Barry M. Wasserstein a.k.a. BMW Barry

I called Barry at the number I had for him, it turned out to be a service. A lot of my wealthier customers had them. So I left my number and a time for him to call me. Usually they call me first so I hoped the ghost ‘William Randolph Rapherty’ a.k.a Billy (more on him later) was right about Barry M. Wasserstein wanting to see me again or I would be colored embarrassed. The service was so polite and discreet it made me think again about using one for my own business affairs, maybe. “BMW Barry” as he called himself wasn’t supposed to call for about two and a half hours so I can do a little shopping before tonight, so if the date happened I will look good. School has been out for about fifteen minutes.

I got a note in my locker to meet Miss Clifford Tiberius Takahashi-Bennington a.k.a Cliff-a-tina by the phones on the East side after last class.

After he fell out with all his ghirlz at his now infamous seventeenth birthday party, when his pack got high on his coke and told a reporter from the local gay rag that they all hung out with Cliff-a-tina for the perks of his two gay dads and the legion of his older brother Rowley. I was there but all I said to the reporter was that I was having a wonderful time and thank you to the Takahashi-Bennington’s for throwing Clifford such a Fabu party. I knew not to trash him to anyone, especially on him own damn day. I always thought his ghirlz were trash and it was only a matter of time until they showed their collective stankin’ asses.

So after a devastating two week fall out with every one of those trashy hoes being called out by Cliff-a-tina and hur brother Rowley. There were much tears and apologies after they were cut off from every one of the ‘perks’ they so enjoyed.

There she is now. She is getting classier by the day.

Black you better think twice Italian suit,

Red tux shirt, French cuffs (2 ct diamond cufflinks),

Black leather custom made boots from England,

And a Black bowler

Go on ghirl!

“Hey Ghirl, what’s going on Ms. Thing? I haven’t seen you in a long minute.” said Cliff-a-tina.

[I wondered if she was going to come sniffing around me looking for a better class of friend.]

“Oh hey The Supreme Ms. Cliff-a-tina; ‘Da Distroya Worldz’ I don’t know if my fit is in shape enough to be in your Grand presence.” I said with a little smile.

“Is it that bad now?” Cliff said looking a little sad.

“Yes ghirl you are flattening your old children right and left.”

“Well there are things that have to be done.”

“Yes ghirl you are right and you and Rowley seem to be the royalty to do it.” I said.

“Rowley told me they were trash and just using me right after we all went to the spa at the hotel that time. You remember?”

“Yes ghirl that was fun but they acted like they were the Takahashi-Bennington children and everyone was fronting for them.” I said

“I know I over looked it hoping they were just being flash, but I guess it went to those tired bitch’s heads.”

I could tell he was bothered for being made to look like a straight fool on TV and in print. After the gay rags ran the story with a few bad quotes stuck in there the regular Entertainment media had a field day linking the trouble to Mr. Bennington. I heard he was pissed from Rowley, but didn’t let anyone outside of the family know.

“Hey ghirl you want to go out for dinner with Rowley and me Friday night? Rowley brought up your name and I think it sounds like a Fabu idea, dinner with someone who never tried to cut us. What do you think?” He was smiling at me hopefully.

How could I say no.

“Sure ghirl where and when? A Ghirlz night out might be fun. It is a ghirlz night out right, no BF or hangers, just the three of us?” I asked cautiously.

“Sounds great, how about we pick you up at 8pm at Franklin and Sunset?” Cliff-a-tina said.

“Oh ghirl you haven’t seen me in a real minute, I live off of Ivar in an apartment now”

“Avancer, ghirl, Avancer- give me the specs and we’ll collect you there.”

I gave him the address and touched cheeks and then he hugged me tight and said thank you. I was unbothered on the outside but on the inside I was like, Damn!

With that I strolled off to do some shopping before I have to be home for BMW Barry’s call.

__________________________________

He called on time like I thought he would and we decided he would pick me up in an hour to go to dinner.

I dressed in some of the new things and looked in the new floor to ceiling mirror squares the Sister’s had put up in my room the last time I went to visit the Rents. They take such good care of me, I feel blessed. I changed two more times to get the look just right. If I needed Barry to invite me home I need to look just Fresh.

He arrived 5 minutes late but I’m always late so who am I to complain. I was standing outside when he rolled up in a brand new 1980 black on black convertible BMW, what else. He was dressed to match the car. He jumped out and handed me a white rose and kissed me on the cheek then ran around to the passenger side to open the door for me. He seemed to fancy himself a gentleman and after our first date he knew that I liked that kind of thing. I climbed in and buckled up. Driving in LA was dangerous and I don’t want to die because of some persons bad driving.

“Hello Barry before we go we should talk about what we are doing” I said a little too seriously.

“OK what’s happening? I was happy that you called” said Barry all chipper.

“Well I called you so this is not really a paid date.”

“It can still be if you want I’m fine with that” he said looking ahead.

It’s always hard when people don’t say what they mean when asked.

“Well I wouldn’t mind if the date ended up in the same place as before” I said trying to lighten up the sitch.

“How about if I take us to dinner and you tell me why you called and then we’ll decide what is what then?”

Not bad Barry, I’m more impressed by your straight forward behavior I said to myself and just nodded to Barry. And with that Barry started his new car and left, right, left and another left and we were on the freeway going towards Santa Monica. I’m so glad I decided to wear my hair in two braids (one on each side with Rhinestone bobby-pins stuck in the braids).

My look was as follows;

Black silk shirt w/silver thread,

Black pinstriped suit vest,

Black slacks (that fit just so),

Black studded leather belt,

Black leather boots my cousin Gracie bought me for a present.

Yes I guess I matched the car as well without even trying.

Barry was smiling and humming along to a Bob Marley tune.

I pulled the passenger side visor down to make sure my hair was still tight and was almost thrown to see the ghost Billy sitting right behind me enjoying the ride. He shot me a big grin and a wink. I looked at my hair and smiled back and flipped the visor back. Ugh ghosts they never give up.

“Where are we going Barry?” I said trying not to think about ghost Billy in the back seat.

“You’ll see, I think you’ll like it” Barry said with a self satisfied smile.

“I hope this is not a snobby place that will look down their nose at me?” I asked but not really worrying.

“No, I’ve been there before and I’m betting you’re going to love it” Barry smiling over at me.

Even if I have been to this place I’m not going to let on to Mr. BMW.

“Did I tell you that you look wonderful tonight?” Barry said.

“Thank you sweet Barry, that is so nice of you to say. You look pretty cute yourself.”

The car swerved as Barry blushed…

“No more compliments until you are parked Mr.” and we both laughed.

I have to play this night perfectly to be able to make it back to Barry’s condo to try and get Billy’s crystal cage. Then I realized that I did really have to rush it tonight. I wasn’t on any tight schedule and Mr. smiling ghost in the back seat has all the time in world. So I reclined the bucket seat and enjoyed the good vibration of Bob Marley and the Melody Makers coming through the soft leather seat. I could get used to riding around in LUX with Mr. Wasserstein. Could I stand having Barry as a BF? Would he freak that I was 16 instead of whatever he thought I was. I don’t know, tonight might tell it all.

Barry looked over at me and smiled as he rolled up all the windows making a wind block in the car.

I hope he doesn’t freak…. What am I thinking I don’t want some guy for BF who could be a client, a rich client?

Love is great but I have to (as my Mother says) make those shekels.

A Weekend Away

I almost missed the stop for the Rent’s street thinking about the changes that could happen now that I have turned I turned 17. I guess all young guys think that every year older will make a big difference in their life. Street kids are no different. I’m one day closer to being 18 and maybe free. Even though I got emancipated at 16 it seems not to make that much difference for some things. Almost every adult treats me like a kid still. I say almost because of my clients. They treat me like a young man in his 20’s, but only because most of them don’t know how old I really am. I can think of a few that would lose their noodle. “Lose their noodle”, I heard someone say that the other day and I laughed so hard because I could imagine a brain made of noodles and it slithering away and getting lost. But it’s a strange enough phrase that I may use it for a while. I like to throw odd phrases in every now and again. Being 17 will be nothing more than another year, I bet. I told everyone that I didn't want a party or any kind of celebration. I said, “Save it until I turn 18. I’ll want to party for the whole month then.” That has seemed to work for most people so far. I’m going down to see my mom the day after just to side step any surprise parties. But when I get there my stepfather Robert Hamilton aka Bobby said she was in New York and would be back in a week. I asked how he was doing to be polite. Then I went down into my room to see if she left me a present or something.

Hold up, Wait a minute!!! –

There is a pile of presents on the couch in the corner. I look through the tags; cousin, + 15, Uncle Max, Uncle John-John, Uncle G, Uncle Eddie, Uncle Bobby- Cliff, Uncle Ronny, Uncle Benny, Aunt Lynn Rose, Aunt Daisy, Aunt Ronica (I’m the only one who can call her that), Aunt Patty Cake (she’s signed that name as this as long as I’ve been alive), Aunt Goergie Ann, Aunt Maryanne, Aunt Ruthie, (play) + their various wonderful spouses and families, Sister Dimeetra, (play) Sister Anna, (play) Sister Michele, (play) Brother Green (I can’t believe he came to my parent’s house. He must have been scared to death.) I look at all the packages and there were a few from Lynwood High, my other high school. My cousins Antoinette, Antoinéé and Antoine must have brought them from school.

I love my family most of the time.

OK I see nothing from my mom.

The door opens and it’s my stepfather Bobby.

“So you weren’t around for your birthday?” He says looking at the Parliament Funkadelic poster on my wall.

“Naw remember I said I didn’t want any kind of celebration this year.”

“Well sometimes the party is for the other people and not the person who it’s for” He said kind of quietly.

“I know but I couldn’t handle it. You know this family, we can’t do anything small” I said trying not to feel guilty about my decision.

“Well some of them came over anyway. Your Uncle Ben seemed a little hurt you weren’t here. You should call him.”

Why is Bobby being sensitive? He always acts like he can take or leave my extended family.

“Yes sir I will call all of them to thank them for whatever is in these boxes.” I said remembering to be respectful.

“Did my Mother leave a card or anything for me?” (I would never ask Bobby Hamilton for a birthday present. That would be like asking the devil for a warm hug.)

“Here boy, Happy Birthday” He said handing me an envelope.

I tore it open the find a card and a check for $200.00. I read the card and then I knew it was from him not her. She always writes a bunch of junk about me being her son and how much they love me and then she signs his name. I know my mother signature like I know my own. It was signed by my stepfather. The same guy who broke my jaw (8), arm (11) and knocked out my tooth at 14. Why would he do this? I almost gave it back to him. But I wasn’t here to fight.

“Thank you this is very nice but way too much, Sir,” I said holding the check up.

“It’s not from me it’s from your Momma,” he said looking away.

“Oh really, please thank her for me, when she calls,” I said trying even harder not to start something with him.

I knew he was lying. He knew I knew.

“I will, I’ll talk to her tomorrow night.”

I turned away to my stereo and pushed play on the cassette and out of the speakers came –“Dr. Funkenstein"
Whoa!
They say the bigger the headache, the bigger the pill, baby
Call me the big pill
Dr Funkenstein
The disco fiend with the monster sound
The cool ghoul with the bump transplant”

As the music played Bobby stepped back and closed the door.

I started dancing and the tears ran down my face.

Why do I ever come back here?

The Demon Boxes......

This is from a dream… Sunday, July 18, 2010

It starts with Herschell and I in a room that was reminiscent of my childhood room in Ohio on Virginia Ave., but it’s not. We are playing with what seems like old style Army men and cows, cars, buildings, people, tree, dogs and such all made in that familiar green plastic with the characteristic ridge on the sides on a big wooden table in the middle of the room. Then Hersch stood up and said he had to get ready to go, so he started putting on things out of our closet like a white turtleneck but it had a spot, a green pair of corduroys but they were ripped, white dress shirt but it was ripped also. Then my stepfather Jimmy came in the room and began to instruct Hersch on the proper way to dress but Hersch ended up in pants with the top part made of squares of blue and red and yellow flannel with green and white spots in the middle. Above the knee and down were horizontal stripes of orange and blue flannel with little black and brown drawing on them. They were made in the style of Raver pants (loose fitting with extra wide bell bottoms). His shirt was a pajama style with green and orange dancing bears on it. I was shocked by the look of it.

Then suddenly I was walking across the street to the park and saying goodbye to Herschell. As he walked through the park I walked to a small play area closer to the middle of the park and I could see three people coming across the park towards me. The small play area consisted of a giant slice of a Red wood tree maybe 30 feet across, two bent metal tubes that crossed over heads (they came out of the wood and over our heads down on the other side) and four swings hung from one tube separated by a spinning tire swing. On the other tube were smaller metal climbing bars. The whole things made like an X. It seemed terribly unsafe but I told myself I didn’t make it. At the beginning there were just a few people there mainly me and Stephen. He was on the spinning tire and between sentences would spin and ask me to stop him from spinning while he laughed. The three people coming towards me finally made it to the play area and they were city workers there to remove the boxes that captured ghost-demons roaming through the park. The boxes get full and have to be replaced. The two men and one woman were dressed regularly but had special equipment. I knew the bigger guy but not well. They spayed ‘special’ oil on the poll that was right next to the play area and started prying the box off the poll. It smelled terrible but we all knew that that was the demons scent. As they finished the first one more people came to complain they waited too long to change the boxes. While they were working I notice there were small ants all around us and people stepped around and over them. I grabbed the ‘special’ oil to spray them and the female city worker freaked out and yelled at me to not kill the ants, she hated when people did that. Then I saw a large black beetle defending himself from the attacking ants. So I got a stick and flicked him to my right into the grass. People cheered when they removed the box. The big gay guy said he could not remove the other boxes because he was not strong enough. I then noticed that there were about six to seven demon boxes in the park. He walked over to a giant black porn star that was sitting on the edge of the Red wood circle and announced that this guy would take over because of his great strength and the people cheered. Stephen said he hoped they would finish today and I said I wanted a cup of tea and then I woke up.///

PreZen

Not Getting Caught....

This is from a dream Tuesday, March 09, 2010.

I was skateboarding in a city and then I was in a school after hours with some other kids.

I was skating through the halls and then I felt I should get to class.

I walked into a class and I was a little early so not all the other kids were there.

I sat down at a desk that wasn’t mine and started working on some purple clay that partly a slab on the desk. It was already started with a downtown city look to it.

I started craving in the same style that was already there. I had the feeling it belonged to a girl in the class.

When I came in the desks were facing towards the Green board to the right of the door.

I was called to the office for something and when I got back the desk were facing towards the door and the green board was under the desks.

The Teacher seemed to like what I was doing with the art piece. Only one student made a comment that he knew it wasn’t mine.

Then I left and went to the side of the school that was a ticket office and a lot of people were there buying tickets to things and talking.

A lady who felt like my Aunt (but I’ve never seen her before) was standing next to me talking to her friend waiting for my Uncle (also unknown) to come with the tickets.

I looked down and saw a lot of Silver and Brass jewelry. It was there in a built in concrete, U shaped curve. There was an open glass door covering half of it.

I saw the jewelry and started to pick it up. Because I knew it shouldn’t be there. My Aunt saw me, but her friend did not. I handed her a piece on request and she liked it a lot.

When I picked up all I could carry but not all of it, I asked my Aunt for the ring I gave her and she said, “I want it, no one is going to miss this one ring”.

I got it off her finger and she pouted, but I kept it anyway. I said I was going to turn it in. The family + friend followed me for a little while.

After they turned a different way (the three of them were very happy) I walked up a street and ran into Herschell and we went to the apartment of a girl I don’t think we knew to have sex and the door was unlocked.

On the way I showed Herschell the jewelry and picked a ring with Buddha’s palm on it and told Herschell he had to pick one before I took it to the office.

The girls bedroom looked like anyone’s would that were late for something. It was a one bedroom apartment. We had quick sex because I was worried about her coming home soon and catching us there.

Afterwards we grabbed all our stuff and I couldn’t find my socks and then I couldn’t remember if I brought them or not.

We left by the front door and my heart was beating so fast. We past her in the stairwell but then it was me playing out scenarios of if we passed her in the stairwell.

Then we left and saw her at the bottom of the stairs and I turned away so she could not see my face. I felt like we had done this before and she would figure it out this time.

I dropped the jewelry in the school office and told them where I found it. They looked happy and said there might be a reward.

I went back to the same class and this time we had desktops sized blackboards on our desks with chalk drawings them and mine was half way completed by the same girl.

My desk kept rolling forward and backward.

[I had the feeling of being found out through most of the dream.]

It ended with me working on the chalk drawing but feeling more and more like something was going to happen, so I woke myself up.///

PreZen