Mornings remained warm. Not wake-up-at-dawn hot, but enough that Lou got out of his mobile oven while the day still offered respite. He found that the women of the ashram were already gone by the time he opened his door. Even without them, Lou developed a new habit.
He stood on the lawn, faced the early sun, and performed his own greeting. Lou couldn’t duplicate what Ram Jam did, so he moved as he wished. He stretched high with a deep breathe. Then reached for his toes, exhaling. He twisted to one side, then the other, inhaling and exhaling with intention. Rolled his neck, rotated his shoulders. Flexed his fingers and his toes. When Louie was done, he felt pretty good. It was a nice way to start the day. It was his own “Hi to the Sun.”
The ADA office was as active as the previous day. In addition to the usual business of running a legally nonexistent organization, there was much discussion about the past weekend’s occupation and future direct action. Lou chose to focus on the present. His small cog of involvement handled phone calls and paperwork. Whenever the din of the past and future imposed on the work of the present, Lou would get up and step out. On this day he took a break in the common area, put his feet up, and peeled a banana.
The door to the New Old Circus Collaborative flung open. Two clowns and a gorilla rushed out in accordance with the shout “Get out! Get out! Get out!”
Lou watched, unfazed, from his place on the sofa. “What’s up?” he asked through a bite of banana.
“Lacey’s pissed off,” said the gorilla. “Not at us. About her ditto machine.”
Lou cupped his banana in both hands, just in case the gorilla was tempted. “So why’s she yelling at you?”
“We tried to help.”
The clowns nodded in synchrony.
“Got it.” Lou knew that Lacey, who managed the Collaborative, had a short fuse with malfunctioning machines. Stepping into her field of ire was not recommended. Dealing with impetuous clowns or other primates didn’t seem to help.
A bitter “aargh!” sounded from the room.
“Let me see what I can do.” Lou and his banana got off the sofa and approached the open Collaborative door. The gorilla and clowns kept their distance.
“Knock knock. Hey, Lacey. I hear you called me.”
“I didn’t call anyone,” she snarled.
“I’m a certified ditto machine repairman.”
Lacey eyed Lou as she pried at the machine with a sharp letter opener. “Are you bullshitting me?”
“Hell, no.” Lou walked in. “What’s the problem? Not turning? Not printing?”
“I can’t crank the damn thing.”
“Here, lemme have that tool.”
Lacey handed Lou the letter opener, which he set down out of her reach. He pulled out the fluid tank and flipped the master clamp lever. “So, what’s with all the vaudeville types coming around?” He took another bite of banana.
“The usual. Looking for more work than I can offer.”
Lou lifted off the feed table and receiving tray. “I thought summer was busy season.”
“Busier than winter. What can I tell ya?”
He released the crank brake and feeder rolls. “I hear you’re holding auditions.” He bent over and peered under the drum.
“In October, yeah. That’s to get ready for next year.”
Lou took the last bite of his banana. “Here, hold this.” He handed the peel to Lacey, then reached deep into the ditto machine.
Lacey frowned at the peel. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Give it to the clowns. They’ll know what to do.” He gripped a wad of paper jammed under the drum and eased it out while he turned the crank. “Keep us posted about the auditions. It’s good to know what’s going on in the building.”
“Sure. No problem.”
Lou reset the feeder rolls and crank brake, set the feed table and receiving tray in place, put the fluid tank back, and flipped the master clamp lever. “Try it now.”
Lacey took hold of the crank and spun the drum a few times. “Nice work.”
“Good luck with the auditions.” Lou headed for the door.
“Hey, are you really a certified ditto guy?”
“No.”
“Fuck you.”
“Your welcome.”
Lou left the New Old Circus Collaborative and saw the clowns waiting around, their frowns belying their painted smiles. “You can go back now. Lacey has something for you.” To the gorilla he said, “Find your own banana,” and Lou returned to ADA having completed a typical afternoon break.
I like them all but now we are back to happy endings I am happier too! Great writing!