Gazelle (3 page)

“
Oh, yeah?  That bright, huh?  I did ask for the premium package.  I
wanted
to glow in the dark.  Tired of stubbing my toes
.
”

“
You glow, Dennis.  No doubt.  All I see is the baseball hat and that grill.  Listen,
I’
m going to change real quick.  I do
n’
t want to show up to the party in my work clothes.  Watch my drink for me
?
”

              She scoots off to the restroom before he can respond.  He glances back at her, noting how she moves effortlessly through the crowd and seems to disappear.  His phone vibrates and he glances down, hoping it was not yet roadside service.  His agent.  He hit
s‘
ignor
e
’ and sips his drink.  For a long time, he studies the people blurring together in the mirror.  These are people in and out of his life, his brother, his friends, swarming around, moving like an aquarium of exotic fish, but never closer than the mirror will allow.  How much different is a mirror from a screen, really? 

              He remembers the last conversation his brother, James, and he had.  It was obvious they were no longer as close as they once were.  Each word was a struggle.  James was too uptight, to anxious to ask how Julian
really
was.  Since Julia
n’s‘
breakdow
n’
, James made it a point to call him at least once a week, doing his duty, torturing him with prolonged silences.   But they had nothing in common, making it impossible to even connect through small talk.  James was married, living as an accountant with a pretty wife and kids in D.C..  Julian felt envious of James, knowing full well his brother felt the same about Julia
n’
s freedom and how ridiculous they both were. The calls were out of obligation to characters they both once were.  Characters that were old and tired, boring for both of them to play, and they had run out of dialogue.  When they did manage to speak, it was broken and hollow, about their mother and Jame
s’
s family, but never about any details that would implicate their actual existence outside those characters.

              The pompadour has moved on to new territory.  Another local is starring in his own karaoke video t
o‘
Little Pink Houses
.
’
 
The barflies buzz in their own hazes, their own dreams and nightmares.  Lindsay use to have a guru.  He remembers how she use to talk about osmosis, the connectedness of everything and everyone within th
e‘
cell of life
.
’
 
He would tease her endlessly about being in a cult, and, truthfully, he never really took it too seriously.  But the osmosis bit always struck him, especially in places where he felt completely out of his element.  There was no out, out was the illusion.  There was no separation.

“
I was walking my dog today
,
” she says, suddenly coming up alongside him in a tight, short black dress, scooping her dense, dark hair into a tighter bun on the top of her head while staring into the mirror
,“
and we passed this drunk that lives on my block.  H
e’
s always ranting on and on about whatever and I usually just ignore him.  But when I passed him today, he was telling a little story.  He said
,‘
Youfollow your older brother.  Little brother follows older brother.  And if you love him, you fall
.
’
 
That stayed with me all day.  I do
n’
t know why.  Drunks have this world they live in that is fragmented and shattered, but in that fragment, I feel like they maybe see things more sharply and clearly than everyone else.  Like, they drop some heat from somewhere else, you know?  And if you happen to be passing, just for that little fraction, it somehow applies to both of you.  Lik
e…
prophets.  That little guy over there reminds me of him.  H
e’
s just going on and on, nothing really making sense, just trying to get someone to pay attention to him
.
”

              She runs lipstick over her lips and powders her face while she says this, never taking her eyes from her own face.  Her glasses are gone, exposing large, catlike eyes that stretch over high cheekbone scattered with tiny freckles she covers in quick, expert strokes.  She tugs her dress down and shoves her make-up into her satchel, smiling at his stunned gaze.

“
What? No good
?
”
“
No, no you look great
,
” he says, somewhat unsettled.

“
No, I meant, what I sai
d…
no good?  Did I sound nuts
?
”
“
O
h…
no.  Not at all.  But i
t’
s not-people do
n’
t usually talk like that
,
” he answers.

“
They do
n’
t, do they?  I guess
I’
ll never fit in, then
,
” she sighs playfully.
 “
Everyon
e’
s so boring.  Thank god for karaoke.  Did you get a turn yet
?
”
              He laughs and shakes his head, glancing back at the singer, relieved as she shifts the spotlight.
 “
No. 
I’
m too shy
.
”
“
Yeah, me, too.  Fear of public rejection and all
.
”

“
You do
n’
t seem like the shy type
,
” he says.

              She looks at him, in his eyes.  Her face drops for a second before smiling and looking away.  But he had seen it, never forgetting the moment he discovered a kindred soul.
 “
You work at Healthy Grocery, then
?
”

              She nods and drinks.
 “
Yes.  Unfortunately. 
I’
ve been working there for about five years now. 
I’
m-
I’
m trying-
I’
m an artist.  Healthy pays the bills.  I wo
n’
t be famous tilI die.  And tha
t’
s when the big bucks start coming in.  S
o…
I have that to look forward to, I suppose
.
”

              He laughs, his laugh a light, airy chuckle brightened by his smile.
 “
Yo
u’
re ambitious, too
.
”
“
Well, I have to make sure my offspring are left with a means to pay off my student loans, right
?
”
“
You went to school
?
”
“
Oh yeah.  Art school.  I might as well have taken 40 grand, piled it in my toilet and pooedall over it
.
”
“
You sound bitter
.
”
“
I sound indebted.  Ther
e’
s very little difference
.
”

“
Hey, mama
!
” The pompadour swings between them, shoving Julian to the side as he moves in on Alice.
 “
You are so very, very
fine
!
”

“
I was wondering when
I’
d get my turn.  We were just talking about you
,
” she smirks.

“
Oh yeah, I know!  My ears were buzzing!
I’
ve been watching you all night girl!  I like a booty on my ladies
.
”

“
Thanks, I think.  But
I’
m not into it.  Sorry
.
”

“
Nonon
o…
lemmeget you a drink
,
” he raises a finger to the bartender who continues to ignore him.
 “
My name is Hercules, wha
t’
s yours
?
”
“
Hercules?!  Really
?
”
“
Yeeah!  You know, he was the strongest man alive, lady!  Stronger-he was- he could crush you with his pinky finger like a cucaracha
!
”

“
Did your mama name you that
?
”
 
Alice asks as she moves casually around to Julia
n’
s left.  Julian straightens up and leans in towards her but Hercules ignores him, trailing after her until he stands behind Julian. 

“
Yeah!  She named me so
I’
d be a strong man!  You ai
n’
t nuthi
n
’ les yo
u’
re a strong man
!
”
“
Or woman
,
” she says.

“
Tha
t’
s right!  The ladies, I got mad love for the ladies.  Let me get you a drink, wha
t’
s your name
?
”
“
Tha
t’
s okay, thanks anyways.  Nice meeting you
.
”
“
No-no, no
!
” he says, grabbing at her arm.

              She pulls away and Julian glances over his shoulder at Hercules.  The two lock eyes and Hercules lets go immediately, putting his hands up and backing away.
 “
Hey, man, I do
n’
t want none.  I did
n’
t know she was with you
.
”

“I’
m not
,
” Alice says, annoyed.
 “
But, no, you do
n’
t want none
.
”

              Hercules nods dramatically and slinks away defeated, disappearing into the crowd.

“
You did
n’
t have to do that
,
” she says, reproachfully.
 “
Even if it
was
incredibly sexy
.
”

              He laughs.
 “
Thanks.  I should use that move more often
.
”
“
Oh,
c’
mon.  A successful dentist like yo
u…
you do
n’
t nee
d‘
moves
.
’”

              His phone rings again with an 800 number.  He hands it to her and she answers.
 “
Hello?  Yeah,
I’
ll be right out. Thanks
.
”

              She hands him back the phone and smiles at him awkwardly.
 “
My rid
e’
s here
.
”
“
Let me walk you out
,
” he says, getting up and pulling his cap down.

“
You do
n’
t have to, i
t’
s cool. 
I’
ll be fine
,
” she protests.

“C’
mon.  Before Hercules comes back
.
”

              The tow truck driver cranks her car again and again to no avail, shaking his head.
 “
Your starte
r’
s busted
.
”

“
For real?  Shit! God damn it
!
” she says.  Her face wobbles and she fights off frustration and disappointment.

“
What do you want to do?  You do
n’
t have the VIP membership.  Towin
g’
s not free
.
”

“
How much is it
?
”
“
Five a mile
.
”

              She fiddles with the cash in her wallet.
 “
I live like, te
n…
will you tow it for twenty bucks
?
”
“
I ca
n’
t.  My boss would kick my ass
.
”
              She growls and rubs her arms.
 “
Well, my boyfrien
d’
s shop is three away.  Can you just drop it off there?  Leave the keys in the mail slot
?
”
“
Sure.  Give me the address
.
”