RIKI II: Play The Game

Chapter SEVEN

November 8th  2020Brasilia's birthday and turned to be a success as I planned. I got her a Junior's original NY cheesecake, flowers, financial book, and set the mood with her favorite musician Tom Petty. She cried happily. Old foolish hag. We watched Kill Bill Vol. 1. Brasilia was awe struck with Uma Thurman's performance. I can't wait for the day I get to fry my grandmother's ass for what she did to me. And she better not die on me either. I want her alive to feel my pain.

November 17th 2020. Things are changing at work. I don't like it, but I have to go along with it. Astor Place is no longer NYSC. It's the new luxury brand, TMPL. I've been to the one at Hell's Kitchen. Now Astor Place, Avenue A, and West Village locations have been separated from NYSC to make the gyms better. The separation of the gyms reminds me of the 106th location. From Bally's Total Fitness to Tapout to NYSC. In 2011, my first gym was Planet Fitness at 125TH Street. TMPL will be the fifth gym I've been in.

As far as memberships and rates go, it's confusing. I need clarity. I was told if any member's home club was either four of the TMPL locations, any NYSC member would be grandfathered to TMPL with their honored rate. If they want to stay with NYSC, they stick with their locations only. Now I'm hearing something else and the members might be screwed. I only care about me and making this money.

Helena doesn't work here anymore. She's out chasing her dream job. When we had our team meeting and Martha announced the news, I was a little disappointed. I didn't want Helena to go. She was good at her job. Also, I would never see her again. I was gonna miss her, but I couldn't let myself to. Missing was the last thing I wanted. I never wanted to yearn for anything. Yearning meant heart break; Chasing Red, Isabelle Ronin. I would be making the same mistake missing Yoko when I said goodbye to her as she left Senator Perkins office. I don't want to say goodbye to people anymore. I just want them to go and never return to my life ever again. I'll be spared the pain.

When we signed the farewell card to Helena, all I wrote was "bye" like I didn't care. The team gave her a doughnut celebration with her own box. The last time I saw Helena was when she had her blonde hair down her shoulders, wearing an olive-green gown, and black boots. She said leaving after she clocked out: "Okay, I'm out. I don't work here anymore."

Martha, my now former boss, has been moved to the Avenue A location. I didn't want Martha to go either since I was getting used to her. But I can't do that either. She's gone. Kimberly told me that she's a racist and a Trump supporter which shocked me. Then again, I must be aware that not everyone seems to be what they are. I learned that from my father.

The temporary boss at Astor goes by the name of Ryan. He's a bald, short, bulky dude who is also a board director. I was told that he was nice, fair, and good with numbers which he tended to most. I don't like him. There's just something about the guy I can't put my finger on that tingles my Spidey-Senses.

I've been working out and going to work on the same day as means of clocking in on time. Tardiness is one of my pet-peeves. Things are still slow feeling like just a day without a manager. No appointments or sales as of late. At least I booked a fitness orientation for Friday. I have leads to follow on former guests from NYSC's location at Mercer. Most of them are not feeling it, but it will keep me busy. My throne stands at $5,450. I need to hold down the fort to get up to six grand. Ten grand is the goal for me. Maybe after that I'll spoil myself a little then aim for twenty grand.

I've been talking to Jennifer and Sol at the front desk. Well, they spoke to me. I told myself I wouldn't talk to anyone. I hate being social thanks to my introverted development. But when you're alone at a front desk for what seems like a long time, talking can break the boredom and pass the time. And...I needed to talk to somebody.

We may have a conversation, but we are not friends. When the talk is over, I clock out and forget about them. I can't decide if they're good or not. There are no good people in this world. I can't trust anyone. I must keep my guard up at all times.

Jennifer is a twenty-one-year-old Latina with the attitude of an Aries. She's been part of the Welcome Team at Astor for I don't know how long and lives in the Bronx with her boyfriend. She can be impulsive at times, and keeps it real with herself and others. Sol worked at Astor Place for the clean team around the time it was David Bartman. Black skin, colored dreads, wears glasses, and tattoos on arms. Sol has a husband, sisters, daughters, and a protective son. She was a one stop neighbor in the Bronx close to Jennifer. What got me talking to her was when she asked me what location I originally worked for. Then came our love for professional wrestling. And that's how we started talking more.

They say the gyms are going for a second close in December. I don't give a fuck what happens to the world since it's gonna burn anyway. I do want my job to stay open because I need to make this money. If the gyms close, I'm gonna be stuck again and will have to work on holding my throne. I'll need to find another job as a backup plan. Maybe I'll do Amazon or a nightclub.

We have a new elected president. I wonder if this was the first time they took a few days to recount everything and announce a decisive winner. That day when it was official Biden won, the weather was nice. All day long everyone was cheering, honking their horns, and celebrated at Washington Square Park. I just sat on the bench eating my blueberry pancakes and eggs not minding the folly. Later that night, I practice my pops on Dust then went to Franklin Plaza to pack a bag for a night at 1428.

I admit my thoughts on this election was small. I kept saying to myself and others Trump was gonna win knowing the magic of the political field. The other side I didn't see that this was just about getting rid of Trump. With Biden appearing as an angel, the public could really take voting seriously. Not that it matters because it's moot. That's why I don't vote; never have since I was eighteen. I don't believe anything the government says. As for my belief in God, I don't know what to believe or what happens when I die or if there will be an Armageddon. I'm certainly not down with the devil either.

Winter is coming. The motto of the Starks will forever be true as a warning to us all. I understand what George Martin said when he explained about the season in his book, The Winds of Winter: Winter is the time when things die and cold and ice and darkness fill the world. He was right. As I am now in the month of December, the cold whispers the warning of winter's arrival. I welcome the season. It will lead us into the New Year. 2020 was indeed chaos. I don't think '21 isn't going to be any better. Things might get worse.

I watch Shameless with Lisa, Girls with Chrissy, and PlayStation with Chris. This is the second Thanksgiving I had with them since the three years.

I didn't give a shit about the pilgrim colonists holiday called Thanksgiving. I just wanted the food. I spent the day at 1428. Lisa made the whole shebang with the dessert package: seafood rice, collard greens, baked man-n-cheese, and turkey. I don't like benin, gandulez, potato salad, or potato pie. I ate the shit out of ice cream, pumpkin pie, brownies, and chocolate mousse.

The love scenes in Shameless are so hot and heartfelt. They make me miss that kind of affection. They make me wish I had someone to casually make out and have sex with for the rest of my life. I wish there was a girl, but I can't feel anything. Stay focused, Riki.