Road trip with Margret

We had been rushing around all day, Margret and I. We began the day at the High School Commune, with a lot of people I didn't expect I'd ever see again, but there they were, all together again. The Commune was like a giant tree house, with clothes and blankets strewn all over the place, three-walled rooms built haphazardly, over grown plants and destroyed side walks. But unlike the roof and fences, the energy there didn't flag; everyone was happy and ran around, taking care of their shit, taking care of each other. The archetypal commune, I guess. For some reason, we couldn't stay there, and because of all those kids from high school, I have to admit I didn't want to. All that teenage anxst came back, even though I don't think any one recognized me. I didn't have to suffer through it now; I could just leave.

So we were driving, Margret and myself, in a massive black SUV (is that how we managed to escape the energy efficient, self-sustaining tree house?). We stopped to get gas and all of a sudden, it was dark out. I guess when you're on the road for so long, nights and days creep up on you. We reached an urban area a little after we filled up; I must have zoned out as we cruised through the suburban sprawl, because we found ourselves in the heart of some city. In the middle of the night, it was dark enough to conceal anything that might threaten you, but only just. The shadows, a neon light, casting a red glow over the side of a building, alley ways with stagnant puddles and trash- I half expected Batman to show up. Wouldn't have been unwelcome.

Stop here- said Margret.

What?

I have a job. Don't worry, this won't take long.

Uh...

I must've stopped because she got out of the car before I could say anything else. As she turned to jump down to the steaming pavement, I saw that she looked different than she had at the gas station- she was heavier, but she didn't look bad. Her clothes were trendier and she'd put on a bunch of shiny makeup, bright red lipstick. How long had we been driving?

I saw a guy walking toward her from... I don't know where, I guess he had been behind one of the dumpsters, or come out from a nondescript back door. She smiled big when she saw him, like they were old friends. Inside the car, the sounds outside were muffled but, I heard her say -Hiiii!- and start chattering as they walked arm and arm into the shadows. I knew she wouldn't be long. I knew what she was doing, although I didn't know why or how long this had been going on or when the hell she'd had the time to set this up. I sat back and waited for it to start raining.

Existence Cafe

I didn't know how long I'd been sitting in the club, but I wasn't bothered. A near empty drink in hand; I must've been here for at least half an hour. If this was the first. Bourbon. Probably not the first.

The place wasn't empty, but not packed or lively. The other patrons concerned themselves with their own conversations, and I couldn't see any of their faces in shadow or just darkness.

As I continued to converse with no one and think about nothing in particular, I noticed that my ear had been tugging my attention toward music, a singer on a minimal stage in the corner, the only really lighted spot in the room. She shared the little platform with only a microphone, although the instrumental accompaniment suggested a full band and quite a bit of production, probably a tape behind one of the sequined curtains. The curtains. Hot pink and glittery, the chintzy kind that you would see at strip club or a kids show at an amusement park. The singer's dress glittered in the same way, but in light blue, and she resembled a cheap, worn Marilyn Monroe, like you would see at a strip club or a kids show at an amusement park. She didn't sing like Marilyn, though, she didn't breath the notes with an mock innocent, hyper feminized purr. Her voice was soft but clear and if you paid attention, you could make out the lyrics: stars and molecules and light, kinda sci-fi philosophic type stuff. If you weren't paying attention, you wouldn't notice that the curtains and the dress slowly switched colors, or that the singer's face was out of focus. I started to think about it and, nothing on that damn stage made any sense! Maybe I was really wasted.

I drained the last of my Bourbon, which was more melted ice at this point, and as the not unpleasant burn sifted from my throat into my stomach, I noticed I didn't have a glass in my hand. The singer and the other shadows of the club were gone. I was still sitting at the little black table, but I was in a dessert. Sand and sand and sand. Not even a breeze. It was dead quiet. I looked down at the ratty pile of rags that had been my clothes, mostly on the ground. Most of what had been my skin was gone, a few leathery strips sticking to my bones; and my organs, I bet had those had been eaten. Wait, then what am I thinking with? Shi..!