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[i]☼ ○ ▬
I’m on the clock at China Wok delivering an order to a big
old white house in some 70-year-old neighborhood. They’ve reconstructed the
house into apartments, which is typical of Virginia Beach. A black man answers
the side door. The total for his order is $11.22. He slyly hands me $6 but I
don’t notice that it’s $6 until he closes the door. I get angry and bang on his
front window. His roommate starts laughing but never turning his head to
acknowledge me. Turns out it was a test or a joke. The guy returns to the door
and hands me ten more dollars.
▬ ○ ☼ ○ ▬
Living in an apartment, railroad style – my room is a long
narrow hallway and the walls are separated by a curtain. I lift the sheet to
discover Minnie has been living next door all this time, her bed even situated
in the same position like mine.
Me: “Minnie! We’ve been sleeping next to each other this
whole time. I can’t believe it.”
In a hallway next to her I watch as a gang of cats and dogs
run by.
▬ ○ ☼
Waking up at 11 a.m.
Strawberry Toaster Pastries. Orange Juice. Zinc (50 mg).
All day shift at China Wok.
Grilled Cheese on a Bagel with Hummus and Tomato. Tortilla
Chips with Homemade Salsa. Honey Green Tea.
It’s ordinarily steady for business even though it’s
Christmas Eve.
While waiting for orders a customer sits across the restaurant
and watches me lurk on my laptop.
“You on Reddit?” he asks.
“What’s that?”
“Are you on Reddit right now?”
“Oh no. I’m writing a blog right now.”
“Oh. You look like you got a sense of irony about you. You
seem really focused on what you’re doing.”
After describing the purpose of the blog to him he tells me
about how he works for Verizon and how they’re in the process of changing all
the internet to FiOS, and something about wire tapping and how everyone’s
information will be technically public in the next ten years (not like it
already isn’t). At least three times he recites a quote by Justice Louis D.
Brandeis, “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants,” which I guess
refers to the transparency I was explaining to him about my blog. He walks out
with his food in hand and says, “Remember that. And Merry Christmas.”
Coffee with Hazelnut Cream and a little bit of Sugar.
M&M’s.
The night continues with mediocre tips – racking up the
miles.
Broccoli, Snow Peas, Onions, Egg, and Rice in Brown Sauce.
Off work at 10 p.m.
At home – getting ready to leave for North Carolina. Before
I dip out Anthony gives me a Christmas present: a CD album he recorded of him
reciting the blog.
On the road...listening to Anthony’s voice reading aloud
select blog entries from last year. It’s a different experience when hearing
someone else’s voice read to you. It’s also strange and nostalgic to hear about
last year’s struggles, or at least a snippet of them. There’s something special
about this...knowing I’ve encapsulated these memories into day-to-day memoirs
and knowing others have experienced my personal romanticism through them.
It’s a lonely drive down I-95 until my mom calls with an
incredible story to share about a little girl she saw walking down the road all
by her lonesome late at night.
...
I’m about 30 minutes away. I drive by a few reindeer just
standing inches from the road. Santa’s reindeer? My mind wanders to all
those kids tucked in their beds dreaming in anticipation for the next morning
when they’ll awaken to pretty little wrapped packages under the Christmas tree.
I used to be that kid. And here I am behind the wheel at 2 in the morning, not
that kid anymore.
I arrive at my dad’s house.
Sleep 3:30 a.m.
[i] Image by me.
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