I carry Crawford
into the bathroom with me. She seems nervous and edgy and keeps pressing her
body into me. She is extremely active and can’t seem to stop moving.
I try to put her on the counter but she wants nothing to do with that and climbs right back up my arm.
I try to put her on the counter but she wants nothing to do with that and climbs right back up my arm.
I get ready for
bed and let her sit on my shoulder. As I walk back into the bedroom I lean over
to open her cage and she wants nothing to do with going back in there, so I
climb into bed with her and throw the covers over us. Crawford rolls into a
ball and pushes into my chest.
The next morning
I wake up and Jonathan has already left. I didn’t hear him get up and leave. I
lean up on my elbows and Crawford immediately climbs up on my chest and pushes
her nose to my mouth. I kiss her on the head and hug her little body. I place
her onto my shoulder and head into the kitchen.
I need to be in
school today, I have missed too much and I received a warning from Parsons
Child and Family Center. I am supposed to be in school or I jeopardize my
living situation. My situation is not so
good but it’s better than living on the street, so I need to remember that. I
quickly make coffee and breakfast. I run into the shower where Crawford follows
me and plays under the water.
School is hell
and Albany High needs to have a metal detector. Security lines the hallway and
students are randomly frisked. Well in reality none of the white kids get
frisked which really pisses me off and I walk into the frisking line to prove a
point. Security tells me to get out of the line or risk getting dragged to the
principal’s office.
The day drags on
and on and I find myself in the parking lot smoking weed with Myla, Rich and
Michael. Actually Myla drinks out of a paper bag as well. “Man, Janis was so
misunderstood,” says Myla handing the joint to me and raising her bag to the
sky. “She didn’t go to school and got to live her dream.” I look at Rich who
silently shakes his head. Janis is dead
as far as I know and I believe that she died from a heroin overdose. I’m not
really sure why Myla wants to emulate her. It’s clear that she is in a dark
place.
Myla’s parents
are out of town this weekend and she is planning a huge party. So this weekend
I have Myla and next weekend Liz is coming for dinner. My dance card is filling
up.
For the next
couple of days it is school and rehearsal. We work on the opening number
entitled Colonel Buffalo Bill. It is a huge opening number filled with enough
box steps in every direction, not to mention swaying and pulsing in place. Mimi
is not at rehearsal tonight so the Walrus is extra cruel to the cast.
When he wants
your attention he claps his hand twice after he says what he thinks is your
name. His direction consists of him telling you how many steps to take and then
the exact way to say your line. Liz reminds me under her breath that she is
going to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. I ask her “If
she can’t learn everything she needs from the Walrus?” She responds by rolling
her eyes.
Liz drives me
home from rehearsal again. I bid her “Good Night,” and open the front door. I
wave to Liz as she drives away.
I can hear
Jonathan yelling at someone upstairs. I quietly climb the stairs and peer over
the landing. Jonathan walks out of the bedroom and walks to the sink. He is
still muttering something about someone not being a friend.
I quickly climb
the stairs. Jonathan turns around and is completely surprised to see me.
“Who are you yelling
at?” I ask him.
To be continued…..
Geoffrey Doig-Marx holds all written and electronic rights to his writing "A Day in the Life". It can not be reprinted in part or whole without his written consent.
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