the fiend
They were playing table football in Piriapolis. The room was vast, a games hall. Full of kids playing pool or table football or slot machines or just hanging out. The games hall was on the promenade looking out over the sea. Above the small town was a vast, confetti-cake of a hotel, and some stubby hills. Below the promenade was the beach. The place had that seaside air. Not too much to do. Kids hanging out in the pool hall. Early evening. He half expected his friends, who were by now his friends, to suggest they stop off for some fish and chips.
The four of them had broken their journey back from Punta to Montevideo. It was the end of his initiation week, which had involved a thousand and one English teachers, several late night ice cream parlours and more meat than he’d ever set eyes on.
He was focussed on the suitably competitive table football game. Suddenly he felt something hit the back of his head. Like a piece of paper scrunched up into a ball. Instinctively he turned to see where it had come from. People were staring at him. Someone was even pointing at him. He felt instantly uncomfortable. A stranger in a strange land.
Danny had stopped playing. He shouted something, pointed at his head. His hair was long, down to his shoulders. He felt something move. He brushed his hand through his hair. Danny was laughing by now. He looked around. People were still staring. It moved again. The piece of scrunched up paper. He ran his hand through his hair a second time.
A cockroach the size of a ping pong ball dropped towards the floor. It regained its balance and lurched out into three dimensions of pool hall. People ducked as it approached. The beast was done with mind games. It sallied out into the night.
Strangers were smiling at him now. He smiled back. He’d never seen a creature as big as that. His friends were doubled up in laughter.
They finished the game. Twilight had snuck up on them. They sat on the promenade and had a beer whilst waiting for the bus. James’ Sit Down was on the jukebox. They played it a couple of times. The air was warm and sweet. The sea tranquil.
In four days time he was back in Bournemouth, signing on.
The four of them had broken their journey back from Punta to Montevideo. It was the end of his initiation week, which had involved a thousand and one English teachers, several late night ice cream parlours and more meat than he’d ever set eyes on.
He was focussed on the suitably competitive table football game. Suddenly he felt something hit the back of his head. Like a piece of paper scrunched up into a ball. Instinctively he turned to see where it had come from. People were staring at him. Someone was even pointing at him. He felt instantly uncomfortable. A stranger in a strange land.
Danny had stopped playing. He shouted something, pointed at his head. His hair was long, down to his shoulders. He felt something move. He brushed his hand through his hair. Danny was laughing by now. He looked around. People were still staring. It moved again. The piece of scrunched up paper. He ran his hand through his hair a second time.
A cockroach the size of a ping pong ball dropped towards the floor. It regained its balance and lurched out into three dimensions of pool hall. People ducked as it approached. The beast was done with mind games. It sallied out into the night.
Strangers were smiling at him now. He smiled back. He’d never seen a creature as big as that. His friends were doubled up in laughter.
They finished the game. Twilight had snuck up on them. They sat on the promenade and had a beer whilst waiting for the bus. James’ Sit Down was on the jukebox. They played it a couple of times. The air was warm and sweet. The sea tranquil.
In four days time he was back in Bournemouth, signing on.
posted by maldoror at 11:59 a. m.
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