“In all the mad incongruity, the turgid stultiloquy of life, I felt, at least, securely anchored to myself. Whatever the vacillations of other people, I thought myself terrifically constant. But now, here I am, dragging a frayed line, and my anchor gone.”
CITY ON A HILL
Underneath the twilight sky, rush hour cars pass by leaving trails of jasper red and pearly white, the city has come alive to the score and composition of an LA night. Near the derelict ranch home, far from the rising pillars and tall glass structures downtown, a man lay. Tucked within the foliage and panting for breath below Brentwood break trails, the man beats the dirt and begs for his life to be spared. He mumbles and cries. Thick smoke hug and meander through the chapparal, and soon the man's green home rises yellow, orange, red.
The man beaten down by anguish and shame utters words indistinctly, frantically and crazed. The poor man's mind and body altogether cease to function. His heart shook with violence and purpose.
The fire grew hot. Madrones and Manzanitas cracked, sparked, and popped. The whole mountain lit up bright like a burning altar. The offering lay alive.
"Damn you, all you whores!"
His rage and anguished cries were devoured by the flames or so the locals thought.
LA LA LAND
"Where are you headed to, Matt?" Ed asks.
"I don't know," Matt replies.
"Can I come with?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Why do you want to?"
"I haven't seen you all week."
"Whatever..."
"Why so serious?"
"Look, I just don't want you to come. This week has been really rough for me."
"So that's why, let me come with you. Let's talk about this."
"You got to be kidding."
"Nope."
Matt lets out a long sigh. Rolls his tired eyes and capitulates, "Fine. You're driving."
Ed rolls his eyes and stares at the ceiling and walks over to the kitchen counter languidly, "No, I can't man."
Confused and irate Matt sits up straight, no longer reclined on the sofa. "What do you mean you can't drive?"
"I had one too many drinks man," Edward replies as he sets himself down on the dining table chair. "Man, I'm so thirsty..." he mumbles as he claps his dry tongue on his mouth's palate. Ed grabs the Brita filter pitcher and pours himself a glass of water.
"Jesus, Ed. How much did you drink?" asks Matt as he walks over to the kitchen. He opens the refrigerator and sees two cardboard holders for six-pack beers empty. "Are you fucking kidding me!? God damnit Ed, I was saving those for the hangout Thursday!" Matt slams the refrigerator door enraged.
"Look man, it's been tough for me too. Claudia dumped me," Ed replies somberly. With his head down on the table, Ed mumbles, "Sorry bro."
Matt walks over to Ed, pats him on the back. "Get up man. Let's go for a ride by sorority row and check out the girls, I'll drive."
THE BIG ORANGE
High up above the busy streets and enormous office structures, the tall brown monolith pierces the sky. It glistens and reflects the morning sun's rays, blinding Edward's eyes as he drives to work.
One after another the cars trickle into the mouth of the parking lot. Edward smiles as he parks his black BMW on the fifth floor of the parking structure. He is early this morning, and he has parked in the spot closest to the stairwell. A small, mundane victory that puts him in a good mood. Walking out of the car, Edward checks his reflection on the passenger window of his car. He adjusts his tie; rolls down his sleeves and cufflinks his cuffs; and he checks for any imperfections on his side part pompadour hairstyle. From the pocket of his white dress slacks, he pulls out chapstick and applies gingerly on his lips. He smiles.
Down the flight of stairs, the click-clack chorus of heels, sneakers, and toe cap oxfords echo off the cold concrete walls. The percussive song of busy bodies rushing to work fills the air. The heavy metal exit door creaks and swooshes open, Edward is blinded by the sun again. Briskly walking towards the brown monolith's lobby, Edward takes out his sunglasses to shield his eyes from the light. He smiles.
CITY OF ANGELS
Out of their cramped, college-town apartment, the two friends walked through the autumn evening. The scrapes and beats of shoes hitting concrete and dirt skip along the alley way that leads to the front of the apartment. The car keys jingle in Matt's hand as he pulls out a pack of cigarettes from his inside pocket. Immediately Edward pulls out his zippo to help his good friend, he fumbles with it for a second before it clicks open.
"Thanks man," Matt responds as Ed lights his cigarette. Ed pulls out one for himself but carelessly drops his as he drunkenly bumps into a throng of sorority girls.
The two walk by loud sorority houses, Bid Day is coming to a close and lines of well-dressed, young women wait outside each house eager and anxious to find if they've been picked. Matt tightens his arms in his jacket to keep warm, and Ed stops and stares like a boy in a candy store. The car door slams and Ed is brought back to reality and hops into the white pickup truck parked outside of Kappa Alpha Theta.
"It's so cold outside. These girls must be freezing."
"Fuck these girls," Matt says out of frustration as the engine roars to life.
"Yeah, I would literally. Especially that one right there. The brunette in the mint dress." Edward says as he looks out his passenger window with complete infatuation.
"Bunch of shallow, rich bitches."
"Yo man, shouldn't judge them." Edward replies defending his mint crush.
Matt slams the car horn, sorority sisters scamper, some slam the hood of the truck, some stick up their finger. "You fucking douchebag!" one girl yells. "Who the fuck drives a white pickup truck?" another girl shouts. "Stalkers and sociopaths," the girl in the mint dress retorts with a look of disgust.
An angry sorority girl runs towards the truck and hurls her uncapped bottle at the truck as it speeds away.
"Ratchet bitches," Edward says under his breath.
"Yo man, don't judge them," Matt mockingly retorts.