* SIX MONTHS AFTER THE SNAP *
' Tap. Tap. Tap. '
The birds flock onto the window sill, curious about their new neighbor. E loves to watch them hopping around.
It's his favorite way to wake up after a regular night of imbibing. He checks his phone, 0730 hrs. He adds an extra blanket and slips back into bed waiting for the cold weather to thaw out.
After rolling around in his futon, he checks again. It's almost midday. He has to get up. He washes his face and pops a mint in his mouth. He picks up his grey sweats from the previous day, does a quick sniff test. Still good. Pairs it with a blue beanie and white silver nikeys.
Erik's crib is still brand new. The events that followed after his hasty exit from the palace were nothing but sheer luck. Barely halfway in his weekly stay at a budget hotel he got a caller from an ad he casually viewed.
A misfortunate middle aged man named Belling, is badly in need of some cash. Parents gone in the blip and they were his lifeline. Never worked a day in his life. The banks are not working fast enough on the next of kin stuff. That's how Erik copped a new three-bedroom house for a throw away price.
The gravelly dirt road crunches under the wheels of his yellow vw golf car. Time to restock supplies at his lil mini mart. This lil corner of the suburbs looks familiar. He's glad to get some parking space. It seems like the abandoned cars have been towed away.
He steps out of the car with his extra shopping bags in hand. He notices a new large graffiti mural of T on the outer wall of the store. It gives him the chills. His chest begins to tighten up, he feels dizzy. He leans on the bonnet, hits the vape trying to buy some time as the panic attack passes. Fuck ! Barely holding it together.
He sees some kids hanging out the gas station. Looking somewhere between late teens to young adults. Talking shit, loud laughing and others skating. Please Bast, no shit head activity today. He slowly walks to the entrance. He gets hit by the cool air of the AC, the sweet smell of candy and grilled meats from the deli.
' I can help you ma'am. '
' Naw, M good. '
' So you just gone ignore me ? '
He slowly turns around to see who has the audacity to bother him on a nice weekend.
Tumi lunges into him sending him staggering backwards.
' Take your time. ' he humors him.
He beams brightly, very happy to see Erik Dressed in blue denim from head to toe. Still looks good with his buzz cut and clean shaven face.
' I been watching you. '
' Stalker alert. '
They share a playful glance.
' So, what's good with you ? '
' Needed some supplies. '
' You live around here ? '
' Sort of. '
Tumi quickly grabs a shopping cart all ready to go.
' So when were you going to invite me ?
' Rn ? '
' Yeah. '
' Barely got my shit together. '
' Pad still brand new ? '
' Yeah. '
' I just need something soft to lay my ass on. '
Erik pretends to seriously consider this new proposal as he picks out some milk, cereal and bread. Tumi adds some sweet and spicy snacks. It's getting late they grab a large pizza and a soda for a meal back at home. Erik is glad to see that he can still remember his way back to the new crib. Whew !
Tu helps unload the groceries as Erik turns on the security lights. The itch to explore is overwhelming. E gives him the go ahead. The house faintly smells of paint and cleaning products. Wow ! The owner must be generous. Most land lords don't even bother to clean up for new tenants anymore. The rooms are spacious and large. No ugly brown furniture or tiles.
He joins him for dinner by the kitchen counter.
' The house is beautiful. '
' Thank you. '
' This new deli. '
' I know, really good. '
' Is red ( Tumi's cockerel ) still there ? '
' No. He drowned in the well. '
' Shit. I'm sorry. '
' Know what's weird ? The next morning a white cock showed up. '
' From nowhere ? '
' I think they fought and he knocked Red into the well. '
' Wait..., that makes some sense. '
' These hens be trifling af. '
' So trash. '
Life's been hell. He doesn't mind some quality company. He's glad that the sales clerk at the supermarket convinced him to buy two futons. Tumi connects them so that they can be closer. He gets him some spare clothes. This is very reminiscent of their first night together.
They hit the pink sofa. Tumi leans closer into E , careful not to spill the gin lemonade in his plastic cup.
' It's been a rough couple of months. '
' I know. '
' I lost my parents to the blip. '
' I'm sorry. '
' How you been holding up ? '
' Some days have been good. '
He watches Tumi configure the TV. He's never bothered to turn it on. It just lays there adorning the wall. He picks a new movie
- Thriller/Action.
Rhino man
Description
- Halflling hybrid tries to find his place in the world.
Ew ! Did wolverine have kids.
' This is going to suck. '
' The other option says Dainty legs. '
' Let's just stick to rhino man. '
Laughter echoes through the house as they clown the obvious errors in the low budget film.
' No the fuck he didn't. He looked directly into the camera. Wait, that shirt wasn't orange when we started. God damn ! '
_*_*_*_*_
E is woken up by a loud clang coming from the kitchen area. He wakes up in a panic then remembers last night. The boy must have found his way into the kitchen.
' Sorry. Did I wake you ? '
E smiles and shakes his head.
He goes down the hall for a quick shower. He comes back in a plain white t shirt and red floral hoochie daddy shorts. He joins him by the counter. Eggs, Sausage and toast. Did he do another store run ?
' Mmm... this is good. '
He compliments as he bites into the egg sausage sandwich.
' I'm starving.
He watches him put slices of a ripe banana between buttered toast slices. Interesting.
After having the first meal of the day, Erik opens up his house warming gifts.
- A cassette welcome home rug, vaporwave aesthetic keychains, scented candles and a docking station.
' This is nice. '
' Your welcome. '
The door bell rings. Yard man has come to cut Erik's grass. He's dressed down, rightfully so for a messy job. Hacking a snake to death was nasty work some fortnights ago. He is now wary of long savanna blades on his lawn.
They seat by the patio with Tumi, beers in hand. Erik visually supervises the job as Tumi tells a story.
' I don't think it's right. Five guys holed up in a studio apartment. '
' That's shitty. '
' Gotta be some kind of PTSD stuff. '
' That too. '
' There's going to be a memorial walk in town. '
' Let me think on it. '
He follows yard man to the back of the house upon completion. He opens the door of the tool shed. He watches him put the rake and slasher back in. He doesn't follow him in. There was that time he tried to kiss him. No small talk or warning. These new kids are very ambitious. He closes the door after yardie exits. Manual gates suck, so tedious.
The weekend rolls by so fast. Tumi appoints himself, the head of food and entertainment. They drive back to the burbs for some more pizza. Cuddled up after dinner on the couch, swaddled in a warm blanket bathed in the light of the tv.
