CK++

Wind blows smoke away from the face of a childhood friend; flames fanned by nostalgia. Stray lines of chest hair. Balding. Grown up now and unable to breathe. It must be hot in there. When he opens his mouth there are only tongues of flame.

I must be going nuts if I can see this.

He acts normally.

‘But you’re on fire, you idiot.’ I only think it.

‘What kind of job are you working?’ he asks.

‘What?’

‘What job. What kind of job are you—’

‘Jesus.’

‘Are you all right?’

Maybe I can wipe away the fire. Reach out and touch his face. His cheeks are burning.

‘What are you—’

Hold his face and keep the flames away.

‘I have to get to my job. I work in that building. I mean—’

Push away the flames. I don’t want you to be hot anymore. Please stay cool in memory.

‘You’ve lost your mind!’

‘But you’re on fire!’

He dashes off. My hands have gone black and raw.

I hope I never have to see him again.

I've been walking around with a telephone cord around my shoulders since I got up this afternoon. Nobody thought to mention it until now. That's fine -- I'll let it stay.

I had crashed on Jess's couch after staying up until 5am drinking and making terrible exquisite corpses with her. We had some other friends with us but they managed to leave on high notes. I'm sure they made it home okay.

Jess and I are having breakfast -- or a late lunch, or an early dinner -- at this café which is far too expensive for its own good. The price is always just ridiculous at these small businesses; now that all the chains and franchises have taken over, even the most middling hole-in-the-wall thinks of itself as some elitist specialty.

I know that when I see the cheque I'll want to strangle myself with the cord. Maybe that's what it's there for.

I'm watching Jess eat a five-dollar egg and she seems to be enjoying it. She's taking her time with it, which is good. I imagine it's about a dollar a bite.

She reaches towards me and grabs the cord. The way its rings rub against my neck is a weird sensation but not entirely unpleasant. She takes the cord and wipes her lips with it. She then sets it on my head, one end dangling between my eyes.

'It's a good look for you,' she says.