RIKI II: Play The Game

Chapter TWENTY-SIX

April 9th, 2022. Junior invited me to one of his boat parties. I got in no problem without an ID check thanks to his connect. It was an Indian party with DJ Anushka spinning. We need more female DJ's.

I didn't dance throughout the whole cruise. Instead, I just took a seat on the upper and lower deck writing and watching Indians dance. There were a few cute ones, but I wasn't looking for a hook up. The cord was both young and old together. It's cool to see that kind of crowd and old people living it up.

Indian food smells like sour salty shit. I can say their rice and bread was good from the buffet. The volume was too loud for my ears, but I took it as it was. I was also tired wishing I was never on this boat.

Besides writing, talking to Milly held me down. We've been DM-ing over Instagram. I like talking to her because when it comes from her, it makes me warm. I can tell she's interested in me. I haven't seen her since that time we had our date. She's nineteen now. We gotta have a second date.

As the cruise shipped by the bridges on the river, I thought about Beth. I wish she was here with me, but she was out with her friends celebrating her birthday which was on the sixth of April. She looked beautiful in that olive dress I saw on her story. The next time I see her, I'll buy her a gift for her belated birthday. That's if I ever see her again.

April 24th, 2022. I found a new place to skateboard. Washington Square Park was cool, but it's a hot spot I should avoid especially with some skateboarders who could easily get pissed when you mess up their stunts. Thomas Jefferson skate park is good for only having a few people there. Sometimes I have the whole park to myself which is better. Riverside Skatepark is nice too, but far from the east side.

I went to LES Coleman Skatepark. It has a lot of space with bars, curves, and graffiti art. You can hear the train crossing the bridge above you. I can't wait for summer. I wonder what it will be like with all the skateboarders there. New places feel good. Anywhere you haven't been, you should try even if it seems like it sucks.

I don't want to be old. It's not for me. I can't see myself being on a cane or assistant walker with my skin all wrinkly and sitting on a bench watching people. Fuck that. I want to be young forever. I want to stay the way I am. You know how every twenty something year old always say I'm getting old as they move up a number? For a while I thought it was ridiculous. Now I'm starting to think that way.

Key word: think. It's all coming from my head. My mind can be enemy if I don't control it. Old is not an age neither is being young. Old and young is a condition. I am not getting old; I'm maturing. There are things that I'm getting tired of and want to stop. Age is like wine. It never gets old. It tastes good all the same and comes with different flavors.

There are a lot of things I don't have and things I never did. Yet. I shouldn't be ungrateful. I must remind myself of the important things.

1. I've never been arrested or in jail

2. I have no children

3. I have my health

4. I got a nice body

5. I'm still alive

6. I got my money

7. I got a job

My throne is back to its former amount of ten grand. Hard work, patience, focus, and discipline. When I withdrew the money out of the nearest Bank of America, the teller said to me "Use it wisely."

"Oh, I plan to." I said before leaving the bank.

April 30th, 2022 Me and Chill headed home from a workout at Planet Fitness. At the corner of 116th Street and first avenue, I spotted something on a sewer lid of the sidewalk. It was a baby bird. And it was still alive. Immediately, I'm brought back to the summer of 2015 when I found Pidgey and failed to save him. Now looking at my present scenario, I take it as a chance at redemption.

I picked the bird up and Chill helped me search for an animal care shelter that would take care of Pidgeotto. That's what I called him. We stopped at one spot that only took care of cats and dogs. The woman who worked there pointed us to a direction that led us to a place at 326 East 110th Street. On our way there I carelessly dropped Pidgeotto while carrying him in my wrapped cloth. He squeaked when he hit the ground. I quickly picked him up back in my hands apologizing to him. He was still alive, still moving, trying to wriggle his way out of my care.

I said looking down at the bird pointing with my index finger, "No, no, no, no. Stop it. I'm trying to take care of you by saving you. Relax, now." Pidgeotto's eyes, still half shut as they were when I found him, stops fidgeting as if he listened to me.

We found Animal Care Centers of NYC. I passed by here I don't know how many times seeing people with their dogs. Chill went on home and told me to text him about what happened.

A lady at the center approached me. "Hello! What do we have?"

I found this little guy on the sidewalk on 116th and first avenue. I think he's still alive.

"Okay, well. Why don't you let me have a look at him." I let the woman take Pidgeotto off my hands. After she observes him, she passes him to her co-worker.

The lady then tells me, "Alright. Why don't you have a seat and I'll give you a form for you to sign. We'll find out what's wrong with the little guy." So, this place deals with birds too. Thank goodness.

A few seconds later, I fill out a report about Pigeotto then wait to get a receipt from the lady. When she comes back to me, she tells me "The center can't name the bird Pidgeotto since so many people who came here named their pets after Pokémon. We named him Gary." His name is Pidgeotto. Gary is white boy living in the suburbs with his wife, kids, and dog.

The lady told me when a bird gives birth they leave their baby behind for it to find them on their own. Nature. That's kinda strange in a fucked-up way. The lady hands me a Wildlife Admission Form for me to keep. When I'm out, I text Chill what happened. The center would take care of Pidgeotto. A rescue team would come for him. When the rescue team come to get Pidgeotto, they'll put him in their center then release him once they get him to walk and fly into the outside world. I hope Pidgeotto finds his parents.

I was happy I was able to help a bird from being stomped by an asshole in the street. As much I don't care because I can't allow myself, no person who doesn't care would be compassionate enough to save a baby bird's life.

I haven't checked on Pidgeotto since then. Maybe, I didn't need to. I did what I wanted to do. I could leave it at that. Animals deserve to be saved than humans. And they're grateful for it.