Wednesday 29 April 2009
	A Close Call.
	It's twenty minutes before midnight and I'm sitting on a bar stool and I'm drinking beer from a glass bottle and I'm thinking about how damn lucky I was just twenty minutes ago. The bartender says: "Can I get you another one?" I say: "I'd like that very much." Twenty minutes ago I crossed a four lane highway on foot and before I had a chance to make it to the other side I was hit by a car. Sideswiped really. Says the bartender: "Five dollars and fifty cents." I say: "Keep the change." I put the bottle to my lips and while I'm pouring the beer into my mouth I'm thinking about the song I heard (in my head) as I lay on the sidewalk alongside the highway. To the woman sitting to my right I say: "Downtown by Petula Clark." Says the woman sitting to my right:  "I love that song." When I was a kid Downtown by Petula Clark was big.  All the radio stations played it.  I liked it.  Though I wasn't really sure where I might find Downtown, Petula Clark made me want to go there.   When you're alone and life is making you lonely you can always go, Downtown. I hadn't sung the song in years but just twenty minutes ago (while lying facedown and alongside the highway) I was hearing it in my head again:  Don't hang around and let your problems surround you there are movie shows, Downtown. Says the woman sitting to my right:  "You a Petula Clark fan?" Ordinarily I'd be scared of the woman sitting to my right that just asked if I was a Petula Clark fan.  To the woman sitting to my right I say: "I am.  That song in particular." She says: "I'm Lenore Rogers." Overall, I'm scared of people.  All races.  All shapes and sizes.  All ages.  Men and women.  Children, too.  But I've come to realize that I'm much more frightened of women.  I know it's irrational.  I know it's counterproductive to my mental wellbeing.  I understand that it probably stems from an unhealthy, undeveloped, area in my brain. I say: "I'm Norm." In all likelihood, a woman could be good for me and it's remotely possible that I could be good for her, too. In all likelihood. But not tonight.    "I'm Norm." She says: "C'mon sit over here, Norm." My fear allows me to function pretty good on an observational level only and I'm gonna have to work hard to interact properly with my new friend as she's equally a participant and an observer. Like a man I say: "I'm on my way, Lenore."      I move down one stool and sit next to Miss Rogers and while I'm positioning myself the change occurs and I'm now not the person I want to be but I've become the reverse image of whatever it is that I am. "Nice to meet you, " I say.  I'm on stage now not because I want to be but because I have to be and I'm so far from myself that she'd be better off engaging in a conversation with herself. "I could use a friend tonight," I say. I wish I could be what she'd like me to be and I wish I could be what I once was. Lenore Rogers says: "That makes two of us."  How High the Moon sung by Pat Suzuki is coming from the Jukebox speakers and while it's coming from the jukebox speakers I say: "I got hit by a car tonight." She says: "You okay?" I say: "Another foot and I'd be dead.  About a minute passes and when its passed she puts her good female hand on my shoulder and she says: "You're lucky, Norman." I put the bottle to my lips and drink down the rest of the beer and when the thick glass base of the empty bottle makes contact with the countertop I say: "I'm lucky." The bartender says:         "Another round?" I like the way Lenore uses my name like she's known me for years.  You're lucky, Norman. I say: "It's on me, Lenore."  NOTE: At one point I excused myself and headed to the restroom. While I was in the restroom standing and peeing Downtown sung by Petula Clark blared from the ceiling mounted speaker: ...And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you someone who is just like you and need a gentle hand to guide them along so maybe I'll see you there we can forget our troubles forget our cares so go Downtown, where all the lights are bright, Downtown, waiting for you tonight, Downtown, you're gonna be alright, Downtown... -Downtwon by Petula Clark 1964 (Composed by Tony Hatch) PREVIOUS   HOME   NEXT Click Here To Subscribe To Norm's Essays