From Now On

Jack’s face looked phthalo green in this light. Meg had her head supported by her two soft, pink hands. What peculiar ring she wore, made of some kind of a white stone, or petrified whale sperm. You looked at it for maybe ten minutes. When your eyes locked, she smiled a silly smile. Complete meltdown in you. Somewhere in the back, Bob and Frank compared their iPhones and all of their splendour, the darlings. A fresh batch of young girls coming into the bar distracted you. Seventeen? About. Danger! Danger! They were laughing and wearing funny knitted woollen hats. Much too hot in here. Zip zap, tip tap toe, dance across the floor, knots and buds, a shadow, smudge, a phantom.

Simone pulling your arm brought you back on earth. This was the reason you all gathered tonight, her dooming departure… an eight month trip to the Orient. My God, you were gonna miss her, no man could tell… Cheers, babe. Olga and Bette were laughing like mad. That was probably the best thing to do too. What the hell! Discussing the state of affairs in the world, and solving them in between two beers. Though blurred eyes you watched your friends laugh. Universal Love ruled between these walls for a night.

Later, you found yourself stumbling to the toilet, where you pissed on your shoes. This made you howling with laughter. When you returned you asked Meg: ‘Will you varnish my skull? Just for fun?’ Sure, why not. Confetti, meat, the pipe dream of a waitress’ smile. Out of nowhere, you invent a piano player and a man in uniform. Where were those can-can dancers?

A cold wind blew outside. You shouted: ‘let’s box up the moon! We have no need for it now, for Lady Luck will shine on our path from now on!’