.44
a dog barks in Brooklyn
I sit up in my bed like a shot
of all the sounds spewed
from these city streets
how does he always wake me up
Ramen Noodles Sweat Too
could that be the title
I asked myself
no
I breathed in
frustration
nonsense
I exhaled
shaking my head
I looked at my phone
that damn dog was right on time
as always
at least I never need to turn on an alarm
I chuckled
threw on some clothes
and headed to the bodega
on my way there
I saw a robotic looking man
he was taking a few steps
in one direction
then turning around
silently pacing a small chunk of sidewalk
he had on two large white signs
one over his chest
the other covered his back
I could read the big black letters
on both of them
from pretty far away
they said
SON OF SAM
CAN’T BE STOPPED
and
SON OF SAM
IS ONE OF US
a woman jogged by me
then passed him without incident
so I figured he likely wasn’t violent
but then he stopped pacing
facing away from me
he stood still
watching her go
I kept walking toward him
when I got close
he spun around and yelled
“the answer doesn’t matter
she’s a seeker you know
she won’t stop running
when she gets to the water
she’ll keep going”
he shouted all that so fast
I barely had a chance to step back
but I did
he stayed put and kept ranting
“remember Easter is coming up
only 900 days left
the sickness is in her skin
no
it’s in her blood”
looking crazed
he lunged at me
I sidestepped and kept walking
a bit faster
I’ll admit
he had me a little scared
he continued
“let me smell you
I’ll tell you how sick you are
you’ve read about Mengele
in your history book
now get to Philadelphia
find Joseph Kallinger
talk to him
he’ll...”
I started jogging myself
and didn’t hear any more