Thank Goodness for small pleasures.

a day in the loop

The sound of the elevated train cuts through the air. A homeless man gets aggressive with some young looking college students by the Barnes and Noble by DePaul University. I am wishing I was rich. The sound of the salvation army bells co mingle with the whooshing sound of the wind that numbs my ears. I am carrying around a bottle of cheap vodka. It is hidden in the lining of my coat. A man approaches me, he is from Greenpeace I think. I quickly turn away. 

Sorry Charlie, I mutter underneath my breath.

I walk into Macy's on State St. My ex used to work there, and I knew it would be a respite from the madness out side. Sales Associates attempted to peddle their wares. I walked downstairs to "Infields" a little bar that husbands went to so that they could drown their sorrows while their wives ran up the credit card bill. 

A businessman with his colleagues all sat around drinking Sam Adams, and the oldest guy had a martini. I wanted a martini. The olives so green and enticing. I sat down and ordered a beer and went to the bathroom. The bathroom was pristine. Probably the main reason why I came to Macy's in the first place. Personally I had always liked the North Side better. The less tourists the better. I pounded the vodka in my water bottle, then the beer, took a piss, and washed my face. My hair looked disheveled from wearing my hood. 

I ordered another beer from the bar and closed my tab. I was hoping to God that I didn't overdraw my account. There was a family that sat down close to me. The mother smelled my breath and I smiled at her. She convinced her husband to move the table...

Marching upstairs to the men's department I noticed more smiling faces, couples happy, holding hands walking in lock step. 

Must be nice to have money and be in love, I thought to myself. To me happiness was nothing I could grasp. It was like air or a bit of sand that you clench in your hands. The tighter the grip the more sand escapes. 

I have got to learn how to smile more, even if I am faking it. By the time rush hour hit I decided I wanted to go back home. The street was crowded and then I saw my ex Antoinette, our eyes locked and she smiled in surprise. Nothing seemed awkward even though we had not seen each other for quite some time. I gave her a hug.

So weird! she said

I knew she was happy to see me and the feeling was mutual. We sauntered down Adams Street, and she told me she was living pretty close to the loop. I told her I was pretty hungry, and it began to rain a little. 

Here, I said giving her a hit of my vodka. She had a little bit. We sat down in a dunkin donuts. 

I've been working at S&M, she said, which was a clothing store I frequented.

I've been staying at my Mom's, I said, she's been driving me crazy.

Our moms were both crazy, and life had seemingly ground us both to the ground. Living in America these days will do that to you.

Would you like to see my new place? she asked

Sure, but I can't stay the night.

I didn't ask you if you wanted to stay the night.

I smiled sheepishly and looked away. We walked around for a while and we became lost. 

The Pink Line is the one we want to get on, she said. A homeless man approached us and began to give us directions, followed by a request for change. We walked away without acknowledging him. As we became more lost, we doubled back and approached the homeless man again. He pointed at a door across the street.

It'll take you right up there. Do you have any change?

Yeah, Antoinette said as she reached into her purse.

The Pink Line took about fifteen minutes to come through, and it was completely packed. Antoinette complained of a woman standing next to her that had "poo breath".

We arrived at her home which she was barely moved into, it reeked of cat litter that had not been changed in a while. I was used to it from my cat though. We sat down and watched Sixteen candles. My stomach was raw from drinking and I couldn't finish the beer I had bought at the carcineria downstairs. I put my arm around Antoinette and we began kissing. It seemed as though fate had brought us together as a way to make up for the s****y cards we both had been dealt. Thank goodness for simple pleasures.

Reviews

[Bruce]

Thank you guys for the reviews!

[Amanda Avalon]

Best part:

Must be nice to have money and be in love, I thought to myself. To me happiness was nothing I could grasp. It was like air or a bit of sand that you clench in your hands. The tighter the grip the more sand escapes.

That's truly a story in itself.

[Amanda Avalon]

So nice that you took the time to write this, what a nice surprise. :) I LMAO'd at "poo breath" lol... Also at S&M haha. Thanks for sharing it!

[WenD]

I enjoyed this trip. Like the tone, simple just as it is, could smell the cat litter and poo breath. :)