Nights on the Soul©

I must have fallen asleep, for I was awakened by the calm of the engine being cut off. We were at a gas station. Dave needed a stretch and some food. I went to use the bathroom and then bought soda and hot dogs for Dave, coffee and a peanut candy bar for myself. My regular diet consists largely of caffeine and sugar. I keep a fairly trim figure by it. I’ll usually only eat one real meal a day which will be of the same basic fare- bread and cheese; rice and beans; cereal and fruit; pita and hummus; bean and cheese burrito; or salad. Healthy when I want to be. I’d choose candy over food any day. It suits me just fine.

Dave gave no comment on my snack. To each his own. One thing I never thought I would change for anybody was my eating habits. At this point I had no idea what my diet would soon be. As Dave was a non-smoker, I had a cigarette outside his car on the curb. Saturday evening and one more weekend day before back to the work grind on Monday. I felt so free and truly living as I should like to be all of the time. An impulsive trip with no particular destination in mind, no time frame, a beautiful male companion! God I make myself laugh sometimes. I smiled to myself, happy to be able to still do that.

Done with my smoke I got back into the car. Dave had put on a tape of the Jesus and Mary Chain called Psycho Candy.

“Are you making fun of me?” I asked mockingly offended.

“Nah, but you sure like your chocolate and Marlboro’s. I know this already.”

“Yeah, well, outside of work I like to indulge myself. My job is such a drag and smoking really satisfies any bad feelings I have towards it, life, all the shit in the world. Kinda like I’m getting back at it. But I don’t mean to be being defensive about smoking, I enjoy it too! As much as junk food, though Reese’s Peanut Butter cups definitely taste better!”

“We each ask for our own death.”

“God, Dave! That’s depressing!”

“And choose the way it happens.”

“Please cut it out. Sometimes, you are just too weird.”

“You’re only now noticing that? Miranda come on, I’m The Weirdest.”

I had to laugh at this. The way he said it. Straight faced totally serious expression. And then he smiled. I was cracking up!

Off we drove, the darkness enveloping us. The heavy moon was covered with clouds thereby not emitting much light. I asked Dave if he wanted to stop somewhere for the night. We were driving on back roads and I was afraid he might be lost. He said no, he didn’t feel like it. Here I was ready to prop my eyelids apart with toothpicks just to keep them open. I was so tired!

“Well, wake me up if you need someone to talk to. Please be careful and don’t fall asleep! I’m just ready to drop after last night.”

“When I start hitting the bumps on the lines on the road that’ll wake me up if I start to fall asleep. Those reflectors are blessings.”

“If you say so, Dave, but if you are too tired, please pullover, O.K.?”

“Yes, my sweet princess, go to sleep now.”

And so I willingly complied. The wet lids covering the dry globes of my eyes felt glorious. As soon as my eyes were shut I felt my entire body caught up in the arms of Orpheus. Holding tight I was lifted high into the sky. We were flying in a plane. I could hear the roar of engines, yet the ride was smooth.

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