Soulparking

Friday, 26 February 2005

So my friends and I had gone out on the town for a disappointing time.  The only thing we had going for us was conversation and hanging out together.  I talked everyone into coming back to my flat – have some drinks and watch my favorite comedy “Old School” with Will Ferrell.  Everyone agreed.

It was almost like the days in university when I invited all my friends over to just chill.

And then there was a heavy knock on the door.  It was very late at night.

I looked at everybody – and everybody just looked back and shrugged.  I wondered if we were already too loud for my neighbors – but we had just arrived.

So without asking who it was – I opened the door.

And in front of me, there stood a colored guy and a big black guy.   They weren’t any of my neighbors.  I knew all my neighbors.  Immediately when the door was opened, they moved forward – attempting to shove inside. 

My brother / co-worker – the biggest guy of the group – was in the bathroom.  I called out to him – but he didn’t hear me. 

“What the fuck do you want?”  I yelled.  And the guy about my size, colored, eyes wild from either drugs, alcohol or both – just pushed forward.  I pushed back. 

But they looked like they were not going to be stopped.  I started getting worried.  I tried to back up and close the door – but they shoved forward.  They showed no weapons but I didn’t know if they were waiting until the end to show them.

My other friends leaned into the door to help close it.

My heart beating in my throat – I raced to the kitchen. I had to act fast.  I had to act crazy.  I opened up the kitchen drawer and – funny how I remember this – I saw a cockroach scampering across the clean silverware.  Very strange how that still stands out.  I grabbed the biggest butcher knife I could find and came roaring around the corner.  As I passed the bathroom, I beat on the door trying to get my big buddy out of there.  No response.

They were about inside – when I threw the door open – and brandished the knife.  I held it like I thought OJ Simpson had (or thought he might hold it)…  And they were shocked at first – and raced backwards.  And I chased.  But then they held their ground.  They wanted to see how serious I was.

And I came against the guy that was my size – and pushed him against the wall – and put the knife against his throat.  “Get the fuck out of here…”

The big black guy said, “Yeah man, this ain’t worth it.”

The colored guy – eyes glazed – gave me an eat shit look and pushed me back like he was relinquishing.  I popped backwards.  And off they went down the stairs.

I didn’t follow.

I was shaking, trembling.  Anger, fear – all racing through me.  I cautiously walked back to my flat – pulled tight the security screen, went inside and locked all the locks.  The mood was spoiled. 

My big friend – came out of the bathroom – confused, sensing the tension and knowing he had missed the commotion.  We all sat around trying to figure out what in the hell had just happened.

After a couple of times asking the same questions in a rotational way, “who were they?”, “how did security let them up?”,  “what did they want?”.

I spoke up.  “You know when I moved down here – I had a dream, a premonition I was going to get shot.  Doesn’t mean I am going to die.  I just knew I was going to get shot.  I wonder if those are the people who are going to do it.”

Quiet.

“They will probably be back with more numbers.”  I said.  “And they will probably be very pissed.”

Another thing that stands out – I instantly thought of Obi-Wan in Star Wars saying the same thing to Luke Skywalker when the Sand People attacked him, and Obi-Wan chased them away.  Crazy remembrance.

Although, we prepared for the worst, went down, and scolded security for letting them come up.  That night, the two guys didn’t come back. 

I wonder if one night sometime in the future – when I am all alone – they will.

Fuck ‘em if they do.  They don’t scare me.  I have my trusted butcher knife.