[Part Four]
"Oh? you're back?" Larry stopped his task of dusting the plastic plants when he heard the elevator door open.
"Yeah." Chuck threw the light blue duffel bag he was holding out the door. With a loud clank, it landed in front of Larry. He then proceeded to crawl out of the elevator. After a long night of planing and a mindless day of stockbroking he knew he had to return here.
"It's after office hours. Everybody has gone home for the day."
"That's okay."
"All right then...Well enjoy your day." Larry went on to his duties.
Chuck went back to Gary's door. "Okay, I'm ready this time."
Opening the duffel bag, Chuck pulled out a wet suit, swimming goggles, the gaudy purple polka dotted sea horse, pair of flippers and other sorts of swimming equipment. He quickly put everything on and took a deep breath. Twisting the door knob, he opened the door and carefully stepped, in an attempt to ready himself to the portal's effects. It didn't quite work. He wasn't as nauseous as he was before but, Chuck wished he hadn't eaten that burger for lunch or the peanuts, he had as a snack.
---
(I wonder if I did throw up, where would it go? Would it be in Gary's head...?)
Slightly disgusted by that thought, Chuck pushed it far from his mind. He had a purpose for being here. He wondered what Gary was up to now and what preposterous errand that paper had sent him early this evening.
The world was on a tilt. In the background he heard the sound of a radio sending garbled messages and static. He was looking outside as the scenery sped by and stopped in regular intervals and it appeared that he was in some sort of vehicle.
Chuck guessed that they were in a cab and that Gary was leaning his head against the glass. From reading the street signs they were headed northbound.
Their view went level as Gary stared at a playground in the distance. He watched as a young couple play with their young child.
(Don't do that to yourself, buddy. Marcia wouldn't have wanted children. You know that...)
"Maybe..."
"What did ya say, buddy?" The cabby watched Gary from his reflection in the rear view mirror.
"Huh...?" Gary laughed slightly, not realizing that he spoke aloud. "Nothing just mumbling to himself."
(Hey! Stop staring out the window ... you need to... Uh, scan the paper for other accidents to prevent.)
Gary pulled the paper from his pocket and began to inspect its contents.
(I wonder what the lotto numbers are...?)
Gary took a quick glance at the numbers but quickly turned the page after that. It was enough for Chuck though.
(Three, fifteen, twenty-one, twenty-seven, thirty-three, and fifty-one...)
"We're here..."
"Keep the meter running. I'll be right back." Gary hopped out of the cab.
"Oh? you're back?" Larry stopped his task of dusting the plastic plants when he heard the elevator door open.
"Yeah." Chuck threw the light blue duffel bag he was holding out the door. With a loud clank, it landed in front of Larry. He then proceeded to crawl out of the elevator. After a long night of planing and a mindless day of stockbroking he knew he had to return here.
"It's after office hours. Everybody has gone home for the day."
"That's okay."
"All right then...Well enjoy your day." Larry went on to his duties.
Chuck went back to Gary's door. "Okay, I'm ready this time."
Opening the duffel bag, Chuck pulled out a wet suit, swimming goggles, the gaudy purple polka dotted sea horse, pair of flippers and other sorts of swimming equipment. He quickly put everything on and took a deep breath. Twisting the door knob, he opened the door and carefully stepped, in an attempt to ready himself to the portal's effects. It didn't quite work. He wasn't as nauseous as he was before but, Chuck wished he hadn't eaten that burger for lunch or the peanuts, he had as a snack.
---
(I wonder if I did throw up, where would it go? Would it be in Gary's head...?)
Slightly disgusted by that thought, Chuck pushed it far from his mind. He had a purpose for being here. He wondered what Gary was up to now and what preposterous errand that paper had sent him early this evening.
The world was on a tilt. In the background he heard the sound of a radio sending garbled messages and static. He was looking outside as the scenery sped by and stopped in regular intervals and it appeared that he was in some sort of vehicle.
Chuck guessed that they were in a cab and that Gary was leaning his head against the glass. From reading the street signs they were headed northbound.
Their view went level as Gary stared at a playground in the distance. He watched as a young couple play with their young child.
(Don't do that to yourself, buddy. Marcia wouldn't have wanted children. You know that...)
"Maybe..."
"What did ya say, buddy?" The cabby watched Gary from his reflection in the rear view mirror.
"Huh...?" Gary laughed slightly, not realizing that he spoke aloud. "Nothing just mumbling to himself."
(Hey! Stop staring out the window ... you need to... Uh, scan the paper for other accidents to prevent.)
Gary pulled the paper from his pocket and began to inspect its contents.
(I wonder what the lotto numbers are...?)
Gary took a quick glance at the numbers but quickly turned the page after that. It was enough for Chuck though.
(Three, fifteen, twenty-one, twenty-seven, thirty-three, and fifty-one...)
"We're here..."
"Keep the meter running. I'll be right back." Gary hopped out of the cab.