I go up to the calypso singer and ask him where to get jeans and a t-shirt. He told me to fuck off, so I dragged him away from the band, up a hill just along side the whole festival I won tickets to, and told him to take me to where he lives. We ran down a small highway through thick trees, littered with fallen leaves, and the only light, however pleantiful, was that provided by a full moon. I noticed as we ran, I following him, our shadows on the shoulder of the road to our left. His was that of a big snake, and mine of a hippopotomus. Oh yeah... Without warning, he jumps over the shoulder of the road, and I quickly followed. We ran just a short way, and then into a cave. There, he was immediately protected by five big gorillas with sticks, yet while they protected him, they charged me. I managed to get the stick away from one of them, and smacked him in the head with it. All the gorillas backed away, and the one I hit removed its head. It was a mask, as a matter of fact, they were all costumed women. I readied my stick again to hit her once more, and she told me where pants and shirts were. I grabbed on pair of jeans and one tshirt, and left. I go up to Uri, and give it to him. I sit with some friends for a drink to relax, not telling anyone what I did or saw. Then, after a couple drinks, everyone gets up and circles the fountain. The fountain jets multiple streams into the air in time with the calypso music screaming in from the background. Everyone's in jeans and shorts and bathingsuits, except for Uri and myself. Looking down, I see my parents and their friends led the way into the water, motioning for Uri and myself to come in with them as well. I told Uri to go change and put on the shitty clothes I got for him, and he runs off. I start dancing with the ladies because the music is just so fun, and then realize, I'm still not dressed for the fountain. I run back to that cave. I'm going down that sam highway littered with fallen leaves and walled on either side with thick thick forest. I see my shadow on the shoulder of the road to my left again, the shadow of a hippo running as fast as me. I jump over the shoulder just like I did before. I go into the same cave. The man I dragged there earlier was gone, and the number of gorillas that charged me this time was three. I aqcuired the stick from one of them, hit him in the head with it, and he took off the mask once more as the other two retreated. Again, it was a woman, but this one was beautiful. She tried to seduce me, to keep me from the jeans and shirts, and almost won me over. But I had to get those jeans and shirts for myself, otherwise I couldn't swim in the fountain with everyone else, and they were expecting me; my being the host and all. I pushed her off, grabbed the clothes I needed, and ran back. I stopped now and again to take something off, put something on, and by the time I made it back, some people had come out already. I sat down for another drink by myself, and saw a child walking around with fireworks strapped to its chest, ready to go off any second, but they never did. They were the kind of pinwheels that just spin and spin, spewing clorful flames in all directions. But they never went off, no matter how long I stared. The fuses were sparkling but not getting shorter. The child was playing with something or other, but not too worried. And I stared at him. That's it. I dropped my drink, ignored everyone trying to get me into the fountain, forgot about the calypso guy I kidnapped in the middle of a performance, forgot about the gorillas women up on that highway, forgot aobut everything. Everything except the shadow of myself. |
