Floodlights

Chapter 8

Black.

Gliding through the air almost teetering above the ground like Wladyslaw Szpilman in the Warsaw ghetto, the boy moves around divinely inspired. Treating the ball like an unwanted child he picks it up and moves it around with a zip and neat crisp connections. The Game is closing in to a final screeching end. Not much time is left for a winner; a hero to step up and take this victory. As the teams slow, tire and become a little more reckless the boy's muscles relax. Other's tighten, pull and pray for rest while his are ignoring their own pleas and gain strength and adrenaline. The midfield's minds relax and concentration lapses as he picks up the ball fed to him buy his own loyal fighters. He picks up speed to the left of the goal some forty yards out. His strikers like nagging spitfires dart around pulling the defence apart. As he jukes past one, the space opens and like Richard Noble's Thrust engine he accelerates and bursts into the gap. Only one defender and the goal are ahead. He smells his glory: ball quickly rolling. Legs at full pelt. Approaching fast. Defender on his heels. Just one man to beat. His team holds their breath. He knocks it past to his right and gets sight of goal. Leg cocked back for full power.

"Man.......!"

Crunch.

Black.

Matthew is lying on his back wide eyed and staring into the spacious ceiling. He gradually tightens in his face as he tries to hold something in and clenches his fist. As he closes his eyes tight he rolls out of bed and gathers up his clothes. As he attempts to pull on his trousers, his belt buckle makes a loud noise. Beth is awoken and turns slowly and groggily to him.

"Don't worry hun, go back to sleep."

"Where are you going?"

Matthew squirms a little bit and dithers on his answer.

"Errr, I have to go. I have a really early morning meeting tomorrow for work."

"Can't you go straight there. I mean it is 5am!"

"No I really must dash."

Matthew barely puts on his shirt properly as he gathers up his wallet and a few bits of change.

"Seriously Matthew, what is the matter. You were really restless in your sleep."

"Look I'm ok. I have to go."

"Wait, you never open up to me. Like the time on the tube. Come on, can't you do that now, even after last night."

"I have to go, ok."

Matthew leaves and almost runs out of the door leaving Beth completely shocked. As he walks down the street he kicks and punches an imaginary foe. His eyes close and his head falls back to face the crying sky. His body tenses and lets out a deep basey cry. He screams aloud waking even the deepest of sleepers. Eventually he runs out of noise. He stays there almost miming a scream. Slowly he takes a deep breath and head down power walks off into the darkness.

Back at home he cannot sleep. Exhausted, all he can do is go back to lying on his bed with his pen.

The Phantom Menace

It's in my tightened chest

It lies under my aching shoulders

And on top of my heavy eyes;

But I still know not what it is.

It festers in my blocked ears

Cramping my clicking toe joints

And sitting beside my ulcered mouth;

Yet I know not its name.

Body scared to move

Mouth to frightened to tell it where

Stuck to no man's land creating friction

And no paths leading there.

Bald Eagle Blues

I can't move anymore, trapped powerless in hell.

I can't move anymore, trapped powerless in hell.

Controlling my thoughts, baby, murder everywhere I go.

I wanna be blindfolded, injustice down my road.

I wanna be blindfolded, injustice down my road.

Losing myself in the desert, baby, just doing as I'm told.

I got de blues baby, I'm just too damn mean to cry.

I got de blues baby, I'm just too damn mean to cry.

There's nothin' I can do, but maybe I'm too drunk to be shy.

When he points his finger, people, god knows where it'll be.

When he points his finger, people, god knows where it'll be.

He wanna be the puppeteer baby, I only wish John Doe could see.

Good and evil fighting right now, people, sit down and take a seat.

The Chase

There she is.

Standing so distant, beckoning me near.

The closer I get, the tighter my heart pulls.

I float over to her, she's pulling still.

As I get close she moves away.

There she is.

Standing upright and still.

Her long dark hair gently flowing in the wind.

The closer I get, the more her kind eyes shine. They pierce my guard.

As I go to touch, she moves away.

There she is.

Speaking with sophistication and softness

With features so elegant and calm.

As I get closer the words blast my ears.

When I try to respond to her she moves away.

There she is.

Her beauty quite evident, dulling the surrounding sky.

Standing so distant, beckoning me near.

As I get close she moves away.

Now she's gone.