Future Writer Chapter 13 (8 pages)

Chapter 13

The next morning I awoke with a wonderful feeling. In fact I was up before the alarm clock. I couldn't wait to try out my new discovery. I stopped by a floral shop on the way into work. I picked up two dozen red, long stem, roses. I rushed to work so I would get there before anyone else. Once there, I passed out the roses to all of the employees, male and female alike. I placed them all in indiscreet locations because I wanted everyone to believe they were the only one to receive a rose. I placed a rose on my desk as well then went outside to make an entrance after the others have arrived. I watched from a near by coffee shop as the other employees entered the office building. Then the cold fact hit me like a ton of bricks. I am not drugged up like I was last night. I didn't have the time to recreate the situation that made last night possible. I had to write the roses off as a loss and read what I could from people’s gestures. I walked into the office as if I were walking in for the first time. I waved and smiled to people as usual then took a seat at my desk. I tried to catch a glimpse of people  as they walked by my open door but I was unable to notice their

reactions. I stepped out to the coffee lounge to get a cup of coffee and mostly to get a better view of my co-worker's reactions. As I poured the coffee I thought to myself that those who receive the roses and keep it to themselves are those who have something to hide. Those who flaunt their gifts are the one who have a statement to say to others such as 'I have somebody who cares about me ha ha ha'. Those, on the other hand, who are cautiously, and excitedly, curious,

may or may not display their rose.

"Damn I wish I didn't forget the drugs," I thought to myself. "This could be a lot of fun."

I looked up from pouring coffee to find Jane, of all people, walking towards me with the rose pinned to her lapel.

"Hi Sam," she said to my with a smirk on her face.

"Good morning," I told her, "Nice rose. Where'd you get it?"

"I was hoping you could tell me."

"Me?" I said while acting dumb.

"So you're going to play coy with me?"

I didn't want to burn my bridge with her, yet at the same time. I didn't want to her to know that it as me. This was particularly hard because I have a personal pact with myself that I will never tell a lie. That doesn't mean, however, that I can't avoid the truth.

"Coy? Me? Where would you get an idea like that?"

"I thought our lunch date yesterday went quite well, don't you?" she asked.

"Well yes. The food was great, and I had a great time."

"And the company?"

"South Texas Oil?"

"No silly. You know what I mean... at lunch?"

"Of course the company was nice, because you were there," I flirted.

"You don't need to say that," she says in a shy way.

I thought to myself, "Oh yes I do, how else am I to get you off my case?"

I told her, "Well if you'll excuse me I have some work that needs my immediate attention."

"Okay, what are you doing for lunch?"

"I'm going home to pick up some things."

"I thought that we might have lunch together," she told me.

There was no mistaking her signs. She certainly wanted me, but why?

"Maybe another time," I said to her.

"That would be nice."

"Bye," I told her as I walked into my office.

"Bye."

I walked into my office to find a memo on my desk say that the Bear report looks good but needs a little touching up and asked me to pick up correction sheet at Mable's office.

I waked into Mable's office to see the rose in a glass of water sitting near the window.

"Nice rose," I told her, Where did it come from?"

"Why do you ask?" she snapped.

"I was just curious. It looks so fresh."

"My husband gave it to me," she said.

I know from her response that she is feeding me a line of crap. Her husband and her haven't spoken to each other for a long time because she was caught with another man.

"Here are the correction that need to be made," she told me.

"No problem, I'll have it done before the next hour."

On my return trip to my office I saw the accountant Jim talking with Sally, "... how should I know where it came from, what about you, how do you explain your rose?"

It seems to me that Sally and Jim may have a fling going on. They are both married but not to each other.

"... I know it's not him, He would never even consider sending me roses," their

conversation continued.

I told myself, "I've got to get that stuff so I could really find out what is

going on."

If a day was to ever go slow, it was that day. Lunch seemed to never get there. When it did, I was off and running. I went to the site where the fire was. In a large trash bag I put in all of the leaves I could find. I picked up the broken bottle to find out what kind of alcohol it was but the label was not on the remainder of the bottle. There was just a little left in the bottom of the bottle. I had to work with what I had. I went to my apartment and quickly started a fire in my small barbecue which I had on the balcony. I created a leaf and alcohol solution just as before. I threw it onto the fire and just like before the flame ignited even more. I sprinkled the fire with water to create smoke then I put my face in it path and breathed deeply. The smoke burned my lungs and caused my eyes to water. I quickly backed out of the smoke and inhaled all of the fresh air that I could. After wiping the tears from my eyes, focusing on Mable, I felt that I was being told the contents of my Bear Report.

"It works!"

I drove back to work while concentrating on my driving. From the parking garage, I walked into the lobby of the office building of which I worked.

"...I can't believe... lunch was grand.... I thought she..... I won't do… meeting one o'clock... My makeup is smearing and damn it... Wouldn't she just love this?"

Thoughts poured into my brain as quickly as I looked at people. I didn't know how I was to get anything done in these conditions. I had to focus on myself just to make it to my office. Once there, I hoped that the drug would not wear off before I had to leave.

I tried to work but my mind was a mass of congested thoughts. I decided to try and focus on people around the office. The first person I tried was my boss.

Boss: "I'm afraid if he comes in late one more time I'll have to take action."

Bob: "Two twenty three, fifty eight. Eight ninety five sixty one. Eighteen  ninety three seventy two..."

Mable: "Meat loaf with salad and for dessert..."

Sally: "If Jim didn't send it then who did? Maybe it was my husband? Oooh, Maybe it was somebody new..."

Jane: "Employee number 23985. Delete old, move to new, Cashwell stock investors."

"It seems to work," I thought to myself, "Let's put it to the test."

While focusing on Jane I got up from my desk and walked out of my office.

"Add to file 23985, Oh I need to memo her if she want's..." her thoughts were telling me, "<Looking at a note paper and writing>, Call Sarah about stock terms."

I knocked on the door casing. "... place the note where I'll remember it... Ooooh, Sam how are you and your money?" she thought while saying, "Hi Sam. What a pleasant surprise? So did you

decide to reconsider lunch."

"Actually, No I was looking for advise as to where I should put my dividends to get the best return."

"I'll take it off your hands," she thought while telling me, "If you want a really profitable place to put your money may I suggest Cashwell Investors?"

She began thinking, "Why is it that all of the rich people are such dweebs?"

"What are the risk involved?" I asked her.

I could tell from her thoughts that she was not sincere about her motivation to be with me. After leaving her office, I went back to my office while continuing to read her thoughts. She is making a phone call.

"Hello?" says a voice on the other end.

"Gloria? Guess who was just in here? You know that guy I told you about who made out in the stock market thing? Well he was just asking where he should invest his money."

"Did you tell him that you'll take it?"

"No, not this time but I'm sure I could get my way with him, then I'll con him into marriage, get a divorce then take him for half of what he owns."

"Just be careful, You may fall in love and broken hearted."

"Not me. I just want the money."

After hearing that I knew that Jane would forever more be off limits.

Later that evening I went home at the usual time. I checked my voicemail messages. Most of the calls were from people trying to sell everything from insurance to skin care products. Several of the calls were from somebody's lawyer demanding settlement for some bogus claim.

Since coming into money I don't even answer the phone anymore due to all of the people selling things. What I longed for the most was not there, a call from Alexia.

The last thing I remembered about Alexia's thoughts were that she thought about me briefly after the phone call. She did her homework (algebra). She turned out the lights. She had lustful/romantic thoughts, then went to sleep. As I thought about the events of last night I started receiving feelings from Alexia.

"Kak ya mogu ubezhdat' ego lyubit' menya? [How can I make him mine?]"

I did not understand the words but I somehow had the feeling of longing for a man. That was really weird. I've never had desires for another man before.  I continued focusing, she was cutting vegetables and putting them into a steamer.

Her thoughts shifted to algebra then back to a longing for a man. I never knew that people thought is such a random way. I could feel her hunger and the thought of feeding that hunger with fresh steamed vegetables. I could feel her walking into the living room and placing a video into the DVD. Gone With The Wind began playing....'Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn'. I've seen that scene before but this time it was different. I hate to say this but I felt like crying. I always thought this was a stupid movie but now... I have to stop watching this or I'll cry all over myself.

She got up, turned off the television then began washing the plate and the pan. I felt the feeling of sitting down and working out algebra problems along with brief longings for a man. I vainly thought that she was thinking of me being that she thought this way after our phone call last night. Just as her longing thoughts turned into lustful/romantic thoughts, I felt that now was the time to call her up. The phone rang.

"Hello?" She said while thinking, "Could this be him?"

"Hi Alexia? This is Sam. I was wondering if you've eaten yet and whether or not  you'd like to join me for dinner?"

Her thoughts went to the subject at hand, "I shouldn't," she thought, "I have too much homework to do."

"Okay," I told her, "Maybe another time."

"Okay what?" she asked, "I haven't said anything yet."

"Oh you didn't I... I... I don't know," I fumbled. "I thought you said that you had too much homework to do?"

"I thought that but I didn't say it."

"Are you sure?" I said to her, "How would I know what you were thinking if you didn't tell me?"

"Maybe I did tell you, but I certainly don't remember it."

"That was a close one," I thought to myself.

Soon after the phone call, I could feel her getting ready for a shower.

"This is going to be good," I thought to myself.

I couldn't believe what was happening. I got the chance watch a beauty in the shower, and what was really great about it, was getting away with it.

I felt a dryness in my throat so I walked to the refrigerator and had a swig of Koolaid from the pitcher. I walked back into the living room to feel Alexia in the shower when the Koolaid began taking effect. The thoughts that I was receiving from her faded in to 'Here and Now' consciousness.

"No!!" I yelled out loud.

I could not believe what I had done. I had a chance to do what every guy secretly dreams of, and I blew it.

I ran back to the bag of leaves that I'd left by the balcony door. The bottle of liquor, unfortunately was empty. I desperately search for the label so that I could get more. The label was gone. With the broken bottle I went to a liquor store in hopes that I could find the same bottle. I could not. I asked the man behind the counter if he knew of what brand it was. He did not know. He did,

however, tell me that I should look for a European brands because of a marking  on the bottom of the bottle. After several stores I found what looked to be similar. I took it home and tried to make it work but when I threw the leave solution on the fire there was no flare up. Frustrated I decided to have a drink. I was never much for drinking alcohol, but this felt like a good time for a drink. I took a sip and started to gag.

"What is this stuff?"

I sat on the balcony next to the burning barbecue, reviewing the steps in my mind that I took to come up with the mind reading solution. I even opened the ledger and began reading of how Daniel discovered the perfect mix. Something was missing, but what? Discouraged I stood up and threw the remainder of what was in my glass into the fire.

"Wush!" the fire had a small flare.

"What the heck?"

I poured the alcohol into the broken bottle and let it sit out for an hour. I could see fumes rising from it. I place a few of the leaves into the alcohol. The leaves twisted and wrinkled as even more vapors arose from the glass. I threw the solution on to the fire.

"Wush!!!!"

I thought the whole balcony was going to explode. I quickly poured water onto the fire causing heap of white smoke to rise. I leaped into the path of the smoke and inhale deeply. The smoke made my lungs burn and caused me to cough. I jumped to the fresh air and flushed the smoke from my lungs. I immediately thought of Alexia. Algebra was entering my mind.

"Yes! It works."

I called her up.

She thought, "Square root of twenty five over the cube root of twenty seven… The Phone!... "

"Hello?"

"Hi Alexia? This is Sam again. I know that you have a lot of homework but would you be interested in dinner another night?"

"I'd love to, but don't ... I don't know when, you know work schedules and stuff."

"Okay, listen," I said, "I'm really interested in getting together. If you find time, could you give me a call?"

"Yea.. Sure... I will do that," she responded while thinking, "I've a test coming up on Thursday..."

After hanging up the phone, I could tell that she was thinking of me and a time that would be convenient. A resolution never came. She began having those lustful/romantic thought again.

I thought to myself, "This is good. She hangs up with me and begins having these thoughts."

Something was not right. Her actions were not consistent with her inner feelings. Was I reading her wrong? Before long thoughts of algebra set in again and I began to lose interest. Then something happened. She was getting in the mood. Her thoughts were, "Ooh! Aah! Mmm!.... The Phone!... Hello?.... I've been waiting for your call..." Upon hearing the voice at the other end of the phone she became romantically excited. My heart went into my throat. I could not believe what I was feeling.

I discovered this wonderful power and now I wish I hadn't. Her romantic thoughts were for somebody else. This stinks!