SO WHATS YOUR TRICK?

NOT EDITED

The evening seemed to be coming on faster than I realized which was strange. I had been here for the conception of most nights for the last two 3 ½ years. Some nights birthed easier than others. This one felt like it might be trouble.

It was starting to be a clear night with a slight chill, which was a nice change from the hot dry nights of LA. I felt like I earned the right to call her LA. Los Angeles seemed too formal for what we’ve been through in our short relationship. We were tight.

As the city darkens I was just leaving my drop spot that was at Jerry’s Deli & Liquor Store, on Fountain Ave. They let me keep my stuff in one of the un-used employee lockers as long as it doesn’t smell or cause any trouble. It open 24/7 which is good for me. The original Jerry liked to be open because everyone was like family and people came around at all hours to hang, chat and buy the stuff they needed. The current Jerry who’s his real name Bedros, but most people called him Jerry. He kept it open 24/ 7 because the neighborhood was always on and he wanted to be able to make every sell he could. He once said I reminded him of his youngest brother who was in school back in Armenia. So I got privileges that the others guys didn’t. I’m working on him to let some of my guys use the shower in the storeroom from time to time. But for now his say no. Maybe his Armenian soul sees something special in my African American eyes? I always tried to be cool with him for it. I even learned his real name and called him Bedros. I feel like I need as many cool people in my corner as I can get. After leaving home the first time about 2 ½ years ago, it’s been a quick and constant learning process. I have some good teachers.

So I’m walking towards the door past the register where Jerry #2’s real younger brother Ohanness, Ohan for short, is sitting in ripped jeans with the crouch that looked like termites have been through it already and a t-shirt with the store logo on it.

“Hey lil’ T, What are you doing tonight? You’re not old enough to get into any clubs. So what could a little guy like you have going on a week night?”

[I secretly loved his accent, even if he was talking stuff to me]

“Hey lil’ O, I’m off to work, to make a Million and have a wonderful life.” I said trying to sound light and older. “What about you?”

“What does this mean, ‘make a Million?’ “What are you going to do rob a rich family?” he asked.

“NO! --- It’s just an American saying. I’m going to work on Santa Monica Blvd. and Orange tonight”, I said.

“Oh My God!!! to sell your little young ass? I can’t believe your still doing that? Who would pay for sex with a little boy like you?”

He could not wrap his mind around an underage male prostitute.

“Well Ohan, like I tried to explain before there are a lot of horny men looking for a hot young guy just like me. I’ve been doing this for 2 years and in the end we all have to eat.”

“T- What kind of trick could you do anyway?”he asked incredulously

“Later Ohan, I’m late, we’ll talk another time.” I said moving toward the door.

“Why can’t you tell me now?” He screamed after me as a customer came in for his evening snack.

Ohan was cool but Bedros seemed to understand the idea of taking care of yourself. Ohan was 25 and Bedros was 30 maybe that had something to do with it.

As I walked to meet my friends a few the blocks away I thought about the last time someone asked me the same kind of question. So what’s your trick?

I was coming out the alley behind Circus of Books on to Santa Monica, when a car stops and the window comes down. A sexy dark haired man in his thirties is fidgeting behind the driver’s wheel and trying to smile. Hi, he says. I stop and throw on my best Freddy Boom-Boom Washington Smile/Flex and say, Hi There. We chatted about the night and what we were up to and he invited me into his sports car and I suggested we have a date, to let him know this was a pay service and not a quick stick and go. He looked a little shocked and said, Oh, So what’s your trick? He acted like he was ordering off the specials menu. He ran through a short list of things. I was a little taken a back, but as any good street student I kept my face on.

So I said, “Well I have more than a mouth full and there’s very little I have not tried.”

But I knew he was looking for a one trick pony. The way he was gripping the steering wheel and grinding his teeth I also knew he was living in the Crystal palace and the folks that lived there were always a problem. They usually had the attention span of a field mouse and staying power of taffy in LA Sun.

So I said, “You wanna know my trick? My trick is that I can cum faster and farther than anyone I know and it gets everywhere. If you want to see it’ll cost you $40 bucks?”

He had me out of his car before I could unbuckle my pants. I knew he would, it probably wasn’t his car anyway. So what’s my trick? Pfss. I am so tired of Crystal Queens. But that phrase keeps coming up tonight.

What’s my trick? Ugh---Well I like to fuck and take long walks on the beach. I love small animals but I hate small minds. My dick stays hard for hours, but hey I’m only 14 so I guess that’s not so special. I guess my real trick is that I was 14 years of age and I made men believe I was 18 or 20.

As I made it over to Orange St. to meet up with Colt and the rest of them the night seemed to smell of a little trouble, but trouble was something that I could handle. Hey maybe I’ll get it tatted on me, “Trouble T”. I’ll run it passed the guys, it might work. Anyway tonight I was ready to make a Million and have a wonderful life, one night a time.

TAT

Warm up and Burn

NOT EDITED

I really do want to go to dance class today. It’s one of those days in LA that I like, like so much. It’s about 68d and the clouds are all long like they were painted by Walt Disney himself and the sky is a kind of blue that feels like it’s belongs to my city alone. I just want to ride my board the rest of the day but I can’t if I want to keep up in class. So days I think what am I doing this for. I love it but sometimes I just want my life to be mine and 17. Sitting on the floor in the gym with Mr. Chuy in tights making us do all kinds of stretches. I guess since I have permission to leave after this to go downtown to my other school for dance class. This is a pretty good warm up. I don’t know why we are not doing this outside.

I looked over at Tangy and Lynetta-Marie and gave them a look that said how much of this can we stand. They returned the look. They were always together. They even worked it out so all their classes are together. They seem sweet, at least to me. Lynetta-Marie rolled her eyes and said something to Tangy in their own language. I asked once how long they knew each other and they said like from birth literally. They were born at the same hospital at the same time and their parents went to the same La Mase classes together. When Tangy was 2 months old they moved across the street from Lynetta-Marie’s family.

Mr. Chuy was into it now he had us like doing back-bends. It was most definitely going to warm me up for class. OK, OK I guess I’m going. At least I get to see my ghirls that I like in that class.

Hmm does Mr. Chuy have a little hole in his cycling tights? It doesn’t matter I think he has a jock on like always. Some men should wear as little as possible and he is one of my nominations. I think he said we were going to stretch the whole class. Oh well it’s OK with me, better than running around the track or pretending to enjoy touch football or softball or any other athletic endeavor that involves the people in my class. Some of the guys are real retreads (people that should be ground up and remade into new human beings).

We get up to do some kind of lunging thing with our arms up. We almost all needed to be re-elined. So Mr. Chuy came around to all of up and I saw what he was doing so I stuck out my butt so he would have to touch me. I can be such a touch whore sometimes. You would think not from what I do at night but that doesn’t count to me. I’ll explain later.

So Mr. Chuy has helped everyone but me, some them twice or more. He is walking around the class then he says “OK change legs.” What he never fixed me!?! I thought. Then change to the next leg and stick my butt out again and twist my shoulders. Then I feel hands on my shoulder and waist.

I turn to look and jump.

Gavril Gonzales White –WTF! are you doing?

[I have never liked him. He used to be a first team sports guy and dropped two passes and lost the games for our school and then he quit the team and grew his hair long and now he’s spiritual.]

Why are you touching me? I said.

You looked terribly out of line so I was helping you. He said looking all hurt that I would yell.

As long as I’ve known you when have you ever in life thought I wanted you to touch me?

Why is my touch so bad? I was just helping a friend.

Friend, did he just call me a friend?

Tangy said Yes he did, Ted.

I looked her and Lynetta-Marie and said is out of his freaking mind.

Mr. Chuy was there before I could get all up in his ugly face. I was going to snatch me some long blonde hair.

Mr. Chuy grabbed me, putting his body between me and my target. Damn he is solid. I almost lost my steam. But over his round shoulders was the object of my outrage.

What’s going on Ted? Said Mr. Chuy

This retread touched me!

I was just helping him. He was out of line Mr. C.

I shot him a look that moved him back. [I said I was picky about who touches me.]

If he was just helping you out why did you get mad? Said Mr. Chuy as he was pulling off to the side of the gym with the bench

I waited until we sat down and he told the class to walk-stride back and forth the long way 10x.

What’s really going on Ted?

I just don’t like Gavril White in any way and he has known it since the second day of the 9^th grade.

I didn’t know you two had such feeling. Mr. Chuy said with his arm still around my shoulders.

I have always made it clear that we were not friends and not enemies. That would take me thinking about him.

Wow Ted I didn’t know. Did he try and give you a hard time for being different?

You mean because I’m Gay? As if, I would have smashed him into something more useful like a door stop.

Mr. Chuy looked shocked and pulled his arm away.

Look I have you ever met someone who goes far beyond rubbing you the wrong way. What if you met Charles Manson or Hitler would let them touch you? I said.

Well your right I wouldn’t let those guys touch me, but Gavril hasn’t killed anyone, I don’t think.

Maybe not but I get the same creepy feeling when he’s around. I usually leave.

Are you going to be able to finish the class?

Sure if he doesn’t touch or get anywhere near me again I’ll try.

If you need straightening again I’ll make sure it me that does it. He leaned in close and whispered in my ear “I know that’s what you wanted anyway, right?

He put me on pause; I didn’t even know he knew I was all about him. Umm oops.

I-I-I Umm Yes I guess I did.

I thought so, no get out there and do some strides so the others won’t think I’m playing favorites. And he pats me on the butt. If I was white I would have been fire-engine red.

I was going to have to mark that for later discussion.

I finished my strides quick and we all did a cool down stretch and off to the locker room.

When I walk in was I not expecting Gavril to be waiting for me. I thought he was at least that smart. I’m glad I didn’t call in that bet. The fool was sitting by my locker looking all sad and hopeful.

I wasn’t going anywhere near the retread. I asked Devlin, one of the bigger guys in our class to tell him to move away. Devlin likes me because I floor one of his enemies in a fight two years ago.

Devlin is big and some crazy. He only claims to like 3 guys in our school and only the girls with big racks. That what he says, I’m just glad to be 1 of the 3.

Devlin strolled over to Gavril and asked him very politely for Devlin to move his ass away from my locker. To my surprise Gavril didn’t move,

He said in a little whine, I just want to talk to Ted to try and work things out. I want to be friends.

Well you Hippy Mo-Fo he doesn’t want to work anything out with you. said Devlin

I stood back arms crossed and pinched.

Devlin reached for Gavril’s arm but Gavril jumped back and moved away.

I walked slowly over to my locker to dress quickly and get out of there.

After I dressed in Black pant cut off at the calve and rolled above the knee and a white dress shirt and black Docs and black and white knee socks. I stopped at Devlin’s locker to thank him. I snuck a sneakers bar onto his locker shelf. He is easy to please. He just had a t-shirt and socks on. Too bad kids don’t do it for me I would have all I wanted to look at right around me, but no.

I jetted outside to grab a mini pot pie for the bus ride.

TAT

TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY

NOT EDITED

I woke up thinking that it was going to be a good and regular day. I never know what the day will bring, but a few months ago some guy on Hollywood Blvd. stopped me to talk about the power of positive thinking. At first he sounded like just another Sun-baked, self-helper but then for some reason I decided to give him a chance. Some of what he said made sense. One of his rules were; as soon as you open your eyes start thinking that it’s going to be a good day; beautiful, fun and full of promise. I told him I would try and here I am doing it.

Today is going to be a great day and full of new and wonderful things to do and see, I said out loud to the Universe from under my warm blanket.

That was kind of easy because I’m skipping school this Friday and to hang with K double D (aka Kevin David Dempsey) and Jimmy James. Two of my favorite gay friends my own age and I know plenty of gay kids my own age but they are usually struggling more than me or so far from me with the big houses and Butlers that sometimes I can’t relate. K double D and Jimmy James are just regular kids, but in a fabulous way. They don’t know it but when I dream of a regular life, it’s their lives I dream about. They both have two parents, they are out and the Rent’s are cool, happy and actually proud of their kids. Jimmy’s Parent’s were even in P-flag until he beg them to drop out. We are in advance jazz dance class at the Los Angeles Performing Art Academy together. We clicked right away and have been good friends every since. I told them about my life as a kind of check. If they freaked then we would not make it as friends.

So it’s Thursday and I still have to get up and get dressed for school. I through the covers back and listen for the shower to see if my slob of a flat-mate is already up. It sounds like he is so I can turn on the radio. I love to start my day with music. I bought myself a cassette clock radio from this store on Hollywood blvd. The guy behind the counter was a dream. I think he was Irish; I’m a sucker for a sexy accent. He had that plus gray eyes and long hair with gray on the sides. I would have bought whatever he said but I got just what I asked for and at a good price. His name was Donovan and when I said I needed something to wake me up because I’m not a morning person he said, “I bet I could change that”. I said excuse me and he said, “Oh nothing”. He was most definitely flirting with me with all the bending over and stretching. I will go back later on.

I hit play and the funky beat started. I jumped out of bed and did and perfect double pirouette. I bent at the waist and stretched my back then my shoulders. I put my foot on the edge of the bed and leaned forward to stretched one thigh, then the other. I was feeling good today. Maybe there is something to this positive thinking.

I danced over to my closet to the song “Tell me something good” by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. I found this old tape in a box on the street, I think it’s about 6 or 7 years old, but I love me some Chaka. I pulled the look as follows:

Navy blue jumpsuit (stamped with navy blue flowers)

Blue suede ultra hi tops* thick blue sox.

Navy blue T (bleach spattered and washed)

Navy blue silk boxers

A dark blue scrunchie from my friend Nicole

*The shoes were an unhappy gift from Mark “little red” Morgan. He wore them to school and hated them. He was walking by on the way to change at his locker. He asked if I wanted his shoes and I looked them over and they were brand new. I asked why he was giving them up and claimed they made him unhappy for some reason. I didn’t get any vibe from them and they were my size. I put them in my locker to either give away to the Fam or take to one of the witches to see if there was something on them. Cool for me.

I heard the bathroom door creak open and I knew it was my turn. I grab my towel off the back of the door. I keep my towel in my room because once I found it wet and sticky from my flat-mate. That’s soo nasty. I dashed for the door and ran right in to Xavier. He screamed and dropped his towel. Now I said I’m feeling good but seeing my flat-mates shriveled cookies was a little much even for me. I jumped back and then picked up his towel and handed it to him.

“Maybe you need to iron that once in awhile.”

“Iron my towel, I just let it air dry”, Xavier said.

“Who was talking about your towel,” I said as scooted past him and smacked him on the butt.

Hey, I was washing my hands anyway. As I was brushing my teeth there was a knock on the door. I opened it and there was Xavier in his tighties and nothing else. Dang!! (I’ve seen worse.) I looked away.

“Yes,” through a mouth full of toothpaste.

“I walked past your room and saw you were going to wear all blue and I decided to give you this early. I was going to just leave by your door when I left today,” he said holding up a blue bottle.

I looked at the bottle without touching it. It was number 28 medium midnight blue hair color. Where would a guy like Xavier get such a thing? I spit out my minty goodness and wiped my mouth.

“Xavier that’s 28 mmb, where did you get such a thing?” I asked trying not to attack him.

“I have a friend who cuts and colors my hair. She says she only uses something called 50…50 …umm.

“50 Midnight.”

“Yes I think that’s it.”

“Yeah ‘50 Midnight’ is a very dark blue hair color. It looks like black until it’s in the Sun,” said flexing my homegrown cosmetology knowledge.

“This Salesman gave it to her by mistake and she didn’t want it and I asked her if I could have it for you,” he said shyly.

“Wow what a nice thing to do, that stuff is top of the line.” (still not taking it from him.) “What do you want for it?”

“Nothing I thought it would be like an, I’m not such a bad guy gift.”

“Well you’re probably not, such a bad guy, just new to life around different people.”I said.

“Well I’m trying to be more open and friendly. Here Ted, I have to get dressed, eat and leave.” He said handing me the beautiful blue bottle.

“OK this is a very nice gift thank you and tell your friend thank you.”

“She said if you need any help just ask,” Xavier handed me a card from Robert Rucston’s hair salon.

“Nice, who cuts your hair at Rucston’s?” I asked still in the doorway.

Over his shoulder he said, “Betty-Ann Rucston, his younger sister and are best friends from preschool, back in New England”.

“Cool for you, I think I can handle it. Thank you again.”

I go back into the bathroom to finish my morning stuff. I can’t color my hair this morning but maybe tonight, so I’ll be smooth for tomorrow with the girlz.

I jumped in my clothes and packed my bag with my quick changes and hustled to the kitchen for a Pop-tart and off. Xavier was eating his favorite Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch and reading the paper.

“Hey Ted no blue hair yet?” he asked over the LA times.

“Naw maybe tonight, no time this morning for the full treatment.”

“I can call Betty-Ann and see if she can fit you in after school, would you like that?” he asks still trying to be friendly. “She goes by Bett-Ti now though, not Betty-Ann, please remember that when you meet her.”

I thought for a second and maybe that could be even better.

“Sure how about around 4pm? I’ll stop be there on my way back from L.A.P.A.A..”

“Umm L.A.P.A.A.?” Xavier asked

“I go to the Los Angeles Performing Arts Academy after lunch every day for dance, acting and voice classes.”

“Oh I didn’t know, I thought you just went to regular school.”

“Naw I’ve been going there for awhile, I really enjoy the classes there.” I said.

OK I’ll call Bett-Ti and let her know you’ll be stopping by around 4pm.”

“Solid- I should be getting to school,” I said and remembered to grab the beautiful blue bottle and shove it in a plastic bag and into my big shoulder bag.

As I ran out of the door and down the street, it was like this totally picture perfect kind of day, like the back lot of an old MGM picture.

Maybe my Flat-mate Xavier Grumman will turn out to be not the jerk I thought.

Psf- Annabelle didn’t raise no fools.

MONSTER K

It’s Wednesday, a week before Thanks Giving and I just called my cousin Mary and she said my parents are going out of town for Thanks Giving along with my Aunt’s Patty, Georgie, Kate and Lynn and the Uncles. They are all going to Vegas for a big fancy dinner and gambling. All the big kids are going to friends houses and the little kids are going to be at Cousin B’s Big house until Sunday evening. I guess I won’t be going home for a big meal and tons of left-over’s this year. Oh well, I’ll have to find a different place to hang. And I’ll damned if I’m going to some Nunnery or shelter to eat with the unwashed masses like last Easter. It was terrible. I couldn’t eat because the whole room smelled like ‘Fritos’, if you know what I mean. Even though I was with most of my people I could not handle it.

I ended up eating at a friend’s house the next morning. I was starving. I have never been a big holiday person anyway. Well that’s not entirely true. When I was a little kid and living with my Great Grandmother she made every holiday seem really special. But after that I learned from Ms. Kat {Mother} that holidays were all a hassle and you should wish them all to be over as soon as possible. I’m a good student even for those things I don’t want to learn.

After the phone call I was feeling very half and half. So I thought I would walk the around and see who I can find just chilling out. It has to be a drama free day. Someone set two fires in the school this weekend so we have the option of having the week off or going to Fairfax High for a week. Most are taking the week off rather than to go to another school. I’m down with that. It’s too early to work and my repeat call clients have been picking up lately. So less and less street work for me is great! I have been trying to get Colt, Darn-it and Kenny to get some kind of pager so they can get a call service but they say they don’t like to have to be on a leash like me. But I often have money and they don’t. I more and more don’t have to work the streets on cold nights if I don’t want to. The feeling of saying “nah I think I’m going to chill here for now” or not taking $30 when I want $50 to be with some dude that I wouldn’t touch if he wasn’t paying, is starting to feel good. But I can feel a little distance between me and the family. De-De made a face at my answer when she asked what we would all be like at 25. I never had the allusion that I would always be here on the street. I always believe that I will someday go back to living a regular life. I have not given up on it and unless something terrible happens I never will. They all believe this is where they belong. Rainbow confides in me sometimes that she wants to have an apartment in Hermosa Beach on a quiet street with a plum tree in the back yard. My girl loves her some plums. Everybody else can’t see beyond the street, tricking and the Fam. I love them like cooked food but I don’t want to grow old here. I do have the terrible feeling that I might die here from something stupid. Let’s not go down that street, I’m already feeling a little low.

Darn-it is hanging with the Stoners who are starting to sell weed more and more. Colt and De-De went to Pomona to De-De’s step-sister’s house to pick up some clothes and money from they’re Step-mother. De-De said the Stepmother is nice but her Boyfriends were the problem. They tried to get with her since she was 10. Rainbow went to visit Sahara in the Rehab center in SD. She is going to be there for two week. Sahara’s in for 10 months under a court order to clean up. If she doesn’t complete the treatment she will have to finish the rest in lock down + 6 months and they might tie her tubes, damn harsh! Tim is starting to skateboard which I think is a great thing. Dana is with a guy she met a little while ago. I hope it goes well, he was a trick. So everybody is busy. I forced all the ones that were here to go have coffee with me this morning when we woke up. It felt good to be a little family Momma bear Rainbow wasn’t there but everyone else was in attendance and they seemed to appreciate it.

So now I’m by Plummer Park and there are a few people I know here. Monster K a.k.a. Kyle Thurgood the son of Saint Anne is here. Anne is one of the legendary Saints of the Hollywood streets. Kyle is her real son and most cannot believe it. Because he is the opposite of her, except when you see them together. He is like a kitten with her. A friend once said he wished he could glue them together like Siamese twins to calm him down. I try and keep my distance from him because when we first met I was 13 and snuck up and kissed me twice on the mouth. I was freaked to say the least. He said he was not a fag but he liked my mouth so he wanted to cut off my lips and keep them in a jar, -huh!

Now, when people usually say something silly like that they are trying to tell you how much they like you and it’s not that creepy because you know they are just talking metaphorically. But he had his giant buck knife in hand, with his freakin’ crazy eyes. I wanted to hit him but Colt said he would handle it. Then Anne appeared out of nowhere and took him outside and across the street. So when he sees me it’s the same thing. “Hey you see Ted over? He has the prettiest lips in all of California. I’m going to have them in a jar someday.” So yes, keep an eye and distance from creepy Monster K. So I go across to sit a Burger Boy to see who comes by. As I walk up I see Ms. Tina Mac’s twin brother Gabby sitting at the first table with some blonde boys. I saw Hi but keep it movin’ Gabby is no friend and has proven to pull Drama right out of thin air. One of the blonde boys on the other side of the table says hey T as I step by. I pause in that “Who-What-Why” kind of way. He pulls his hood down and his long hair out of his face.

“Oh my Gawd, it’s Augustus!” I yelled.

[We met at the beach two summers ago. We had some good times. He introduced me to some really cool people. I didn’t know he was in the life. If he is with Gabby it’s either drug and or trade.]

I came over to hug him and he hugged me back.

[Everyone who knows me knows I have irrational issues with blondes. But I do make exceptions for really cool people. But I will cut loose a blonde guy or girl faster than if it was any other person. I know it’s wrong but I’m young, sensitive and somewhat crazy. I’m working on it.]

Ghirl this and Ghirl that. What are you doing here? we both said.

[As we plant ourselves at the opposite end of the table from where Gabby is sitting I can feel the daggers.]

We are catching up when I see a guy run across the street from the park and go behind the Burger Boy. In about a minute Monster K runs through traffic on Santa Monica, almost getting hit and follows the guy behind the burger stand. I always try and keep an eye on my surroundings even while I’m talking or in this case listening. We heard yelling and we all stood up then the guy runs past Augustus [who is going by A.D. now] and he jumps. He grabs his side and he is dripping what looks like blood. We see a little knife on the ground next to his foot. I grab A.D. and we move closer to the counter. I thought we were out of the way but Monster runs past us chasing this guy and pulling his big knife out. He catches up to dude because he stupidly stopped to avoid getting hit by a car! He fell backwards and knocked into a women walking down the street unaware of the madness all around her. Monster caught him by the arm and swung him right into his knife. Amazingly that did not stop dude. He was crawly over the poor frightened woman. I checked A.D’s side and he had no cut but a lot of blood. It must be from dude who ran by us. I looked over and someone was pulling the woman away from the middle fight. It was Rocky from school. What the….? OK I’m a little confused but there is no time for that now. I jumped up without thinking to help Rocky and as I did Monster was swinging his blade. He sees me, stops, smiles, then stabs dude in the leg, cuts open his pocket and takes the bills he finds.

“I told you, you owe me money and I was going to collect”, Monster says.

[The dude screamed from the pain but did not try and stop Monster K]

I have Rocky by his big arms and he has the slightly frightened woman. It looks like her arm got cut but that’s all. For a split second Rocky’s and my eyes meet. We are transported away from our sitch for that second and then back as Monster K yells to no one in particular but to everyone in ear-shot, “If I loan you money you better pay me on time or something like this will happen to you”.

[As if anyone with the sense God gave a turnip would barrow money from a guy like him]

[I guess I stand corrected because two people walk over to Monster K and handed him money.] Humans surprise me all the time. Was I one of the few who thought anything more than an occasional hello to this psycho was dangerous territory?

The woman we were helping made a noise to get our attention. It seems both Rocky and I were holding her against the wall for her safety, but longer than what was necessary. She wanted up. NOW!

Rocky pulled away embarrassed and I offered my hand to help her up. I fished a clean white bandana from my bag and tied it around the woman’s still bleeding arm. Rocky asked if she wanted to go to the Hospital. We both looked at him like he was suddenly speaking an alien tongue.

“No I think I’ll be fine. I’ll clean it when I get home.” said the Lady.

“That’s a good idea who knows who else he’s cut with that thing.” I said without thinking

[Then she looked at me with a sudden shocked expression]

{Rocky smiled and nodded}

She looked around for safety’s sake and slid along the wall and down the street with a quick stride.

I looked back just in time to see Monster K stalking back across Santa Monica Blvd. toward the park, not bothering to look at traffic, just counting his newly returned monies.

Rocky’s face showed that this was not his normal evening.

“Man, Ted is your evening’s like this a lot?” asked Rocky.

“Sometimes I guess.” [but more than I was willing to admit].

“I just stopped to get some fries and a couple of burgers for me and Nicole.” said Rocky

So we checked to see if his order was ready and it was. The guys behind the counter were un-bothered and never pressed.

I walked Rocky to his ‘Fire engine red’ Carmon Gia. One of my favorite cars, I was impressed. He gave me an unexpected long and full body pressing hug.

There we go again with the extras from young Mr. Tortuga. [I made a mental note to ask the universe what was this about.][I was doing this a lot lately, it felt a little odd but less than I thought it should.]

I walked back to the Burger Boy to find A. D. and finish catching up with him. He was a little freaked about the blood until I loaned him a Blonde t-shirt I had in my bag.

One day my Spirits may not be able to protect me like that forever. I have this constant feeling that I may die before my 26^th birthday. I am so weird sometimes.