First Sign of the Badger Page 19

  #

  The VP is in his office. It's mid-ring. The phone is answered.

  "Hey, sexy. How's your day?"

  Mr. Go blushes. It's a wife. "Good."

  "Don't be too late tonight. I'm the anniversary present that needs unwrapping."

  "Okay, bye."

  "I love you, bye."

  Mr. Go is well. He's making money. Earlobes is medicine. Things are smooth.

  An obstacle trips God.

  A yell-leader craves an interview. He's motivated. He's wants a good-side.

  "Hello, Mr. Go! How are you doing today?" cheers the yell-leader.

  "Who are you?" asks Mr. Go.

  "Oh, you know who I am. I work downstairs. We talked before."

  "Okay, bye."

  "So, how are you doing today?" the self-promoter continues.

  Mr. Go senses danger. The conversation should be over. The VP hits reset. The yell-leader is still there. Mr. Go is confused.

  The vibe is felt. The yell-leader is a politician. He concedes. "Well, just thought I'd say hi. I better get back to work now. Have a nice day." He exits.

  Mr. Go checks his watch. A heart is racing. Fear is fuel.

  Mr. Go feels violated. A code is accessed. The four seconds will tighten. He defends himself.

  "Sorry for the wait Mr. Go," apologizes Mrs. Cornerstone.

  "Fire the man that was just in my office," commands the Mr. Go.

  "Yes, sir. Your wife is on the other line, I'll transfer her over."

  "Okay, bye." Clockwork has returned. Mr. Go is amused. The lines switch.

  "We can't do what we were going to do tonight?"

  "Why?"

  "My poor cousin is here and needs temporary shelter."

  Mr. Go is disappointed, "Okay, bye."

  "I love you, bye," apologizes Earlobes.

  Mr. Go goes home. A day is spent. Earlobes greets her. She fix the wig.

  "Hello, honey. Dinner's ready."

  "Is your brother here?"

  "Yes, he's on the couch."

  Mr. Go a man. The man wears paint. The cousin waves.

  "Okay, bye," Mr. Go heads to the kitchen.

  "Okay, I love you." The wife leads a cousin.

  Mr. Go wears a napkin. He bookends a hypotenuse. The mime is the other.

  Mr. Go watches the alien. It flops around. The motions are unclear. This is not hello. This is not goodbye. This is not peace.

  "What is he doing?" Mr. Go finishes the plate.

  "He's a mime, honey. He does everything in actions."

  "Okay, bye." Mr. Go deposits the dish. He retires.

  Earlobes reschedules, "I'll be there in a minute. ... I love you, bye."

  Mr. Go sits. There's nothing to do. This is a problem. Time is wasted.

  A mime is in his kitchen. There hasn't before. He's seen it. He doesn't like it.

  Earlobes joins a husband. She brings a cousin.

  The mime is expressing. Mr. Go is bothered. The display is not welcome.

  "How long are you staying?" Mr. Go is direct.

  The mime shrugs. Mr. Go understands. It's "I don't know."

  The mime continues. Mr. Go is not entertained. All is lost. Mr. Go waits.

  Fifteen-minutes pass. The mime winds down. The day is compromised. A sixty-fourth is wasted. Meaninglessness has struck.

  Mr. Go is red. The delays are stressing. He needs a translator.

  The wife notices the problem. An answer is needed. Earlobes remembers the minutes.

  "I don't know how long he's staying, honey."

  Mr. Go can stop attention. He stares at Earlobes. She brought a disease.

  "Okay, bye." Mr. Go exits. The bedroom is a friend. It's not busy.

  "We'll figure it out soon. I love you, bye."

  Earlobes waves "goodnight." The cousin is left.

  Loneliness is there. The living room houses it. The mime is depressed. The mime has nothing. His performance is done. He wants death.

  The sister is happy. He is misunderstood.

  The altitude gives opportunity. He will re-descend to hell. The mime opens the window. He balances the window.

  The jump is delayed. He doesn't want pain. It's too painful.

  The mime searches the kitchen. He finds a butcher knife. The suicide returns to the ledge. He points at God. He blinks sadness. He is misery. He is melancholy. He needs cheering-up.

  He stabs himself. A heart is deleted. Gravity makes a bomb. It splatters sidewalks.

  Someone is knocking. Biorhythms are interrupted. Mr. Go opens the door. He's upset. It's the police.

  "Mr. Go?" the tone is a bully.

  "Yes."

  "Did you kill that mime?"

  "Okay, bye," Mr. Go is sleepy. He's in bed.

  The police have a confession. The killer is not remorseful.

  They move. Mr. Go is grounded. He's charged.

  The trial is difficult. Freedom is not won. Mr. Go claims innocence. He tries to leave.

  He will be punished.

  #

  Mr. Go has nothing. He had a wife. She was trained. Earlobes may have relapsed. She'll waste time.

  Mr. Go cannot stay. He's a fugitive.

  Mr. Go cannot get a job. He's a fugitive.

  Mr. Go cannot be trusted. He's a fugitive.

  Mr. Go is not an innocent man. He's a fugitive.

  Mr. Go will not suicide. Mr. Go has ethic. He is strong. Enemies are weak.

  Mr. Go is alive. The mime is dead.