Bravo Gym's biggest draw was the 9 a.m. Saturday spin class, so much that the dry cleaners next door changed their operation hours just so they could participate. It was no picnic, figuring out how to store the sixty indoor cycle machines whenever the side room was used for personal training, but the smiles it put on people's faces were worth it. The fact that Carl and Mama were more concerned with how it raised their revenues by forty percent wasn't something Johnny really thought about.
"You don't participate in the class boss?" Vicente Feijóo, one of the Gym's regulars, asked as he chalked his hands.
"Not really," Said Johnny, "You know I have a bit of a clumsy streak. I've broken five cycles, two ellipticals, and a stair machine before I decided to just ban myself from using the Gym's machines."
A buzz on his pocket, caused Johnny to check his phone. A text from Chris H. simply said I need you to come out to this LA address now, no questions. With a follow-up giving a link to what seemed to be a pet store.
Over by the front door stood Louis Hewy, the weekend assistant manager who maintained a perfect, blonde, 80s mullet despite it being thirty years out of fashion. It helped distract from his clothes, a white sports jacket with white sweatpants and a purple-pink tank top.
"Hey, Louis. I've got to run an errand in LA. Keep a good watch brother." Said Johnny.
"Just as long as you're back by three, I've got things to do this afternoon." Said Louis, adjusting his ridiculous purple-pink tank top.
Making his way out back to his motorcycle, Johnny put on his specialized helmet so as not to muss his hair and started on the road. He avoided LA as much as he could, partly because he never liked riding through traffic, but there was something about the city sprawl that felt uncomfortable. It was different when you were on the streets, feeling the energy and the vibe coming from the people, but you get none of that on freeways.
Taking the exit right before Beverly Hills and going along the city streets would save him from highway congestion. He hoped this errand would not take too long, as he was hit with the idea to drive back to Aron City along the coast roads. Maybe stop for a few minutes at that café in Malibu he liked, and not mistake it for the one across the street he hated (unlike the previous ten times he had done that).
Pulling into a parking lot, Johnny walked the final block before pulling out his phone to call Chris H. but got a text response, I'm not able to talk right now.
"Strange." Said Johnny, as he came across the sight of Peebles Pet Shop with a large red sign in the front window saying CLOSED. "Well, this is the address. Now, where is that Aussie?"
"Johnny, up here. Use the ladder around back." Came a hushed voice from above. Chris H was leaning his head over the side of the roof, with a panicked look on his face.
"Oh, what game is he playing this time?" Asked Johnny. Maybe it was good for his social media presence, but these A-List stars were always so eccentric it sometimes became troublesome to be friends with them. Climbing up the fire ladder, Johnny reminded himself that even movie stars are people too.
Reaching the top, Johnny came into full sight of Chris' situation as a large, brown, adult gorilla was sitting on the actor's back, pinning him to the ground.
"I'm guessing this isn't just one of those inflatable advertisement gorillas you always see at car dealerships." Said Johnny, walking up to the pair.
"Johnny, finally." Said Chris. "I've been stuck under this gorilla for two hours. Be a good sport and help me out."
Walking up to the gorilla, Johnny noticed it was dressed in red shorts, green suspenders, and purple bow tie and bowler hat. More importantly, though, its eyes were red from crying. The gorilla was clearly upset or sad or depressed, but since there were multiple things it could be perhaps it wasn't so clear.
Taking a seat on the edge of the roof, Johnny looked at the scene before peeking off the side of the building. He immediately spotted a couple of photographers who were clearly paparazzi were on their phones calling for backup.
"So, what's the story, Chris? Short version, please I don't have all day." Said Johnny.
"I finished the press tour for my latest movie, you know the one." Said Chris H, giving that winning smile of his. "I wanted to get a gift for my kids before going home, I thought a pet might be nice, like a dog or something."
"And you got talked into buying the Gorilla?" Asked Johnny.
"The store clerk gave me a runaround. Before I knew what had happened, he handed me a bill of sale for a gorilla, booted the two of us out of the store, closed shop, and drove away as fast as he could."
"Let me guess, the Gorilla was emotionally attached to the store owner, so he dragged you up here and kept watching until he was out of sight." Said Johnny.
"Something like that." Said Chris, as the gorilla stopped crying and reached down to stroke his hair. "And now it's likely starting to get attached to me. But Johnny, I can't take a gorilla home to Australia."
"Not when you're pinned to the ground like that you can't." Said Johnny, starting to find some amusement in the situation, despite that comment getting a grimace from Chris. "Okay Chris, I'll help you out. I've dealt with Gorillas before, you'd think the writer would have been more original than to give me another monkey business adventure."
"What are you talking about?" Asked Chris, wincing at the Gorilla shifting its weight on his chest.
"Don't worry about it." Said Johnny, stepping up to the gorilla to tap him on the shoulder, he got a feel for the gorilla's center of gravity, and with a tackling roll got the ape off Chris.
The gorilla growled and made a sweeping punch in Johnny's direction. Just as Chris began to stand up, the ape grabbed him with his other hand and jumped to the next building over.
"This is why I didn't take that movie with The Rock, I can't deal with apes." Said Chris, as the gorilla carried him off like a child.
"Okay, it's going to be one of those days then." Said Johnny, starting his run, he made the leap to the next roof over and started chasing down the gorilla. Out the corner of his eyes, Johnny saw the group of paparazzi keeping pace on mopeds.
"This is so embarrassing!" Yelled Chris. "I'm a superhero for crying out loud."
"Look on the bright side, you might be able to get the role of the love interest in a King Kong remake now." Quipped Johnny, as he leaped over an air conditioning unit.
"Not helping." Shouted Chris, as the gorilla jumped up to the fire escape stairway of the adjoining apartment building. Stopping for a moment to get its bearing and steady its shaking legs, the Gorilla adjusted its hat before looking up. Meanwhile, the apartment resident peeked out the window to take a selfie with Chris, not wanting to let the moment pass them by.
"LA." Said Johnny, shaking his head as he quickly judged the distance before jumping over the alley to land two stories beneath the gorilla and Chris.
The chase led all the way up the apartment's rooftop before the Gorilla jumped over to the next building, some sort of business skyscraper in the later stages of construction. The jump seemed to be in slow motion, as the gorilla just barely managed to grab hold of an open window as it pulled both itself and Chris inside.
"And this is why I didn't want to do that other movie with The Rock." Shouted Chris.
"I get it Chris, you know The Rock. Stop name dropping already, you're embarrassing yourself." Shouted Johnny, getting a quick look at the construction, he saw his chance and jumped onto the passing cable of a crane which was lifting steel beams, carefully balancing himself before jumping into the building, landing confidently, Johnny felt the unfinished flooring collapse under his weight as he fell two stories down.
"What do you think your friend meant when he said he had dealt with Gorillas before?" The gorilla asked Chris, looking down at the scene of Johnny's fall.
"I don't know, I barely know the guy. We only work out together, it's a very casual thing I do when I'm in town, but since when could you talk?" Asked Chris.
Scratched up, bruised, and a little bloody from the fall, Johnny raced up the scaffolding to get back up to Chris and the ape. Large construction hammer in hand, he had a fire in his eyes.
"As your fitness advisor, I'd say that's enough fitness for today." Said Johnny, swinging the mallet at the steel support beam directly underneath where the gorilla and Chris were standing. The force of the blow knocked Johnny on his back, but the vibrations went up the metal and shook the gorilla, whose legs buckled as it tried to stand, causing it to let go of Chris as it tumbled over and begin falling down the side of the building.
"Yes, way to go Johnny." Said Chris, not realizing how precarious his own footing was. Metal rivets began popping out of the structure, as the I-beam Chris stood on tilted down sending him sliding off the building the same way the Gorilla had left.
Scrambling back to his feet, Johnny grabbed a spool of construction cable and ran to the side of the building, sliding the last few feet across the unfinished concrete to grab Chris' hand before the movie star fell ten stories to his death. In a split second, he knew he was off by inches and was not going to catch Chris. Letting his hand slid down the cable a few inches was risky, and could likely cut his skin, but he had to risk it.
The snap of Chris' weight under him ran through his body but it was his arm holding the cable that Johnny felt pop out of his shoulder. Looking down, Johnny saw he had caught Chris' hand and the two of them were as safe as they could be dangling off the side of an unfinished building.
"Johnny, you rock star!" Shouted Chris.
Looking down, Johnny realized he did not feel Chris' hand clasped to his own. More like there was a shadow of his hand that had grabbed the Aussie. Blinking twice, Johnny saw members of the construction crew rush up from the floor beneath them to grab the two of them and put them back on solid ground. A crewman was ripping up a piece of clean cloth and bandaging Johnny's bloodied left hand, but Johnny was more concerned with his right hand that had caught Chris. Turning it over to look at both sides, he saw none of the strange, metallic shadow that he saw make the saving grab.
By the time they were back on the ground, Johnny saw the press was already starting to gather, so he gave a quick wave to Chris before making an escape to his motorcycle. The whole experience had left him feeling weirded out, so much so that he realized he didn't even know what became of the gorilla until he was back at the gym.
In the back-room, Johnny changed out of the torn and bloody rags that were left of his clothes and looked at the mirror to see where his cuts were.
"Huh, that's weird." Said Johnny, "Not even a scratch." Looking down at the bloody bandage around his hand, he made a fist and didn't feel any of the pain he had dealt with all during his ride back. Unwinding the cloth, he rubbed off the dried blood and saw not even the slightest sign of a scar, and that was almost more concerning than the strange shadow he had seen.
Louis knocked on the door as Johnny finished changing into his spare clothes. "Boss, delivery man is outside, needs your signature."
The wooden crate stood ten feet tall with perfect holes drilled into the sides. A redhead hipster with a hair bun handed Johnny a clipboard, "One-Hour Express Delivery. Sign here, and there's a letter for you with the crate."
After signing, Johnny opened the letter to see it was a note from Chris.
Thanks for the help today Johnny, I figured I owed you one for saving my life, so I sent you this gift. Have a g'day mate. – Chris
A quick swing of a crowbar later, and Johnny was greeted with the gorilla he had spent the better part of the morning chasing. Finishing a banana, the Gorilla stepped out of the crate, taking off its hat in a polite manner.
"Forgive my earlier rudeness, I was distraught over the retirement of my long-time associate Mr. Peebles. I'm afraid we haven't been introduced, Magilla Gorilla at your service, and you are my new owner." The Gorilla gave a polite nod before putting its hat back on.
Standing agape at the situation, Johnny felt Louis tap him on the shoulder. "Congratulations boss, you own a gorilla, think I'll head out early. Bye."
"Yeah, whatever." Said Johnny, in accepting disbelief.