Pocket change savior Page #2

• Essay

								


    As I walk back to my chair, I face the window into the parking lot and see my friend. I wave, he doesn't, but the ember from the cigarette does. He pulls out a pint of shit gin and puts it to his lips. I take a seat, pull up chapter 5, and stuff my face in it. Back to my bubble. 15 minutes or so, or however long it takes to read the first page 15 or so times. Yellow teeth walk’s back in and rattles the bells attached to the door. Shaking me out of my self-induced hypnosis. I look up to meet his eyes that he doesn’t give me and walks on by. A healthy man sniffles past me and drags his shoes to the bathroom in the back. Locks the door loud, and disappears into silence. 

Time for page 2, progress…

     6 re-reads force my hand and my attention is pulled to the news. Bleak again, what a surprise. As I continue my perusal through nonsense, my last cigarette starts getting itchy in my pocket. An empty pocket gets filled with a phone and my filled pocket gets relieved of a pack. I hit the door, rattle the bells, sit on the curb and spark up. I go back for my phone but before I can, I notice a head peeking out of the bathroom. Yellow teeth saunters over, takes my seat and steals its warmth. Curious. Walking past every chair just to sit in mine. He doesn’t notice me at first but quickly does. He waves an unsteady hand at me, I raise an apprehensive eyebrow as my ember waves back.

    My final buzzer startles him, letting me know my clothes are done. I put out my half smoked cigarette, and returned it to my pack as a little snack for later. I make my way back to my feet and inside. I walk in and to my clothes, while unblinking eyes stay glued to me. Uneasy, I fill my trash bag with mostly dried clothes. Tired and now free. I throw my sack over my shoulder, and make for the finish line. I offer a nod and a slight smile to the lender who made it possible. He returns my smile with far too much of one. Showing for the first time the black ones in the back. I continued to my truck, and put my passenger in its seat. I re-find a seat that's truly mine and realize I’m hungry. Time for dinner, well at this hour, breakfast. Then I remembered, “My money”! 

    I get out of the driver's seat and turn back to the front door of the laundromat and notice black tooth is already at my dryer checking the coin slot. “You wouldn’t”, I say under my breath as his shark eyes see the chair I rigged and makes his way over to it. He picks up the crisp dry bill, wads it up and shoves it in his pocket. 

    I look up, back at the 4 that's given up on trying to stay lit. I bite my lip, smile and exhale out of my nose. I get back in the truck, start it up, and start towards home.
								Rate this book:0.0 / 0 votes