Evening In The Chair

(A fictional super-short based on real events)

I laid there paralyzed. More by fear than the humming, trance inducing glare of the overhead light. The blue motorized reclining chair would have been comfortable what with the padded headrest if not for the circumstances then. I tried to speak, to protest but blood garbled the words into an incoherent foreign language devoid of proper vowels. And all the while she sat there right beside me. Cold eyes beneath dark rimmed glasses calculating her next move. One could almost hear the slopping of her lips in anticipation of what is to come from behind the pale white veil hiding her mouth. The machine then began purring as if confirming my fears that the worst is yet to come.

I should have heeded her warnings. Should have relented to her requests those many years ago. Back when things were manageable, when things were much simpler. But I was young, brash and understood not the full extent of the consequences then.

In that brief moment of respite my mind recounted of how I was greeted upon my return. "Have you been a good boy?" she asked then. Her voice stank of concern. False concern, augmented to conceal her sadistic motives. And yet I trusted her. I gave in. Perhaps thinking that I would be spared from her wrath. Hoping that admitting to one's mistakes would grant a much needed pardon.

I guess I was as much a fool now as I was then.

The machine's purring began to grow into a groan reminiscent of a starving beast. And she had begun stirring too, her hands reaching unto a cream colored table slightly beyond my sight. My eyes snapped shut, bracing for what was to come. The groans then were accompanied by a whirring that edged ever closer by the second. I did not wish to see, I did not wish to look. But it did not matter anyway.

Spinning metal met flesh. Tearing tissue, scraping bone.

I bled. I teared.

Excruciating was not even close to describing the torment I felt. My muscles tensed with every gnaw and each penetrating scrape. Seconds became minutes and minutes felt like hours. What little respite she gave in between only sought to worsen the pain. As if she wanted me to feel the aftermath before the onrushing of another storm.

"You can rinse now."

Words that presented much needed relief. And as I gargled and spewed out the blood, saliva and tartar stew that had formed in my mouth, I was hopeful that this was the end.

"You should brush harder next time. And try to get your gums too. Ready for me to do your upper part?"

My hope faded that very instant...........

Re Action

The economic downturn, financial turmoil, global recession. Call it whatever you wish but it still sucks any which way. And the effects of the current financial climate on the Singapore has been telling.

Pay cuts, projected layoffs and reduced bonuses. Then again, this is not old news, we have been through this before. Times are bad, people get laid off. I guess that's normal reaction for any business.

And all the criticisms of these companies not exploring alternative means of cost cutting are just hogwash. I mean, come on. Multi-billion dollar companies that don't have well thought out rescue plans for situations like this? (/sarcasm)

Reaction.

I guess it all began when news of the US subprime mortgage crisis first leaked out to the world, though most would agree that the factors leading towards this current recession are varied. The Bush administration did attempt a bail out of two of the largest companies in this whole subprime mortgage debacle, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Perhaps fearing that the deep rooted problem would spiral across the country's financial infrastructure. And with names like those, it's a wonder why people trust those companies with securing a roof over their heads in the first place.

Reaction.

And much was made of Obama's message of hope and change. Most were well founded, in my opinion at least. And with the crumbling of the US economy well at hand, there was no stronger message made by the Americans then to elect the Illonois Senator as the first black President of the United States. Hope is definitely a valued commodity in these times. Though most would place too much on it too soon.

Reaction.

Constant increases on crude oil prices did not help matters either. And though prices have tapered down, albeit slightly the ripple effects on the economies of the world would continue to ripple for a long time to come. And with the now, hopefully well spread, knowledge of the limited availability of fossil fuels, it wouldn't be that uncommon to expect crude oil prices to spike again. And it wouldn't be uncommon to expect governments to remove or limit subsidies once prices soar too high.

Reaction.

And of course the most of us would attempt to stinge. Stretch the value of the dollar if not the cent. More bang for your buck, or so the saying goes. It's only natural, despite whatever governments would dish out to encourage spending.

Reaction.

I guess it all comes down to reactions. Despite the best laid of plans.

Maybe it's too much to expect of people to do the things that needs done now, rather than wait for a knee jerking from some crisis threatening the very civilization from which we depend upon.

?????

Sometimes I wonder if my words twist beyond what they should be. That they somehow became things I did not mean.

Am I this complicated, nonsensical idiot lacking the simple ability to know of where and when to speak of things?

Am I this moron, this fool that hopes for acceptance, of who I am and who I am to be from those that had claimed their place in my heart and soul?

Do I linger upon the past that no longer harken me........ Do I envision a future that only I can see?

Why does truth eviscerate in many ways.... from the orator to those that beckon their words.......

What makes it so noble.....

Yes We Can!

Indeed

We can mend the world

We can alleviate poverty

We can heal the sick

We are the change we want to be

To be the change we want to see

And the time of change

Has indeed come

Yes We Can!

The Word Now Is Clean

So I spent the bulk of today cleaning my room. Never knew that long idle dust bunnies could pose such a challenge. Almost seemed as though they had minds of their own. Constantly mocking me as I chased them with my Dustbuster 8000, a wet yellow towel.

Room's as clean as I can make it to be. Quite satisfied with myself, though the time it took me to actually arrange, wipe and replace things was something that took longer than expected. Not to mention the amount of things that were never supposed to be in my room in the first place that for one reason or another I won't divulge here. Regardless, this was something I've always wanted to do, though I do admit it was not with the greatest of passion but the ebbing, itching want was there nonetheless.

Bad part was it left me with very little time to do other things that I've planned for today. No Glade, Airwick or Febreeze for today but definitely a priority tomorrow. Not to mention a few other toiletries and stuff that I've always been meaning to get.

Heh, never felt so hopeful before. Soooooooo infused... Didn't know life could look so.....bright.

Maybe I'm just a damned fool. Time will tell, as always.