Sunday, June 27, 2010
Authors note
Please duely note that the story "tomorrow is going to be sunny" is a work of pure fiction. None of these characters are real (Yes, I'm sorry, these people would be interesting to meet and I apologize.) This started as just me trying to write a story that I could actually finish, which turned into an extra credit project, then I just liked writing it so much that I couldn't stop. I'm just putting this note in here so we don't have a crazy Mary Ann running around. So please, feel free to read and if you have some thing to say, then say it. I love hearing feed back.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Tomorrow is going to be Sunny (Edited edition)
"Tomorrow is going to be sunny"
Ch. 1 The beginning in an ending (Lucia)
"Life sucks, then you die, so do something about it."
Lucia stood in front of her roommate's bedroom door, trying to persuade her to come out.
"I hope Roger didn't upset Maggie." she thought. "After all he is the worst boyfriend possible. If he hit her again I'm going to call the police."
"Maggie," she said. "Please come out, we can talk about it. Please don't hide yourself away." Maggie didn't respond but the sounds of sobbing could be heard through the door. "I can make your favorite dinner, and you'll get over it Maggie. So please unlock the door."
"I'm sorry Luce," Maggie sobbed through the door.
"Maggie, what are you sorry about?" she tried to turn the doorknob. "Maggie unlock the door, please!" Lucia pleaded again. She took a credit card and unlocked the door and stood in Maggie's doorway.
"You were a good friend" Maggie said sobbing. She held a gun up to her head.
Lucia runs towards Maggie but its to late Maggie pulls the trigger.
Lucia sat up. It had been more than a dream, she had been reliving the event. She felt scared and alone. The sound of rain pounded against her be side window. There was a flash of lightning and the following thunder reminded her of the gun.
"Oh Maggie, why did you have to go?"
The next morning, Lucia was exiting her apartment when the elderly Mr. Crocker walks slowly by her.
"Why good morning Lucia" he says
"Good morning Mr. Crocker"
"How are you this morning?"
"I'm fine thanks you"
"Awful storm last night"
"Yes, it was. I'm sorry Mr. Crocker but I must be on my way."
"OK, I understand you young folk are always running about."
"All right, Mr. Crocker have a nice day and give your regards to you wife."
"Thank you I will ... that is if she remembers who you are" he mumbled the last part.
Lucia sat in the landlady, Ms. Rockwell's office staring at the old decrepit women.
"I..I don't understand." Lucia said
"Lucia, you're a good kid but even you admitted that you can't pay full rent."
"Yes.. I know..but."
"I don't want to hear it, you and Maggie split the rent and now Maggie is gone so your either going to have to get a new apartment or a new roommate, which is it going to be." Ms. Rockwell gave a greasy smile that sent chills down Lucia's back.
"New roommate then" Lucia said. Maggie was the only person that she had ever really gotten along with and they had been best friends since they were five and the thought of replacing Maggie with a stranger was hard.
"I'll right then. I'll arrange for some interviews and who ever I hate the least will become your new roommate."
"All right then" she said reluctantly.
"Good now go to work or you really won't be able to pay rent." Lucia got up to leave.
"Ms. Rockwell.. will you at least let me have a say in my roommate?"
"Well, knowing you Lucia you don't get along well with people, so I'll find someone that you might be able to get along with." Lucia just stood there staring at her feet, trying to make to make it look like she was interested in them instead of being saddened by the idea of replacing Maggie. "Lucia... I know what your thinking and I'm not trying to replace Maggie, I'm trying to help you maintain an apartment. All right?"
"...Yes I understand" she mumbled "Thank you"
"OK, now go to work"
Lucia left Ms. Rockwell's office, in the lobby of the apartment building, and headed to the news paper company or which she wrote the "Dear Abby" column.
She sat in her messy cubical, staring at the computer screen, unable to respond to the letter she was given. She read it over and over and could not think of anything to write back about.
"Dear Abby,
You don't know me, no one really does. But, you like seem to know everything, so I'm asking you, How do I get known?
Signed Anonymous"
She stared at it. "What do you want me to say," she thought. "besides that be fact that you have poor grammar?" The IM popped on her computer.
[JackHammer66] Hey, How are you?
It was her friend Jack, so naturally she had to write back.
[LuciaSkeye] Hi Jack, I'm ok
[JackHammer66] Luce, tell me the truth, I know your missing Mag.
[LuciaSkeye] ...
Why did she have to Go? I couldn't do anything to stop her.
[JackHammer66] I missed her too, but I don't think you could have done anything. She was depressed for a while, wasn't she?
[LuciaSkeye] ...yeah, it started when Roger first hit her.
[JackHammer66] Didn't she callcall the police?
[LuciaSkeye] You know she would never she loved Roger, she just didn't love the way he treated her.
[JackHammer66] ...wow what a Fucking ASS!!! Don't you get involved with a dick like that, got that chicky?
[LuciaSkeye] You know I hate people Jack ;P
[JackHammer66] Hahaha true, I forgot how much you don't like people :D I remember when I introduced you to Humphrey.
[LuciaSkeye] Oh yeah I forgot about that
[JackHammer66] Ha! Well, you were drunk
[LuciaSkeye] and he was giving me a hangover from talking to much.
[JackHammer66] you duct taped his mouth shut
[LuciaSkeye] it was worth it anyway, you aren't dating him any more
[JackHammer66] Hahaha true, so what are you up to?
[LuciaSkeye] work
[JackHammer66] you still in the field or do you have your own column?
[LuciaSkeye] Dear Abby...
[JackHammer66] ....! HAHAHA!!!!
[LuciaSkeye] its not funny...
[JackHammer66] Yes it is, you have to answer people's whinny problems.
[LuciaSkeye] Ya read this one (attached: Dear Abby...Anonymous)
[JackHammer66] ... What the Fuck is wrong with this person?
[LuciaSkeye] If I knew I would be able to write a response I'm not good at talking to people like this. I mean who would write to a news paper anyway? We are a dying breed.
[JackHammer66] Ho did you ever manage to pay rent?
[LuciaSkeye] I split it with Maggie...
[JackHammer66] What are you going to do now?
[LuciaSkeye] Ms. Rockwell said she would find me a new roommate :(
[JackHammer66] ... ! Dude that sucks. What are you going to do?
[LuciaSkeye] ..deal with it I guess
[JackHammer66] OK Luce. I have to go now, I'll check in with you later.
[LuciaSkeye] OK Jack, bye.
She logged off o IM and typed "How to get noticed?" into a search engine. 1,076,521 results popped up. Most of which were people asking help websites on how to get the person they like to notice them or how to become famous, none of which gave any answers. She scrolled down, still nothing, then she noticed an advertisement: "Trying to get noticed? factsaboutlife.com has the answers to your questions about life, human instincts and needs." She clicked on it and was redirected to the website.
"Factsaboutlife.com where you might just find the answer to life it self" was written at the top of the page. She scrolled to "How to get noticed."
"How to get noticed:
Have you ever felt invisible, anonymous or unnoticed? Well, your not alone, everyone in their life feels this way one time or another. It is human nature to want to be noticed. Even so, to be noticed you should be yourself...."
"Blah blah blah," she thought. "I wish I could just stick this in there but boss would kill me. I'll just write the damn response"
Dear Anonymous,
Fist off, I don't know everything I'm just a person. Second, if your trying to get noticed, using the name anonymous doesn't help you. To be noticed try; standing out, but be comfortable in your own skin, do something you wouldn’t normally do like wear a bright color or an unusual piece of clothing, being yourself, being a good Samaritan, being extravagant. Just please don't do anything illegal.
Signed Abby
" ... Well this sucks"
Ch. 1 The beginning in an ending (James)
James Wilson stood interrogating a hysterical blabbering witness.
"And then," said the witness "and then ... then the guy, the guy he just, he is dead I can't believe his head just got squished and the train was screaming..." to most people the witness wouldn't have made scenes, to anyone but James. He had been doing this job for a while now so he was able to understand what they were trying to say.
"So the guy fell off the platform and was crushed by the train?" he asked, the witness nodded. "OK thank you for your help."
He crossed the police line surrounding the platform. The 'D' train was splattered with blood and the crying conductor sat being comforted by another officer. James walked up to the covered body laying on the tracks.
"Well, Wilson?" said officer Tanner "What did the witness say?"
"The guy fell," responded James. "The train cut off his head, pretty mush everything we already know. Do we have a coroner yet to pick up the pieces?"
"Na, not yet. But, they and the bio hazard clean up better get here soon, many people are pissed that the 'D' train is closed."
"Yeah, that crap always happens when we have to close something down." James said. He had been doing this job for five years, and the stuff he had seen was just mortifying. "I'm off duty in an hour, so I'll take the paper work back to the station."
"OK Wilson, get a drink and go home after." Tanner handed him the paper work. James turned to leave and he saw a colorful skater shoe sticking out from the covered body which he realized was a kid.
At the station James was doing paper work at his desk when the chief came over.
"It was a kid" said James
"What?" said the Chief
"The body, in the subway, it was a kid."
"Oh..yeah, Tanner called into have us notify the parents. He was 17." James sighed, it was just a kid. "The parents are coming so you better leave."
"You don't want me to stick around?"
"Na, you've had a long day. Go home."
"OK Chief." On his way out of the station, James held the door for the sorrowful parents.
"This job is going to be the death of me" he thought.
He entered the elevator at his apartment building.
"Hold the door please" Lucia entered the elevator. "Hello, James"
"Hello" he replied. Eddie holding his little brother, Ralph's hand, entered the elevator and pushed the button for their floor Ralph looked up at James.
"Are you a cop?"
"Yes,"
"YOU don't look like one"
"I don't?"
"No, cops have mustache."
"OK, I guess I'll have to grow one then." He chuckled. The elevator door opened and Eddie and Ralph got off. And James and Lucia continued up. Lucia sighed.
"Rough day?" he asked
"Yeah, you?"
"I hate days at work"
"Me too, I need a new job. Hey James"
"Yes?"
"I never thanked you for what you did for Maggie"
"Yeah it was no problem, I'm use to dealing with that stuff working for the metro."
"That must be hard for you." He didn't respond "Did you have to deal with someone today?"
"Unfortunately it was a kid.."
"I'm sorry..."
"Me too..." the doors opened and they both got off. "What's going on at your apartment?" Large boxes were surrounding the hallway out side of her apartment.
"Oh shit." She ran to the apartment door where Ms. Rockwell was hidden by box.
"I found you a new roommate" Ms. Rockwell said.
"Is she hiding in all these boxes then!?" she shouted
"Lucia, relax She is a lovely girl." Lucia looked doubtful. Its either her or a man who is a six time convicted felon."
"Go with the nice girl" said James walking up to them. "That way I don't have to deal with anything illegal."
"Fine" said Lucia "Where is she anyway?"
"She still has more stuff coming. James help us move the new girls stuff in, would you."
"Sure thing, Ms. Rockwell." he replied
Once finished helping them, James continued down the hallway to his apartment. There were no lights on and the curtains were all closed making the apartment darker than outside. He took off his shoes and uniform, got a beer and sat on the coach in his underwear watching sports highlights. His cell phone buzzed
[Text from Mary Jane] He looked at and sighed, he still had not gotten used to his girl friend changing her name from Mary Ann to Mary Jane because she thought it made them look like a cuter couple He opened his phone.
[Text from Mary Jane; Call me, NOW!] He sighed and called her.
"James!" she sung in her shilled voice.
"Hey... when did you change your name in my phone?"
"Yesterday, when you were sleeping." He didn't reply because it was just so typical of her. "OK, so listen. I heard from Nina that the girl who's roommate like blew her brains out needed a new roommate."
"Yeah I know, I just..."
"So I was going to apply," she interrupted. "But, I didn't because I like don't like mopey writers and I can always just move in with you. But, ok so listen. Nina said that the mopey girl's new roommate is like the beloved weather girl on channel 5. I don't know why she would ever want to move into that dump, but so anyway I'm going to becoming over a lot to see if she can like get us into some like big parties. OK bye." She hung up.
She was a social climber and he knew it. He couldn't remember why they were still together maybe it was because the sex was good.
He could hear the shouts of Eddie and Ralph's parents in the apartment below. He turned up the volume to try to drown out the sounds.
Ch. 1 the beginning in an ending ( Eddie and Ralph)
Eddie sat in the kitchen being yelled at by his parents as usual.
"You were suppose to just pick up Ralph and you come home two hours late!" screamed his mother.
"The 'D' train was closed" said Eddie
"You could have called exclaimed his father.
"I don't have a cell phone and I didn't have change for a pay phone." Eddie managed to remain quiet, he was used to the yelling by now. "Now I have homework to do." He got up and went to his room. He could now here his parents yelling at how irresponsible they were. He pulled out his honors calculous homework and text book:
Lim x->-2 {(1/x)+(1/2)}/(x^3+8)
"The answer is (-1/48)" Eddie looked up, Ralph was standing in front of him.
"Thanks Ralph" he said knowing that it was the correct answer. Ralph got up and sat next to him on the bed and Eddie returned to his homework.
"Eddie?"
"Yes, Ralph?"
"How does a dog get up onto the fire escape?"
"Climb I guess, why?" Eddie turned and saw a dog on the fire escape outside his window.
"How did you get here boy?" asked Eddie. He and Ralph had climbed out onto the fire escaped to see it. The dog just sat there wagging it's tail. It was small and scruffy looking. Eddie examined the bright red collar around its neck, the tag read:
"POGO?" said Eddie. The dog got up and started jumping up and down on its hind legs.
"Hahaha, its a circus dog!" squealed Ralph bemused by the jumping Pogo dog. The dog sat back down and smiled.
"Its smiling Eddie, the dog is smiling!"
"I know, I've never seen a dog smile either."
"Can we feed it?"
"I don't see why not." Eddie went back inside and took a bowl and a box of cereal from his food supply. He put the bowl of cereal in front of the dog who began devouring it.
"Can we keep him?" asked Ralph
"Mom and Dad will never let us." Ralph was saddened by that. "but as long as we don't tell them, and he stays on the fire escape I think he can stay." Ralph didn't respond for a minute or so.
"He really is a circus dog."
"How so? asked Eddie
"His name is Pogo, he jumps up and down, he smiles, eats cereal and lives on a fire escape."
"Yeah, He really is a strange dog."
Ch. 1 the beginning in an ending (The Crockers)
Mrs. Crocker stood by the window of their apartment.
"There are children feeding a cat on the fire escape outside" she said.
"Thats nice, dear." said Mr. Crocker leading her away from the window.
"Oh what a lovely couple." She said looking at their wedding photo. The picture was old and faded but you could still see the faces of the young, just married couple. A picture of them on their 50th anniversary was next to the wedding photo and in it they still looked like newly weds. Now, after two years since that picture was taken, she hardly remember hi, let alone the rest of the family. "They look familiar, do I know them?"
"You haven't seen them in a very long time. So you probably don't remember them." he said.
"Is that the boy that lives down the hall?" she was referring to James who did look a lot like the younger Mr. Crocker. "I didn't know he got married but it doesn't look like he married that dark haired girl."
"Lucia and James are neighbors, dear."
"Oh, that is nice." He sat her on the couch next to him. "The dog is barking." she said.
Ch. 1 the beginning in an ending (Andrew Smiles)
Andrew Smiles lay on his couch. He groaned, the dog barking outside had woken him up. He sat up and looked around. The antenna TV was getting static but the radio that was some where in room, was spitting out some sound.
"Up next," said the DJ, "we have Smile like you mean it."
The song crackled through the radio. His head was pounding from drinking to much, and the barking dog and music didn't help him either.
He got up off the tattered old couch and stumbled his way to the bathroom. Pictures of him in his glory days lined the walls. One picture of him, in Center spot light was on a flier. "Come see the hilarious antics of smiles the clown" it read.
"Those were the days," he thought, "but no one goes to the circus anymore, so no wonder it closed."
He went into the bathroom and turned the cold water on in the sink. He splashed the water on his face, then eyed the mirror.
He had not shaved in a while, and his hair was greasy from not showering because of the cast on his leg, that itched like hell. He didn't like not wearing his make up, but if he was wearing it he would look even more depressing.
He left the bathroom and went to the bedroom. Though he was without crutches he was still able to get around fairly well, despite the fact that he had a hangover.
He sat down on the bed. A picture of his wife was on the bed side table. He picked it up and kissed it.
"I miss you Ely."
The door bell rang. He looked at the alarm clock which read 1:24.
"Now why would anyone be knocking on my door?"
He opened the door, a perky blond girl with many bags was standing in the door way.
"Is this 4D?" she asked. Smiles looked at his door with 3D on it.
"Its the next floor up."
"Oh, sorry to have bothered you, bye." She bounced down the hallway to the elevator caring her bags
"What a strange girl" he thought.
Ch. 1 The beginning in an ending (Lucia)
Lucia sat fast asleep on the couch in an over sized sweat shirt and boy shorts. Three empty beer cans lay on the table next to a half smoked joint in the ash tray, as the TV flickered a cheesy 1950s monster movie. The boxes, that James had helped bring in were stacked near the front door. Suddenly the door bell rand. Lucia opened her eyes and got up to answer it. The perky blond girl with many bags stood there.
"You must be Lucia" she said smiling.
"...What..?" Lucia said sleepily.
"My Name is Sammy Day but you can call me Sunny. I'm your new roommate."
An ironic thought occurred to Lucia "Could Life get any worse?"
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (James)
"Deal with the present not just the past"
James woke up, he was lying on the floor next to his bed. Mary was lying in the bed instead.
"When did she get her?" he wondered. "And where did she get a key?" He didn't bother getting back into bed because if he woke her up, he would never hear the end of it.
He went into the kitchen, pulled out a beer and sat on the couch drinking it. His phone was blinking from a new message.
[Text from John Tanner]
"Hey Wilson, you ok? Chief said you were looking kinda pale when you left."
"Yeah, I'm fine" he replied "Just needed a drink" Tanner responded in only a few minutes
"Same, I'm drinking at O'Leary’s bar if you want to come"
"I'll right I'll be there" he put on some clothes and went out.
"Hey you made it" said John as James walked in.
"First rounds on me."
"As long as I'm not paying said James. He sat down and got a beer on tap. Then he spied someone sitting across from them at the counter, mumbling Spanish to themselves.
"Lucia?" he asked. She sat up. She as really drunk, that she was talking in Spanish.
"[Hello, James]" she slurred "[When did you get here? Where is Jack? Have you seen Jack?]"
"What is she saying?' asked John "I don't speak Mexican."
"Mexican! Mexican!" she shouted in English "I sir, hale from Spain." She said proudly standing, "Now where is Jack?"
"I'm here Chicky" said Jack standing in the doorway. He was the most flamboyant gay guy James had ever seen. Spotting short shorts, a midriff and make up.
"[Jack!]" she said running to him speaking in Spanish again "[I missed you!]"
"You poor thing your drunk but don't worry Jackie is here to take care of you love." He stroked her hair. She wobbled slightly "Luce? Are you going to be sick?" she nodded. "OK hold it until we get to the bathroom" he took her by the arm and into the women's restroom.
"Hey, you can't go in there!" shouted the bar tender to Jack.
"It's all right, I'm an honorary girl" said Jack going into the restroom.
"Well, that was surely interesting" said Tanner taking another sip from his beer.
"You,"said Jack to James, "You live in Luce's apartment building don't you?"
"Yes" replied James.
"Good then you can help me take her home." Lucia leaned against Jack drunkenly.
"[Jack,]" she bean speaking Spanish agin "[I don't want to go home... Sunny, Sunny is to happy]"
"Sunny?" asked James
'Her new roommate Sammy or 'Sunny' Day"
"Oh the local weather girl?"
"Apparently she is more chipper in real life then she is on the news." said Jack "And Luce doesn't get along with any random person. She probably thinks Sunny is replacing Maggie"
"Lucia and Maggie were close, weren't they" asked James
"Luce and Maggie were like twins. And when Maggie died, Lucia just lost it. I had to keep her from drinking bleach." He patted her on the head, "Poor little chicky. She saw Maggie do it to."
"[I miss Maggie]" she slurred.
"Don't worry baby, Mama Jackie is here for you." He turned and looked at James. "And a big strong copper too."
"Sorry, I got a girlfriend."
"Oh yes thats right, the crazy blond bitch."
"She is a red head now."
"Oh what she couldn't stand being a dumb blond?"
"No, she thought it was more noticeable."
"Ha! How can you stand being with a nut?"
"Sex"
"Oh of course, the crazy ones are always better in the sack. But even if I was straight, I couldn't deal with a cunt. Ho do you put up with her?"
"Why do you think I was at the bar" said James as they entered the apartment lobby.
"Hahaha, oh you poor boy. Drinking your problems away solves nothing." Jack held Lucia's head up, "And if you drink to get rid of your problems you'll end up like Luce here."
"Is she an alcoholic?"
"Probably not, she just had a lot of problems in her life. When she was 16, her mother left, so her father moved back to Spain taking Luce with him. She never did become a citizen, but she had to get used to speaking Spanish, a new country, and being separated from her best friend. Good thing she met me to help her get through Spain."
"If your both from Spain how did you get here?"
"Oh I met Luce in Spain, I was originally from the Netherlands. But, when we were both done with high school we came here to go to college. She wanted to be a journalist, Maggie wanted to be a photographer and I wanted to be a dancer/actor. But, enough about us, we're at her apartment." Jack knocked on the door and Sunny opened it.
"You must be Sunny" said Jack.
"Oh Lucia!" squealed Sunny, picking her up and hugging her. "I was so worried!"
She put Lucia back down, who instantly threw up on the floor. James remained in the hallway as the rest filed into the apartment.
"Bye, sweetie thinks for helping me carry her." said Jack closing the door.
"What a strange group of people," thought James.
"Where have you been?!" shrieked Mary.
"I went out for a drink with John."
"And you didn't tell me!"
"I didn't want to wake you"
"You could have left a note"
James realized that if he didn't changed the topic, she would keep shouting at him over nothing.
"The weather girl moved in," he said hoping that she would forget what she was saying.
"She did! Did you meet her?"
"Well, kinda..."
"What is she like? Is her hair naturally blond? I bet it isn't. Does she go to a tanning booth because no white girl can be that tan. How does she stay so fit? Does she have a trainer? Are those her natural boobs or did she get implants? Should I get implants?" she looked down at her chest. "Well?"
"Your fine the way you are"
"I met her."
"Oh well...she is ... she is very perky."
"How did she ever get in a dump with a mopey writer then?"
"I don't know," he said. But, what he was really thinking was "How did Lucia ever get stuck with someone so perky. She really should have gone with the convicted felon."
"I'm going to bed." He said. He laid down on his bed and she crawled in next to him.
"James?"
"Yes?"
"Will I ever be famous?"
"If you try. Good night" and he turned off the light.
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Sunny)
"She is really drunk, isn't she" asked Sunny. Jack and her were watching as Lucia danced and sung about the room.
"Very"
"She was drunk when she left too. I found three empty beers. How did you manage to find her?"
"She called me to come get her at a bar. And O'Learies is the only place open this late." Lucia picked up a guitar.
"[A the guitar]" she said in Spanish, "[the sexiest instrument ever]" she began playing the Spanish guitar.
"She is actually quite good" said jack.
"Is she always like this?"
"No, she has just been drinking a lot latently. But, whenever she is drunk she is like this."
"She doesn't like me does she?"
"No, no, no, it's just Luce doesn't get along with people right away."
"Thats what Ms Rockwell said."
"Plus her last roommate was her best friend and she.. Uh well she..."
"Committed suicide, Ms. Rockwell told me." Lucia dropped the guitar, sat down and began crying.
"Maggie! Maggie! I miss you Maggie! I'm sorry!" she sobbed.
"And thats my Que. to put her to bed and leave." He said picking her off the ground and taking her to her bedroom.. He then headed to the door, "I see you around Sun shine."
"O.K... Jack was it."
"Yes, but you can call me chocolate bear, tootals." he closed the door behind him.
Sunny took one of her boxes into her bedroom, which already had her bed and furniture in it. She opened the box and took out the picture of her foster family She smiled at it and put it on the bedside table and looked out the window.
"Today is going to be sunny," she said.
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Eddie and Ralph)
The dog was still there in the morning. It barked at Eddie. He sat up and stared at it and it just smiled and wagged its tail. Eddie looked at his alarm clock 6:00 am, he realized that he had forgotten to set his alarm last night.
"You're a weird dog," he said looking at Pogo. He got out of bed. "You know my parents can't find out you're here or they will call animal control." Pogo got up and went down the fire escape. "What a weird dog."
He went about his morning routine; shower, dress and breakfast. He sat at the kitchen table eating his cereal.
"You're going to drop Ralph off at his care school right?" asked his mother.
"Yes, mom"
"And then you're going to tutoring right?"
"Yes, mom."
"And if the train is broken agin you're going to call, right?"
"Yes, Mom." Ralph came into the kitchen. He was wearing his uniform for his school.
"Mom? Why do I have to go to a special school?" he asked?
"Because you're a special boy."
"But, its Sunday, why do I have to go to school on Sunday?"
"Because no one is going to be around to watch you."
"Why?'
"Because we have important things to do."
"Why?"
"Thats what grown ups do."
"Can a dog live on the fire escape?"
"What?"
"Nothing," said Ralph going into Eddies room. Eddie just chucked to himself.
"They will probably never get it," he thought. He finished his breakfast and went into his room.
"Pogo's not here," said Ralph.
"He is probably hiding from mom and dad." Eddie picked up his back pack, "Ready for school?"
They left the apartment and went into the elevator.
"This is just degrading for Ralph," Eddie thought. "Mom calling his school 'care school' because she doesn't want to admit that it's a special needs school. She treats it like it's a day care for him instead. He is 10 and I'm the only one that spends time with him, because I know mom and dad don't want to deal with him sometimes but still he is their son and my brother."
"Eddie? What are you thinking about?"
"When Pogo is going to be back on the fire escape." The exited the building.
"Pogo!" shouted Ralph. Eddie turning around and sure enough Pogo was fallowing them.
"Come on Ralph, we don't have time to play with Pogo."
"OK bye Pogo."
They went to the subway station, Pogo was still fallowing them. They got onto the train, Pogo was there too. They got to Ralph's school and Pogo was there.
"Hey Ralph are you going to try to go home by yourself today?"
"Yes, are you going to hang out with you friends?"
"Yeah, see you later buddy." Ralph went inside, Eddie turned and Pogo was standing in front of him. "Can you make sure Ralph gets home?" He barked and sat down by the school gate. "What a strange dog."
Eddie went to the tutoring center.
"Hey Eddie," said one of his friends.
"Hey what's up?"
"You coming after?"
"Yeah, I'll see you then. You going to bring the pot?"
"Fuck yeah, we all need to unwind."
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Andrew Smiles)
Andrew put on a fresh pair of clothes, grabbed his crutches and left his apartment. He entered the unemployment office and sat through being asked stupid questions.
"So Mr. Smiles," said the head hunter. "You worked in the entertainment business?"
"Yes."
"What kind of entertainment did you work in?'
"I was a clown in the circus."
"Were you fired or let go?"
"The circus closed."
"Why have you not been able to work in the last month?"
"The circus closed and I was in a car accident."
"Was anyone hurt?'
"My wife died and I broke my leg and a few ribs."
"Were you liable for the accident?"
"No, we were hit by a drunk driver."
"Have you received any benefits?"
"No, I filled all this paper work out with my insurgent agent. Can you please find me a job or not?"
"I can find you a small job but because of your injuries you can't work for another two weeks. Thank you for coming."
Andrew sighed and left. "Typical," he thought, "no one helps anyone anymore. I can't even get restitution for the accident." He returned to the apartment building.
"Andrew!" shouted Ms. Rockwell. "Did you get a job yet?"
"I can't because of my busted leg."
"God damn it Andrew, if you hadn't married my cousin, I'd kicked you out of here a while ago!"
"I know Beth! I know," he sighed.
"Why is your hair so greasy?"
"Can't shower with a cast."
"You couldn't even shave to make yourself look decent. You're a reck without Ely." Her words felt like an open wound to him. "Come on Andrew I'll take care of you."
She brought him into her apartment, sat him by the kitchen sink and began washing his hair.
"You know I always had to do this with Ely when she was little. That girl could never keep her hair strait and clean. Always had paint or leaves in it at one time or another. She was always such a strange one, spent all her time running around outside painting. And she loved the circus, always loved to laugh. Thats why she fell in love with you. You know that right?"
"She really did love to laugh," he sighed. "She always had a reason to smile>"
"So why can't you?"
"What's there to smile about? I'm 40, out of a job, no one is going to hire a guy in a cast, Ely is dead and I haven't received any benefits to pay you for the apartment. Plus there is a dog out side my apartment that wont stop barking."
"Mr. Crocker said his wife was talking about a dog. Maybe you should get a pet."
"I can't take care of one."
"When do you get your cast off anyway?"
"This week."
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Lucia)
The sunlight hit Lucia in the face. She groaned and rolled over. Her head was throbbing from a hang over. She got up and went into the kitchen. Sunny was in there making a feast of a breakfast.
"Good morning Lucia!"
"Who are you again?"
"Sunny," she giggled. "I made breakfast."
"You made a feast. How do you expect us to eat all this?"
"Whenever I go for a run I always get really hungry."
"You woke up early just to go for a run?"
"Not really I got up at 8 and went for an hour long run."
"What time is it?"
"10:00. Oh and if we have extra food you can take some to that nice guy down the hall."
"Nice guy?"
"Tall, light skin, kinda muscular."
"James?"
"Yeah, him, he brought you home last night. I think he likes you."
"What is this?" Lucia thought. "Sorority sister gossip time?" Lucia's phone buzzed on the table. Sunny stood there smiling at her as she answered it.
"Hello?"
"Lucia, What the fuck!" screamed the voice on the other end.
"Hi boss..."
"The response you wrote was bullshit. People are looking for meaning in their pathetic lives not a load of shit. I want you in my office tomorrow and I'm going to give you some insight about the news paper biz!" he hung up.
"Something wrong?" asked Sunny.
"I'm a journalist not a psychiatrist."
"You're a psychiatrist?"
"No, I write the Dear Abby section of the paper."
"Oh well have you ever tried being just a writer?"
"A writer?"
"Yeah, you know write a story. It can be fictional or about your life experience or even poetry. You should try it."
"Well, I got to try something I'm going to loose my job."
"Are you going to eat anything?"
"I'm going to take a shower."
She got in the shower and tried scrubbing the smell of alcohol off. A bit of soap got in her eye, she reached out for a towel but slipped on the wet tiles. She reached out for something to keep her balance but grabbed the shower curtain which she pulled off the rings. She laid on the bathroom floor tangled in the curtain as the water was still running. The door swung open and Sunny rushed in.
"Lucia! Are you..." she slipped on the wet tiles and landed in front of Lucia, who wiped the soap from her eyes and saw Sunny sitting in the wet heap. They both looked at each other and began laughing.
They both sat with their backs against the tub laughing. So why do you seem to be very energetic all the time, even on the news?" asked Lucia who was wearing the shower curtain as a toga.
"Well, I'm very optimistic and people have always relied on me for good news."
"Really? How so?"
"Well, I went into foster care when I was about 12. I thought that my life sucked then I realized that no matter what the sun is always going to shine. Which is what I always told the younger kids? That there is always something to look forward to even if its rain. I know life sucks sometimes but you got to let go of the past and move on in life."
Sunny's words were like an epiphany to her. It had been over a year, and Maggie was a good friend but she had to move on in life. She couldn't just mope around, not pay rent and loose her job. She needed a fresh start.
"I think I'm going to try writing." she said.
"But first breakfast."
Lucia sat at her computer closed her eyes and the words just came to her.
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (The Crockers)
"Who is that couple?" Mrs. Crocker was staring at their wedding photo again. "Its no the boy down the hall, who are they then?"
"Relatives, dear."
"Oh, they make such a lovely couple."
"I'm going to the market to pick up dinner and I'll be right back." He turned on the TV for her to watch and left.
At the market, he saw a beautiful bouquet of lilies. Lilies were his wife's favorite. And these looked like the ones she had in her wedding bouquet, so he got them for her.
"What lovely flowers," she said when he got back. "I've seen them somewhere before."
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Eddie and Ralph)
Eddie got home after getting high with his friends. His parents were standing in the kitchen. His father was holding Pogo firmly by the collar and Ralph sat crying next to their mother.
"Fuck," he thought.
“ Eddie! What were you thinking letting Ralph come home by himself! Let alone having Ralph wander around on his own without supervision. He can't do anything on his own!" shouted their mother.
"You seriously don't think he can do anything on his own. He is smart, he is really smart."
"No, he's not, he's special!"
"Mom! He is special but the way your using the word is instead of saying retarded."
"Your brother is not retarded!"
"I know he isn't, but I'm the only one spending time with him to realize that he is a genius. He knows how to do my calculous homework."
"You are not the only one who spends time with him."
"Your a stay at home mom and you have me take him to school on Sundays as daycare."
"But, letting him come home alone."
"Mom," said Ralph. "I've been coming home by myself since I was eight."
"You what!"
"Its true," said Eddie. "I went to pick him up and they said he had already left. I ran home and he was there. He said that after watching me take him there and back he knew how to do it himself."
"So what were you doing during the time you were done tutoring and when you were suppose to pick him up?" asked their father.
"I was with my friends."
"You weren't studying?"
"I'm 17, I need my friends, I need to have fun. I'm under enough stress from you guys to get strait As and study all the time."
"Don't you want to have a good career? A future?"
"Right now I just want to be a teenager and hang out with my friends. The future can wait." His mother took a deep breath.
"All right," she said. "You can hang out with your friends, as long as you maintain your grades."
"And Pogo?" asked Ralph.
"We really can't keep the dog, but you can find it a good home."
Ch. 3 The end at the start (Lucia)
Lucia sat in her boss's office. She knew what was next.
"Lucia, your fired."
"Figures," she thought.
"I'm sorry but you screwed up for the last time. I didn't even see it until we printed it. All I can say is What the Fuck Kid. You were good but now you just suck."
"I know, I understand."
"Good now get out of my office." So she left after flipping him off.
"Great now what am I going to do?" she thought on her way home, Her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hello, I'm calling from Facts about life.com on the job application that you submitted."
"Job application?"
"This is Lucia Flores-Garcia?"
"Yes."
"We received your resume and the sample writing you did about Viva la Vida," the piece that she had written yesterday. "And we would love to offer you to write a weekly column for our website."
"Really?"
"The position pays $ 10k a column." Lucia stood dumb founded, that was twice as much as she got for writing the Dear Abby section.
"Do I have to come to an office or something?"
"No, you can work from your house, your pay checks will be sent to your house and we will email you for work."
"OK, thank you so much."
"We look forward to your columns," they hung up. Lucia dialed Sunny's cell.
"Hi Lucia, What's up?"
"Did you send my resume to facts about life.com?"
Ch. 3 The end at the start (The crockers)
Mrs. Crocker was still staring at the old wedding photo. The flowers he had gotten her, were in a vase next to them.
"I know this couple." she said.
"You might dear. We are out of milk so I'm going to run to the market to get some, so I will be right back." But she wasn't paying attention.
"What lovely flowers, I've seen them somewhere before."
At the market Mr. Crocker saw a pamphlet for a retirement home. He picked it up and looked at it.
"Ocean view retirement home. Taking care of the ones you love. Whether they have special needs or are disabled, Ocean view will take care of them. Ocean view is at an affordable price for; families, couples and singles. Located on the sunny beaches of Coastal Shores."
He had thought about a retirement home before.
"Maybe its time we moved to one," he thought.
Mr. Crocker returned home, his wife stood in the living room. She had pulled out the old box full of stuff from their wedding day. She stood there wearing her wedding dress, that after over fifty years somehow still fit her. She was also holding the bouquet of lilies.
"I remembered," she said, "that I love you." He walked over and kissed her.
"We really don't need a retirement home," he thought.
Ch. 3 The end at the start (Andrew Smiles)
Andrew sat on the coach watching TV drinking a beer. Ms. Rockwell opened the front door and came in.
"Please come in," he said sarcastically.
"Andrew, I know your depressed, so I brought you something." She let go of the leash she was holding and the dog ran up to him.
"What's this?"
"A dog. The boys down the hall said that they fond him on the fire escape. Their parents won't let them keep it, so they were looking for a home and I said I knew someone who was looking for a dog. So here you go."
"What am I suppose to do with a dog?"
"Here," she tossed a ball to him. "Play ketch with it, it can take care of itself. Oh and the boys say its a circus dog." She said closing the door. He turned and looked at the dog, who was sitting in front of him wagging it's tail and smiling.
"So your the one waking me up." He threw the ball and the dog went after it, but instead brought him back something that wasn't the ball. It was red and round. He held it up, it was his clown nose. He put it on the dog's nose.
He chuckled to himself, "A circus dog." The dog sat up on it's hind legs.
"A circus dog..." It gave him an idea. "Well, circus dog what can you do?"
Ch. 3 The end at the start (Eddie and Ralph)
"Eddie? Where are you going?"
"There is a school dance and I'm going to go."
"Mom and Dad are letting you?"
"Yeah."
"When will you get back?"
"Late."
"Do you wan to go see Pogo tomorrow?"
"Sure," Eddie turned to leave.
"Hey Eddie."
"Yes, Ralph?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Ch. 3 The end at the start (James)
James entered the apartment bailing. Lucia was staring at a flier for a clown and his dog.
"What are you reading?" he asked.
"The hilarious antics of Smiles the clown and his K9 companion Pogo, are up for hire for party entertainment."
"I didn't know Mr. Smiles was a clown." He said.
"I didn't either," they both got into the elevator.
"Sunny said that she left me some food?" he asked.
"Oh yeah, she made a feast again this morning. We didn't finish it so its yours if you want it."
"Sure." They got off and headed to her apartment. "Heard you got a new job."
"Yeah my own column."
"Good for you, I got to transfer of get a new job. I hate working for the metro."
"Did you always want to be a cop?"
"Na, I wanted to be a musician, but I never learned how to play an instrument."
"Its never to late. I can teach you how to play the guitar."
"I'd like that." She opened the door to the apartment. The Local news was on the TV.
"I didn't think you watched the news."
"I don't but Sunny is on it."
"Holy Shit!"
"What?"
"Thats Mary!"
"Your girlfriend?"
"A woman was arrested today" said the anchor man, "For indecent exposure for running around painted purple in nothing but a lion-cloth. The women said that Abby told her to" they both stared at he TV in awe.
"Want to go get a beer?" he asked knowing that his relationship with Mary was over.
"Sure but can I watch Sunny first, I haven't seen her do the weather before."
"Up next the weather" said the anchor man.
"Thanks Tom," said Sunny. "Later in the week its going to be rainy but don't worry, Tomorrow is going to be sunny."
FIN!!!
Ch. 1 The beginning in an ending (Lucia)
"Life sucks, then you die, so do something about it."
Lucia stood in front of her roommate's bedroom door, trying to persuade her to come out.
"I hope Roger didn't upset Maggie." she thought. "After all he is the worst boyfriend possible. If he hit her again I'm going to call the police."
"Maggie," she said. "Please come out, we can talk about it. Please don't hide yourself away." Maggie didn't respond but the sounds of sobbing could be heard through the door. "I can make your favorite dinner, and you'll get over it Maggie. So please unlock the door."
"I'm sorry Luce," Maggie sobbed through the door.
"Maggie, what are you sorry about?" she tried to turn the doorknob. "Maggie unlock the door, please!" Lucia pleaded again. She took a credit card and unlocked the door and stood in Maggie's doorway.
"You were a good friend" Maggie said sobbing. She held a gun up to her head.
Lucia runs towards Maggie but its to late Maggie pulls the trigger.
Lucia sat up. It had been more than a dream, she had been reliving the event. She felt scared and alone. The sound of rain pounded against her be side window. There was a flash of lightning and the following thunder reminded her of the gun.
"Oh Maggie, why did you have to go?"
The next morning, Lucia was exiting her apartment when the elderly Mr. Crocker walks slowly by her.
"Why good morning Lucia" he says
"Good morning Mr. Crocker"
"How are you this morning?"
"I'm fine thanks you"
"Awful storm last night"
"Yes, it was. I'm sorry Mr. Crocker but I must be on my way."
"OK, I understand you young folk are always running about."
"All right, Mr. Crocker have a nice day and give your regards to you wife."
"Thank you I will ... that is if she remembers who you are" he mumbled the last part.
Lucia sat in the landlady, Ms. Rockwell's office staring at the old decrepit women.
"I..I don't understand." Lucia said
"Lucia, you're a good kid but even you admitted that you can't pay full rent."
"Yes.. I know..but."
"I don't want to hear it, you and Maggie split the rent and now Maggie is gone so your either going to have to get a new apartment or a new roommate, which is it going to be." Ms. Rockwell gave a greasy smile that sent chills down Lucia's back.
"New roommate then" Lucia said. Maggie was the only person that she had ever really gotten along with and they had been best friends since they were five and the thought of replacing Maggie with a stranger was hard.
"I'll right then. I'll arrange for some interviews and who ever I hate the least will become your new roommate."
"All right then" she said reluctantly.
"Good now go to work or you really won't be able to pay rent." Lucia got up to leave.
"Ms. Rockwell.. will you at least let me have a say in my roommate?"
"Well, knowing you Lucia you don't get along well with people, so I'll find someone that you might be able to get along with." Lucia just stood there staring at her feet, trying to make to make it look like she was interested in them instead of being saddened by the idea of replacing Maggie. "Lucia... I know what your thinking and I'm not trying to replace Maggie, I'm trying to help you maintain an apartment. All right?"
"...Yes I understand" she mumbled "Thank you"
"OK, now go to work"
Lucia left Ms. Rockwell's office, in the lobby of the apartment building, and headed to the news paper company or which she wrote the "Dear Abby" column.
She sat in her messy cubical, staring at the computer screen, unable to respond to the letter she was given. She read it over and over and could not think of anything to write back about.
"Dear Abby,
You don't know me, no one really does. But, you like seem to know everything, so I'm asking you, How do I get known?
Signed Anonymous"
She stared at it. "What do you want me to say," she thought. "besides that be fact that you have poor grammar?" The IM popped on her computer.
[JackHammer66] Hey, How are you?
It was her friend Jack, so naturally she had to write back.
[LuciaSkeye] Hi Jack, I'm ok
[JackHammer66] Luce, tell me the truth, I know your missing Mag.
[LuciaSkeye] ...
Why did she have to Go? I couldn't do anything to stop her.
[JackHammer66] I missed her too, but I don't think you could have done anything. She was depressed for a while, wasn't she?
[LuciaSkeye] ...yeah, it started when Roger first hit her.
[JackHammer66] Didn't she callcall the police?
[LuciaSkeye] You know she would never she loved Roger, she just didn't love the way he treated her.
[JackHammer66] ...wow what a Fucking ASS!!! Don't you get involved with a dick like that, got that chicky?
[LuciaSkeye] You know I hate people Jack ;P
[JackHammer66] Hahaha true, I forgot how much you don't like people :D I remember when I introduced you to Humphrey.
[LuciaSkeye] Oh yeah I forgot about that
[JackHammer66] Ha! Well, you were drunk
[LuciaSkeye] and he was giving me a hangover from talking to much.
[JackHammer66] you duct taped his mouth shut
[LuciaSkeye] it was worth it anyway, you aren't dating him any more
[JackHammer66] Hahaha true, so what are you up to?
[LuciaSkeye] work
[JackHammer66] you still in the field or do you have your own column?
[LuciaSkeye] Dear Abby...
[JackHammer66] ....! HAHAHA!!!!
[LuciaSkeye] its not funny...
[JackHammer66] Yes it is, you have to answer people's whinny problems.
[LuciaSkeye] Ya read this one (attached: Dear Abby...Anonymous)
[JackHammer66] ... What the Fuck is wrong with this person?
[LuciaSkeye] If I knew I would be able to write a response I'm not good at talking to people like this. I mean who would write to a news paper anyway? We are a dying breed.
[JackHammer66] Ho did you ever manage to pay rent?
[LuciaSkeye] I split it with Maggie...
[JackHammer66] What are you going to do now?
[LuciaSkeye] Ms. Rockwell said she would find me a new roommate :(
[JackHammer66] ... ! Dude that sucks. What are you going to do?
[LuciaSkeye] ..deal with it I guess
[JackHammer66] OK Luce. I have to go now, I'll check in with you later.
[LuciaSkeye] OK Jack, bye.
She logged off o IM and typed "How to get noticed?" into a search engine. 1,076,521 results popped up. Most of which were people asking help websites on how to get the person they like to notice them or how to become famous, none of which gave any answers. She scrolled down, still nothing, then she noticed an advertisement: "Trying to get noticed? factsaboutlife.com has the answers to your questions about life, human instincts and needs." She clicked on it and was redirected to the website.
"Factsaboutlife.com where you might just find the answer to life it self" was written at the top of the page. She scrolled to "How to get noticed."
"How to get noticed:
Have you ever felt invisible, anonymous or unnoticed? Well, your not alone, everyone in their life feels this way one time or another. It is human nature to want to be noticed. Even so, to be noticed you should be yourself...."
"Blah blah blah," she thought. "I wish I could just stick this in there but boss would kill me. I'll just write the damn response"
Dear Anonymous,
Fist off, I don't know everything I'm just a person. Second, if your trying to get noticed, using the name anonymous doesn't help you. To be noticed try; standing out, but be comfortable in your own skin, do something you wouldn’t normally do like wear a bright color or an unusual piece of clothing, being yourself, being a good Samaritan, being extravagant. Just please don't do anything illegal.
Signed Abby
" ... Well this sucks"
Ch. 1 The beginning in an ending (James)
James Wilson stood interrogating a hysterical blabbering witness.
"And then," said the witness "and then ... then the guy, the guy he just, he is dead I can't believe his head just got squished and the train was screaming..." to most people the witness wouldn't have made scenes, to anyone but James. He had been doing this job for a while now so he was able to understand what they were trying to say.
"So the guy fell off the platform and was crushed by the train?" he asked, the witness nodded. "OK thank you for your help."
He crossed the police line surrounding the platform. The 'D' train was splattered with blood and the crying conductor sat being comforted by another officer. James walked up to the covered body laying on the tracks.
"Well, Wilson?" said officer Tanner "What did the witness say?"
"The guy fell," responded James. "The train cut off his head, pretty mush everything we already know. Do we have a coroner yet to pick up the pieces?"
"Na, not yet. But, they and the bio hazard clean up better get here soon, many people are pissed that the 'D' train is closed."
"Yeah, that crap always happens when we have to close something down." James said. He had been doing this job for five years, and the stuff he had seen was just mortifying. "I'm off duty in an hour, so I'll take the paper work back to the station."
"OK Wilson, get a drink and go home after." Tanner handed him the paper work. James turned to leave and he saw a colorful skater shoe sticking out from the covered body which he realized was a kid.
At the station James was doing paper work at his desk when the chief came over.
"It was a kid" said James
"What?" said the Chief
"The body, in the subway, it was a kid."
"Oh..yeah, Tanner called into have us notify the parents. He was 17." James sighed, it was just a kid. "The parents are coming so you better leave."
"You don't want me to stick around?"
"Na, you've had a long day. Go home."
"OK Chief." On his way out of the station, James held the door for the sorrowful parents.
"This job is going to be the death of me" he thought.
He entered the elevator at his apartment building.
"Hold the door please" Lucia entered the elevator. "Hello, James"
"Hello" he replied. Eddie holding his little brother, Ralph's hand, entered the elevator and pushed the button for their floor Ralph looked up at James.
"Are you a cop?"
"Yes,"
"YOU don't look like one"
"I don't?"
"No, cops have mustache."
"OK, I guess I'll have to grow one then." He chuckled. The elevator door opened and Eddie and Ralph got off. And James and Lucia continued up. Lucia sighed.
"Rough day?" he asked
"Yeah, you?"
"I hate days at work"
"Me too, I need a new job. Hey James"
"Yes?"
"I never thanked you for what you did for Maggie"
"Yeah it was no problem, I'm use to dealing with that stuff working for the metro."
"That must be hard for you." He didn't respond "Did you have to deal with someone today?"
"Unfortunately it was a kid.."
"I'm sorry..."
"Me too..." the doors opened and they both got off. "What's going on at your apartment?" Large boxes were surrounding the hallway out side of her apartment.
"Oh shit." She ran to the apartment door where Ms. Rockwell was hidden by box.
"I found you a new roommate" Ms. Rockwell said.
"Is she hiding in all these boxes then!?" she shouted
"Lucia, relax She is a lovely girl." Lucia looked doubtful. Its either her or a man who is a six time convicted felon."
"Go with the nice girl" said James walking up to them. "That way I don't have to deal with anything illegal."
"Fine" said Lucia "Where is she anyway?"
"She still has more stuff coming. James help us move the new girls stuff in, would you."
"Sure thing, Ms. Rockwell." he replied
Once finished helping them, James continued down the hallway to his apartment. There were no lights on and the curtains were all closed making the apartment darker than outside. He took off his shoes and uniform, got a beer and sat on the coach in his underwear watching sports highlights. His cell phone buzzed
[Text from Mary Jane] He looked at and sighed, he still had not gotten used to his girl friend changing her name from Mary Ann to Mary Jane because she thought it made them look like a cuter couple He opened his phone.
[Text from Mary Jane; Call me, NOW!] He sighed and called her.
"James!" she sung in her shilled voice.
"Hey... when did you change your name in my phone?"
"Yesterday, when you were sleeping." He didn't reply because it was just so typical of her. "OK, so listen. I heard from Nina that the girl who's roommate like blew her brains out needed a new roommate."
"Yeah I know, I just..."
"So I was going to apply," she interrupted. "But, I didn't because I like don't like mopey writers and I can always just move in with you. But, ok so listen. Nina said that the mopey girl's new roommate is like the beloved weather girl on channel 5. I don't know why she would ever want to move into that dump, but so anyway I'm going to becoming over a lot to see if she can like get us into some like big parties. OK bye." She hung up.
She was a social climber and he knew it. He couldn't remember why they were still together maybe it was because the sex was good.
He could hear the shouts of Eddie and Ralph's parents in the apartment below. He turned up the volume to try to drown out the sounds.
Ch. 1 the beginning in an ending ( Eddie and Ralph)
Eddie sat in the kitchen being yelled at by his parents as usual.
"You were suppose to just pick up Ralph and you come home two hours late!" screamed his mother.
"The 'D' train was closed" said Eddie
"You could have called exclaimed his father.
"I don't have a cell phone and I didn't have change for a pay phone." Eddie managed to remain quiet, he was used to the yelling by now. "Now I have homework to do." He got up and went to his room. He could now here his parents yelling at how irresponsible they were. He pulled out his honors calculous homework and text book:
Lim x->-2 {(1/x)+(1/2)}/(x^3+8)
"The answer is (-1/48)" Eddie looked up, Ralph was standing in front of him.
"Thanks Ralph" he said knowing that it was the correct answer. Ralph got up and sat next to him on the bed and Eddie returned to his homework.
"Eddie?"
"Yes, Ralph?"
"How does a dog get up onto the fire escape?"
"Climb I guess, why?" Eddie turned and saw a dog on the fire escape outside his window.
"How did you get here boy?" asked Eddie. He and Ralph had climbed out onto the fire escaped to see it. The dog just sat there wagging it's tail. It was small and scruffy looking. Eddie examined the bright red collar around its neck, the tag read:
"POGO?" said Eddie. The dog got up and started jumping up and down on its hind legs.
"Hahaha, its a circus dog!" squealed Ralph bemused by the jumping Pogo dog. The dog sat back down and smiled.
"Its smiling Eddie, the dog is smiling!"
"I know, I've never seen a dog smile either."
"Can we feed it?"
"I don't see why not." Eddie went back inside and took a bowl and a box of cereal from his food supply. He put the bowl of cereal in front of the dog who began devouring it.
"Can we keep him?" asked Ralph
"Mom and Dad will never let us." Ralph was saddened by that. "but as long as we don't tell them, and he stays on the fire escape I think he can stay." Ralph didn't respond for a minute or so.
"He really is a circus dog."
"How so? asked Eddie
"His name is Pogo, he jumps up and down, he smiles, eats cereal and lives on a fire escape."
"Yeah, He really is a strange dog."
Ch. 1 the beginning in an ending (The Crockers)
Mrs. Crocker stood by the window of their apartment.
"There are children feeding a cat on the fire escape outside" she said.
"Thats nice, dear." said Mr. Crocker leading her away from the window.
"Oh what a lovely couple." She said looking at their wedding photo. The picture was old and faded but you could still see the faces of the young, just married couple. A picture of them on their 50th anniversary was next to the wedding photo and in it they still looked like newly weds. Now, after two years since that picture was taken, she hardly remember hi, let alone the rest of the family. "They look familiar, do I know them?"
"You haven't seen them in a very long time. So you probably don't remember them." he said.
"Is that the boy that lives down the hall?" she was referring to James who did look a lot like the younger Mr. Crocker. "I didn't know he got married but it doesn't look like he married that dark haired girl."
"Lucia and James are neighbors, dear."
"Oh, that is nice." He sat her on the couch next to him. "The dog is barking." she said.
Ch. 1 the beginning in an ending (Andrew Smiles)
Andrew Smiles lay on his couch. He groaned, the dog barking outside had woken him up. He sat up and looked around. The antenna TV was getting static but the radio that was some where in room, was spitting out some sound.
"Up next," said the DJ, "we have Smile like you mean it."
The song crackled through the radio. His head was pounding from drinking to much, and the barking dog and music didn't help him either.
He got up off the tattered old couch and stumbled his way to the bathroom. Pictures of him in his glory days lined the walls. One picture of him, in Center spot light was on a flier. "Come see the hilarious antics of smiles the clown" it read.
"Those were the days," he thought, "but no one goes to the circus anymore, so no wonder it closed."
He went into the bathroom and turned the cold water on in the sink. He splashed the water on his face, then eyed the mirror.
He had not shaved in a while, and his hair was greasy from not showering because of the cast on his leg, that itched like hell. He didn't like not wearing his make up, but if he was wearing it he would look even more depressing.
He left the bathroom and went to the bedroom. Though he was without crutches he was still able to get around fairly well, despite the fact that he had a hangover.
He sat down on the bed. A picture of his wife was on the bed side table. He picked it up and kissed it.
"I miss you Ely."
The door bell rang. He looked at the alarm clock which read 1:24.
"Now why would anyone be knocking on my door?"
He opened the door, a perky blond girl with many bags was standing in the door way.
"Is this 4D?" she asked. Smiles looked at his door with 3D on it.
"Its the next floor up."
"Oh, sorry to have bothered you, bye." She bounced down the hallway to the elevator caring her bags
"What a strange girl" he thought.
Ch. 1 The beginning in an ending (Lucia)
Lucia sat fast asleep on the couch in an over sized sweat shirt and boy shorts. Three empty beer cans lay on the table next to a half smoked joint in the ash tray, as the TV flickered a cheesy 1950s monster movie. The boxes, that James had helped bring in were stacked near the front door. Suddenly the door bell rand. Lucia opened her eyes and got up to answer it. The perky blond girl with many bags stood there.
"You must be Lucia" she said smiling.
"...What..?" Lucia said sleepily.
"My Name is Sammy Day but you can call me Sunny. I'm your new roommate."
An ironic thought occurred to Lucia "Could Life get any worse?"
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (James)
"Deal with the present not just the past"
James woke up, he was lying on the floor next to his bed. Mary was lying in the bed instead.
"When did she get her?" he wondered. "And where did she get a key?" He didn't bother getting back into bed because if he woke her up, he would never hear the end of it.
He went into the kitchen, pulled out a beer and sat on the couch drinking it. His phone was blinking from a new message.
[Text from John Tanner]
"Hey Wilson, you ok? Chief said you were looking kinda pale when you left."
"Yeah, I'm fine" he replied "Just needed a drink" Tanner responded in only a few minutes
"Same, I'm drinking at O'Leary’s bar if you want to come"
"I'll right I'll be there" he put on some clothes and went out.
"Hey you made it" said John as James walked in.
"First rounds on me."
"As long as I'm not paying said James. He sat down and got a beer on tap. Then he spied someone sitting across from them at the counter, mumbling Spanish to themselves.
"Lucia?" he asked. She sat up. She as really drunk, that she was talking in Spanish.
"[Hello, James]" she slurred "[When did you get here? Where is Jack? Have you seen Jack?]"
"What is she saying?' asked John "I don't speak Mexican."
"Mexican! Mexican!" she shouted in English "I sir, hale from Spain." She said proudly standing, "Now where is Jack?"
"I'm here Chicky" said Jack standing in the doorway. He was the most flamboyant gay guy James had ever seen. Spotting short shorts, a midriff and make up.
"[Jack!]" she said running to him speaking in Spanish again "[I missed you!]"
"You poor thing your drunk but don't worry Jackie is here to take care of you love." He stroked her hair. She wobbled slightly "Luce? Are you going to be sick?" she nodded. "OK hold it until we get to the bathroom" he took her by the arm and into the women's restroom.
"Hey, you can't go in there!" shouted the bar tender to Jack.
"It's all right, I'm an honorary girl" said Jack going into the restroom.
"Well, that was surely interesting" said Tanner taking another sip from his beer.
"You,"said Jack to James, "You live in Luce's apartment building don't you?"
"Yes" replied James.
"Good then you can help me take her home." Lucia leaned against Jack drunkenly.
"[Jack,]" she bean speaking Spanish agin "[I don't want to go home... Sunny, Sunny is to happy]"
"Sunny?" asked James
'Her new roommate Sammy or 'Sunny' Day"
"Oh the local weather girl?"
"Apparently she is more chipper in real life then she is on the news." said Jack "And Luce doesn't get along with any random person. She probably thinks Sunny is replacing Maggie"
"Lucia and Maggie were close, weren't they" asked James
"Luce and Maggie were like twins. And when Maggie died, Lucia just lost it. I had to keep her from drinking bleach." He patted her on the head, "Poor little chicky. She saw Maggie do it to."
"[I miss Maggie]" she slurred.
"Don't worry baby, Mama Jackie is here for you." He turned and looked at James. "And a big strong copper too."
"Sorry, I got a girlfriend."
"Oh yes thats right, the crazy blond bitch."
"She is a red head now."
"Oh what she couldn't stand being a dumb blond?"
"No, she thought it was more noticeable."
"Ha! How can you stand being with a nut?"
"Sex"
"Oh of course, the crazy ones are always better in the sack. But even if I was straight, I couldn't deal with a cunt. Ho do you put up with her?"
"Why do you think I was at the bar" said James as they entered the apartment lobby.
"Hahaha, oh you poor boy. Drinking your problems away solves nothing." Jack held Lucia's head up, "And if you drink to get rid of your problems you'll end up like Luce here."
"Is she an alcoholic?"
"Probably not, she just had a lot of problems in her life. When she was 16, her mother left, so her father moved back to Spain taking Luce with him. She never did become a citizen, but she had to get used to speaking Spanish, a new country, and being separated from her best friend. Good thing she met me to help her get through Spain."
"If your both from Spain how did you get here?"
"Oh I met Luce in Spain, I was originally from the Netherlands. But, when we were both done with high school we came here to go to college. She wanted to be a journalist, Maggie wanted to be a photographer and I wanted to be a dancer/actor. But, enough about us, we're at her apartment." Jack knocked on the door and Sunny opened it.
"You must be Sunny" said Jack.
"Oh Lucia!" squealed Sunny, picking her up and hugging her. "I was so worried!"
She put Lucia back down, who instantly threw up on the floor. James remained in the hallway as the rest filed into the apartment.
"Bye, sweetie thinks for helping me carry her." said Jack closing the door.
"What a strange group of people," thought James.
"Where have you been?!" shrieked Mary.
"I went out for a drink with John."
"And you didn't tell me!"
"I didn't want to wake you"
"You could have left a note"
James realized that if he didn't changed the topic, she would keep shouting at him over nothing.
"The weather girl moved in," he said hoping that she would forget what she was saying.
"She did! Did you meet her?"
"Well, kinda..."
"What is she like? Is her hair naturally blond? I bet it isn't. Does she go to a tanning booth because no white girl can be that tan. How does she stay so fit? Does she have a trainer? Are those her natural boobs or did she get implants? Should I get implants?" she looked down at her chest. "Well?"
"Your fine the way you are"
"I met her."
"Oh well...she is ... she is very perky."
"How did she ever get in a dump with a mopey writer then?"
"I don't know," he said. But, what he was really thinking was "How did Lucia ever get stuck with someone so perky. She really should have gone with the convicted felon."
"I'm going to bed." He said. He laid down on his bed and she crawled in next to him.
"James?"
"Yes?"
"Will I ever be famous?"
"If you try. Good night" and he turned off the light.
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Sunny)
"She is really drunk, isn't she" asked Sunny. Jack and her were watching as Lucia danced and sung about the room.
"Very"
"She was drunk when she left too. I found three empty beers. How did you manage to find her?"
"She called me to come get her at a bar. And O'Learies is the only place open this late." Lucia picked up a guitar.
"[A the guitar]" she said in Spanish, "[the sexiest instrument ever]" she began playing the Spanish guitar.
"She is actually quite good" said jack.
"Is she always like this?"
"No, she has just been drinking a lot latently. But, whenever she is drunk she is like this."
"She doesn't like me does she?"
"No, no, no, it's just Luce doesn't get along with people right away."
"Thats what Ms Rockwell said."
"Plus her last roommate was her best friend and she.. Uh well she..."
"Committed suicide, Ms. Rockwell told me." Lucia dropped the guitar, sat down and began crying.
"Maggie! Maggie! I miss you Maggie! I'm sorry!" she sobbed.
"And thats my Que. to put her to bed and leave." He said picking her off the ground and taking her to her bedroom.. He then headed to the door, "I see you around Sun shine."
"O.K... Jack was it."
"Yes, but you can call me chocolate bear, tootals." he closed the door behind him.
Sunny took one of her boxes into her bedroom, which already had her bed and furniture in it. She opened the box and took out the picture of her foster family She smiled at it and put it on the bedside table and looked out the window.
"Today is going to be sunny," she said.
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Eddie and Ralph)
The dog was still there in the morning. It barked at Eddie. He sat up and stared at it and it just smiled and wagged its tail. Eddie looked at his alarm clock 6:00 am, he realized that he had forgotten to set his alarm last night.
"You're a weird dog," he said looking at Pogo. He got out of bed. "You know my parents can't find out you're here or they will call animal control." Pogo got up and went down the fire escape. "What a weird dog."
He went about his morning routine; shower, dress and breakfast. He sat at the kitchen table eating his cereal.
"You're going to drop Ralph off at his care school right?" asked his mother.
"Yes, mom"
"And then you're going to tutoring right?"
"Yes, mom."
"And if the train is broken agin you're going to call, right?"
"Yes, Mom." Ralph came into the kitchen. He was wearing his uniform for his school.
"Mom? Why do I have to go to a special school?" he asked?
"Because you're a special boy."
"But, its Sunday, why do I have to go to school on Sunday?"
"Because no one is going to be around to watch you."
"Why?'
"Because we have important things to do."
"Why?"
"Thats what grown ups do."
"Can a dog live on the fire escape?"
"What?"
"Nothing," said Ralph going into Eddies room. Eddie just chucked to himself.
"They will probably never get it," he thought. He finished his breakfast and went into his room.
"Pogo's not here," said Ralph.
"He is probably hiding from mom and dad." Eddie picked up his back pack, "Ready for school?"
They left the apartment and went into the elevator.
"This is just degrading for Ralph," Eddie thought. "Mom calling his school 'care school' because she doesn't want to admit that it's a special needs school. She treats it like it's a day care for him instead. He is 10 and I'm the only one that spends time with him, because I know mom and dad don't want to deal with him sometimes but still he is their son and my brother."
"Eddie? What are you thinking about?"
"When Pogo is going to be back on the fire escape." The exited the building.
"Pogo!" shouted Ralph. Eddie turning around and sure enough Pogo was fallowing them.
"Come on Ralph, we don't have time to play with Pogo."
"OK bye Pogo."
They went to the subway station, Pogo was still fallowing them. They got onto the train, Pogo was there too. They got to Ralph's school and Pogo was there.
"Hey Ralph are you going to try to go home by yourself today?"
"Yes, are you going to hang out with you friends?"
"Yeah, see you later buddy." Ralph went inside, Eddie turned and Pogo was standing in front of him. "Can you make sure Ralph gets home?" He barked and sat down by the school gate. "What a strange dog."
Eddie went to the tutoring center.
"Hey Eddie," said one of his friends.
"Hey what's up?"
"You coming after?"
"Yeah, I'll see you then. You going to bring the pot?"
"Fuck yeah, we all need to unwind."
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Andrew Smiles)
Andrew put on a fresh pair of clothes, grabbed his crutches and left his apartment. He entered the unemployment office and sat through being asked stupid questions.
"So Mr. Smiles," said the head hunter. "You worked in the entertainment business?"
"Yes."
"What kind of entertainment did you work in?'
"I was a clown in the circus."
"Were you fired or let go?"
"The circus closed."
"Why have you not been able to work in the last month?"
"The circus closed and I was in a car accident."
"Was anyone hurt?'
"My wife died and I broke my leg and a few ribs."
"Were you liable for the accident?"
"No, we were hit by a drunk driver."
"Have you received any benefits?"
"No, I filled all this paper work out with my insurgent agent. Can you please find me a job or not?"
"I can find you a small job but because of your injuries you can't work for another two weeks. Thank you for coming."
Andrew sighed and left. "Typical," he thought, "no one helps anyone anymore. I can't even get restitution for the accident." He returned to the apartment building.
"Andrew!" shouted Ms. Rockwell. "Did you get a job yet?"
"I can't because of my busted leg."
"God damn it Andrew, if you hadn't married my cousin, I'd kicked you out of here a while ago!"
"I know Beth! I know," he sighed.
"Why is your hair so greasy?"
"Can't shower with a cast."
"You couldn't even shave to make yourself look decent. You're a reck without Ely." Her words felt like an open wound to him. "Come on Andrew I'll take care of you."
She brought him into her apartment, sat him by the kitchen sink and began washing his hair.
"You know I always had to do this with Ely when she was little. That girl could never keep her hair strait and clean. Always had paint or leaves in it at one time or another. She was always such a strange one, spent all her time running around outside painting. And she loved the circus, always loved to laugh. Thats why she fell in love with you. You know that right?"
"She really did love to laugh," he sighed. "She always had a reason to smile>"
"So why can't you?"
"What's there to smile about? I'm 40, out of a job, no one is going to hire a guy in a cast, Ely is dead and I haven't received any benefits to pay you for the apartment. Plus there is a dog out side my apartment that wont stop barking."
"Mr. Crocker said his wife was talking about a dog. Maybe you should get a pet."
"I can't take care of one."
"When do you get your cast off anyway?"
"This week."
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Lucia)
The sunlight hit Lucia in the face. She groaned and rolled over. Her head was throbbing from a hang over. She got up and went into the kitchen. Sunny was in there making a feast of a breakfast.
"Good morning Lucia!"
"Who are you again?"
"Sunny," she giggled. "I made breakfast."
"You made a feast. How do you expect us to eat all this?"
"Whenever I go for a run I always get really hungry."
"You woke up early just to go for a run?"
"Not really I got up at 8 and went for an hour long run."
"What time is it?"
"10:00. Oh and if we have extra food you can take some to that nice guy down the hall."
"Nice guy?"
"Tall, light skin, kinda muscular."
"James?"
"Yeah, him, he brought you home last night. I think he likes you."
"What is this?" Lucia thought. "Sorority sister gossip time?" Lucia's phone buzzed on the table. Sunny stood there smiling at her as she answered it.
"Hello?"
"Lucia, What the fuck!" screamed the voice on the other end.
"Hi boss..."
"The response you wrote was bullshit. People are looking for meaning in their pathetic lives not a load of shit. I want you in my office tomorrow and I'm going to give you some insight about the news paper biz!" he hung up.
"Something wrong?" asked Sunny.
"I'm a journalist not a psychiatrist."
"You're a psychiatrist?"
"No, I write the Dear Abby section of the paper."
"Oh well have you ever tried being just a writer?"
"A writer?"
"Yeah, you know write a story. It can be fictional or about your life experience or even poetry. You should try it."
"Well, I got to try something I'm going to loose my job."
"Are you going to eat anything?"
"I'm going to take a shower."
She got in the shower and tried scrubbing the smell of alcohol off. A bit of soap got in her eye, she reached out for a towel but slipped on the wet tiles. She reached out for something to keep her balance but grabbed the shower curtain which she pulled off the rings. She laid on the bathroom floor tangled in the curtain as the water was still running. The door swung open and Sunny rushed in.
"Lucia! Are you..." she slipped on the wet tiles and landed in front of Lucia, who wiped the soap from her eyes and saw Sunny sitting in the wet heap. They both looked at each other and began laughing.
They both sat with their backs against the tub laughing. So why do you seem to be very energetic all the time, even on the news?" asked Lucia who was wearing the shower curtain as a toga.
"Well, I'm very optimistic and people have always relied on me for good news."
"Really? How so?"
"Well, I went into foster care when I was about 12. I thought that my life sucked then I realized that no matter what the sun is always going to shine. Which is what I always told the younger kids? That there is always something to look forward to even if its rain. I know life sucks sometimes but you got to let go of the past and move on in life."
Sunny's words were like an epiphany to her. It had been over a year, and Maggie was a good friend but she had to move on in life. She couldn't just mope around, not pay rent and loose her job. She needed a fresh start.
"I think I'm going to try writing." she said.
"But first breakfast."
Lucia sat at her computer closed her eyes and the words just came to her.
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (The Crockers)
"Who is that couple?" Mrs. Crocker was staring at their wedding photo again. "Its no the boy down the hall, who are they then?"
"Relatives, dear."
"Oh, they make such a lovely couple."
"I'm going to the market to pick up dinner and I'll be right back." He turned on the TV for her to watch and left.
At the market, he saw a beautiful bouquet of lilies. Lilies were his wife's favorite. And these looked like the ones she had in her wedding bouquet, so he got them for her.
"What lovely flowers," she said when he got back. "I've seen them somewhere before."
Ch. 2 The cards we're dealt (Eddie and Ralph)
Eddie got home after getting high with his friends. His parents were standing in the kitchen. His father was holding Pogo firmly by the collar and Ralph sat crying next to their mother.
"Fuck," he thought.
“ Eddie! What were you thinking letting Ralph come home by himself! Let alone having Ralph wander around on his own without supervision. He can't do anything on his own!" shouted their mother.
"You seriously don't think he can do anything on his own. He is smart, he is really smart."
"No, he's not, he's special!"
"Mom! He is special but the way your using the word is instead of saying retarded."
"Your brother is not retarded!"
"I know he isn't, but I'm the only one spending time with him to realize that he is a genius. He knows how to do my calculous homework."
"You are not the only one who spends time with him."
"Your a stay at home mom and you have me take him to school on Sundays as daycare."
"But, letting him come home alone."
"Mom," said Ralph. "I've been coming home by myself since I was eight."
"You what!"
"Its true," said Eddie. "I went to pick him up and they said he had already left. I ran home and he was there. He said that after watching me take him there and back he knew how to do it himself."
"So what were you doing during the time you were done tutoring and when you were suppose to pick him up?" asked their father.
"I was with my friends."
"You weren't studying?"
"I'm 17, I need my friends, I need to have fun. I'm under enough stress from you guys to get strait As and study all the time."
"Don't you want to have a good career? A future?"
"Right now I just want to be a teenager and hang out with my friends. The future can wait." His mother took a deep breath.
"All right," she said. "You can hang out with your friends, as long as you maintain your grades."
"And Pogo?" asked Ralph.
"We really can't keep the dog, but you can find it a good home."
Ch. 3 The end at the start (Lucia)
Lucia sat in her boss's office. She knew what was next.
"Lucia, your fired."
"Figures," she thought.
"I'm sorry but you screwed up for the last time. I didn't even see it until we printed it. All I can say is What the Fuck Kid. You were good but now you just suck."
"I know, I understand."
"Good now get out of my office." So she left after flipping him off.
"Great now what am I going to do?" she thought on her way home, Her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hello, I'm calling from Facts about life.com on the job application that you submitted."
"Job application?"
"This is Lucia Flores-Garcia?"
"Yes."
"We received your resume and the sample writing you did about Viva la Vida," the piece that she had written yesterday. "And we would love to offer you to write a weekly column for our website."
"Really?"
"The position pays $ 10k a column." Lucia stood dumb founded, that was twice as much as she got for writing the Dear Abby section.
"Do I have to come to an office or something?"
"No, you can work from your house, your pay checks will be sent to your house and we will email you for work."
"OK, thank you so much."
"We look forward to your columns," they hung up. Lucia dialed Sunny's cell.
"Hi Lucia, What's up?"
"Did you send my resume to facts about life.com?"
Ch. 3 The end at the start (The crockers)
Mrs. Crocker was still staring at the old wedding photo. The flowers he had gotten her, were in a vase next to them.
"I know this couple." she said.
"You might dear. We are out of milk so I'm going to run to the market to get some, so I will be right back." But she wasn't paying attention.
"What lovely flowers, I've seen them somewhere before."
At the market Mr. Crocker saw a pamphlet for a retirement home. He picked it up and looked at it.
"Ocean view retirement home. Taking care of the ones you love. Whether they have special needs or are disabled, Ocean view will take care of them. Ocean view is at an affordable price for; families, couples and singles. Located on the sunny beaches of Coastal Shores."
He had thought about a retirement home before.
"Maybe its time we moved to one," he thought.
Mr. Crocker returned home, his wife stood in the living room. She had pulled out the old box full of stuff from their wedding day. She stood there wearing her wedding dress, that after over fifty years somehow still fit her. She was also holding the bouquet of lilies.
"I remembered," she said, "that I love you." He walked over and kissed her.
"We really don't need a retirement home," he thought.
Ch. 3 The end at the start (Andrew Smiles)
Andrew sat on the coach watching TV drinking a beer. Ms. Rockwell opened the front door and came in.
"Please come in," he said sarcastically.
"Andrew, I know your depressed, so I brought you something." She let go of the leash she was holding and the dog ran up to him.
"What's this?"
"A dog. The boys down the hall said that they fond him on the fire escape. Their parents won't let them keep it, so they were looking for a home and I said I knew someone who was looking for a dog. So here you go."
"What am I suppose to do with a dog?"
"Here," she tossed a ball to him. "Play ketch with it, it can take care of itself. Oh and the boys say its a circus dog." She said closing the door. He turned and looked at the dog, who was sitting in front of him wagging it's tail and smiling.
"So your the one waking me up." He threw the ball and the dog went after it, but instead brought him back something that wasn't the ball. It was red and round. He held it up, it was his clown nose. He put it on the dog's nose.
He chuckled to himself, "A circus dog." The dog sat up on it's hind legs.
"A circus dog..." It gave him an idea. "Well, circus dog what can you do?"
Ch. 3 The end at the start (Eddie and Ralph)
"Eddie? Where are you going?"
"There is a school dance and I'm going to go."
"Mom and Dad are letting you?"
"Yeah."
"When will you get back?"
"Late."
"Do you wan to go see Pogo tomorrow?"
"Sure," Eddie turned to leave.
"Hey Eddie."
"Yes, Ralph?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Ch. 3 The end at the start (James)
James entered the apartment bailing. Lucia was staring at a flier for a clown and his dog.
"What are you reading?" he asked.
"The hilarious antics of Smiles the clown and his K9 companion Pogo, are up for hire for party entertainment."
"I didn't know Mr. Smiles was a clown." He said.
"I didn't either," they both got into the elevator.
"Sunny said that she left me some food?" he asked.
"Oh yeah, she made a feast again this morning. We didn't finish it so its yours if you want it."
"Sure." They got off and headed to her apartment. "Heard you got a new job."
"Yeah my own column."
"Good for you, I got to transfer of get a new job. I hate working for the metro."
"Did you always want to be a cop?"
"Na, I wanted to be a musician, but I never learned how to play an instrument."
"Its never to late. I can teach you how to play the guitar."
"I'd like that." She opened the door to the apartment. The Local news was on the TV.
"I didn't think you watched the news."
"I don't but Sunny is on it."
"Holy Shit!"
"What?"
"Thats Mary!"
"Your girlfriend?"
"A woman was arrested today" said the anchor man, "For indecent exposure for running around painted purple in nothing but a lion-cloth. The women said that Abby told her to" they both stared at he TV in awe.
"Want to go get a beer?" he asked knowing that his relationship with Mary was over.
"Sure but can I watch Sunny first, I haven't seen her do the weather before."
"Up next the weather" said the anchor man.
"Thanks Tom," said Sunny. "Later in the week its going to be rainy but don't worry, Tomorrow is going to be sunny."
FIN!!!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Ch. 3 The end at the start (James)
James entered the apartment builing. Lucia was staring at a flier for a clown and his dog.
"Whatcha reading?" he asked.
"The hillarious antics of Smiles the clown and his K9 compainion Pogo, are up for hier for party entertainment."
"I didn't know Mr. Smiles was a clown." He said.
"I didn't either," they both got into the elivator.
"Sunny said that she left me some food?" he asked.
"Oh yay, she made a feast again this morning. We didn't finish it so its yours if you want it."
"Sure." They got off and headed to her apartment. "Heard you got a new job."
"Yay my own column."
"Good for you, I got to transfer of get a new job. I hate working for the metro."
"Did you always want to be a cop?"
"Na, I wanted to be a musician, but I never learned how to play an instrament."
"Its never to late. I can teach you how to play the guitar."
"I'ld like that." She opened the door to the apartment. The Local news was on the tv.
"i didn't think you watched the news."
"I don't but Sunny is on it."
"Holy Shit!"
"What?"
"Thats Mary!"
"Your girlfriend?"
"A woman was arrested today" said the ancor man, "For indecent exposure for running around painted purple in nothing but a lioncloth. The women said that Abby told her to" they both stared at he tv in awe.
"Want to go get a beer?" he asked knowing that his relationship with mary was over.
"Sure but can I watch Sunny first, I haven't seen her do the weather before."
"Up next the weather" said the ancor man.
"Thanks Tom," said Sunny. "Later in the week its going to be rainy but don't wory, Tomorrow is going to be sunny."
FIN!!!
"Whatcha reading?" he asked.
"The hillarious antics of Smiles the clown and his K9 compainion Pogo, are up for hier for party entertainment."
"I didn't know Mr. Smiles was a clown." He said.
"I didn't either," they both got into the elivator.
"Sunny said that she left me some food?" he asked.
"Oh yay, she made a feast again this morning. We didn't finish it so its yours if you want it."
"Sure." They got off and headed to her apartment. "Heard you got a new job."
"Yay my own column."
"Good for you, I got to transfer of get a new job. I hate working for the metro."
"Did you always want to be a cop?"
"Na, I wanted to be a musician, but I never learned how to play an instrament."
"Its never to late. I can teach you how to play the guitar."
"I'ld like that." She opened the door to the apartment. The Local news was on the tv.
"i didn't think you watched the news."
"I don't but Sunny is on it."
"Holy Shit!"
"What?"
"Thats Mary!"
"Your girlfriend?"
"A woman was arrested today" said the ancor man, "For indecent exposure for running around painted purple in nothing but a lioncloth. The women said that Abby told her to" they both stared at he tv in awe.
"Want to go get a beer?" he asked knowing that his relationship with mary was over.
"Sure but can I watch Sunny first, I haven't seen her do the weather before."
"Up next the weather" said the ancor man.
"Thanks Tom," said Sunny. "Later in the week its going to be rainy but don't wory, Tomorrow is going to be sunny."
FIN!!!
Ch. 3 The end at the start (Eddie and Ralph)
"Eddie? Where are you going?"
"There is a school dance and I'm going to go."
"Mom and Dad are letting you?"
"Yay."
"When will you get backe?"
"Late."
"Do you wan to go see Pogo tomorrow?"
"Sure," Eddie turned ot leave.
"Hey Eddie."
"Yes Ralph?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"There is a school dance and I'm going to go."
"Mom and Dad are letting you?"
"Yay."
"When will you get backe?"
"Late."
"Do you wan to go see Pogo tomorrow?"
"Sure," Eddie turned ot leave.
"Hey Eddie."
"Yes Ralph?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Ch. 3 The end at the start (Andrew Smiles)
Andrew sat on the coach watching tv drinking a beer. Ms. Rockwell opened the front door and came in.
"Please come in," he said sarcasticly.
"Andrew, I know your depressed, so I brought you something." she let go of the leash she was holding and the dog ran up to him.
"What's this?"
"A dog. The boys down the hall said that they fond him on the fire escape. Their parents won't let them keep it, so they were looking for a home and I said I knew someone who was looking for a dog. So here you go."
"Waht am I supose to do with a dog?"
"Here," she tossed a ball to him. "Play ketch with it, it can take care of itself. Oh and the boys say its a circus dog." She said closing the door. He turned and looked at the dog, who was sitting in front of him wagging it's tail and smiling.
"So your the one waking me up." He threw the ball and the dog went after it, but instead brought him back something that wasn't the ball. It was red and round. He held it up, it was his clown nose. He put it on the dog's nose.
He chuckled to himself, "A circus dog." The dog sat up on it's hind legs.
"A circus dog..." It gave him an idea. "Well ciruc dog what can you do?"
"Please come in," he said sarcasticly.
"Andrew, I know your depressed, so I brought you something." she let go of the leash she was holding and the dog ran up to him.
"What's this?"
"A dog. The boys down the hall said that they fond him on the fire escape. Their parents won't let them keep it, so they were looking for a home and I said I knew someone who was looking for a dog. So here you go."
"Waht am I supose to do with a dog?"
"Here," she tossed a ball to him. "Play ketch with it, it can take care of itself. Oh and the boys say its a circus dog." She said closing the door. He turned and looked at the dog, who was sitting in front of him wagging it's tail and smiling.
"So your the one waking me up." He threw the ball and the dog went after it, but instead brought him back something that wasn't the ball. It was red and round. He held it up, it was his clown nose. He put it on the dog's nose.
He chuckled to himself, "A circus dog." The dog sat up on it's hind legs.
"A circus dog..." It gave him an idea. "Well ciruc dog what can you do?"
Ch. 3 The end at the start (The crockers)
Mrs. Crocker was still staring at the old wedding photo. The flowers he had gotten her, were in a vase next to them.
"I know this couple." she said.
"You might dear. We are out of milk so I'm going to run to the market to get some, so I will be right back." But she wasn't paying attention.
"What lovely flowers, I've seen them somewhere before."
At the market Mr. Crocker saw a pamflit for a retirement home. He picked it up and looked at it.
"Ocean view retirement home. Taking care of the ones you love. Whether they have special needs or are disabled, Ocean view will take care of them. Ocean view is at an affordable price for; families, couples and singles. Located on the sunny beaches of Coastal Shores."
He had thought about a retirement home before.
"Maybe its time we moved to one," he thought.
Mr. Crocker returned home, his wife stood in the living room. She had pulled out the old box full of stuff from their wedding day. She stood there wearing her wedding dress, that after over fiftee years some how still fit her. She was also holding the boque of lillies.
"I remembered," she said, "That I love you." He walked over and kissed her.
"We really don't need a retirement home," he thought.
"I know this couple." she said.
"You might dear. We are out of milk so I'm going to run to the market to get some, so I will be right back." But she wasn't paying attention.
"What lovely flowers, I've seen them somewhere before."
At the market Mr. Crocker saw a pamflit for a retirement home. He picked it up and looked at it.
"Ocean view retirement home. Taking care of the ones you love. Whether they have special needs or are disabled, Ocean view will take care of them. Ocean view is at an affordable price for; families, couples and singles. Located on the sunny beaches of Coastal Shores."
He had thought about a retirement home before.
"Maybe its time we moved to one," he thought.
Mr. Crocker returned home, his wife stood in the living room. She had pulled out the old box full of stuff from their wedding day. She stood there wearing her wedding dress, that after over fiftee years some how still fit her. She was also holding the boque of lillies.
"I remembered," she said, "That I love you." He walked over and kissed her.
"We really don't need a retirement home," he thought.
Ch. 3 The end at the start (Lucia)
Lucia sat in her boss's office. She knew waht was next.
"Lucia, your fired."
"Figures," she thought.
"I'm sorry but you screwed up for the last time. I didn't even see it until we printed it. All I can say is What the Fuck Kid. You were good but now you just suck."
"I know, I understand."
"Good now get out of my office." So she left after flipping him off.
"Great now what am I going to do?" she thought on her way home, Her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hello, I'm calling from Facts about life.com on the job application that you submitted."
"Job application?"
"This is Lucia Flores-Garcia?"
"Yes."
"We recieved your resume and the sample writing you did about Viva la Vida," the piece that she had written yesterday. "And we would love to offer you to write a weekly column for our website."
"Really?"
"The position pays $ 10k a column." Lucia stood dumb founded, that was twice as much as she got for writing the Dear Abby section.
"Do I have to come to an office or something?"
"No, you can work from your house, your pay checks will be sent to your house and we will email you for work."
"OK, thank you so much."
"We look forward to your columns," they hung up. Lucia dialed Sunny's cell.
"Hi Lucia, What's up?"
"Did you send my resume to facts about life.com?"
"Lucia, your fired."
"Figures," she thought.
"I'm sorry but you screwed up for the last time. I didn't even see it until we printed it. All I can say is What the Fuck Kid. You were good but now you just suck."
"I know, I understand."
"Good now get out of my office." So she left after flipping him off.
"Great now what am I going to do?" she thought on her way home, Her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hello, I'm calling from Facts about life.com on the job application that you submitted."
"Job application?"
"This is Lucia Flores-Garcia?"
"Yes."
"We recieved your resume and the sample writing you did about Viva la Vida," the piece that she had written yesterday. "And we would love to offer you to write a weekly column for our website."
"Really?"
"The position pays $ 10k a column." Lucia stood dumb founded, that was twice as much as she got for writing the Dear Abby section.
"Do I have to come to an office or something?"
"No, you can work from your house, your pay checks will be sent to your house and we will email you for work."
"OK, thank you so much."
"We look forward to your columns," they hung up. Lucia dialed Sunny's cell.
"Hi Lucia, What's up?"
"Did you send my resume to facts about life.com?"
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