You’re pretty sure you know what death feels like. You were smack in the middle of it. You can’t open your eyes – breathing hurts your lungs – even your hair is throbbing. All you can do is lay in bed – and throw up – and go back to
Every year like clockwork, September meant School. And then the ritual. Standing in line – signing up for classes – always behind that one person you could never stand. Spotting the new kids – you can tell them a mile away. Nervous – always in the wrong line. Some look
It seemed like a great idea at the time. School on acid. It was a first for you. High spirited authority it would be fun. Just before First period. All six of you. Friend’s brother had a friend who had a friend. Guaranteed life changing. Came all the way from
You remember her – like yesterday, you remember her. All about the nose. She was convinced it was the biggest thing on her body. She was convinced you were just being nice. She was convinced half the population of Culver City could live inside her nostrils. She knew, once she
Lining up for Slot Machines – You could never figure out what the big deal was. Every Summer, like Clockwork. Since you were five, since you were old enough to eat on your own – two weeks, middle of Summer. Family Vacation. Loading up the Plymouth Suburban – gassing up
You told them you were nineteen. They didn’t check. They were looking for warm bodies that could spend 8 hours on a bike, riding around Beverly Hills and Century City, delivering envelopes to offices and avoid getting killed. You and your buddies – delivery boys for Ace Messenger Service. Perfect
You’re a nervous wreck. Can’t hold a pencil. You have places to go – people to see – things to do. Big things – important things – life altering things. But you’re stuck in class – last period – listening to a cure for insomnia. Not today – today you
Every so often, Memorial Drive hits a speed-bump. You do miss those days. You really do. Because . . . At the time you couldn’t wait. Could’t wait for the day to be over – couldn’t wait for the line to get short – couldn’t wait for the weekend –
You could light a twelve story building with a look like that. You were convinced. You did something right – maybe your last life. You couldn’t believe your luck. You had dreams and she was in them. You didn’t know her name – you didn’t need to. Okay – she
It’s jail. Everybody gets busted, at least once. Rite of passage, you say – part of being on the planet, you say – part of being a kid, you say. You and your friends – one of you with a car. All of you plotting and scheming since Christmas to
