20 December, 2009

The welcome home party

27 September 2004
93

R. Linda:

Once I got me bearing in Flanagan's unholy abode, I closed me door and made some phone calls to mattress places. I found one that delivered the very same day it being an hour before closing, they told me they'd put me on their last delivery. So, I shelled out some bucks on me credit card and awaited the 5:00 delivery.

I told Flanagan that me back wouldn't tolerate the pallet on the floor and that I had ordered me up a mattress and bed frame. He said he'd help me move the pallet to his room, he had space to put it there and so that's what we did.

His room is creepy. Very Japanese but there are all these strange hammer and scythe things on the walls. It is Iron Curtain motif I guess.

At quarter to the hour of five, me mattress and bed frame arrived. Now R. Linda, you had to see the delivery men's faces as the came in with me stuff. They got suddenly quiet, their eyes were big and they looked at me like I was demented. It was the quickest bed setup I've ever seen. They wouldn't even take me tip for their labour.

The strange was Flanagan. He stared at them the entire time they were working. He said nothing, just leaned n the doorjamb watching. I tried to make conversation with them, but they answered in grunts. I wanted to kick Flanagan and tell him to stop staring, but how could I? I thought Flanagan looked like a hungry wolf looking over dinner. He gave me the chills.

Later, I got meself ready for the party, quick shower, clean clothes and off I went to the parlour where Flanagan was meditating. I decided not to interrupt and quietly slipped out the door and to Alison's place.

The party started, balloons with me name on it, streamers hung around the room, party hats were handed out with those foil wrapped things you blow into and they stream out with a blaring sound. It was noisy and got crowded where not only the entire building was there mostly, but a lot me friends from the paper and such. I was surprised and truly enjoyed meself for the most part. Flanagan never showed, but Argie did. I swear she is trying to emulate Cyndi Lauper's look. This time she had on what looked like a lot of coloured gauze stuck into a big wide paten leather red belt. She had on tights that were tie dyed and paddock boots with heels. Her hair was red, green and purple, with a wide scarf holding it up where it shot out at all angles, her face was rouged like a clown and she was wearing a sweat shirt half off the shoulder, that she had ripped to collar off of. Oh, and with sunglasses.

I tried to stay away from her and that mutt she insisted on bringing. The mutt was dressed in a blue tutu with stud collar. I don't know what the fashion statement was, but it looked ridiculous.

Murphys was the order of the night along with all kinds of dishes. I ate well, drank even better and enjoyed it all. Around 3 a.m. the party had pretty much wound down and the only ones left where Argie and mutt, Ali, Tonya, Katherine and Kelly (the two who occupy me former abode). It was quiet and Argie said me future was locked up with everyone in the building because here I was back. That got Ali into seance mode and she set out the Question Board that had this thing you put your fingers on and it starts to move seemingly by itself. I don't believe in such things, and did not want to participate, but with some good natured urging I had me mitts on the thing and we sat in a circle, eyes closed, as Ali called the spirits in a deep voice that started me chuckling.

After being admonished for that, I got serious and suddenly the widget started moving. Round and round and round it went really fast, then suddenly it started to slowly slide over letters of the alphabet on the board. It said: U r in dangor.

"Dangor?" Asked Tonya.

'Ohhh, danger," offered Argie.

"Ask who, who is in danger," Katherine demanded.

So Ali did and the widget went around and around then stopped. Slowly it started spelling out a name and guess who's name it said? Yup, yours truly.

That did it for me. I was up and going to me apartment. I left them tugging at me to stay and see where the danger was or who it was. I told them it was going to spell out Flanagan and that was obvious now wasn't it?

They all got quiet and I turned thanking them for a lovely evening, except for the Question Board thing and out I went.

Me apartment was dark except for a red candle burning on the mantelpiece. I didn't think that a good idea so I blew it out and then hit me shins on all the low tables as I felt me way to me room. Yes, it was just like being back in the Kremlin. Just as dark, just as many things for me to bang into, and the place was and is decidedly creepy.

This morning I woke up to an empty apartment. There was no sign of Flanagan. It is now 3:33 in the afternoon and still no Flanagan. I don't expect a note but would be nice to know his habits don't you think? And yes, last night unnerved me more than I want to let on.

Gabe
Copyright © 2004 All rights reserved

No comments: