Couch Potato
By Angel Callahan

While being unemployed, I think I have found my purpose in life, my passion, my one true love (other than my refrigerator). Most of you would call it the Couch Potato Syndrome. Call it what you will. I call it the always-entertained, always-informed Lair of Angel.

I have all the things I love in my little haven. Digital TV, remote in one hand, laptop in the other. I am entertained and informed in my room. Why leave? Delivery food is the best but now and again, I do venture out to get the foods that best compliment my shows. Gummi Worms for “Meerkat Manor,” bananas for “Orangutan Island,” you get the picture.

My life is great. I’m always the first to know of a national tragedy. If the color goes from orange to red-orange, you can bet I’m the first to know. Two strokes of my laptop and I know if the alert was simply a hoax or to take shelter.

You know that most of the people who fall under this “couch potato” category sit on a couch with a remote control eating a bag of chips (this is my theory of where the “potato” in “couch potato” came from). But not me! I believe that I have taken this lifestyle to a new, more productive, creative level. Call me revolutionary, or a visionary of sorts, but I believe that if the couch potatoes of today follow my example, we could rid society of the stereotype they have fallen victim to. It would be a politically correct ethnic cleansing of sorts.

Now, the CP is notorious for sitting in their mom’s living room or basement. I believe we have to move this trend up a bit. Set higher goals. For example, I moved upstairs in my parents’ house. Believe it or not, this is an important strategy. As an adult living at home with his/her parents, the goal is to be disturbed as little as possible and the parents of adults are less likely to climb stairs. I think this has something to do with arthritis but I also heard rumors that they are deathly afraid of breaking hips. I have not looked into this further.

Once you have your secluded area, the goal is to have everything you need so you need to leave as little as possible. Just to give you a visual here of the type of space you’re going for, think hi-def bachelor pad/loft. More New York loft in size (I’m talking about your first apartment in New York with four roommates, not a Tribeca loft). Anything over 10’ x 12’ is good. Mine is actually 14’ x 18’ but I sleep in my area. Refer back to the principle of leaving as little as a possible.

Now if your bed is comfy enough, you can rid yourself of that couch scenario all together. My bed doubles as a sitting area in an Indian-Guru Style. You know those fluffy mattress toppers that make your bed soft as a cloud? I have three. One on top of the other. A minimum of ten down pillows is a must to convert your sleeping area to sitting. Ten pillows gives you unlimited arranging. Pile them behind you to sit straight up with one under your arm for an armrest. There’s another piling system that allows you to be half-up and half-down, another to prop up on one side on your elbow. As you can see, the variations are endless. I’m considering a coffee table book with pictures of all the different positions.

I chose a Queen-size bed due to space needed for my laptop and office necessities needed for…well, I don’t know really what for but there are scissors (mostly for opening food), pens, highlighters, sticky notes, stationery (doesn’t everybody e-mail?). You get the picture––my miniature office. I actually refer to my laptop as my “partner” mostly because he gets the other half of my bed along with the office supplies.

The absolute most important part of this room/area, as any ex-CP would argue, is the TV. It is imperative that the TV (HD, flat screen) can be seen from all parts of the bed/office area. Technology is important in my Lair. Without it what would it be? A room. So, along with the TV there must also be the DVD player, the VHS just in case, and the all important DVR.

All remotes reside on my side of the bed/office/working area. I keep a small table beside my bed. Some would call it a nightstand but I call it my drafting table. Now here’s where my situation with my partner is different from all the others. My partner gives me complete control of the remote control. Most partners fight over the remote but my partner’s cool about it. I don’t tell most people this but he could (he doesn’t) dial into the network from his server (he doesn’t) and over-ride my channel selection at anytime––but he doesn’t.

So see, these few changes have taken me from a slacker to an almost renter with a working partner and office space. I’m no longer a CP. And with a few small changes, you can be off the couch and into a sleek, modern, information highway cruising pad above your parents. Don’t let anyone call you a Couch Potato again. And who knows, the CP’s of today could be tomorrow’s Silicon Valley. Bill Gates was probably living with his mom when he created Microsoft.

This short story can also be viewed on the website:
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The exact link is below:
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Jack stood up and looked around. He was surrounded on all sides by a pleasant green meadow. The grass was freshly cut but still swayed slightly with the breeze. This was the place he thought. Jack unzipped his pants and began to masturbate ecstatically. He pumped as hard as he could, jerking with passionate fury at his hunk of meat. It was bigger than most dicks in the world a staggering ten inches. But this was not the point. Jack imagined Casey back in his apartment sucking him off. Ever since she had broken his heart he had been searching for the perfect place to finish himself off. Jack seemed to have conqueror his quest as now he was filled with a serene peace in all essences of his mind. He had one objective to complete and that was to spew his load. With his mind on Casey jack beat his meat like he was 14 years old and discovering it for the first time. He had never been engrossed in such ecstasy. Every pump brought him such immense pleasure that Jack wanted to fall to his knees. Somehow he remained on his feet and after what seemed like an eternity of endless ecstasy Jack was overcome with the most pleasure filled experience, for a moment Jack experienced Nirvana. The feeling was so intense that he succumbed to his knees as white hot juice sprayed out onto the fresh cut green grass. The semen tickled the grass and started to weigh a few blades down. Jack was on his ass now in a spread eagle sitting position. He looked down at the semen and was impressed at how much had come out.
“Not once when we fucked had that much come out” he stammered out loud still overcome with the emotions of masturbation.
“fucking bitch” he added.
Jack stood up and pulled up his faded grey slim jeans. He fastened his ornate studded belt with a skull for a buckle.
“Man that felt fucking great” he stated
Jack sauntered through the green grass meadow back towards the path he had ventured off. After about 500 meters he reached it and began to hike back to his Honda Fit. It took 20 minutes to get back to his car and by that time the smile was erased from his face. He unlocked the car and swung his legs in jamming his ITouch into the dock to jam to some Atreyu. Starting the car he twisted the volume dial up to max. The music flooded the car drowning Jack in a sort of anger filled bliss. He began to violently slam onto the steering wheel overcome by the music. He trashed his straight black hair back and forth like a demon. Suddenly he caught himself and put the car into reverse and jammed the acceleration. He pulled back from his parking spot and into the middle of the gravel parking lot. He looked around one more time and back at the path he had come out of.
“fucking bitch” he yelled again. Although he did no t hear his own voice over the music.
He slammed the car into Drive and jolted out of the parking lot and onto the desolate Western Washington road. His eyes feasted on the ornate beauty of the forest around him. Wet and dripping moss sagged from the great brown giants, whose arms reached across the road as if to create an arch. As far as his eyes could see was a dark green beauty on all sides of the road. Speeding down the road Jack could not help at feeling a sense of peace as his Alternative Rock blasted out his ear drums. He was so encapsulated by this feeling that he drifted his eyes closed. He was brought a vision of his ex Casey and her sweet smile. He imagined brushing her platinum blonde hair back behind her ears and staring into her deep blue eyes. Suddenly a flame came over the image and Jack jerked his eyes open. There was a large Deer standing in the middle of the road staring at him. Jack had no time to react and slammed full force into the deer. Unfortunately Jack was not a fan of seat belts and the force of the 500 pound deer flung him through the glass windshield. Fear did not overtake him as he was lifted through the air, not even when the asphalt came up to meet his skull. He accepted the dark foreboding feeling of death without struggle. Jack died on impact on that desolate forest road. The brown giants still reached overhead, now they appeared to be creating the roof to Jack’s tomb.

Edited by author 09-25-2009 03:37 AM
(ELEMENT KING) lee.spencer@yahoo.com Fantasy/Fiction in the works

Rayiko Shima use to be a regular 9th grade student attending Sacratomei junior high, one day Rayiko comes across a peculiar bracelet, planning on giving the bracelet to his mother as a gift, a bunch of mysterious men in black chases after him, but suddenly a young man saves Rayiko, and leaves before Ray could say thank you. To his surprise the bracelet magically has appeared on his wrist, and he can’t take it off. The gift he wanted to give his mother is stuck to his wrist, during that same day he encounters a weird woman that warns him about that bracelet, Rayiko decides to run away from the weird lady and go home. That night he trys to struggle to take off the bracelet, something weird instantly happened he becomes the flame God Burgus burning his sheets. After that he changes back, and decides he should go to bed since he got in so late. But what Rayiko doesn’t know, he has more in store in the future with the bracelet and those men in black.

Rayiko Shima. Age14. SG: Tamaruku the sage frog

 Rayiko is a pretty honest 9th grader living with his widowed mother, Rayiko comes from a poor household but him and his mother are proud people, and appreciate everything they have. One day Rayiko’s gift to his mother gets stuck to his wrist, a odd bracelet that gives Rayiko the ability to become the four elemental gods, this changes everything for Ray, for he is introduce to a new world. Full of weird creatures called soul guides and dark guides, and a shadowy group after that Bracelet that Ray holds.



Soul Guides and Dark Guides: Soul guides are clean souls in shape of certain creatures, Dark guides are like soul guides but evil attacking innocent humans, most of these dark souls are the cause of these so called terrorist attacks. Soul and dark guides are all bounded to their owner which are humans, they simply guide them and protect them, only few around the world are able to see their guide, those who cannot, well you ever heard the term “my conscious must be talking.” The shadowy Group have all harnessed their Dark guide each of them have powerful guides.



FOUR ELEMENTAL GODZ Stats are 1-100

               



These are four of Rayikos elemental forms; they each have their own strength and weaknesses. Also their own soul guides. Burus The Flame, Cura Of Aqua, Ion Of Earth, Evalis The Wind, and a unknown form, but powerful








Gamma ???. Age???(Looks21) SG, Omni The Rabbit General

 Gamma is the weird woman according to Ray who he meets during that bad day of his, who seems to know a lot about Rayikos situation. She works for a secrete group or agency that battle the shadowy group protecting people from dark guides. Right now Gamma has disguised herself as a teacher at Sacratomei middle, she seems to go by the alias Mrs.Santaku. all the horny middle schoolers drool over her. But her true mission is watch over Rayiko and keep the shadow group hands off that bracelet.
===================================

Advent ??? Age,19 SG, Neo The Two wing Nymph

 The young Advent. He’s also part of the same agency as Gamma. Advent at first seems like just your average young careless punk, but he’s actually a strong young careless punk. Advent hates his job, and acts lazy at times, but when it comes to action and fighting the shadow agency it’s a whole different story. Advent has a powerful soul guide. His soul guide and his hair are multi colored like the ying and yang sign. For they had a pretty bad past, advent has once embraced the dark side a long time ago.
===============================================

Keri Sanada. Age, 17

 Keri Sanada is very beautiful and is Rayikos crush, but he is afraid to speak to her since shes a 3rd year in highschool, also she comes from a rich family.
=====================================
Ren Masada, Age14. SG, Tetsumi The Night Wolf, and Li,ith The Dragon

 The new kid at Sacrotomei. Ren is immediately picked on and is called the freak kid. Ren has twoDark soul guides, and every time he comes close to killing a bully with his Guide, he is interrupted, but when he meets Ray he is kind of happy that he isn’t the only one that can see guides. After befriending Ray, Ray influences him to use his guide for good, protecting others from evil . Ren has hidden power and is grandson to one of the Shadow Agents in the counsel who also has two guides to which would explain his power and his two guides as well.
===================================
DT. Yarobi, Age, 42. SG Tetsmonoro the squirrel

 The ace detective Yarobi. Yarobi is interested in Rayikos power, and investigates the boy and his power.

===================================

Roken Ogawa, Age,15 SG, Dark Elf Nimrook


 Roken is captain of the Sacratomei middle school fighting team, also one of the best in all the sports at sacratomei, Roken is a jerk and lead head, but in some sort he’s kind of Rays friend, Roken doesn’t see Guides but he’ll gain the ability to see his. But Roken is actually a little like Ray, Roken comes from a poor house hold as well where he takes care of his mother and little brother, Roken is working hard in school actually he isn’t dim witted on purpose, he’s tryna become stronger to protect his family.
=================================== Tei Hajiko, Age, 14 SG, The light goat
 Tei Hajiko is the most popular student in Sacratomei Middle, he can get any girl he wants. But something weird happens to Tei, he sees these weird goat creatures, eventually after finding out that Ray sees the same thing, Tei is given answers he probably wont be able to handle. Soon enough Tei becomes a friend to Ray, helping him battle evil guides and learning of the shadow group.
==================================

Fuya Oasaya, Age14,
            Fuya pesters Rayiko at times, and is very loud, nosy and obnoxious and she’s actually Rays friend, she was his first friend actually ever since they were young and he was new, She’s probably his closet friend. Fuya can get in a lot of trouble since she takes no crap from no one, also means getting Ray beat up.




 THE SHADOW AGENCY

Admis ??? Age? SG, Mantor The Great Gargoyle

 Once a regular high school student, Admis soon enough became lost in the darkness, along with his once pure soul guide. Admis moved up fast in rank, becoming a shadow general under Seiden, he hopes to make it on the shadow counsel one day
=======================================
                                                  Merlith ??? Age? SG, Impa Of The Neither World She’s under Seiden, and is very loyal to him also Admis, only because she’s fond of Admis, but she knows their love can never be embrace since they’re under this dark faction. Merlith guide seems puny and small, but its transformation is formidable, for it becomes the true Impa Of The Neither World.

======================================
Sake ??? Age? SG Fuma

 : A silent dark type, Sake is queit and quick, he’s part of Seidens group along with Hitada. Hitada is very power, stronger than the other 2, Merlith and Hitada, his true form is devastating, almost close to Admis power.

=======================================

Hitada ??? Age? SG, Devil Henna

  A formidable warrior, who loves a good fight. Hitada only joined the shadows because he was looking for a thrill and someone powerful, Hitada is very powerful hisself, and is legend for killing many soul guides and their owner.
=======================================
Shadow Lord Seiden, Age? SG, Megis The Sun Demon

 One of lords of the shadows. Seiden is very young, but his powers exceeds many, just Rayikos bracelet Seiden carries a ancient artifact of his own, but it’s a necklace. The shadow counsel assigned him and his squad to retrieve that bracelet Ray holds.

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West Colfax by Joseph Haag

----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------

George Eillers walked along the sunset road, brick dust smog mingling with barbecue smoke on the west colfax sidewalk. Two boys called him from across the fence, his mother's kimchi and rice steaming the apartment window, wind drip cello behind the glass. George walked along, back weighed down by his schoolbooks like a wing-clipped dove.
Jessica stopped George when he crossed her stoop, flashing her crooked smile teeth, gold templed gentlemen gleaming through barbed wire braces, her hip loose, strawberry blonde locks, freckled cheeks. Her arm was broken, wrist bound with cloth, too much fun, out with the boys, older boys they were. She was raunchy, grungey, exuding sick fumes like an animal, strawberry blonde locks covering freckled cheeks.
"Do you want to know a secret?"
"What?"
"Come closer"
George ducked his head, sailing through the brick dust smog, swooping like a hawk.
"What?"
"Come closer."
George anticipated her slime drip tongue, her cold barbed wire braces, her honey drip saliva
She pulled his ear
Laughter
George backed away, ready to leave.
"Fine! I'm bored anyway."
George walked along the sunset road, brick dust smog mingling with barbecue smoke on the West Colfax sidewalk, the impaled organ flesh sizzling on the flame, decapitated by 32 gold tempeled smiling gentlemen, the boy next door.
When George arrived home, his mother's kimchi and rice steam frothed the apartment window. She stirred the pot, the bowl, the pan. George nibbled in silence.
When morning dawned and let her long blonde eyes open through the terraced, pendulating slits of George's window, he arose and brushed. He walked along the road, passed Jessica's stoop. Exchange of words, she planted her sticker seed kiss deep on his lips, pierced that fecundated ground, pollinated the tissue. Jessica kissed him
George wandered through the brick dust smog, heart racing. The girl next door, Kristie, eyed him. Tear strewn voice, cries, jumped out of the passanger seat. Warnings, Jessica's dangerous, she'll break your heart, she'll hurt you, I told her today, I said, If you heart George I'll kill you, she always does this, she always plays it sweet and when she gets the guy to fall, she breaks his heart. I told her, if you hurt George, I'll kill you
tears
she cried
George didn't listen. He smiled a little smile, hugged Kristie. Oh yes, I'll stay away from her
George didn't care. When he arrived home, his mother's kimchi and rice steam smogged the apartment, she stirred the pot. The telephone called out. George answered. Jessica spoke, strawberry blonde curls over her freckled cheeks.
"George, I have something to confess."
"I'm listening"
"Well, I know that we're going together. But see, the same day we started, my friend Roger asked me out. And just to be nice, I promise you that's why, I said yes. So technically I am cheating on you"
George didn't care.
"But I really do want to be with you... I'll call him tonight and tell him it's over"
George hung up. Her honey drip saliva tongue, animal in the barbed wire brace cage, called to him over the brick dust smog, the disortotions over the cityscape. George lay down, fell asleep.
When morning came, George woke again. He walked along the road, Kristie cried. Let me guess, she'd love to be with you, but first she needs to break it off with another man. You think he's the only one? I told her, if you hurt George I'll kill you
George walked along the sunset road, hurried to the bus stop, hopped 16.

Creation
 
Seth walked into the forest that surrounds his house."Bandit," he called looking for his dog that had escaped the night before. He turned when he heard a howl. He walked to where he had heard the howl come from. In the clearing stood a wolf with his leg caught in a bear trap.
 The wolf's pelt was pitch black and its eyes were as black and cold as the darkest night. It whimpered and howled in pain trying to lick its wounded leg. It looked at Seth and then looked at its leg and back again. Seth rushed over to help the wolf out of the trap; as he tried to pry it open it cut his hands open and the wolf’s blood entered the cut. Finally it gave way and the wolf was freed.
 The wolf turned around and looked at Seth and dipped its head as if it was saying thank you then it raised its head up high and howled to the heavens. The wolf turned and limped back into the forest.
 Later that night Seth dreamt of the dark wolf.
 "Thank you for saving me Seth", the wolf said.
 "How do you know my name?" Seth asked.
 "We share the same blood now, Seth. I know your name so it is only fair you know mine I am Lyc" The wolf said.
 Seth screamed out in pain. "What’s happening to me?" Seth screamed.
 "You are becoming a Lycan. You humans often refer to them as werewolves.” Lyc said.
“But I wasn’t bit or scratched by a werewolf” Seth said in an agony filled voice.
  “Unlike your myths and legends true, supreme Lycans are created by wolves while the lesser are born or created from other Lycans." Lyc said. "Good bye Seth. May we walk together in the world of dreams again someday", Lyc then vanished in a ball of light.

 Seth continued to scream out in pain. It was as if his skin was being ripped apart from the inside. His muscle grew, bone structure changed, teeth turned to fangs, hands turned to claws and he grew fur. Also his eyes turned as black and cold as Lyc's.
I am a Lycan. He thought. He raised his head and howled to the heaven just as Lyc had done after being freed. Overnight Seth went from being a small, unextrordinary, seven year old boy to a large and powerful Lycan.

"You will meet a girl named Jessica; together you will change the world." an omnioustent voice bellowed.

Bleed by Andariel

                                Bleed

 "Mary!" a voice called. "What do you think your doing?"
 "Leaving; I am tired of all your anger and hate, this is no place to raise our child" Mary yelled. She was 8 months pregnant.
 "Mary, you better get your ass back here you ungrateful bitch" the man yelled.
 Mary got into her car and drove away. She kept driving till night then her car broke down. This is where the beginning of the end started........ She went in to labor, but something was going wrong there was blood and allot of it. She got out of the car and started screaming for help.
 "HELP ME" She screamed. She looked around and noticed that there were no houses that she could see and no cars coming. She was starting to lose hope, and then she saw a group of people dressed in black walking towards her. "Help......." she gasped.
 One of the men in the group walked up to Mary and said. "We can save your child but you will die"
 "I don't care just save my baby." Mary managed to say.
 "She will grow up in a world that is far more different than the one you know." the man said.
 "She........It's a girl........Please just save her... save Jessica...." Mary said hope entering her distraught voice.
 "Very well then." the man said. Vampiric fangs grew from his mouth and he went towards her neck; at the sight of them Mary fainted.
 Mary awoke in the middle of a forest. She noticed a shadowy figure and started to move towards it. "Who are you?" she asked it. "And where am I?"
 "I am Lyc and you are walking with me in the World of Dreams." The figure said still not moving.
 "Your a wolf!" She said as she moved closer to it.
 Yes I am. I am here to tell you that your daughter will be raised as a vampire and one day she will meet a Lycan. Together they will lead a Clan of Lycans and Vampires, to bring peace to this chaotic world." Lyc paused. "Now it is time for you to die."
 Mary's body started to glow and she was lifted into the air, then she vanished.
 In the real world.....
 "Is it done Caine?" a woman from the group asked.
 "Yes. We should leave the smell of her blood will bring unwanted attention" Caine said as he looked down at Mary's bloody body.
 "What will the girls name be?" the woman asked.
 "You heard the woman...... This girl's name will be Jessica"
 
"Seth"

KZ7vQP

Four Letters by Cpk

My philosophy is a simple matter. I believe that pain is a mere affliction pressed upon society to distract one from the true course of events unfolding. No age, no size, no beauty, no gender, no race can elude pain. Pain is always felt, always has been, and always will be; inevitable. It sticks to one like glue would stick to one. Or preferably scotch tape for those liberals.

But there are downs to the beauty of pain. It may be no more than a four letter word, but it’s the most potent four letter word I’ve ever experienced. It has power and majesty. It brings nations to their knees, seeking vendetta. It makes the call for blood ever so ample. It makes me who I am… a cutter.

I cut. People see me as some person would look at some monster, or how some monster would look at some person. One may inquire why I cut… Don’t we all wonder? But all I can supply one with is another four letter word… L. O. V. E.

Its prodigious power could even quarrel pain. That is, if there is certainty that the love that one receives is sinuous and unbroken. But when eradicated and screwed with, the love river is vaporized, leaving endless fields of thorns and graves to rape the soul with depression and agony. Gray skies melt beauty and all rolls down poppy flowers. Drugs become necessities and blades become friends, friends become blades.

My apprehensive self gave me my first cut, my first scar. But the fault was all on Joey, another four letter word. No shocker there. He was the romance to my life, the peanut to my butter; my only long term association.
I met him through band, or technically called regiment. Regiment endowed me with pleasant memories and an escape from life at home; therefore any getaway or easy path out of my home gave me clear and instant satisfaction. Band was chill. I could show up to practice blue bellied and no one would torment me. This was incredibly enjoyable. I could be who I wanted to be without being hindered. However, the downfall to regiment was that obligatory practices were held every Tuesday night from four in the evening to ten at night. These practices were copious and forced me to pick up an instrument and play it well. Although they let me have my instrument of choice, being trumpet, this concept didn’t toot my horn; the stress of it was hard to swallow. But a man changed my mind. This man made all burdens and endeavors worthwhile.

This man’s name was Joey. He was rather average, but one thing set him apart from anything that God blew breath into. His eyes; they were like two brown, circular disks with black dots in the middle. They created a reason for my place in the regiment. They made me insane. My body thirsted for more of his appeal and wit. His charisma was sensed from afar. I was winded at sight of him, making his lust and bod a craving. His eyes guided the blade to my wrist.

But a problem arose from the midst of deep compassion, my gender. A black monster developed rapidly, feeding off of my emotions... I was a guy, and he was a guy. In my city, relationships beyond the touch of a man and woman were forbidden. Those who were open to the public with their affairs were highly regarded as insane. Some figured that their mind had been tampered with by demons, forcing them to love their same gender. There was no respect for gays.

I had no clue what my sexuality was. I mean, after all, I had always wanted to experiment upon a man’s lips. Kiss, hug, and hold hands. But yet I could say the same for girls. My confusion guided the blade to my wrist.

He was straight… (From my knowledge). After all, he dated the other girl I had liked. Two absolutely gorgeous people together left me bare. From their break- up, I saw opportunity. When I asked her out, she replied with words I thought I would never hear. Not only was it a no, but she was also sexually confused. She was focused on women more. From this I made a friend other than my blade, I met Morgan. Although Morgan was nice to me, I could always tell that something lied behind her security blanket: a storm, a fiend, something ugly is for sure.

Experiencing all this made my heart quirk and to the point of un-functional. It made me grasp intense thoughts of approaching Joey, leaving him in a twisted love spiral. Peevish fantasies aroused in my brain every day. Not one day would pass that my passion for him was barren dry. I would be the lion and he would surrender to my paw. I also had other fantasies. Once I dreamt a royal bow that had the ability to call forth Cupid. With a dangerous weapon like Cupid, I could aim and fire a golden arrow, targeted at Joey’s ass. My ludicrous ideas were absolutely outrageous and sometimes humorous.

I brainwashed myself…The best thing I could do was to wait; a true trial from the Goddess of Time. Every day I would sit on my perch and wait, delaying any actions of exchange. For three months I waited. Nothing…
No form of social interaction.
Nothing…
We had no conversation, never. It was all fictional and imaginary. I was going crazy.

The obsession with him was unremitting. I would begin to keep track of his scent, his clothing, his friends, his words. I was his stalker. Every day he slowly grew on me more and more, building. It was as if he was like a colony of E. Coli, and I was room-temperature beef.

One night things changed. There was a fire down in the hills of a nearby town. A preposterous wall of flames blazed the countryside. Even with discourse such as this, the strict itinerary of the regiment drove me to practice despite evident health hazards.

This night was unique. The air seemed thinner than usual. It led to many questions, concerns, comments, the whole. Practice rattled all of our heads. Not a soul was prepared for the inexorable maltreatment of the instructors to the regiment. They worked us like the thighs of fat people jiggling in hardcore aerobics. Sweat could drown our stadium. It seemed that every part of my body had been sweating impractical amounts.

For a while, I thought I was going to expire from exhaustion. I was drenched in sweat. I leered across the field during break (our only break) when my eyes met Joey’s. Life replenished in my body, my thirst and hunger were no longer it seemed. From my fatigue I questioned if my vision misled me to see a mirage. ‘It couldn’t have,’ myself repeated over and over.

Adrenaline caressed my veins, constricting and releasing pulses of energy. Joey broke our stare and approached me when I was caught drowned in a daze. With all that in mind, I heard his voice, directed at me for the first time.

“Hey, Daniel. How were you doing that lunge at the eight count halt?”

An angel’s chorus rejoiced. His voice was gentle, and loose; tranquil. It was like heaven flowing endlessly from his vocal chords. His eyes… His eyes fueled me. They gave me pleasure in every second that I looked at him.

Dumbfounded… I was as perplexed as a hacker who gained access to the wrong item. Thoughts of amazement strung through my mind. I was fascinated by his ability to learn my name with such agility. I hadn’t said a word to him prior to that night, but yet he knew my name. He knew what I was called. He knew who I was.

I began to inquire on everything that I’ve even seen him do. Did he ever stare at me when I wasn’t looking at him? How did he know? How long did he know? Why me out of anyone?

My response was even more repulsive than I opted for. In a voice as if I was regurgitating a hairball, fresh from my mouth, I said, “Umm, woa. Well uh… Hey! I’ll show you!” I lunged out exactly how my drill instructors taught me. I formed right angles with my thighs. I questioned my conscience how he got along without knowing how to lunge for so long in this season. But then I realized his intensions. He had wanted to either test me or talk to me. Either or was amazing. He spoke… Not only did he speak, but he spoke to me, to me, to me…

My actions were rudely interrupted by the loud sounding of the microphone, blaring in the distance. It informed us that practice was over. We were free to escape; free.



My reality became blinded. I feared; I feared everything. I feared that another moment such as that night would never occur again. What if he found out that I liked him so much? Would he stop talking to me? Fear was the new threat that shot through my body. Everything shuttered before me. I could see light long enough to assess the dark room that I was trapped in, but as soon as I found a way out, the light dimmed and I had to restart with another dark room; a new beginning.

I blame band. Band was the culprit. Although it nourished me under its wing and provided the happiest point in my life, it was the only four letter word in existence that tormented my pale hands with more agony. From that night on I could only get discouraged. Joey programmed my mind to think about him, only him, always. ‘I would have to approach him again,’ I deliberated.

The blade felt its first skin that night. Nervous of the outcome of the cut, I cut slowly, horizontally, blissfully. The blade glided across my coarse skin, tearing at the flesh upon my arm. Blood oozed out of the cavity, slowly coagulating and crusting on the surface. My body was not prepared for the impact, the indent. As a reaction, it sent a rush of adrenaline; a skyrocketing delight. In that one minute time frame, all pain, all thoughts, all sanity, all existence, diminished. My world was enveloped with blood. My focus was centered only on how the skin on my wrist had been divided by the weapon in my hand, devoured by the blade. This is why I cut; this is why I will continue to cut.

To be continued…..

Perhaps it was the underlying venom that caused their hearts to momentarily remit with such pain, then subsequently harden in an enclosed shell, impenetrable to the unforgiving, harsh cruel world that had spawned and moulded their existence. . Perhaps it was this venom that tipped the scale of their hearts and so turned them. Infecting their brains with paralysis of reason, the same malignant force , that so devoids racists from reality and empathy. The serpent spoke with such audacity and plain conviction that the occupants of the taxi did not know how to react, “ what do you mean WE ? ” , he spoke with the same hatred and blind ignorance that erected the Berlin Wall, that induced genocide , murder , rape and pillage. That had caused so much grief and had fuelled so much hatred, that had been the philosophical inspiration that misery had built upon for as long as man could remember his past. Discrimination , intolerance , oppression. Theese words have contributed nothing to man throughout the vicissitudes of time , bar negativity and loss, leaving him in a worse state than he was found. Try telling that to a Glasgow cabbie as he alienates two young asian youths in the back of his cab. He also expects a tip as he holds out his hand at the of end of what the occupants would understate as an uncomfortable journey to say the least.

The young asian youth, kindley obliges by leaning forward with a strange uncomforting smile on his face, he looks the cabbie right in the eye, then leans forward tilting his head forward slightly, he opens his mouth simultaneously summoning a strange sound and then proceeds to spit in the cabbies hand, a great big dirty one ! “Not bad” He remarks to himself in a modest self critical tone.. “You dirty Paki bastard”, the cabbie exclaims with a look of combined disgust and contempt, his surprise and confusion of emotions and how to react next are exacerbated when the other occupant of the vehicle , slumps back down into his seat. The cabbie’s last glimpse is a picture of himself with a slit throat, a dark and light red mess across his neck and growing ever larger with blood erupting everywhere.

“Well that’s what the rascist Bastard get’s eh”, one of the youth’s says . “Aye that’s what the cunt gets for murdering my brother. , That’s what he gets for abducting him on his way home from school, that’s what he gets for being the fucking skinhead bastard who’s been tormenting my family for the past ten years, and that’s the cunt I’m going to spend the next 20 years for, contemplating and savouring the cold sweet dish of revenge. His speech turns to thoughts. His existence unsuccessfully tries to grasp reason and mortality, the concept of time and the minefield of morality. But true to his words all he can do is record with glee for the next twenty five years, how he got revenge of the person who abducted and killed his little brother …..

By h Mali.k

comment please!!

Your deep breath entrances me, your eyes closed, ignoring the beckoning of the world’s vivacious cries.

A peaceful energy surrounds you; it is in fact your soul, your aura, a passion so large that comprehension is only something to dwell upon for it has almost no chance in happening.

My hands, dry and burned, run across your body, trying to feel something real, something that will make me realize the intentions of life and love and what it is defined as—a purpose perhaps, a calling, or possibly a pursuit.

Inching onto your body, I tug softly at your hair, sliding back your head and whisper for you to arise, a warm breath sweeping past your ears.

I can only hope that you’ll hear me or at the very least feel my pressure upon your mass—is that too much to ask for?

And yet, you give me no sign of recognition, not a mummer nor a blink nor a smile, the same soft upturn of the lips that made me melt all those times before, the only feeling that proved my sanity—the reality of my mind.

Where have you gone? Your shell lays out before me, soaking the rays of the sweet sun and capturing the moon’s glowing shadows, but your inner being has vanished out of mind, out of sight.

I can no longer see; you have taken the ability away, along with the sensitivity of touch, of feel, a simple human sensation that you have stolen from me.

Curse you and your peacefulness—I wished only good things while you were away, but away you have been for too long. Now, resentment has soured my thoughts and I dare say, numbness will soon follow.

Please—I beg you, my love, return to my heart, fill your cocoon, the shell in which you have escaped from.

Edited by author 03-25-2009 01:12 AM
                      
Dark Encounter

I am a cop. I am the law. I am a saviour of human rights. But today, today I feel like I am no one. Listen carefully to what I have to say because, this is the story of Him, of me.

It was a beautiful Wednesday morning; people in the metro were hastily walking towards their destination. I always observe them, wondering what they are thinking about. If you look close enough, you can see that they all have the same look; you know the one that people have in the morning before they get to work. These sad faces that pretend to read the newspaper because of their loneliness and, as time passes, they wake up to wonder how they got there so fast. I can’t reckon a time in my life where people I knew where happy about their accomplishments. Life is a long trip; you are always waiting to get to a better destination, but in the end, it is the journey which is beautiful. Some say the rain doesn’t fall long enough; sadly, I think so myself. I always do a bit of thinking before I begin my routine; it helps me forget why I am here doing this job.

I took a last sip of my coffee and threw it in the green garbage can near me, and then, I made my way through the crowd to get a glimpse at everything and everyone. My job consists of protecting people; usually from themselves. We don’t want any accident today. As I walked near the metro lane, I hear thundering screams echoing beside me.
Officer! said the woman close to me. There He was, standing near the edge ready to jump, my worst nightmare; the one thing that keeps me up at night. This is it I said to myself, time to prove to others that you are still worth something.

-Why are you doing this Mr? said I nervously.

-Oh you know why officer! He said grinning. Can’t you see all around you!

-Wha… What are you talking about?
- I am tired of all this, all these people pretending to be something while they are not, this world is falling apart, don’t you see? What do I have that is different from others? I can’t stand them smiling at each others like hypocrites and talking about there brainless reality shows when millions of people are dying and crying for our help. But no! We, little citizens adore comfort. Whatever the price some have to pay, we don’t care: as long as it’s not me. Now, give me one reason why I shouldn’t ascend to hell right now! What difference does it makes if I jump, other then slowing the stressed life of some dumb frogs.

I noticed he was shaking.

-A big one! Each human has some good inside of himself. See yourself as a flame in the dark, as a light in the horizon that can’t or shouldn’t be put out. It’s hard… I know. You are currently facing troubled times where hope isn’t just necessary, it’s the meaning of your life. I’m not asking you not to jump; I’m begging you.

-Think about it for Christ sake! He shouted. Even if a little hope floats in me, I feel like I can’t grab it. As if my arms where to short to grasp on this magnificent ideal.

-Don’t worry, a new day will dawn where the wind blows in your ear, whispering you what to do. However, you must be patient for that day to appear and you must find that patience in the hope you carry.

-Wrong. I’m tired of being useless!

A strange feeling grew deep within me. Who was He? I began to hear the sound of darkness echoing from the tunnel; it was coming. But then, his words stroke me like God’s voice. It finally made sense. My hands where trembling. Officer! cried the woman desperately. Truth came closer and closer and closer...

           Icem

Ps: Please... oh please comment. Iannacci8@hotmail.com