What could a phone voice be hiding?

I inquired within.

And my face sprouted a magnificent grin.

Blushing I was thinking. Now we’re do I begin?

My first forays into telecommunication I’d yet to grow any voice of my own. And just repeated what I was told.

My first recollection of speaking in such a manner my inflections differed? I was 13 years old. My phone voice tried its best to hide my visible fear and plethora of insecurities.

But untested as it was I kept the conversation short.

Introductions and niceties. Before offering to be her date. Left in limbo. That is a moment I’ve never learned not to hate. A yes goes a long way in bettering the mood. A No and you can’t excuse yourself quick enough. Trying to laugh off and hide how hard of hit your ego just had to take. Hang up quickly. God forbid you still find yourself in the friend zone. You hope they’ll never know how much it hurts. If you ever cared for them at all.

"If you’d like to make a call. Hide your hang ups and dial again"

Head in the clouds. It’s hard to watch my steps. Feeling so good for so long. I move along with some pep.

Offering politely, words of good cheer. To no one in particular. That most are happy to hear.

When they inquire thy source of my enduring carefree optimism. I remind them i’ve never failed to forget.

"That ignorance is bliss"

And once gone something one will surely miss. Friends can come and go. Until you learn their not the person you got to know. Recognized by their face. There is nothing stranger than a case of two faces in one’s former friends place.

Then we did what needed to be done. Washed are hands of the thing thoroughly. Erasing any possible traces that would lead to the mention or discovery of a place. We all knew the way there from a different angle. That none of us had used in the company of another. Including ourselves. We could confidently trust one another not to divulge the plan outside are triumvirate. AKA air our dirty luandry. Because it would only result in one’s own demise. And bring no mention of the other two in the process. We knew not the others real names. Or whence from where thy came. But we could all agree on one thing we would go to any lengths keeping our secret a secret.

Three strangers saved each other from undue horrors. At a place each found themselves by accident at the same time six years prior. They had grown into best buds in that time. Meeting at the spot they first met incognito every time since. For shits and giggles. They each had wish to escape some camp monotony. Of all that hardcore thespian/band/dance camp crap. That’s gotten to an extant one could see it’s out of the many less than adult camp directors scope and control. This year six. To create and cast a broadway caliber summers night dream show. To play out on one big stage yet built for and by a couple hundred pre teen/teen suburban wannabe stage, film, and rock stars. In just under six weeks. No way all three agreed.

Completly disregarding three other older slightly smaller stages. That most all are familiar with. Having previously been part of a production that made use of them. It made no sense not to use them as well. In case we run out of time to build the new grandiose outdoor theatre/stage had in mind. And creating three separate short stories to derive three intimate productions from. That tie into each other in a forth. Time permitting. Is far easier than starting from scratch on a expensive blockbuster set to take place on a yet to be constructed mega stage.

So just to be sure our plans wouldn’t be denied. We prayed someone would cause something to happen to the lumber and gear that had been delivered the day we arrived. That would encourage the directors to feel what we each proposed separately to our individual camps director a good idea worth looking into further. Because once a thespian/rockstar/dance god has their foot in the door. There’s little one can do to deny their youthfully exuberant charms.

FIRE!!!!!!

"Fire?" "Fire?" "Fire?"

"What hear of fire have any to tell?"

As if the devils no not such a thing exist. "Should I be scared”

The three bastards dared to say. Here in the burners infancy.

Then the heat from said blaze blowing to and fro now so intense. Washed over each of their faces on the back of strong winds. And It became apparent the danger was quite real. Even more so when the sounds of shrieking children drowned out that of anything else. It was all said and done in no more than twenty thirty minutes. By the time the fire trucks arrived ten minutes later. Nothin has was left of two out buildings but the charred remains of the bodies and the footings of the former structures. Black smoldering coals and the melted fat from corpses occasionally flaming up hot and burning out fast. Smoke and the smell of sizzling fat inundated the area. Conjuring up terrifying memories for some of the children that witnessed their peers burning to death from less that ten twenty feet away for some.

“What happened?" An accident by all accounts was the seemingly most obvious answer. A spark or something else caught the building materials on fire. Much of which was flammable paints and solvents and stains. Also tons of craft paper and stuff for set design. That got so hot so fast it caught two adjacent old wood buildings also filled with much found flammable. And the hot dry air and windy weather thats found common in the area come summer. Created a tinder box out of the old wood structures. That burned up faster than flash cotton. The forty children never made it out of the beds for the most part. None was injured in the fire that didn’t also lose their life as well. No wounded other than those who were trying to fight the blaze were attended to by the fireman and paramedics. For the scars John, Chris, and Gaylord would wear the rest of there lives. Would not have benefited from a little TLC.

Before their parents will arrive to take them home later that day or the next morning the trio met at the place of their first introductions to each other. Nowhere special just a secluded rock outcrop a short stroll away. In between the three separate-ish camps. That had plans to combine into one legally. But had yet to do so. The three each attended a different camp for the last six years. Becoming very close friends in that time. In secret to anyone else for the most part. Though not for any insidious reasons. It just happened that way. They never wrote each other hardly called on the phone. Until they got older. And then only after taking great care not to make such a notable occurrence.

That afternoon is when things got really weird for the three. Or so they all agreed. None among them took blame for starting the fire Though all said they were eager to be the first among them to do so. And had set out to do so with containers of kerosene they had each stashed and lighters or matches to start the show. As they called it. The greatest show on earth on would explain jokingly. Explaining he was trying to lighten up the situation is all. With a bit of humor. Before adding the reasons for which they’d never made it to their stashes to start the fire. For whatever reason. Their Suspicion now fell on one the other. For how much did they really know about one the other. But first names and some old phone numbers. Never met their families or siblings. Didn’t discuss religion. None mentioned they were into any sporting teams. All they did was talk about their dreams. Which in general were grand fictitious fairytales. As extraordinary or terrifying as they could imagine. Yes they not being above writing scripts for slasher films or ones with grand displays of war atrocities. Could seem to have the potential to imagine any kind of sine full treachery. What next for these three......

A bit of (for lack of a better word) background on me. Conceived in a brackish backwater where fresh and saltwater meet. Get wet and show their H2O faces. Spit out a swell thing like me. A drip dropped in my case. Without a thought. By two bodies that bumped ugly’s and waved goodbye. Yours truly left at the epicenter hardly a ripple disturbing the surface. No identity and no idea I also existed in two other physical states.

Don’t get me heated. It makes me gassy. A cold shoulder leaves me frozen. When melting I get sassy. "Rain rain go away come again some other day" Is just one of the ways humans attempt to harass me. Thunder is my retort. A gas cloud passing massive ass cheeks. Hail a death nail. Until I quickly run off to were molecules amass in creeks.

For a little while I got caught up in acid rain. Dabbled in psychedelics. It helped me let go of some pain. Did a stint as bong water. Until kicked over I poured out on the carpet, evaporated, and left that white shag stained. A smell worse than vomit that stayed with me like a ball and chain. I was pissed every other time I kissed the sky. And grew only denser as the mountains below got closer. It makes me edgy having no personal space. Of course I turned into a snowflake and argued my case. Is this the face of water? ☃️ A mockery rolled out and made to wear a lump of coal. Imagine that? Where’s my rainbow bridging H2O’s favorite states. To send me somewhere tropical. I’ve been much to cold as of late. "Arrivederci" and a wave goodbye. "Oh swell there‘s

another bitter pill to swallow on my plate"

Often mentioned in the company of teeth. In the thick of battle. Paired with a equally battle ready tooth. Literarily and often when engaged in small talk or more meaningful conversations.

NAILS originating from finger or toe. Are generally found looking quiet similar in the wild. But taken out of the jungle. And placed in more urban settings. They can take on any number of different looks. There being no rules really or fashion faux pas associated with them.

Every nail finds a looking fitting the fingers they’re meant to finish. Found at our limbs extremities. Traditionally in four groups each numbering five. most communally described as….

dirty, bitten, painted, fake, acrylic, French manicured, pedicured, broken, or a bad hang. And a number of other names I’ve failed to mention. I. e. watch out for the ones who's claws have yet to come out.

Looking over my own. Before attempting to describe what mine have shown. I’ve found at times they differ in resemblence from day to day. And at others remain then spitting image of one another. But the term i’ve used to describe them most often is WORKING MANS hands with dirty fingernails combined with toenails found with fungus growing under them.

Commanded to look out my window. And what do I find? At the sight of such bright light? Nothing but stark white. A scene so blank it bites. I’m taken aback blind. For a split second. Till I stand vision corrected. Eyes adjusted having a clearer picture now crossing my mind. If I’m able to disregard the telephone wires running every which way across our little valley. On my way to spotting first the ocean. Followed by the pier. Then to the south Pedro point. Pausing and pulling my eyes away for only a moment to take a pull off a joint. Before in the blink of an eye wink settling my gaze upon a horizon purely turquoise & pink. Until the green light flashes. And dusks endearing twilight accents the waves crashing the party. Drinking it all in before the adamant shadow shows it’s colors. Throwing shade until finally fading altogether. Best we let The Left Coast undress and rest.

WHEN AT YOUR WORST. YOU’ll WANT WORSE NEARER TO YOU.

Slinger of a curse or two. I cuss, smoke, drink, sometimes even stink. You see?

I’m a lot more like you than you think. Agree? That your in no condition to drive? Call an Uber One Star. You’ll save face when we arrive. And though unforced. All focus on my disgrace. While I ferry you from place to place.

Tipping early and often is recommended if I’m to keep up any pace. After witnessing all of my infractions yours won’t even leave a trace.

For the sum of a few dollars more. I’ll probably get in someone’s face. And publicly insult their race. Offer to jump on proverbial grenades. A ready wingman only if such is the case.

The friends a heavyweight.

The year is 2222. An alien armada just disengaged it’s cloaking device and reveled itself amassed near the earths moon. Anybody at an organization with the capability to witness there arrival appears dumbstruck for a moment. Then their expressions and actions quickly change to a more fearful state. As they frantically reach for phones to inform whomever they must of what has just occurred.

"Who? What? Where? Thats impossible."

"It seems sir it’s possibility is not in question. Its been confirmed by NSA‘s A.I. recognition software. Fingerprints match. Retinas match. Voice is a match. It’s him sir. Though he appears to have barely aged in the two hundred years since he went missing"

"Was the rest of the crew with him Major?"

”No sir. The rest of SPACE X 9 crew is alive and well on the planet they crashed landed on a two century‘s ago. According to Elon they came into contact with a wormhole near the rings of Saturn. That spit them out on a planet in an unknown galaxy and soon discovered a very welcoming alien civilization. There living in a habitable environment by human standards as well. It seems they assimilated in with the natives quite easily. And their customs (SpaceXcrew) eventually became the norm. Spreading thru out the local population"

"Thats a good bit of info Major. Has Elon already been interviewed?"

"No sir he sent a group text to most of the worlds leaders. Explaining such just moments before the armada became visible to earths inbound detection sentry’s. Check your cell Mr President"

"I assume Major we’re on full alert and the dome has been activated to shoot down any inbound payloads. We have to assume this is an alien ploy to keep our guard down"

"Yes sir and your security council is convening in the war room"

"Ok well shit! Lets get down there Major"

"Oh sir and another thing everything on earth powered by Tesla energy cells has received numerous updates to improve efficiency just in the last two minutes. The downloads are still running in fact"

"The invasion has begun Major. See to it everyone is dressed for battle when they arrive. I don’t expect a friendly homecoming"

"Settle down Mr. President. It is I Elon. The Sons of Elon are the most compassionate of people. We breath oxygen and consume food no different than yourself. And are shit stinks as well. We mean you no harm"

Is heard over the p.a. System in the White House. In a voice similar to Elons it is thought.

There! Is the light at the end of the tunnel. I half heartedly explain to myself. Gesturing with my nose pointing the way. For my arms are pinned to my side. In this shaft none to wide. So thankful am I to have you buy my side. You always show up in pinch. Ms. Anxiety. Though little help have you provided me. What won’t stop bitting me?

I’ve screamed my heart out. (Help me!) To no avail. No doubt sooner or later I’ll probably start panicking and begin to wiggle and wail. Throwing caution to the wind. Until exhausted I lower my chin and settle in. Which will relax my body causing me to sink deeper into the abyss I imagine.

"This will be a miserably slow death" I said aloud. No sense preserving my breath. What’s the chance I’m stumbled upon by strangers? Before dehydration and starvation make me resemble someone strung out on meth. And I slide my way to the bottom of this shaft never to be heard from again.

After many days of agonizing pain. And deeply disturbing thoughts while being pelleted by rain. Sent from the heavens to drive me mad. I had slid so far down while asleep. I refused myself rainwater. In the hopes I’d die rather than go on feeling so unbearable sad. I knew I’d never see my daughter again. And she’d always wonder what happened to dad. That was the lowest I’d ever felt. What hope do I have? I wanted to see her again so very very bad.

As the slot I suffered in soaked it grew slicker. And I slide farther and quicker. I swear I couldn’t see light anymore. For some reason this made me snicker. From here on out me and my thoughts only spoke to question the validity of the others. As I grew sicker. More and more we’d bicker. One beating the other up for giving in and sneaking sips of life giving liquor and vice versa.

The worse was yet to come. I tried not to imagine. And the it happened. I no longer had the girth to resist gravity. Tragically. The thought that crossed my mind as I slide faster. And then magically I felt my arms waving freely above my head for a moment. Had I died or was it a hallucination. In the pitch black I had little in the way of indication.

Just then I felt a breeze. Right before immense pain shot up thru my knees. Then I heard a loud cracking sound. And I passed out a half a second later. I am told that’s how I was found by some miners in a golf cart doing their rounds. Making sure the shaft was fully evacuated before activating the explosive charges they‘d planned to blast rock that day.

I’d had fallen in an uncovered shaft drilled to exhaust hazardous gas by the former operators of the mine twenty years ago. And the new company only took possession of the abandoned mine a month ago. After the price of ore went thru the roof. If it hadn’t I’d of died in the endless array of pitch black tunnels surely. Instead of waking up from a coma in the hospital a week later. To the sound of my crying little lady. Her tears of joy raining down on my bewildered gaunt looking face.