Asha’s Adventure in New York City

The club was filled with peculiar things, and Asha sat in the middle of it. There was a straight divider that separated the VIP area from the rest of the party. On the ordinary side, there were cubicles about five feet in height. Each cubby held about five people and was lined in black satin. The entire club was black, and the lights were barely on. It was eerie, yet welcoming.

Asha felt better in the dark. It had become her home, and her aunt was just a few feet away entertaining a group of girls. Girls with legs like stilts. They seemed to stretch up to the ceiling, and she could barely make out their faces. The girls began to crowd the cube, and the small dwelling was getting hotter.

Their impossibly long legs started coming across the walled off section. Soon legs were all that Asha could see. One bounced into her face, and she swatted it with the back of her hand. She heard laughter from up above. The limbs climbed back over the wall where they belonged. Surrounding her aunt’s hidden face.

Her pen started to feel too big. The emptiness was crowding her. Asha turned and noticed a group of surfers interacting on a television set. Their wispy locks pulled her in and made her feel like she was there on the beach with sand beneath her toes. Grainy wind hitting her face. She could smell the tide that they were running toward with their tucked planks.

Some guy bumped into the screen. She glared at him walking by in his black ensemble. He almost blended with the wall. His drunken stride carried him to a distant cubicle closer to VIP. Asha wanted no part of that area. It was filled with lunatics who thought their gifts were better than they were. She was content with the regulars.

Turning back to the set she noticed the picture was jumping. It wouldn’t settle on anything. The entire scene looked like waves which took the fun out of it.

“Can I use your TV?”

The guy in black was in front of her cube rubbing his cottony Mohawk. She stared at his jersey knit top that looked softer at this distance. The breast pocket was coming undone, but she couldn’t tell if it was done this way deliberately.

“Sure. Why not?” She said.

He grabbed the machine and moved back toward his cubicle.

“Good. I can get my friend to put some cable on it.” He said.

Her brows furrowed, but she didn’t make a sound. Just watched the screen bounce over the top of his divider. It provided a light that revealed the deep scars on his face. They dented his cheek and made him look tougher, but Asha felt no fear.

She wandered toward the front door where she overheard the bartender arguing with a patron. The woman had on a hot pink dress that lit up the entire room. It was the only stitch of color in the building, and she shone under the spotlight.

“You can’t write a blank check. You have to tell me first and let me approve it.” He said.

“The machine asked if I wanted cash back.” She said.

“It isn’t up to the machine. This is my bar.” He said.

His forehead had beads of sweat despite the chilly temperature in the room. Each bang on the keypad made his muscles rip.

Asha skirted past the glass and out the door onto the sidewalk. It was darker than when she came in. The street was empty except for a two homeless men sharing a bench. One was positioned on top of the other. His cloak hid his face, but not the motion. She turned to watch the passing cars.

The street was longer than she remembered, and she needed a place to rest. There was a staircase with moss on the right side. She followed it up towards the sky. The steps widened as she got higher, and Asha began to notice the flowers decorating the cement. Pink and purple petals covered green stems and leaves. At the top, there was a garden with bee balms, cardinals, and spring beauties. They decorated the sides of a dirt path that led to a grassy terrain. In the middle of giant stone borders, sat a long field.

Asha lied down in the center of the green and looked up at the dancing willow’s stems. They flirted with the air in a hypnotizing way. Before long the world went dark.

“So you found my hiding spot.”

The voice echoed against the pitch-black recesses of her mind.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it?”

She looked around for the source, but all she saw was darkness. Allowing her eyes to form slits sent in beams of sunlight. Asha wondered how she’d been able to sleep through the brightness.

“I come up here when I’m looking for quiet.”

She’d forgotten about the voice. When she turned to her right and saw the dirty man in tattered clothing, she popped back and covered her mouth. He let out a chuckle.

“Did I scare you? I’m sorry. I scare everyone, but I don’t mean any harm.” He said.

Asha wasn’t sure if she could trust the man, but she was too far from the staircase to run. Her heartbeat was racing without her, and she wondered if he could hear it.

“Do you hear that?” He said.

She looked down at her pounding heart.

“They’re coming. Be still.” He said.

His arms crossed his chest as he lied beside her. He flashed a golden smile. His hair was thick, gray and matted to his scalp like it hadn’t been combed in weeks. Asha assumed he was having an episode, and started looking for the path. As she lifted her torso she started to hear thumping that wasn’t coming from inside of her. She turned to the man, and his grin had grown to cover his whole face.

“They’re here.” He yelped.

She saw rabbits jumping up out of the garden. They were coming toward the grass.

“Rabbits?” She said.

“No, not just any rabbits. They have wings.” He said.

She frowned at the man and began to pick herself up. Then she saw it. Just above them was a furry pigeon. It landed with a thump right between them. The rodent nestled against Asha’s side, and she lunged back. The peculiar animal spread its wings and began to fly away.

“Oh, my god. How did this happen?” She said.

“I guess they liked each other?” He said.

“No, no, no. This is perverse.” She said.

“What’s so bad about it? We all want love.” He said.

“I have to get out of here.” She said.

She stood to run from the rabbit-pigeons, but they seemed to be surrounding her.

“Don’t fight it my dear. They can smell weakness.” He said.

Asha ran towards the path but felt a heavy set of feet on her back. They sent her tumbling down the meadow. They pecked at her neck with their furry mouths and she screamed.

“Get out of here you furry bullies.”

She heard the homeless man’s voice. The wings picked up and fluttered away. Asha’s eyes were brimming with tears.

“It’s alright my dear. They don’t know how to play anymore. They still think they’re cute little rabbits.” He said.

Asha brushed the streams from her face and looked up into his big brown eyes.

“What is your name?” She said.

His brow furrowed and his face moved back into his neck. He placed his fingers on his bottom lip. Then, flashed his offensive smile.

“Aaron.” He said.

“Hi, Aaron. I’m Asha. Thank you for saving my life.” She said.

He let out another chuckle and she could smell his rotten breath, but she didn’t turn away. Aaron looked at her face and clamped down his laughter. He sealed his lips up into a crevice.

“I have to go.” She stood up and began walking toward the staircase.

“Me, too. I have a very busy day.” He said.

She thought to let out a laugh, but he seemed serious. So she followed him down the stairs to the street. At the light, they realized they were going in different directions, and he turned to extend his hand. Asha grasped it and shook lightly.

“Nice to meet you, Asha.” He said.

“Nice to meet you, Aaron.” She said.