thinking about you last
night. I fell asleep
11:46 am
thinking about your song,
and woke up with you
on my lips. Sorry you
11:46 am
didn’t get to
play it . . . Are you okay,
babe? Muah!
Conversation
Yeah, and I just kept running toward her.
It’s rude to text and talk.
Just gimme a sec, Storm.
It’s kinda unhealthy.
What?
You’re always with her, and when you’re not, you’re texting her. I get that you’re in love and all that, but you really should get a life.
I do have a life.
What about Trenton and Roman, your best friends?
What about ’em?
You never even see them.
What are you talking about? We went to see Giraffe Tongue.
That was like a month ago.
Things change. I’m just into some different stuff.
Yeah, Chapel. It’s unhealthy the way you’re all up under her. Be careful, Blade.
Whatever.
What about the band? I thought y’all were gonna record.
They’re more into punk now. I’m just— Into soft rock—yeah, don’t remind me.
Anyway, what do you think about the dream?
Weird dream. You been smokin’?
No. What do you think it means?
No idea.
Seriously.
Look, some dreams don’t mean anything. They’re just stupid.
Great, thanks, now get out.
Okay, how about this: The spider is Dad, and you think he hates you and is trying to destroy your life, and Mom is the only person who can save you, but she really can’t because, you know, she’s dead, and so you stuff yourself with hordes of unhealthy foods to hide the pain of whatever journey you’re on.
Journey?
Yeah, “Don’t Stop Believin’” journey.
That’s deep, Storm. But journey where?
You tell me. It’s your dream, Spider-Man.
And, what about Mom?
Well, that’s easy. You miss her. We all do.
You think that’s it?
Nah, you were right. It’s ridiculous.
Thanks for nothing.
I changed my mind.
What?
Your room doesn’t stink. You do. Take a shower.
Knock, Knock
It’s been two days since graduation.
Two days since I’ve seen his face
or smelled the smell of his rock & roll decay.
And he’s knocking, knocking the heck out of my door
like he does
when he has a “grand”
announcement.
But what does he have to say to me this time?
What can we possibly say to each other?
How do you forgive a person who ruined what was going to be one of the best days of your life?
I can’t imagine what kind of peace offering he’ll bring me.
Stop knocking, I finally say.
Just come in
or go away.
He walks in
and stands at
the foot of my bed, his arms spread out like a fallen angel.
Conversation
Blade . . . I’m sorry, son.
. . . .
I’m leaving for a month or so.
Okay.
Don’t you want to know where?
I don’t.
Rehab.
Surprise.
Got my Marvels and the axe. Ready to rock!
. . . .
I think the band’s really getting back together.
. . . .
Look, I’m sorry for what happened.
You think that’s enough?
It’s all I got.
I really don’t wanna talk. Good luck.
Watch out for your sister while I’m away.
Storm can take care of herself.
She’s fragile.
What does that mean?
It means her album tanked and she just needs some cheer.
Keep an eye on each other.
. . . .
I told her she could have a party. It’ll help.
Great.
I need you to be there.
Dude, I got a life. You’ve got your rock and roll and your drugs and alcohol, Storm’s got her pretend career and—and I’m heading to college in a few months, to get as far away from here as possible. So, how about you guys help yourselves.
How ’bout you stop acting like a JACK!
There’s the Rutherford I know. Welcome back.
I’m still your father.
Lucky me!
Pretty lucky, I’d say. Look around. Five-star living not good enough for ya?
Money doesn’t buy happiness.
Yeah, but it bought you a pimped-out Range Rover that you and your girl make out in. And, it paid for your posh little private high school.
And the Harley you ruined my graduation with. Just get out. I’m done. Good luck with rehab.
When the limo arrives
to take Dr. Feelgood to rehab
he’s all crocodile tears.
They’re trying to take my edge. If I don’t make it back— Stop, Daddy, you’ll be fine, Storm says.
And now she’s crying.
You can do this, Daddy! We’ll write kick-ass songs together when you get back.
Rutherford looks at me. But I got nothing: No empathy.
No sympathy for
the devil.
Phone Conversation
Hey. Babe!
Yeah, hey.
Everything okay?
Sure.
You sure?
I’ve been better.
Why do you sound so salty?
Why do you think?
I’m sorry I couldn’t see you after graduation. And, I’m sorry about what happened.
Just forget about it. I’m okay.
. . . .
Just wish things were different. That I was nobody in Nobody’s Land.
Yeah.
So, what’s up?
What’s up is stay off social media and don’t— Go to stores, look at newsstands, I know.
Yeah.
I won’t have to if we’re together.
Awww . . . I can’t right now, Blade.
Why? Come on, babe. Meet me at the park. I’ll take you shopping or something in Rutherford’s Maserati.
You know I’d LOVE that, but my parents are throwing me another dinner with friends tonight.
Tonight? That’s nice. How come I didn’t know?
I mean, it was kind of spur of the moment.
Who’s invited?
Just a couple girls . . . and some people, uh, friends. Just a group of friends.
People like who? Van? Is Van going?
Blade, my parents told me to invite all my friends. You know you would be the first person on my list if my parents didn’t forbid me from seeing you.
But Van, really?
My Favorite Guitarist
Sometimes
when I feel
like time is
a speedway
and my mind
races
round and round
so fast,
I walk
the dogs
to clear
my head.
Then,
I go to
Santa Monica.
Soundboard
I walk
the boardwalk looking for Robert, a magician who turns worries into songs.
In between gigs he sits
under a
palm tree, smiling with the few teeth he’s still got.
Tourists leave green
in his black trumpet case, while he
melts the blues, bending the notes like a storytelling machine, and wailing like the music’s gonna save him, and us too if we’re lucky.
Conversation
Youngblood, you look like you got the blues.
Family stuff.
Yeah, how’s that?
Rutherford finally did it. Lived down to his expectations.
I hate Rutherford. I loathe everything he stands for.
Whoa . . . Take a breath, Youngblood.
He’s ruined everything in my life.
Everything? Sounds serious.
Graduation was a disaster to end all disasters.
How is that?
The one day I stand up to deliver a speech I wasn’t even supposed to give in front of my entire class and everybody’s grandmother, brother, and sister, Rutherford flies in like an alien lunatic and embarrasses the life out of me and everyone there. Even the crows were gawking of embarrassment from the trees.