feel validated as a human being."
Ana shows up with an hour left in my shift. Riding around with me of course she's unfortunate enough to listen to my rants for the day.
Me: "Minutes matter to you but miles matter to me!"
Sitting down at the restaurant and enjoying dinner together: Vegetable Moo Shu with Broccoli.
Back home. Ana whips up a Strawberry Chocolate Coconut Cupcake recipe in the kitchen. Meanwhile, James Graves and I take advantage of a night ride on our bikes to the beach. It's exceptionally colder than usual. A small jacket could do but we pretend to hold onto summer by wearing our shorts and t-shirts. Running into Brent, an old friend of my mom's, at the Ocean Palms Motel. He's got a flood light out shining the rims on his car. He wants me to inspect this electric guitar he just bought.
...
Back at the house. Ana finished making the cupcakes but with a tad bit disappointment as the strawberry frosting didn't turn out the way she wanted. The three of us indulge at the table with some Milk.
In my room. Ana and I lie down together. It's warm in here but not unbearable. The thin blue sheet covers our half-naked selves. I implore her to caress my chest. She does so carefully and intimately. I feel calm. I feel so comfortable. Eventually this leads to more intimate things. It's been a while since we had sex. It's important that we do this.
Sleep around 4 a.m.
[i] Chemistry. Process Recess. James Jean.
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