Work Archives - The Pure Life of Dreams

June 21, 2024June 21, 2024

The Lion and the Store Full Of Tchotchkes

All the other mini-creatures had been killed and only two remained.

They had to be taken out of the freezer and once they had thawed the mammoth was quite easy to kill but the lion was a different story.

I sat in the back garden, the other side of the walled-in patio and I held the lion within a large Manila envelope that I folded in the middle. His wings were tucked into the pocket either side, and to stop him from biting me I pinched his body to stop him from wriggling away.

The lion could be quite vicious. As he thawed, he expanded and he would nip your fingers right off if he could get to you. I had to tear off his wings but even I sliced the envelope down the left side with my knife he tried to snap and paw – before his left wing was torn right off.

He was still trying to get at me when it was explained that I’d have to do the other side as well, but it was only on my third attempt that I succeeded to tear off his other wing. The lion was then like an insect without its wings held in the remains of the envelope, his head poking out with his lion’s mane and teeth still bared.

I am navigating the antique and tchotchke store after the ~~graduation~~ event.

I couldn’t find a place to lie down so I had gone into the store instead and was wandering around.

Charlie James is there, being berated by a woman because he’s not following her, even though there are goods for sale in his way. I thought she was his wife at first.

And just like Charlie, I too am unable to move. Two tables, both with yellow glass trays, are positioned next to the wall and they are pressed close together in front of me. Every time I try to separate the two tables to get between them, little glass figurines or vases on the trays tinkle like they are about to fall over. So I have to stop.

I look back at the woman and she returns my stare before stepping out of the shop. She looks familiar, like Kim Spencer perhaps, only she has brown eyes.

And through the shop window, a reflection in a mirror for sale, I see Charlie follow the woman out, they are walking along the sidewalk. Charlie follows her on tip toe like a cat burglar, his arms cartoon-raised, two threatening silhouetted arcs, over her head.

The woman wears a delicate white dress that Kim wouldn’t normally wear.

Then I push past the tables into a new space.

Danny Fiere is there. “I heard you retired. I can’t believe you do nothing, but we’ve got something for you if you want,” he says.

I look back at Ned for support but Danny continues, “It’s programming.”

“Programming.” I reply. “It’s the one thing I loved. That could possibly persuade me, part time anyway, out of retirement”.

Photo by Downtown Gal via Wikimedia Commons.

June 7, 2024June 7, 2024

Business Trip Abuse

Ricky G, Pete Bossman, Johnny Two Shoes and I are sitting outside at a large circular table drinking beers, Ricky to my left, Johnny to my right, Pete opposite. And Johnny is complaining about how people abuse the business trips.

March 28, 2024June 7, 2024

Visiting the Japanese Mafia for One Last Time

Painting by Ellen Marcus. Copyright Ellen Marcus, reprinted by permission

I went there with Micky and we walked along the balcony corridor of the motel, pool-side, until we found the room. When we knocked and entered, on a large bed, there sat the Japanese man we were to visit.

February 10, 2024February 12, 2024

Alcohol Ice Cream

She peeks around the partition. Her hair is shaped in an upside down V of tight light brown curls, she has a freckled face and light brown skin.

“What are you you ordering?” I ask.

January 29, 2024February 12, 2024

Go Fish

I am in hurry to go to the airport but am still in my cubicle talking to Brendan. The desk has been cleared, nothing is left but the plain light beige wood slightly scratched up after I removed the computer and pencils and things, but Brendan won’t stop talking.

He waves his long blonde locks as he speaks, so that they fall in his face when he bends his head forward a little.

Under the desk I have a red petrol can and a dark blue roller case. The case is small enough to fit in the overhead cabin. I put on a red fluffy dressing gown. It us oversized and warm, and it’s my hint to Brendan that I need to go.

Then he stands up and makes to leave. I turn my back to him and with the can and roller case in hand I walk round the partition and into the corridor.

Only I forgot to tell Bill that I am going back to London. After having just returned.

I am going make an excuse. Last time I was there it was to see mum because she was sick with pneumonia and it was unlikely that she’d make it. But she’s still alive and this time I am just going for a holiday.

What will he think of my going again?

Last time I requested leave, it was a no brainer and he just said “Go fish!”

I walk over to his office and from the approach I see him through the doorway.

“I have to go back to London,” I tell him. He’s standing next to his desk.

“My mother’s sick again.” He looks over at me, he always has that handsome gait and even his greying hair works, though it’s thinning and brushed back from his temples.

“Go fish!” he says again.

“Thanks,” I reply and I walk back along the corridor to my desk again. Maybe this time they’ll fire me anyway.

Then I realize.

“Shit, I am naked again!” even though I am wearing a big dressing gown. I can’t go on the plane like this, like last time.

I tip the roller on its side and unzip it enough to insert a hand and pull out a pair of slacks. The slacks are a charcoal blue and they’re shiny but they will have to do. I won’t even look for underpants, I don’t have time and nobody will notice anyway.

I am sitting under the desk, the chair is pushed away and I am pulling the slacks over my naked feet, aware that the cloth will feel weird against my privates; but I can’t be bothered to get some underpants and maybe it will feel OK.

Then I stand up. I should have ordered the Uber, it will take a bit of time. I roll the case to the elevators, the petrol can still in hand but when the elevator arrives I notice that the roller case is leaking.

A thin spurt of gas is jetting out from halfway down, where the zips meet. Then there starts two lines of gas like taut threads spurting from the case. I won’t have time to fix the problem.

The first elevator is full but the second, the workman’s elevator has room. I get in and the walls are covered with painted red and black plywood, the paint slapped on carelessly. I turn to face the iron trellis doors. Someone tries to pull the doors shut, but another man stops him. The man puts a large hairy hand in the way, while another person hands us a baby, pushes the baby through the gap in the doors.

Oh come on! I don’t have time for this. It’s just as well I didn’t order the Uber.

The roller is still leaking, there are more spurts, and a puddle is forming on the elevator floor, a dark puddle. I hope that no one will notice, and that the leak will stop once the level of the liquid drops below the level of the zippers.

We get out at the lobby and I push through the circular doors into the parking lot. A car is waiting, its back door already open. An old Toyota from the 70s with an angular shape, painted an old chrome maroon. I throw in the petrol can and in the boot goes the roller case.

Then the taxi heads off to the airport, it’s not far, only 15 minutes and the British Airways desk knows me by now. As I climb the long escalator to the check-in counter they can whisk me through.

My passport is already in hand.

Photo by Bil Simser via Flickr