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By Christopher Submitted by chris Date: 2001 Sep 21 Comment on this Work [[2001.09.21.00.13.7842]] |
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Alexa has only been awake for barely an hour when she gets the word from Rodney--on her cell--that someone somewhere had decided to eliminate Saturday from the week. She is alarmed to say the least. "What the fuck?!" "The President did it. Late last night. Executive Order." "But....why?" "Said it would 'give the citizens of this great nation one more day of productivity--'" "Bullshit." "--because work helps build self-esteem and self-esteem helps us all.'" "Ten pounds of bullshit in a five-pound bag." "Well, it's done." "No! I want my Saturday back. Not fair." "Everyone's in the same boat, honey. I don't know what I'm going to do about my Saturday Out and Flaming support group. I just do not know..." "Rod...you're gay. You will survive. My love life might not be so lucky." "Child please. We're all hanging on by the thinnest of threads these days." "I have to go. I'm thirsty. You're the best. Later tater." Alexa really is thirsty. It wasn't just a ruse to get off the phone. She walks into the dark kitchen and opens a cold can of Dr. Spider ("Sounds so bad you won't want to touch it--but you'll drink it"). Small pleasures... She will not, as a matter of principle, drink any of the second-rate knock-offs out there--Dr. Popper, Dr. Leopard, Dr. Pepper, etc., et al.... Her cell phone is ringing again. "Yeah?" "It's me! Calvin." "Alvin?" "Calvin. Who's Alvin? "Never mind." "Uh...whatever. Look Lexy, I'm calling because I, um, didn't want you to get the wrong idea after, you know, last night." "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You enjoyed fucking me; nine-tenths of my allure to you is now gone; you'd like to continue fucking me, but a vague friendship is all you're willing to commit to. Were you going to say anything else?" "Uh....no. Bye. I guess." "Bye." Alexa can't be bothered any more this morning. Something bad might happen and she knows it. The phone rings yet again. "Identify yourself." "Rod again, honey." "Tell me something good. Fast." "The Village People are alive and touring Australia. They never broke up after all." "I don't need further trauma, thank you." "Well, the Saturday thing is so not going over well. Have you turned on the TV?" "No. I drank a Dr. Spider." "That's always good. Hey, wanna go clubbing with me and Andy tomorrow night?" "Today's Friday. There is no tomorrow night." "Shit. You're right. It's going to take a while to sink in. I'm in the denial phase, I think." "I'll call you later. I have to get dressed." "OK baby. Bye." Alexa pulls on a t-shirt and laces up her Skechers. She walks outside and sits down on the bottom step of the apartment complex's wrought-iron stairs. She lights up the first cigarette of the day. It can only get worse from here, she thinks. Sirens can be heard far off in the distance. She thinks and thinks and thinks: Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing will ever change. |