Hockey Fight

Prairie Fires and Faerie Pyres, Part 4

When C arrived, she and Dee almost immediately started to talk about Dr. Marty. I nursed my beer and rancid thoughts about my vile client.

Stanley was in charge of the music at Yak’s. He was in cahoots with my iPhone, I am sure.

I thought of my iPhone more as a Ghost and less as a thing. I enjoyed this idea and the slight tinge of paranoia. At least I wasn’t part of the conversation about life coaching.

Stanley and Ghost chose Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N’ Roses. I listened to the music and watched the silenced TV in the corner. A fight had broken out in a hockey game. I humored myself:

I watch Dr. Marty, behind the play, dancing away from one skater only to get slammed against the glass.

Axl Rose:
Welcome to the jungle
We’ve got fun ‘n’ games

David Allen had the puck, bringing it up ice ahead of the line. He was savagely hip checked, clattering to the ice and slow to get up.

Axl Rose:
We got everything you want
Honey, we know the names

My client thought he was tough, and boarded the opposing goon. He then stared menacingly, dropped his gloves and was knocked cold by a sucker punch.

Axl Rose:
We are the people that can find
Whatever you may need

My imaginary friend, Asshole, was arguing with the beer vendor ignoring the play on the ice. He took a puck in the mouth.

What happened to your teeth?

Did you do that?

You’re an asshole.

I was getting a beer. Go to hell.

Dr. Marty, David Allen, my client, and Asshole - all four brutalized during the hockey game. In a strange way, I thought I was a comic book character and had superpowers.

Axl Rose:
If you got the money, honey
We got your disease

I had made people suffer with the help of Axl Rose - one of the truly great names in Rock. Whenever Ghosty was picking music that helped me to see a story, I enjoyed her company.

“Yo,” Duke said, breaking my scheming and plotting. “What’s up?”

I said, “They’re fighting.”

“Who? Dee and C?” he asked.

“No,” C said. “We’re talking about Dr. Marty.”

“My life coach,” Dee said.

“OK,” Duke said. “I need a drink.”

I held up my empty glass. “Me too.”

He put his jacket on the back of his chair, took drink orders and walked over to greet Stanley. I continued to watch the hockey game.

“Dee has Alice Hopper,” C said. “Who’s your imaginary friend?”

… continued

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Prairie Fires and Faerie Pyres

Part 4: Hockey Fight
Part 3: Your Blog’s Not A Waste Of Time
Part 2: Put Your Head Somewhere Else
Part 1: Showier Prose