THE ATTIC

The bell rang and two men in the satin boxing shorts came, front and center. Their fists perched on bent arms swinging erratically. Feet shuffled in the shifting of leather boots delivering their take on a gentleman’s swan lake. Fists swung and heads bobbed not only in the ring but the spectators as well. No one could hear over the roaring crowd nor should they expect to, it was boxing. Betting went rampant and the thirst for blood hung in midair waiting for someone to hit the mat, take the count, lose, or worse yet, die. It was the law of averages that if you attend enough fights you’re bound to see someone get killed in or out of the ring. That’s just the way it was.

  Johnny boy was about twenty-eight and was a young father himself. Forced into marriage over the baby he had to grow up fast and support his family, be the man. I’d seen him around the neighborhood then he disappeared. I wondered what happened then someone told me about his family situation. We’d never even come close to speaking before now. The age difference was a definite deterrent. And our versions of music, well, it just wasn’t compatible.

  I stopped off at the office to pick up my latest leads for the week. Several of us like to hold back and after the others were gone, we’d talk. I always like to hear what the younger guys had to say and stay up on what’s happening. After all I had young leads as well and had just taken over this new region in a recent expansion of territories.

“Hey Mr. D, what’s happening?” Drummer called out tipping the front of his charcoal grey felt hat.

“G’day there Charlie. Fine hat you’re sporting this day. Would that be new?” I questioned from over my bifocals.

Charlie smiled and stood admiring himself in the mirror in the break room. “Gnaw, this ole thing? Had it almost twenty-four hours now. ‘Bout ready for a new one my man!” Charlie spun around making a James Brown move then pulled his leg back in but slowly. He was a character of sorts. They all were. Hell, we all were to some degree. Charlie had a way with the hardies, the ones that just wouldn’t give up the fight and move it on down the line.

Me? I like the calm ones who know it’s time. The ones who drift off to sleep after tucking the kids in and kissing the wife goodnight. Preferably the quite sleep they never wake up from. No suffering or pain except for those left behind. You might even call me a coward. It fits my disposition.

A few more guys fall into the room and before you know it I am called to the front desk.

“Mr. D? Could you please come to the front desk please? Mr. D, come to the front desk,” rang out the words of some sexy voice. The room filled with cat calls and I was off to the front.

In my approach to the front desk the woman had her back to me half bent over with her head in the filing cabinet. No really, she was pulling her head out of the cabinet and placing it on her neck. When she turned around I almost fainted, that is if I could faint, physically. She resembled what most men would refer to as road kill.

“Good God, what happened to you?” I screamed without a second thought. I was immediately embarrassed by my behavior and then there it was in plain sight. One perfect breast protruding from her blouse in all its perfection. The other one was well, gone and a small volcanic hole set in its place. I could barely take my eyes off of it.

“Oh, it’s okay. Eighteen wheeler. I’m used to the reactions now. It’s been a while. At least I have the breast huh? I got this job for my voice. I guess that’s obvious huh?” She stood there for a moment then introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Alice . I’m a temp and you’re Mr. D? Glad to meet you,’ and she extended her hand out to shake mine and I reciprocated.

“Nice meeting you too. So, what do I owe the pleasure of my summons?”

“Oh that lady over there came in and asked for you by name,” Alice pointed to the little old lady waiting in the chair. The older woman had her head down then peered out from the side of the magazine, one eye at a time.

“It’s you! Finally, what took you so long?” She stood up and greeted me like a long lost son. She wrapped her arms around me and gave me a bug hug.

I pulled away instinctively to look at her face. “Ms. Temple? What are you doing here and how did you find me?”

“Oh it doesn’t matter. Fact is I found you and I need a favor. Let’s sit and talk a bit like we did in the hospital the other day.”

“Virgie that was years ago and as I remember you weren’t too keen on talking to me even then. Remember?”

“No I don’t think so. I think it was you who wouldn’t talk to me. Yeah that’s it,”

It had been about six years since Ms Temple took her last walk out of the hospital into the arms of her first love, waiting on the other side. I never really know for sure where they go. It’s kind of like one of those game shows where after they receive their prize, we never see them again. At least that’s how it’s always been up until now. “So, are you ever going to tell me why you’re here?”

“Oh you’re going to love this. I went to a great place and we’re having a career day and for one week we can shadow any occupation we want and I picked you. You were so kind to me in making let go of the living side I decided I wanted to spend a week watching you do what you do.” She stood there just looking at me. I stood there silently trying to figure out what to say next. She must have had some kind of divine clearance to do this or she couldn’t even be here having this conversation. “Did you hear me? I choose you.”

“Yes. I heard you but I think you might want to rethink your request. This is no job for a woman. Trust me, I know.”

“Well sorry to hear that ‘cause I got approval from higher up and it would appear that you and I are joined at the hip for the next week.” Virgie stood there then went back to her seat and picked up one of the latest lead magazines for the upcoming events for the next week. “There’s a barbeque on Wednesday? I love Bar-B-Q. This is going to be so much fun!” At this point. I could literally see the serenity and quiet of the next week evaporate into thin air. From the higher power to me was all I needed to know.

“Well Virgie, it looks like you’ve got me,” I said. “Come on back and have some coffee and donuts and I’ll introduce you to the guys. Virgie started to put down her magazine then stopped to ask, “May I have it? It’s like a tour guide schedule. You know like the Global Europe bus tours? They are so fun.”

“Sure, why not,” I added, knowing it wasn’t like she could show it to anyone. After all, she is dead. I held the door open for her and went through the door.

“That’s so sad about the receptionist. DWI’s can be so, fatal.” Virgie went on through mumbling to herself about the lady at the front. While I, well I remembered Virgie as a modest woman and that she snored.

Just so you won’t be thrown into a tizzy and you can’t say I didn’t warn you, I am about to change point of view. Why? Because I can. I am Death and Death can do anything, except live that is; so deal with it.

Virgie and I left the office and headed out for the gym across town into my new territory…virgin territory for me and for Virgie. “Okay Virgie, you may shadow me but you cannot interfere, talk unless I say so, and no talking to the mark. Understood?” I asked her.

“But what if I have a question?’ She asked.

“You may tap me on the shoulder but NO talking. Do you agree?”

“I uses so but that seems so one sided and unfair. After all I am here to decide if I want your job next time.” She explained.

“Next time? What’s that mean?” I questioned.

“Well next time. When I come back reincarnated. I want your job. Is there something else I can call you besides Death while I am here?” She stood there waiting while I thought about what she’d just blurted out into my quiet space which seemed to be diminishing at a faster rate than I had even suspected.

“No, no talking. Call me Devin. Devin Death. Let’s go, after you.” I opened the door and we were on our way to the gym.

 As soon as we were out the door we were at the Gym. Virgie thought that was way cool and wanted to ask but she didn’t and kept her lips sealed. Her eyes just rolled back in her head with excitement each time it happened. She was actually quite entertaining, considering the situation.

The room wasn’t really crowded. A few guys here and there working out and a few sparring in the back room in the small ring. Johnny boy a local Latino, was taping up his hands to put on his gloves. He was getting ready to warm up for the fight tonight. A couple of guys came out of the shower stark naked and Virgie covered her eyes and repressed her laughter from embarrassment. On the other side of the room was a young black man Rex X, known for his fists of fury. He’d never lost a fight. He was twenty-five with a long list of triumphs. He stood there glaring at Johnny Boy but Johnny didn’t seem to notice or care. You could tell that wasn’t setting well with Rex.

“Hey you. You fighting me tonite? Get ready to die. You hear me? Get ready!” Rex hollered while raising his fist in Johnny’s direction then slammed open the locker room doors and vanished. It rather amazed me to see how Johnny just played it off. For a moment Johnny stopped, looked directly at me, so I thought and winked. But that was impossible. He couldn’t see me. I turned around and looked behind me and there were a few girls, young women hanging around the Gym entrance door. That must be who he was winking at. That made sense.

All seemed to be going as to the plan so I took Virgie back to the Office bar-b-Q to have some fun before the fight. Out the door of the gym and into the office.

“I’m telling you Devin, we sure could have used this in our day. Zip-Zap and we’re there. Wouldn’t have even needed to have invented cars. What a waste. You really have the life here. Sorry for the pun Devin.” She smiled a sorrowful smile for his loss of having never known life.

I sighed, she smiled, and we went on. “What was his name? The boy I reminded you of when I came for you.” I asked because sometimes you want to ask questions but they won’t talk to you. Virgie talked to me when I came for her. She helped me help her to let go. It was the boy, the love she lost.

“Why do you ask?”

“Just wondering.”

‘’You’re going to laugh when I tell you. It was Randy,” she confided. I looked at her and she had this huge smile all over her face. I couldn’t help but smile back and shook my head.

“What’s so funny about that? Virgie you’re a wild woman my friend,” then I realized what I had done. I called her friend. I’d never done that before. I’d never had a friend or anyone to call a friend. It was an awkward feeling but it had a density to it, an unexplainable weight, a substance.

“It wasn’t his first name that was odd; it was his last name, Breedlove. Like some kind of vampire should be named in a gothic love story. You know, like that Twilight story.

“Breedlove huh? Yeah that’s different. Mrs. Virgie Breedlove. Has a ring to it I must say.” Quickly she turned her eyes to the ground in and sadness came over her entire body. Even in death she loved him as much as in life. I became uncomfortable as well knowing I would never know her joy or her sadness, ever. We finished the dinner party and headed back out to the Gym.

Arriving at the Gym the crowd was oversized and overflowing out the door and down the sidewalk. Good thing for us we didn’t need a door to get in and didn’t need tickets either. Virgie continued to be amazed at the perks and privileges that went with the job. Unfortunately nothing can prepare you for some of the things I see people do to each other. Tonight would be one of those nights and Virgie would be on her way back to her place in the sky come tomorrow; I could almost make bet on it.

Betting continued from earlier in the day as the crowd was at a low roar, and gaining momentum by the second. Testosterone ran at its highest level, filling the air with a presence. Smoke hung and suppressed the lighting from above. The music was a techno flashing of lights bouncing off of sequined blouses and jackets. The moment was nearing as Virgie took it all in.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Cowtown Saturday Night Live Boxing Arena here at the Stockyards. Please take your seats as the match is about to begin. This is your three minute warning then the lights will go out around the ring. Thank you for your cooperation,” a radio city like voice generated throughout the coliseum. People rushed to their seats with drinks in one hand and cigars in the other. Some fisted with money while others held onto markers of bets pledged.

As we stood to the side of the ring the young men entered from one side then the other. Looking across the ring I noticed a familiar face. It was Drummer standing off to the side of Rex X. He acknowledged my presence with a tip of his hat. Virgie smiled and waived in her excitement then tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to look at her as she motioned to speak. I nodded my head yes and she spoke.

“What a life, I mean job you have here. This is so exciting Devin,” she smiled and went back to watching the people, the lights, the everything of it. I felt something at her excitement but not like I could see on her face; perhaps I never would. Though possible I am told it was never promised or guaranteed.

The boxers were now dancing around the tarp like thunder footed ballerinas. Robes pitching rainbow streamers from the rolling lights. The music dwindled. They tapped gloves, the bell rang, and the fight began.

Rex and Johnny went at it full fisted. Belting blows landed repeatedly around the eyes splitting and laying open the flesh. Under punches to the kidneys and ribs; two and three at a time. I glanced over at Drummer and he had a sly smile as he watched Rex. I wondered even then why he was there at all. The bell rang…the men returned to their corners.

Virgie tugged at my sleeve and I acknowledged her with a look. “Devin, this is getting pretty bloody don’t cha think? I mean if you’re here for one of them; couldn’t you just make it a bit less painful and take him now?”

I turned to her knowing she would be upset but I owed it to her to answer. “No Virgie, it’s not by my plan that I am here. I am only an agent and this is only my position or job as some of you call it. I am a mere spectator and deliverer to my higher power.”

“Oh I see. You’re like a gatekeeper directing souls to their destined door?” Virgie looked at me in revelation and the sides of her mouth slumped slightly.

I placed my arm over her shoulder and said, “Yes, like a gatekeeper, a transition maker from life to death then they are led to their destined place.” I looked at my stop watch and noticed we were about ten minutes out from our mission. I dropped my program to the floor.

“Virgie, let’s walk now,” I said and she followed.

The crowd continued to pound the floor stomping their feet, standing in their seats and screaming for blood, cheering for death. Virgie could feel their thirst for blood of the fine boys she saw walk into the ring. She shouldn’t have looked back to the ring. It was a bloody brawl and not a fair fight at all. The greed and envy of money some think will make life better, more perfect, but not quite so. That ring, the brass one is not always polished to be seen in its true light, its true deceit. It’s trickery of promising fame and fortune indeed will do us in. It sickened her if she could be sickened in death, sickened by death itself, her friend.

The sound from the coliseum shook the building for blocks around. The bell rang three times and the crowd cheered then stopped. There was a deafening silence and then another huge cheer. Standing at the dressing room doors the paramedics ran past us, first one with a stretcher then another followed. Drummer stood across the hall with a face of condolences. I knew the look. I’d seen it before so I returned the look back to him.

As they raced the bodies past us Virgie collapsed in tears. Drummer and I tried to console her but to no avail. When the crowd realized that everyone had lost their money a riot ensued as the casualties rose in numbers. As a result the arena caught fire and burned to the ground with everyone in it. When I first was assigned this position one scream overlapped another. It seemed never ending until I became older and could no longer hear that decimal level. Virgie did not have this advantage. There we were. She could see, hear, and feel it all. Front row seats of sorts to one of the worst public disasters ever in this Texas town.

“Devin. I’ve changed my mind. I’ve had enough. Take me home, please,” she asked.

“Very well Virgie. As you want it.” We rode in the ambulance with Johnny as far as the office where we all disembarked. Drummer was sitting in his office with Rex having a time of it. The receptionist was frantically answering the phones and trying to get off duty people to come in to escort the dead. The three of us all headed back to our respective corners of death and called it a night.