The Depression, the Struggle & the Medication

The Depression, the Struggle and the Medication

Candy and I had just come from Miller’s Ale House on Hempstead Tpke., generally a decent place to eat but on that rainy Thursday, the food, the service, the overall attitude of the management and even the mixed drinks sucked. 

 Although I got plenty of excuses and the general refrain, you know “sorry you feel this way” I only got angry and left with Candy for the ‘Game’.

Some of the regulars were in attendance, the Met Fan rode in on his subcompact billboard, Big Bro, Bossman and Isley were hanging out and a few hot young girls from the pool hall floated in.  


Bossman left early with Isley when a parade of craziness started.   Slim sold his house and came into the 'Game'  tore up from the floor up, only to find Shmack, with his little old bald head gleaming in the dark, hot on Slim’s heels.

Slim was wearing his shoes on the wrong foot, his eyes were on fire and after talking to Shmack, his nose was running like he had allergies in early spring.   As more people came in the crazier it got.  Bossman and Isley returned only to find that a bunch of hot girls were in the Game, including Emily, looking real good in a summer dress that totally got one thinking naughty thoughts.

Candy struck up several conversations with the dregulars who all reported on the same topics, “I lost my job; still looking for a job, trying to make ends meet, under employed, can’t pay the bills, can’t make payroll, can’t find the way out of the hole…”  One poor bastard staggering in out of the dark said “I can’t find my way home.”  When the ‘Flower Man’ found his license, Krizz’ee called a cab which did find the way home.

Emily followed Bossman to the back and the conversation got heated.  Bossman didn’t have any interest in Emily and she didn’t want to be handed off to Isley like yesterday’s leftovers.  Emily was struggling, her boyfriend was back in jail, she was late on the rent, the fridge was empty and she needed to get some food and have some fun, she wanted to forget for just a little while.

Emily eventually caved and talked to Isley for a while.   As the night went on people put on their happy faces and did forget after I played the kind of tracks that kind of mellowed the place out, that on contributions from patrons who wanted Slim to stay away from the jukebox.  Acid rock got old after the first so called song. 

Candy got into a conversation with a lady who was discussing her medication, she was on anti-depressants to deal with her life.  Sadie told Candy, “my brother died recently, my kid is in the children’s hospital with scarlet fever and septis, my job cut my hours and I might loose my health insurance and on top of all that my ex-husband wants to take me to court over the house.  I can’t stand much more.”

Candy went on with her conversation with Sadie as I walked out the door for some fresh air.  I heard another conversation which I was asked to comment on about the price of electricity and why nobody wants to take LIPA to court.  I did know something about this and said, “LIPA barely has enough power plants to keep the lights going and the cable from Connecticut doesn’t work – but you will surely pay.”

One of the hot little honey’s from the pool hall passed out in Slim’s car and all the sudden slim and Shmack had to leave, with honey still passed out in the car.  One of the female patron’s in the bar got to Slim before he could get in his ride and went off on him.  She made it clear that if anything happened to that girl what she would do to him and Shmack…she knows where Schmack lives.  

Slim had plenty of cash from selling his house, but he didn’t want plenty of trouble, since he needed to leave town as clean as possible.  Yeah, Slim had other problems too.  Slim drove off with Schmack and the girl.  Candy was pissed at me for not stopping Slim, but I told her, “nothing is going to happen to that girl”.  Ten minutes later Slim came back to report the girl got home safe and he dropped Shmack off to the only bitch who cares for him…his dog.

It was late July and the news that was on one of the T.V’s scrolled the news that Sally Ride, America’s first female astronaut was dead.

What was also reported was her relationship to her longtime lady lover that Ride had kept quite secret in her lifetime.  

This news brought a smiling happy Candy to misery and anger.  I knew then it was time to leave.

 

Enough of Depression, Struggle and Medication.  

There are some conversations that smart people stay away from and wise people totally avoid.  I don’t know which one of these people I could be accused of being but either description would probably be wrong.

RJ