10-21-36
My apartment was quite the beauty. Filled to the brim with luxurious knick-knacks, baseball cards and other innocuous objects, there was hardly a time when there wasn't something to gawk at. Of course, myself included.
I took my time in handling the bronze knob on my door to swing it right open, grasping at my hand as I realized it had a bruise from the impact. After a moment of letting the pain draw out, I strolled in and sat on my violet-blue bed, covered in ornate flower-pattern bedsheets, and completed with a pair of lavender pillows. Boy, life was great.
I soon came to see that my curtains were rolled up, and the view of a bustling but embattled New York City hobbled onto my eyes; Workers huddling together in strikes, Police Officers accosting criminals and scaring off the more-cowardly Unionists, concession stands feeding the masses with overpriced hot dogs and various campaign Yes-men haggling the gullible of Manhattan. It was such a melting pot of ideas, people, politics, delicacies, destitution and indebtedness that absolutely intoxicated me. So many conflicts of interest, so many things to do, so little time at hand for a recent graduate like me.
Even with all of my intrigue, however, it wasn't like I wished to partake in it directly. New York's melting pot could be indeed quite a sweltering one, with many twists and turns and backstabs that would make Hamlet blush. So, for now at least, I wouldn't philander with the Syndicalists or hop on some parade float commemorating how Huey Long will make Every man a King if you vote for him. No, now was not the time for that. Now was the time for sitting back, taking a swig of beer and enjoying the intricacies of America from a safe view. To recline and watch the world burn, if only for a moment. That was my goal.
And why not attend the greatest theater for the showing of life: Peterson's Bar. A recluse for any New Yorker wishing to find solace in the warm embrace of alcohol. Or, just to banter with their most charismatic of friends and family. Possibly both. So, I found myself quickly packing up again for a go-around at this prestigious place. On I went!