A little sequel to "Jay", inspired by just another passing thought.


Graeme

"Jay, I love you, I really do-" Graeme took another swig of his beer, "-but you have absolutely no idea."

Jay's lip curled slightly as he regarded his peer. In one hand, a beer was clenched between Graeme's thick fingers. The other hand languished behind a fug of cigar smoke. On the table before him a rolled but as yet unsmoked joint, a small bag of powder, and a small, blackened spoon rested between the debris of a pizza crust. A warm mug of coffee completed the tableau.
Jay's hands were empty, but clenched.

"All that shit you put inside your body..." Jay tried to relax his body before continuing; an attempt to release some of the tension his friend inevitably wound up in him. "Your average fuck up could settle with one major life altering addiction, but you have to have everything!"

Taking a long drag from his cigar, Graeme allowed the smoke to stretch out in the silence that ensued. He looked mournfully at the butt that was left, and tossed it aside.

"Why settle for less than that?"

Jay shot to his feet, almost knocking his chair to the floor with the force. He began to pace around the table; they were alone out here- the party had began to die down, and inside people were either falling asleep, or huddled in groups fathoming out the great mysteries of life, love and everything in between.

"Its just worthless junk! Greed, unimportant, self serving, destructive bullshit!" Jay stopped to thrust an accusing finger at his fat friend. Graeme unconcernedly plucked the joint from the table, and, without haste, lit it. "I mean, what are you doing? What would people think-"

Graeme's head shot up at that last mention. Jay wasn't accustomed to seeing him move that fast, and he held his tongue. Smoke escaped from Graeme's nose as he snorted his derision.

"People? What do you know about people Jay? I mean really?" Now it was Graeme's turn to rise, but he did so slowly, tucking the chair away as he did. "You isolate yourself from the world, with your narcissism and your pride. You think you're better than this, better than us." He took a step closer. Jay could taste the marijuana on his breath.

"Did you ever think that maybe the reason we still have an economy is because a little shot of caffeine is enough to jolt people into scuttling to work every morning? Realise that sometimes tobacco is the only thing stopping a minimum wage earner clubbing their cunt of a boss to death with a claw hammer? Did you ever consider that maybe people aren't drinking to obliterate themselves, but instead to relive ancient adventures with their oldest friends, and forget for a while the scars of lost lives and loves?"

Graeme reached across the table, grabbed his bag of powder, and shook it in Jay's face.

"Did you not stop and take into account that a man will work himself half to death, creating jobs, investment and wealth just so every Friday night he can snort some of this from a hooker's ass crack?" Jay remained impassive, as Graeme lightly swatted his cheek with the bag. "And didn't you notice how this same dust can make that man feel invincible- so invincible he doesn't even notice the profits, corporations and lives that are collapsing around him?

"Maybe this is all more important than you think, Jay. Maybe this is all more important than you."




Short story by JAMES ROSS
Read 705 times
Written on 2011-09-20 at 00:16

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Mr ROSS,
Thank you for your comment on yesterday's poem.
Here is a convincing conversation piece. I have known a Jay and a Graeme too, so I recognise certain behaviours here though I do not exhibit them myself. I am more often to be found in one of your fathoming groups, easing life's burdens in company rather than alone; and when my soul requires healing, I prefer the same loving friendships to cigarettes and alcohol, though this is a forced choice in some respects due to chronic ill health.
As to our economy, I confess I know very little of such matters though I learn daily. I am fortunate to have enjoyed permanent employment since my graduation; and perhaps this is why I am a stranger to negative thoughts in general, though I try to understand their roots in others.
I do try.
2011-09-20