crown of clowns

“So – does that feel about as bad as it looks?”

“What?” He snapped.

“What? – come on, it’s a Polaroid. Can’t be the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen.”

“It’s not, but I didn’t know people still had those.”

   “I overheard people talking amongst themselves and I heard, ‘it’s lit fam’.”

   “What does that mean exactly?”

“I don’t really keep up with teenage slang.”

“I think gonna be a slutty pumpkin for Halloween. What do you think?”

“Do whatever you want.”

“I get it, you’re in the mood to talk. But right now, I really don’t want to talk.”

“You don’t have to talk, you just have to listen.”

        “Now is anyone going to throw a Halloween party? Does this town even do that? Or are we going to gather up all the Stephen King’s clown mafia and just have a decent bonfire with them? – those are the important questions this month.”

“You throw one.”

‹ “Comparative to?” ›

“Anyone.”

“Of course! I might’ve worn cheap heels to the Masquerade Ball because I don’t think my feet’ll ever be the same — I’m never going on a shopping spree with someone who has terrible fashion sense again. Where’s the water? I need something to drink, Vasile.”

“That was your choice. Those both sound like lessons you should’ve learned by now. I’ve never worn heels and I don’t go on shopping sprees, but even I know to never do that. The water’s in the fridge where water is usually kept.”

“As usual, I like where your head’s at. Anyone recently lost a love in this little town? Even better if they were the one broken up with, it makes for better vulnerability.”

“I’m wise in my old age. I’m sure someone has. I don’t know anyone by name because I tend to not associate with people with feelings, but we can head down to the bar and I’m sure we’ll find someone.”

    “So far you’re proving that you’re not great company, mate. And I know not to trust you or your family.”

“To you maybe, but you’re expecting me to be bad company. Like your family is anymore trustworthy than mine.”

“Great,” she replied sarcastically. “How did I get so lucky. What’s on the agenda then?”

“You were the first person I saw. I was thinking murder and some psychological torture.”

“It does not sound like fun nor will it make you any less bored, Nachton.”

“It doesn’t sound fun for you maybe. Do you have a better suggestion?”

          “Something like that; I like your hair, so that stayed in my memory for a while. I don’t use it really anyway; I like to just talk to people on the street. That was one time because someone put me in a cage; what cat likes to be caged?”

“My hair is stunning, I know. I’d say it’s my best feature, but everything about me is my best feature. That’s so outdated. Even I’ve kept up with the whole cell phone trend. Sometimes I wonder how I survived without one. Interesting information.”

“My…business has been unable to leave my shop for the past twenty minutes.” He indicated towards the steady stream of people now exiting the door he still held open. “Regulars bring in the revenue, not dopey eyed wisps that create fire hazards.” Not that this place was his forever livelihood; he had seen the evolution of the coffee shop but who could tell what would be hot a decade or two down the road.

“I could change that,” he said with a menacing smile. “Try me.” It was a dare Nachton could easily fulfill. He’d been on edge since the party, more unhinged than usual. His old age seemed to be catching up with him, his mind deteriorating. “Those ‘dopey eyed wisps’ could’ve become regulars too, but that’s not possible anymore.”

“How am I supposed to know I could trust you? I’m sure there’re friends that have kids, not just me! Am I really the sole person, though? I can’t seem to understand what they’d possibly learn from you that they wouldn’t learn from me.”

“You just are. I heard I give off a trustworthy vibe. Not that I know. If you show me some, I’ll go pester them about babysitting as well. For now you are. I’m older which means I have vast wisdom, and I have stellar morals I could teach them.”

  “My word of choice would be irritating. Or try hard’s.”

“Yes, well, neither of those words are accurate. I don’t try at all and I’m great company.”

‹ “You are one of those twisted ones, aren’t you?” ›

“I wouldn’t say I’m twisted. I think I’m rather normal.”