Joel, king of no country and leader of no one, gave it all up years ago. He gave up: a closetful of delicately tailored suits, which he caressed the silken cloth and fingered the fine details daily; a cupboard of luxurious designer shoes crafted from alligator, ostrich, and snake, which he meticulously cleaned and polished after each wearing; precious gemstone watches, tie clips, and cufflinks, each labelled for days of the week and locked in a velvet-lined box; an expensive Collegiate-Blue sports car which screeched and squealed as he sped along streets; an extravagant condo on Beach Drive, furnished with the most modern amenities; dining at the finest eateries, consuming lobsters, truffles, and aperitifs; along with, the soaring career which financed his exquisite possessions and pricey lifestyle.
Now, everything he owns is worn on his back: a rumpled green shirt stained with soup and pilfered condiments; ragged jeans stiffened with dirt and reeking of sweat and sidewalk spit; blackened sports socks, with holes in both heels; tattered runners, the sole of the left shoe peeling and separating; a grubby dark-brown all-weather coat, which on warm days he rolls up as a pillow; a filthy lightweight all-season blanket, a gift in a Christmas hamper. Over his shoulder he carries a soiled dark-blue knapsack, inside: a small bag of donated toiletries, and a large plastic bag for storing foodstuffs. He knows the safest places to sleep outdoors, who serves the best grub, and where to take an occasional shower.
On a decent day he might be downtown, seated on a gritty sidewalk, his body lightly rocking, staring up at the sky, his eyes following the flight of birds, muttering, “I keep happiness within my grasp, I keep happiness within my grasp, I keep happiness within my grasp...”
Joel, king of no country and leader of no one, is sovereign of his own dominion and director of his own self.
YOU ARE READING
Speaking in Mirrors
Short StoryIllustrated short stories. Seeking connections, a glimpse or a sigh; stale hotdogs and greasy beef jerky; reincarnation and landfills; King for the day; whiskey, lacquered hair and keeping happiness – tall tales of a small city.
