My hand flails wildly at the
nightstand. I grab for anything
that will stop the ringing. The
lamp falls to the floor followed by a pile of papers. Who the hell is calling at this time? It’s not a number I recognize on the
caller ID. Probably a drunk dialing
the wrong number. Roll over and
press my face as deep as I can into the pillow. Can I fall back asleep if I tell myself “I have to sleep?” A beep. They left a message?
What if it’s an emergency?
I better check just in case.
Roll back over as my hand thrashes for the phone again. I have one message.
“Oh, hey Luke. Guess yer not there. I was… Um… Anyway, if
ya can, call me back. Oh yeah,
it’s Monica.” Well, it didn’t
sound urgent. Maybe it is. Didn’t seem tipsy. Maybe she is. Even if there was a problem, what could I do? I’m here and she’s in California. Should I call her back?
What does she want? We haven’t talked in years. Isn’t this a strange coincidence? Does chance exist or is it all predetermined? I just saw the warehouse where we met a
little bit ago. Our relationship
started with an expiration date.
There was no fault, just life pulled us in different directions. Monica ended up in Los Angeles and I’m
doing whatever the hell it is I’m doing.
Still doesn’t answer my question:
should I call her back? My grandpa
always says, “Nothin’ good ever happens after 3am.” That usually referred to me being out on the town. Not sure if that applies to a phone
call. Monica is a grenade with a
faulty pin. Everything is fine
until it isn’t. No one should
think this much about a stupid phone call.
Screw it, I’ll return the
call. It rings. It rings again. Now I get the voicemail. Forget it. I’m not leaving a message. Finally, I can get back to sleep.
Again, the phone rings and
it’s Monica, “Hey Monica, is everythin’ okay?”
“Hi! I’m great. Did I wake ya?”
Maybe she didn’t take the time zones into account. “I can call back later.”
“No. No.” Not falling back asleep any time soon anyway. “So, how’s California treatin’ ya?”
“Oh, it was… good. I moved back home a little while ago, ya know.”
“I didn’t know. I thought da next time I’d see ya was
goin’ ta be in da movies. I’d say
‘I knew ya when’…”
“That’s sweet.” Her voice now deflated. “L.A. was not what I thought it’d
be. Ya always hear how fake and
phony everythin’ is out there, but it’s much worse. It’s all ‘bout havin’ da right friends, bein’ in da right
cliques, ‘nd givin’ favors ta sleazeballs. ‘Nd if ya don’t have da ‘right look,’ forget ‘bout da whole
thing. Anyway, Anabelle told me
yer back in town too. Is that
right?”
“Yeah, Granpa got sick ‘nd I
moved in ta help out.” I could of
told her the whole story, but isn’t that depressing enough?
“Nothin’ serious, I hope.”
“It’s serious. It’s all ‘bout reducin’ his pain at
this point. Enough ‘bout
that. What’s goin’ on with ya?”
“I’m at da Fallen Angel Bar
‘nd thought I’d see if ya wanted ta come out. Whaduya say?
Wanna hang out?”
“No shit? I was there a while back.” Some things never change. “Not tanight though. I’ve gotta work tamorrow mornin’. But, I’m pretty free after three
tamorrow.”
“Great!” Now I can hear all the gears grinding
in her head. “A coupla friends ‘nd
I are goin’ ta Flanigan’s ta see a band tamorrow night, if ya wanna come.”
“Sure.” Flanigan’s is the worst fake Irish pub
with the biggest douchebag patrons. “What time?”
“Doors open at seven. So, whaduya think? ‘Bout eight sound good?”
“Works fer me.”
“Great! Can’t wait ta see ya. ‘Night Luke.”
“’Night.” I hang up and turn on the lamp that
fell onto dirty laundry. The cheap
light bulb casts an uneven yellow light across the ceiling. It looks like static waves of dirty
water splashing against the walls.
Still not sure if it was a “good” idea to return Monica’s call. But, if I didn’t she’s liable to throw
a fit in the front yard and wake up the neighborhood. Still, I’m second guessing my risk and reward
assessment. What is it about
Monica that drives me insane?
Thank you for reading and your support. This would not be possible without you!
If you have any submissions, questions, comments, suggestions, or anything else, please feel free to contact me at: LukeArchaism@gmail.com
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