3.21 - Endgame, Part II: One Short Day
I woke up at 4 a.m. on Monday May 24 knowing full well by the time the clock struck midnight, the Endgame would be over and I would be restored. It’s a curious sensation, to know even a brief part of the future, not having lived it. To know the events as they are laid out, knowing what people expect and fear, and to completely disregard those with the knowledge of how it will proceed is remarkable in itself.
I dressed in green cargos and a black baseball T, the true colors of the Brain shining through. I decided that despite the course of events, I prefer the black/green dominant color scheme and will continue to use it. I had money in my pocket, air in my lungs, a voice in my head, and a hopeful spirit for the future. I knew that even through one short day in New York City would change me forever.
Spencer picked me up at 5:10 so we could go over to the high school and re-ice the sodas as per Barrick’s instruction. I had my backpack with supplies for the trip with me and was ready. We got there and got all of the coolers packed with Travis, Laura, and Tyler. Laura was freaking out due to a cockroach that was scurrying about the training room. I found that vaguely amusing, vaguely because I was awake at five in the fucking morning. And, fucking morning is the proper term for that part of the day, just so you know.
Barrick, Lady Barrick, and Mr. Stine, the security guy, were the bus chaperones. Barrick was like an airline steward, passing out donuts and orange juice for breakfast to the sleepy denizens of the motor carriage. I had my own orange drink in the form of Livewire, so I was set. Kristen was sitting next to me and the sky was lighting up. We departed in due course, heading north to the Big Apple.
Shortly after six o’clock, the sun was rising in the east. The haze in the sky tainted it and yet it shone through fiery red, like embers of blood. I’d only seen a sunrise like it once before, years ago while on some retreat with Annie and Lauren. I remembered it vividly from then because I remembered the serene contentment I’d felt at the time. I had a similar euphoria then, but it was different.
We were dropped off near Central Park around mid morning. The times are hard to pin down because I didn’t have a watch at the time. I had planned to go shopping with Maritza, but her bus was somewhere else and after a brief, yet futile attempt to find her, I gave up and went with Greg. We went to H&M, where about forty other Carlisle natives were shopping. I spent about an hour, looking for clothing and trying it on. I ended up getting two v-neck tees in white and black, a gray athletic shirt, a pair of drawstring cargos in an off white color (looking perfect for the beach), a button down shirt of white background with alternating green/yellow/brown stripes, and a pair of metro looking sunglasses. They were a bit ambitious, but I’m all about pretense in the city.
Greg left with some other people to go do something that I didn’t want to and so I proceeded solo through the crowds. I love being single sometimes, it’s almost like being rich. You get to make all the rules. I walked through J. Crew, Club Monaco, The Gap, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord &Taylor, and one other non-descript clothing retailer that held little interest. I didn’t find anything else I really felt like getting, but I tried on a few items, just to get the feel. One of the nuggets of wisdom I got from my metrosexual book is that shopping without buying is a great way to develop a personal style. Which is what I did. Ta-da!
After shopping, I stopped by a street vendor and got a philly cheesesteak for lunch. Then I went by Duane Reade and picked up a Mt. Dew and a notebook, having left mine on the bus. I also got a watch because I was sick and tired of constantly not knowing what time it was. So, at 1:57, I went to Rockefeller Plaza, sat down and ate my lunch.
I heard the clock at St. Paul’s strike at two, which was the check-in time with the chaperones. I simply didn’t feel like it just then, so I stayed for another half hour, watching people go by, scribbling down little stories about what I thought about them, impressions, sketches of their appearance and character. As a writer, I’m constantly trying to find new sources of inspiration and this was a damn good one.
After lunch and people watching, I decided to make my way down Fifth Avenue toward the Empire State building where we were going to rendezvous for the dinner cruise. I languidly strolled down, crossing a few number streets along the way, just to see what was there. I passed a psychic who boasted a five dollar special and chuckled to myself at the morons who would take it seriously. Then I turned around and went in.
The nice lady who was sitting there told me that the five dollar special was a palm reading. She then offered the ten dollar special, a reading of past or future lives. While I enjoy the past and future, my present life is the one that holds my attention the most, so I opted for the Lincoln special. She looked at my palm and after examining it for a moment, which felt creepy in this shadowy little store, she looked up and told me that she was going to tell me what she saw, good or bad. I said okay. She started to tell me that I had a long life ahead of me and it would be a happy life, but it wasn’t happy right now. She told me things would change in July or August. She said I had a natural inclination for water and would want to live near it for the rest of my life. My love life, she said, was a complicated affair. My heart had been broken in the past by love and would be broken once more before I found true love. She said I would meet my soul mate before the end of the year. This person would be artistic, someone in tune with the spirit of nature, someone who would compliment me. With this person, I will have three children. She wished me luck, I gave her five dollars, and left without another word. Back in the sun, I felt better. I knew it was bull, that the statement was generic enough to be interpreted several ways and still be true, that’s the point. Still, at the time, it felt chilling.
After that, I wandered down Fifth Avenue, running into Greg, John, Sean, Richie, and Dave. We all meandered down toward the Empire State building, stopping at souvenir shops along the way, looking for some memento of the experience. We went into the Empire State building lobby and I ran toward the gift shop with a case of Mt. Dew in view. After that, I went outside, found Lady Barrick, and waited with her for her husband and the buses.
I had decided to wear the outfit I’d gotten at H&M on the cruise, despite the fact the shoes I had on didn’t match at all. They were black and unadorned, where the outfit called for tan sandals or a lighter shoe. I went back to the small bathroom that was about one hundred degrees and smelled like chemicals. Better than the alternative bathroom smell, I suppose. Changing while the bus lurched forward and stopped suddenly was a new experience, one I’m not eager to repeat.
Back in my seat, I pulled out the CD player and closed my eyes. I’d made one other stop during my time alone and picked up a special surprise for the cruise to complete my Endgame. It was in my backpack, safely stowed for the trip ahead. I mused on the great day I’d had, short though it had been. However, at the time, I was looking forward more than looking back and as I listened to and vehemently agreed with the lyrics to “No One Mourns the Wicked” and “Defying Gravity”, I silently prepared myself for the hours ahead.
TO BE CONTINUED...
I dressed in green cargos and a black baseball T, the true colors of the Brain shining through. I decided that despite the course of events, I prefer the black/green dominant color scheme and will continue to use it. I had money in my pocket, air in my lungs, a voice in my head, and a hopeful spirit for the future. I knew that even through one short day in New York City would change me forever.
Spencer picked me up at 5:10 so we could go over to the high school and re-ice the sodas as per Barrick’s instruction. I had my backpack with supplies for the trip with me and was ready. We got there and got all of the coolers packed with Travis, Laura, and Tyler. Laura was freaking out due to a cockroach that was scurrying about the training room. I found that vaguely amusing, vaguely because I was awake at five in the fucking morning. And, fucking morning is the proper term for that part of the day, just so you know.
Barrick, Lady Barrick, and Mr. Stine, the security guy, were the bus chaperones. Barrick was like an airline steward, passing out donuts and orange juice for breakfast to the sleepy denizens of the motor carriage. I had my own orange drink in the form of Livewire, so I was set. Kristen was sitting next to me and the sky was lighting up. We departed in due course, heading north to the Big Apple.
Shortly after six o’clock, the sun was rising in the east. The haze in the sky tainted it and yet it shone through fiery red, like embers of blood. I’d only seen a sunrise like it once before, years ago while on some retreat with Annie and Lauren. I remembered it vividly from then because I remembered the serene contentment I’d felt at the time. I had a similar euphoria then, but it was different.
We were dropped off near Central Park around mid morning. The times are hard to pin down because I didn’t have a watch at the time. I had planned to go shopping with Maritza, but her bus was somewhere else and after a brief, yet futile attempt to find her, I gave up and went with Greg. We went to H&M, where about forty other Carlisle natives were shopping. I spent about an hour, looking for clothing and trying it on. I ended up getting two v-neck tees in white and black, a gray athletic shirt, a pair of drawstring cargos in an off white color (looking perfect for the beach), a button down shirt of white background with alternating green/yellow/brown stripes, and a pair of metro looking sunglasses. They were a bit ambitious, but I’m all about pretense in the city.
Greg left with some other people to go do something that I didn’t want to and so I proceeded solo through the crowds. I love being single sometimes, it’s almost like being rich. You get to make all the rules. I walked through J. Crew, Club Monaco, The Gap, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord &Taylor, and one other non-descript clothing retailer that held little interest. I didn’t find anything else I really felt like getting, but I tried on a few items, just to get the feel. One of the nuggets of wisdom I got from my metrosexual book is that shopping without buying is a great way to develop a personal style. Which is what I did. Ta-da!
After shopping, I stopped by a street vendor and got a philly cheesesteak for lunch. Then I went by Duane Reade and picked up a Mt. Dew and a notebook, having left mine on the bus. I also got a watch because I was sick and tired of constantly not knowing what time it was. So, at 1:57, I went to Rockefeller Plaza, sat down and ate my lunch.
I heard the clock at St. Paul’s strike at two, which was the check-in time with the chaperones. I simply didn’t feel like it just then, so I stayed for another half hour, watching people go by, scribbling down little stories about what I thought about them, impressions, sketches of their appearance and character. As a writer, I’m constantly trying to find new sources of inspiration and this was a damn good one.
After lunch and people watching, I decided to make my way down Fifth Avenue toward the Empire State building where we were going to rendezvous for the dinner cruise. I languidly strolled down, crossing a few number streets along the way, just to see what was there. I passed a psychic who boasted a five dollar special and chuckled to myself at the morons who would take it seriously. Then I turned around and went in.
The nice lady who was sitting there told me that the five dollar special was a palm reading. She then offered the ten dollar special, a reading of past or future lives. While I enjoy the past and future, my present life is the one that holds my attention the most, so I opted for the Lincoln special. She looked at my palm and after examining it for a moment, which felt creepy in this shadowy little store, she looked up and told me that she was going to tell me what she saw, good or bad. I said okay. She started to tell me that I had a long life ahead of me and it would be a happy life, but it wasn’t happy right now. She told me things would change in July or August. She said I had a natural inclination for water and would want to live near it for the rest of my life. My love life, she said, was a complicated affair. My heart had been broken in the past by love and would be broken once more before I found true love. She said I would meet my soul mate before the end of the year. This person would be artistic, someone in tune with the spirit of nature, someone who would compliment me. With this person, I will have three children. She wished me luck, I gave her five dollars, and left without another word. Back in the sun, I felt better. I knew it was bull, that the statement was generic enough to be interpreted several ways and still be true, that’s the point. Still, at the time, it felt chilling.
After that, I wandered down Fifth Avenue, running into Greg, John, Sean, Richie, and Dave. We all meandered down toward the Empire State building, stopping at souvenir shops along the way, looking for some memento of the experience. We went into the Empire State building lobby and I ran toward the gift shop with a case of Mt. Dew in view. After that, I went outside, found Lady Barrick, and waited with her for her husband and the buses.
I had decided to wear the outfit I’d gotten at H&M on the cruise, despite the fact the shoes I had on didn’t match at all. They were black and unadorned, where the outfit called for tan sandals or a lighter shoe. I went back to the small bathroom that was about one hundred degrees and smelled like chemicals. Better than the alternative bathroom smell, I suppose. Changing while the bus lurched forward and stopped suddenly was a new experience, one I’m not eager to repeat.
Back in my seat, I pulled out the CD player and closed my eyes. I’d made one other stop during my time alone and picked up a special surprise for the cruise to complete my Endgame. It was in my backpack, safely stowed for the trip ahead. I mused on the great day I’d had, short though it had been. However, at the time, I was looking forward more than looking back and as I listened to and vehemently agreed with the lyrics to “No One Mourns the Wicked” and “Defying Gravity”, I silently prepared myself for the hours ahead.
TO BE CONTINUED...