Archives
- 11-01-2008
- A Splinter from the Devil's Mirror by Bryn Greenwood
- Between You and the Man-Sized Prophylactic with the Zipper by Tom Bradley
- Chief by Warren Buckles
- 09-01-2008
- Routine by Felipe de Oliveira
- Automatic Transmission by Warren Buckles
- 08-01-2008
- The Axiom of Choice by Jim Chaffee
- 07-01-2008
- A Pleasure Jaunt with One of the Sex Workers Who Don’t Exist in the People’s Republic of China by Tom Bradley
- Making the Switch by George Sparling
- 06-01-2008
- The War Prayer by Mark Twain
- 05-01-2008
- About the Dog by Robert Aqunio Dollesin
- 04-01-2008
- The Coup by Peter Schoenau
- 03-01-2008
- Art School by Zach Plague
- Consitutional Puppies by JR
- 02-01-2008
- Selection from The Vicious Circulation of Dr. Catastrope by Kane X. Faucher
- Party Pooper from Make Me by Eli Richardson
- Una Noche Perfecta para Sanguijuelas por Jim Chaffee (tr. Sonia Ramos Rossi)
- 01-01-2008
- A Night in Cameroon by Kelly Jameson
- Missile by Jason Jordan
- 12-01-2007
- Nothing by J.R.
- Sacrament by Sonia Ramos Rossi
- 11-01-2007
- Green Mountain Incumbent by D E Fredd
- When Pacino's Hot, I'm Hot by Robert Levin
- 10-01-2007
- The Book of Ancient Wisdom by Hugh Fox
- 09-01-2007
- Dog Days by Robert Levin
- Junk-Pure by Forrest Armstrong
- 08-01-2007
- Beefsteak Mistake, Jake by Kelly Jameson
- Sand by Jim Chaffee
- 07-01-2007
- How to Make a Baby by Robert Levin
- A Rude Little Monkey by Kelly Jameson
- 06-01-2007
- Revolver by Sandra Ramos Rossi
- Brian and Mona by Jim Chaffee
- 05-01-2007
- El Castrator by Thomas Head
- 04-01-2007
- Alone, As Always by Jennifer Gardner
- 03-01-2007
- Polar Regions by Gayla Chaney
- 02-01-2007
- Two Stories of Sex Beyond Erotica: Editor's Introduction by Jim Chaffee
- Photo Finish by Anya Wassenberg
- Mephisto and Me by Lily Edwards
- 01-01-2007
- Management Case Study 17: Down East Chicken by D. E. Fredd
- MoM by David Quinn
- Full TEX Archive
Nothing - 3
By J.R.
“So, Paul, I hear you’re feeling better? To be kind of honest, I was starting to get real worried about you. I mean, like, real worried.”
“Yeah man, I’m feeling better. A lot better. Thanks for asking. I appreciate it.”
“Hah. You know, with some people, you’d suspect them of lying, you know, just brushing somebody off because no one likes to be asked how they’re doing. But I can tell you really are feeling better because now you’re actually responding to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I asked you like three weeks ago how you were doing, if you were alright. You seemed too damn preoccupied with something. To be perfectly honest, you were so damn preoccupied that Stimpson gave me the Thompson account because he said you couldn’t handle it. When I asked you what was wrong, where your mind was, you didn’t even really answer me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You said, ‘I don’t know, man,’ and then just went on being preoccupied with whatever was consuming your brain.”
“I’m sorry, man. I don’t know where I was. I was real depressed, I guess, if you want to know the truth. I was having these weird thoughts...”
Kevin’s eyes widened with trepidation.
“Nah, Kevin, don’t worry, I don’t mean like, really crazy, like scary thoughts, I just mean... I was having these dreams. These dreams of... like... I don’t really remember, like spiders or something. Flailing legs or something. I don’t know, it sounds lame, I can’t really remember, to be honest.”
“Yeah, I know, I’ve been there. Er, stressful times, maybe. It’s weird, bad periods of time are a blur, but certain bad moments... always end up sticking out... somehow.”
“Yeah, but this was more a blasé period than anything. I mean, I don’t remember anything other than just general depression. Depression, bad dreams, sad thoughts. The evil trifecta. And spider dreams. Haha. One grand fucked-up funk.”
“Well, glad that’s over. Just don’t use a, uhh, you know, use some type of ‘forgetful memory’ excuse in the future when I bring up how I saved your ass by taking the Thompson account.”
A reassuring thought came to him. “Well man, I’m still inoperable. You’ll need to take even more work from me. I’ve got this mental preoccupation like you wouldn’t believe.”.
“Yeah? Do tell.”
In a boys-only whisper:
“You see what Yvette was wearing today?”
“Haha, if that counts as a reason to take time off work I’d never need to take another sick day again.”
Paul smiled.
