19-JAN-2002 22:40: The Cloud Cuckoo Land Motel
This is a story inside a story . . .
SCENE I: A large cumulus cloud can be seen, hovering on its own in the vastness of cyberspace. Pinpoints of light punctuate the surrounding darkness as aurora swirls in ribbons of green, white, pink, and purple. The viewer draws closer. The mists part. A flickering neon sign beckons . . .
Drawing closer we see a small girl climbing the steps to the third floor. Clothed in a blue satin dress, she appears to be about five years old. A yellow balloon floats upward from one hand. In the other, she grasps a colorful day-long sucker that she patiently licks as she walks down the long corridor, peering intently at the number of each door she passes.
SCENE II: A middle-aged man dressed in a tuxedo bends to his knees at the side of the bed in Room 311 of the Cloud Cuckoo Land Motel. He has a slight paunch, a neatly trimmed but thinning hairline, and a graying beard. He lifts the edge of the thick spread that covers the bed and bends low. "Madame," he sings out through the opening below. "Madame, are you down there?"
Tess stretched on her chaise lounger and set aside the naughty book she'd been reading. "I'm here. What's up, Gallagher?" she called out sleepily.
"You have a guest, madame."
"I do?"
"Yes, madame. She identifies herself as. . ." Gallagher cleared his throat, "A Ms. Dammit. Shall I send her down?"
Tess scrambled to her feet, smoothed her flannel jammies, and hurriedly stuffed the naughty book beneath one of the cushions on the lounger. "Yes!" she called in reply.
A tiny pair of polished Mary Janes appeared at the top of the ladder that joined Room 311 with the apartment below. Next, leotard covered legs could be seen. A lace-ruffled bottom appeared next, and finally, an upper torso complete with a head that bobbed Tess' way and sarcastically remarked, "Y'know... I could've put you up at the Plaza."
Tess' face broke into a wide grin. "Yo' god! Long time, no see. You look different. What is it -- new haircut?"
god wrinkled her face into a sour expression. "I always liked your smartass streak, but don't bug me right now -- I've been working." She thrust the sucker in Tess' direction, "Can you replace this with a drink? I need something stronger. And what's up with the new guy?" she said as she jerked her head ceilingwards.
"That's Gallagher. He's very good. I want you to be nice to him," Tess cautioned.
"Why's he wearing bunny slippers on his feet?"
Tess shrugged. "I don't know. Bunions?"
"Hmmmph!" god reached out for the drink Tess had prepared, settled comfortably into one of the two chaise loungers, and took a sip before placing the glass carefully upon the side table. "So," she said, "why'd you call me?"
Tess slouched down upon the other lounger and hung her head low. "Oh, I don't know. Company? Distraction?" She swung her head in god's direction, "Have you spoken with my mother lately?"
"I spoke with her just last week. She's doing very well. Very well! She sends her love."
Tess sighed. "Well, that's good. Tell her I send my love too. Can you tell me about my other Friends now?"
god leapt to her feet. "I knew it!!" she cried indignantly. "I knew that's why you'd called me here. You never call unless you want something."
"That is not true!" Tess protested. "And settle down. You'll spill your drink and I just had the carpets done. Tsk. You are sooo testy!" Tess rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I don't know why you get so upset. If I was god, I'd do the same for you. Besides, I just want to know if this is purgatory . . . or intermission."
god settled back into her seat and anxiously stroked her chin. "You know I'm not supposed to phuck with the master plan, Tess. They're living their lives, you're living yours. That's the way it's supposed to be."
"Well can't you at least give me a hint? I sorta-maybe miss Limh, even though she was kind of mean at the end. But maybe her feelings were hurt. And I miss my AC. I want my Friends back! And my mom too. And barring that, my 21 year-old body -- I wasn't finished with it."
god grimaced consolingly and shrugged, "Tess, you knew the deal going in. It was a short-term job."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Tess returned. "We've been over it a million times. There are no angels, there are only people. And sometimes, people do angel's work. They appear in your life, they help you or you help them, and then they go away. And that's it. Cut and dried. Final. Over. Complete. Done deal. Service to humanity. Phuckin' brownie points. Whatever! I know how it's supposed to work, I just don't like the way it phuckin' does, okay? Geez. Shouldn't there be a vote on this sort of stuff?"
"Listen," god leaned forward in her seat and fixed her gaze upon Tess. "Your Friends are fine. I can't tell you if they're coming back -- you know I can't. However, I can tell you -- that other guy? That nimrod du year? He's got a date with an abscessed hemorrhoid this coming weekend. There. Doesn't that make you feel better?"
"Really? He does?" Tess brightened considerably as she wiped a tear from one eye. "Ha! Nice retribution job. I don't suppose you could make his dick fall off, could you?"
"Velly phucking funny, but that's not my department. " god peeked at her watch. "Listen, I have to go pick JC up from his AA meeting. We'll talk more later, okay? Meanwhile, why don't you get back to that story you were working on."
"All right, I will. Thanks for stopping by. And at least check in on my Friends, won't you?"
"I will," god promised. "Take care," she added as she scrambled up the ladder. And then god disappeared beyond the curtain of Gallagher's bed.
