fuck this job.com

Simon leaves the building in a daze. He is tired physically and mentally. He sits down at the bus stop in front of the building. He hears somebody speaking over a bullhorn. Either the protestors are still protesting or the police are still announcing. Either way, he can't understand a word their saying. He just sits and listens. The traffic on this street seems to be almost back to normal. Simon sits at the bus stop with the solemn determination of someone who has ridden the bus quite a lot. He's resigned to waiting. He does feel that he has been waiting an awfully long time when he hears a familiar voice behind him.

"Waiting for a bus?"

It's Patty!

"Yes. I'm very tired. I spent the day being questioned by the FBI."

"Yeah? They talked to me too. I guess we picked the wrong day to be on the 49th floor. You do realize that the buses aren't stopping here today, right?" Simon looks confused. Patty points to the announcement taped to the side of the bus stop shelter. "They moved the stop to the next block because of the protests." Patty sits down beside Simon. She offers him a cigarette and he declines. She lights the cigarette.

"I've been concerned about you, Simon. I talked to Amanda last night--she's the woman who owns the Special Things Shop--and she asked me to talk to you."

Simon feels as if every bit of energy has been drained from his body.

"She'd like to talk to you--if you don't mind."

Simon looks blankly at her until he realizes that she wants an answer.

"Sure. I'll talk to her."

Patty stand up.

"Okay! If you're through waiting for this bus, why don't we walk down to her shop and see if she's there?"

Simon follows her because he can't think of anything else to do. The bell rings when they enter the shop. Amanda's eyes light up when she sees them.

"Come in, come in! I've been waiting for you!" She walks up to Simon and fixes him with a steely gaze. "Tell me, have you had any unusual dreams lately?"

Simon tells her about his dreams, including the one he had while being held in the Sackanut office. The old woman nods her head.

"Out of body experiences. O...O...B. You need to learn about these things in order to not be afraid of them." Simon frowns at her.

"Look, I'm afraid of this huge skeleton thing. That's what I'm afraid of. What is it?" Amanda searches the bookshelves and pulls down a couple of volumes.

"Here. These are great books on OOB. " She casts another level gaze in his direction. "You need to learn to control this. You need to study it."

"What about...what about Orlando de Balistica?" At the sound of the name, Amanda stops moving. Then a cloud descends over her eyes. She stands quietly, as if praying for a moment. Then Patty and Simon both jump when they hear the voice that comes out of Amanda's mouth now. It sounds a little like Amanda's voice--but only a little.

"Give me the pentagram, Simon!" Patty moves, half-consciously, between Simon and Amanda. Amanda puts out her hand and reaches for the chain around Simon's neck. "The pentagram is too dangerous for you. Give it back!" Patty grabs Amanda's wrist and holds her arm tightly as she tries to pry it free.

"Hey! I paid for that pentagram and I gave it to Simon! He's keeping it!"

Whatever has Amanda in its grip is not letting go, and neither is Patty. Now Amanda's eyes light up like they are on fire. She throws back her head and growls. Simon has calculated how many steps it will take to get out the door. He's also calculated the price of the books and he tosses the cash on the counter before the turns to run. Then he has a second thought. Patty yells, "run!" but he stands fast. He grabs Amanda's arm, and despite the fact that Amanda must weigh at least one hundred pounds, he picks her up from the ground. Amanda stops squirming and Patty, in amazement, lets go of her wrist. Simon holds her up like that for a moment, then lowers her to the floor. He speaks quietly.

"I think we'll be going now. Thank you...for your assistance. And thank you for the book recommendation. I left the money on the counter."

Patty and Simon both run for the door and practically collide as the race through it.

"What the hell was that?" Patty asks, out of breath. Simon just shakes his head. He knows he's simply not capable of picking up a hundred pounds and holding out at arms length. But he did.

Patty starts to stomp off towards her apartment. She walks about halfway down the block and then turns to see that Simon isn't following her.

"Aren't you coming? I can make some tea. I'd like to see what those books are about."

Simon hears his own voice speaking in solid, somber tones.

"No. It wouldn't be seemly."

Seemly? Patty can't help but smile at that. Seemly? She laughs out loud.

"Seemly!? Where did you get that?"

"I don't know. If you would see the book, we can sit over here on the retaining wall."

"It doesn't look too comfortable."

Simon just stands there. For the first time in his life he feels the air blowing in and out of his lungs with a complete and natural ease. He's about to say goodnight when she speaks.

"Okay, let's sit down."

They peruse the two books for a few minutes. Then Patty asks Simon directly--"Did you actually walk around outside of your own body?"

Simons face has a more serious expression than it has ever had.

"Yes. I cannot believe it myself, but yes."

Patty sits quietly for a moment. "I've gotta get back to my place. I've gotta see a man about a horse."

Simon stands up, says goodnight in a formal way, and walks up the hill with more energy than he has ever felt in his life. Which makes it all the more strange that as soon as he enters his apartment, he slowly and deliberately puts on a pair of pajamas that he hardly ever wears, and goes to bed, and falls asleep almost immediately.

(TO BE CONTINUED)