Topic: The Only Living Boy In New York

Moe · Date: 2006-06-22 00:30 EST

There he was in the realm for no more than ten minutes and the gods were already smiling down upon him. A beautiful bike, an Italian racer, was just sitting there parked on the street against the curb. No lock. No nothing. Not even one of those cheap locks with a chain that can be wrapped around a post. He stared at it behind a cigarette, hoping he could find a high-level spell lock in this place, not wanting what he is about to steal to be stolen later. Picturing himself speeding away he was snapped from the reverie with a word.

Moe.

That was Bear. A pal from back home who made the trip, he had always heard of Rhydin and wanted to check it out but now that he was here, back home was where the mind lingered.

"Moe" What makes you think anyone here is going to know where Linny is" Half of the time we're gone but we don't where, and we don't know where."

Moe looked over to his friend who was sitting on the back of a street bench with his feet on the seat, hunched over and smoking a cigarette. He was looking at Bear but listening for the sound, that little click, as he leaned on the bike and dug the pick into the ignition.

"If they have been to the Mock Avenue Studio and seen the canvases there, then they know Linny. I'm going to go find out if they have seen her."

That little click was heard and the front wheel of the bike unlocked, another turn of the pick and ignition. Moe jumped on the racer and peeled off into the city.

Moe · Date: 2006-06-25 20:29 EST

Bordertown".A week earlier.

The last Thursday of the month is a favorite for anyone that works in the kitchen at the Hard Luck Caf". Its Open Mike night for the spoken word and the place is awash in a beatnik-like scene, all are there for poetry and spirits so the kitchen gets to shut down for awhile. Moe and Bear usually spend this time hanging out back behind the caf" smokin" and jokin", ragging on the wannabe poets that spit the spoken word. Not that either of them could do any better, it wasn't their scene and they didn't understand it for the most part.

Moe was leaning back against the wall of the brick building near the kitchen door, his foot propped up sole to brick, one arm hanging to his side thumbing a cigarette in a constant flicking of the ash. Bear had closed the top of the dumpster and was laying back on it staring up at the night sky, starless and black, his legs hanging off the edge and drumming a familiar tune with his heels against the metal side. Neither of them was saying much and aside from Bear's light drumming it was quiet outside, quiet enough to hear the readings drifting forth from the room, through the kitchen and out into the night.

I get the news I need on the weather report. I can gather all the news I need on the weather report. Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile. Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da and here I am The only living boy in New York

Half of the time we're gone but we don't where, And we don't know where.*

Bear is the one who broke the silence, sitting up to light a fresh smoke before jumping off the dumpster and walking over to stand near the doorway.

"I liked that one. Especially that last part about the not knowing where. Though I'm quite sure I don't know what it means. What do you think Moe?"

"Not sure. Maybe he was saying a lot of our time is spent away from where we should be, or wishing we could be somewhere else and when it all catches up we don't know where the time went."

Moe shrugged. He wasn't sure at all either but he did find the line thought provoking and rather liked it as well. Though he was curious to hear his friends take on it and turned to ask but was interrupted as his boss poked his head out the door.

"Moe! Get your ass in here. There is some guy inside asking for you, he is cut up and bleeding all over the place. The guy is delirious and I can't make out half of things he is saying but he does keep repeating your sister's name. I think something has happened to Linny.?

*The Only Living Boy in New York