Can’t say I
expected the kid to be happy. But
he was, he truly was happy. And
content, and satisfied, and… something
else. Something I couldn’t quite make out. But to be sure, whatever it was, it was something good –
positive. Something that didn’t
exist when he was with that professional bullshit artist I love, as if he were
my son. Though I’d rather chew my
own toe nails than tell that to the little fucker, and I’m sure
he’d also rather chew mine, than hear me say it. Anyway, I admit, at first I was a bit… anxious? No, not
anxious, maybe slightly concerned. Or
could have even been just curious. Doesn’t
matter what it was, the thing that does matter is that I was happy, pleased
even, with how everything turned out in the end.
But than of course,
Sunshine had to pull a new one.
It had been months
since the comic launch. And almost
everything was back to normal, or as normal as anything could get around here;
given the situation and the people we’re talking about.
Ted and Emmett were playing house, cooing over one another in a way that
would have made me gag when I was negative, but now I just look on, maybe even
bathing in their innocent happiness – a little.
The Munchers continued to drop in every now and then, bringing that
little bundle of joy, the newest addition to our Liberty family. Fuck, I love that kid. Though
I can’t help but wonder what it’ll be like when he grows up, living amongst
the fags and the dykes can’t be easy… I just hope he’ll be strong enough
to overcome the prejudice, with any luck he’ll have gotten Mr.
I-don’t-give-a-fuck’s ‘don’t fuck with me’ genes. Who knows, maybe I’ll still be around to share some of my
fucked up wisdom with him. It seems
I’ve wondered off once again… Anyway,
Mikey had just met Ben, the drop dead gorgeous CM professor; I’d have fucked
him if I were any younger. We could
have been a great match… both been positive and all. But, life’s a bitch
that way, and Mikey’s the one fucking him, something that my dear old,
tolerant, understanding, faghag of a sister, had only just accepted, although to
say she was reluctant would have been an understatement. And Brian. That
little fucker – there was nothing new about him, he was still cruising, still
picking up tricks, still getting alley way blow jobs, still fucking brilliant at
work… oh and careful to pre… excuse me, I mean show that little
Sunshine wasn’t, isn’t, and will never be, anything more than a mere
acquaintance from Babylon – that he’s already had of course.
Back to the story, so
we were all at Woody’s, that is everyone except for the lesbians.
The TV was on, showing all sorts of horror images from around the world.
Derailed trains, plane crashes, bombings, cruisers sinking… so needless
to say, no one paid attention. We
had better things to discuss, well not really, just the same old, same old, but
it was still a hell of a lot more cheerful than the news!
Anyway, so none of us had seen Sunshine for almost three weeks, but no
one was that concerned to be honest. After
the comic book launch, he’d pulled away from the rest of the gang, only
keeping in frequent contact with Deb and myself. Oh, and Mikey of course, but
not voluntarily, so he doesn’t count. And
at this time, both Deb and I were preoccupied with the whole ‘Mikey’s
positive/negative relationship’ situation, and had frankly neglected Sunshine.
Anyway, we knew he was happy, I wasn’t worried, and either was Deb.
I should have guessed something would happen sooner or later, nothing
ever stayed peaceful in our lives, not for long anyway.
So, Deb’s new cell
phone rang. Yes, she had gotten herself one of these; well actually it
had been Brian who had gotten it for her. But
that’s a story for another day. So
she picked up, did this whole act about answering it.
“Hello. Debra
Novotny speaking.”
Oh please! But
that didn’t stop me from laughing hysterically at the time.
The bar was packed, and the crowd was rowdy.
So it went without saying that Deb wasn’t able to make out a single
word of whatever the person on the other end was saying, so she excused herself
and made her way out onto the street. Whilst
she was gone, the pool table the boys had their eyes on the entire evening, was
finally freed up, I hadn’t finished my drink yet, so I offered to stay at the
bar, minding Deb’s outrageously patterned handbag.
Besides, I didn’t quite feel like playing just yet.
I remember it rather
vividly, after about 10 minutes or so at the bar, I had finished my drink, and
was growing a little bored and restless, wondering what the hell was keeping
Deb, and more importantly, who the hell was ringing her cell in the first place. I kept an eye on the entryway of Woody’s, preparing to rip
her a new one, for her, no doubt, continuous yapping. It was a bad idea getting Deb that phone, one more excuse for
her to talk 24/7. So I had just
about had enough of waiting, when she finally appeared in the doorway.
Even from the distance, her face was ghastly white, she looked shocked,
dazed even, and well - that just wasn’t Deb.
I began to worry… what could have made her so… well… so… so… so
like this? Maybe it was my doctor? Maybe it was the bank? I must have
really been out of it, because it was 10 o’clock in the evening, and neither
my doctor, nor the bank operated at that hour of the day.
I felt myself begin to panic, even a man as well versed in staying calm
and collected as me, was feeling the desire to hyperventilate. But you see, you
don’t know my sis; nothing short of catastrophic could reduce her to this.
But I didn’t have time to panic, to sort out my emotions, or even to
think.
Because just at that moment…
Deb went down.
