Bad company

Cabs in Los Angeles are a joke to the Natives
A luxury to the tourists
Unknown to the kids
Blasphemy to the drunks with wheels as true as the night theyle never remember
Too expensive for the East side trying to reach the West
Unnecessary for the West side to reach the East
Too rare to hail
Too much hassle to call
Too expensive to justify alone
Too cowardly to suggest in a gang
Too slow from the Valley to Downtown
An afterthought in a responsible dream on the floor of a Burbank Household

But wheres my bed
Where are the keys we call ancient and my idols call cheap
Where is the beautiful girl who cries when the world shows its less than charming mug
Where is the 4 AM DJ with a poet, a dog, a sleeping ex-pat and 4 walls as his crowd

I used to be rough
I used to walk the whole way
I used to hitch a midnight ride from a generous creep
I used to be told where my home was
And now
No words are able to remind me
Not because they cant
Because they don't need to

Tiptoeing for another penny beer
Creaking as little as I can for another un-punished smoke
Sunrise napping on the guest bed so the capable, intelligent woman who knows right from wrong, and who is learning what really matters can sleep though the aches and pains of the real world i've so haplessly shrugged.

"Good" is gone
"Necessary" has become obsolete and too abstract to be worth wondering
"Too late" is too early, and too early is just right
"A good nights sleep" is about as realistic as wrangling the hubris that taught us how to create
"Im exhausted" is worth as much as "The sun is hot" and "The moon is round"

Why create when you can sleep, dream
Why sleep when you can create, dream
Why ask when you haven't got a choice
Why choose when the outcome remains the same

Stay up- Create
Knock out- Experience
Stay up- Experience
Knock out- and whats left of your mind will do the dirty work

Call a cab- Find that beautiful shack everyone but you hates
Stay on the floor- Dream about the messy , slippery, anarchy waiting
In the shack
Not so far away.

Whats in the case?

 Art took a deep, much needed breath after blowing his last note of the afternoon and began gathering his sheet music.

"Good job today fellas" He said over his shoulder, hurriedly stuffing sheet music into a leather book at his feet." Tonights gonna be a good show. Hope you all like the changes."

"Love em! were just glad to have someone heading up the brass who knows brass. Charlie's little piano diddys aint got much to em." Leonard scoffed taking of his sax. "Wanna grab a drink Artie? couple of us goin down to Old Glory's."

"Ah I cant, Lisa's expecting me at the pool." Art said fumbling to get his trumpet in its case. "Already late"

oh man! how do you keep a girl like that waiting!?

AHH your done!

Get outa here man or im gonna take er!

"Yeah yeah fine go off and chase the princess you fuckin' horn dog." Leonard said and gave a dismissal wave. "How the hell did a guy like you-"

"Yeah and whats that like eh? What kinda guy might I be Lenny?" Art said standing up with his gear in hand.

"Woah man I dont mean nothin by it!" Leonard said throwing his hands to the sky. " What you got in that case anyway? You packin now? Yer Mob sweetie got ya a Thompson for yer birthday?" The room laughed.

"Eat it- Ill see you all tonight" Art jogged out of the theater.

Art smiled at the green and gold carpet of the casino floor. Hed never led a band before. hed never played infront of as many people as he would tonight. And hed never kissed a woman as beautiful as Lisa.

"What you lose a nickel Artie?" A thundering voice spat, breaking Art's cloud walk.

"Mr. Green, uh, no I-" Art studdered as he came back to the real world. " I Ju-"

"Kidding pal, where ya headed?" Charlie said swinging around next to Art and throwing an arm over his shoulder.

"Im going to meet Lisa at the pool, were getting dinner before the sho-" Art started to smile again at the thought of the girl but was interrupted again.

"Ohh no no she went off with some old friends to get a drink," Charlie said waving his hand. " You know these girls, one second there waitin' on ya the next they're half way down the strip spending someone else's chips! HA! " He swung around once more, now infront of Art. He grabbed Art by the shoulders and grinned " Whadya say you and I get into a little trouble eh? Take your mind off the big show?"

"Well, I dont know she said she'd be there. Shes always been good to her word." Art said, shaken by Charlie's enthusiasm.

"No no no, I saw her take off with my own two eyes! Would I lie to my new band leader? You can trust old Charlie! Now come on I know  a place we can really let lose." Charlie swung back and practically shoved Art along.

They left through the back door.

The sky had gone red.

The desert disappeared.

All that was left was the strip.

All that was left was electric light.

The top of my glass, and the bottom of that pool.

When the sun wants to shine in Vegas, the rest of the world must get a chill.

"Ha! you have to be kidding me!" Hewitt rang out, gawking at the forest of a cocktail in her hand. " I appreciate the drink sir but I feel you may have flattened the rainforest to bring it to me!". She laughed, every part of her shaking in a way that could have made the cold war a boiling one.

"For you my dear I would lay to waste the collective flora and fauna of all the Americas." Singin' Charlie said dragging a smile to one side of his face. If there ever was a gentleman is was Charlie. And if there was a god, he wouldnt have made him such a rich bastard. "where is your little friend," he paused and feigned a thought "Arthur?"

" Well he should be finishing the rehearsal for your show tonight, shouldn't you be there? Or do you work as a server now?" She replied sliding her foot into the crystal clear water of the pool before her. The way she sat on the edge of that pool made every one around look cheap, sunning on their pool chairs. The green tile of the pool softened, the white top hat at the bottom- distorting and dissipating  as if the bow to the queen of the strip.

"Oh sweetheart I've been doing this quite a bit longer than old Artie. I know my material better than the back of my hand." Charlie said extending his tan claw. "but yours..." he went to grab Hewitt's free hand.

"Im afraid not Charlie," Hewitt said withdrawing from his advance. "Thank you for the drink." She pulled her hair back and slid into the pool.

" Im sure your coming tonight," Charlie said adjusting the golden top hat cufflink already perfectly fastened to his glowing white sports coat. " for Art?" He smiled as he turned and left.

Miss Herwitt set an untouched drink on the edge of the pool and spun slowly backward into the water.

The crowed was starring.

The sun was setting.

Whats flat and green?

"Thank god my shoes aint got holes in em! hahaha!" the Gambler to Art's right coughed; a  mixture of regret and smoke clouded by a laugh.

The Dealer handled his scythe like a killer and pulled in the man's chips. That sound of wood on felt somehow beating out the slots, the cheers, and the brass from the lounge. Dealer wore a red vest with a white top hat on the breast, and a collared shirt that was probably white at one point, but was now a veteran cream. The man was so used to the smoke he'd probably choke if he left the building, but he was a lifer and he wore that on his sleeve.

Art's hand sank into his pocket hoping to feel at least one cold chip rattling around- all he felt was his last sliver of paper folding over at each knock, four sweaty knuckles. Theres a difference between cash and chips- at least that was they'd tell ya.

Before his dice hand had left his pocket Art stumbled into the marble counter of the cashier.

"Uh, here, give me a five, and five one dollar chips." Art said slapping a ten on the cold counter.
He took the weight of his feet and dropped his elbows on the counter, starring at the clerk with his eyes and running out the door in his mind. Running back to a girl. Running back to July with 2 pockets full of green and white chips. "The Dapper Gentleman Casino" starring up at him, and making promises. 

there go those days
washed away just like we wish they'd be.
just like we feared they'd be.

washed away just like we prayed
washed away with ignorant youth and sick greed.

"were at the crest!" we'd shout in the forest, on drugs.
"this is the gut of truth!" we'd spit with yellow teeth and bellies full of our parents booze.

"oh wisdom! teachers of the past!" we would praise and pray.

what did we know of the past.

what did we know of filth.

"this is where I belong!" i'd shout back to the mountain.

"this is what they meant by rough!" brother would shout. brother would scream.

but what did we know of rough.

what do we know now.

then-

a broken heart.
a wandering mind.

a pot full of love and beans.
two men shouting at the sky.
two boys learning what it meant to hurt.

pine needles and honesty.
one blue sky and six white clouds.

two complete skeletons
shinning in the sun,
covered in flies,
wrapped in youth,
and new.

but what did we know of rough.

then-


a hollywood hive,
sick with prostitues.

a soft cock sad about tomorrow,
sad about today.

text book satisfied,
but san fernando valley bent and beaten.

spikes and chills on a porcelain pot,
"where's the ground? "
or "wheres my ground?"

"what's our cash worth?"
two men shouting at a whore.
"how long till the next cunt shows?"
two boys learning what it means to be robbed.

and what time was work anyway?


then-

in between-

fuck these rouge whores
forget these six clouds.

pine needles are the only honesty we've known.

piracy is the only truth we've known.

the hive is the only rough we've known.

and lonely is all we've been waiting for.

well days like these, dont go anywhere.

when your caught up in your head, stumbling like the dead

well you know your wrong, but ya just dont care

well its months like these they last so long

sit wishin they would end wonderin what did i do wrong

i had my troubles then and now i have this song

oh ya cant quit now ya cant give up

stop drinkin your tears and sober up

cause your drunk on lies that youve told yourself

put the cork in the top

put the bottle on the shelf

and its wounds like these, still achin and soar

that a wicked knife did rend, my life it sought to end

weve all been left to bleed out on the floor

and it feels so good, to be so lonely

but its killin him inside, from this no man can hide

i was lonely once and now i have this song

Between the moon and the sun

Was,

And is our time.

A shaking of too many bodies-

An aggressive bobbing of heads-

And the brawl was on.

My already pounding heart wiggled in its cave 

As a close friend took four fists to the dome.

The hospitality of Rumblin' Dyl was shat upon,

and there was swinging to do.

First we attempted rationality-

Impossible,

And a dumb choice to begin with.

The first scuffle recedes into a new shouting match.

I do what I can to separate the equally enraged parties.

Being as im not a fan of shouting I clenched my fists and readied my self for round two.

Across the sea of T-shirts and faces wrinkled in anger I could the Rumblin' Dyl.

Disbelief.

Maybe it was more than that-

Restraint.

But the Rumbler wasn't in any way well known for his hesitation.

A hot head in any circle.

Round two begins and now there are bottle flying.

Hudson Sando Had an arm around his neck in seconds.

Me and two mexicans began working on the strangler,

A shaved head like his laughed at our swings,

But released Hudson-

Now we were the target.

I hadn't yet drawn the attention of an individual at this point,

and now I feared the wrath of this hard head.

Bruises heal but I was far too broke to buy new glasses.

Foolish worry.

The Mexican to right takes one to the gut and isn't fazed.

A shake of the head and a swinging of my sight shows me Monk-

A close ally.

He scans the fray as I was and we link eyes.

Without a nod we both grapple a member of the opposing force,

Tearing at his limbs- pulling toward the door.

Within the chorus of shouters I found it surprisingly easy to discern the voices of friendlies .

'Just get em outside!' A tall drunkard whos name escapes me the second I grasp for it-

A regular and a member of the tribe,

But his name remains strange.

We all begin to push.

Round two and three blended seamlessly but things had escalated.

It was difficult to make it through the crowded opening in the sliding glass door,

but we managed.

Part of me-

Stay out.

Most of me-

Allies are in need of reinforcements.

The cloud of fists and domes was swelling,

Innocent soft fists were being pommeled.

I spotted a group of terrified,

Crying,

Over dressed girls and squeezed them out the door behind me.

'Get in the alley' I suggested. 

They were more than happy to leave.

Back to it.

The door way had cleared and the cloud had moved to the next room-

Still round three and everyone was full of energy.

It was too hectic to now which side was coming out on top,

But knowing our tribe,

There were plenty of willing boxers just waiting to get a hit in.

The bookcase wobbled and threatened to fall

(A book case I had already almost destroyed that night with a well placed drunken stumble)

Things were breaking.

The cloud bursts out the front door-

Only furthering the chaos.

A home made trailer chasse was leaning on the wall opposite the door-

One of our braves was hurled to meet it-

Dome connection.

I began to feel actual fear when the ringing of the steel reached my ears.

Metal and domes don't mix.

Rumblin' Dyl had somehow ended up to the left of me and I was out of the fight.

He was concerned and my fight had done all it could do at this point.

'This shit ain't-' He starts ' No no get the fuck out!' . I hesitate to say he shouted but project- 

He did.

Command.

' Call the cops someone's going to get killed!' One of the twins begged. 

She was scarred but wasn't the type to give up ground-

She was up front with the boys.

I had at this point begun to worry for both sides.

Our town had a way of fighting past the point of necessity.

Regardless of my rage and distain for the bastards who started all of this,

soiling a fairly 'swingin' engagement-

I couldn't wish any permanent damage on them.

' Ya man call em, shits fucked' I agreed.

I saw Monk in the storm and jumped in to assist-

unspoken pact,

woulda done the same.

'Lets just get the fuckers into the street'

We begin shoving and grappling-

launching bodies the second we get hold.

Down the porch stairs-

A body hits a car-

A naked back hits the picket fence.

Round four had begun without me noticing-

and reached a calm.

Calm in average standards-

No.

Comparatively however-

there was a lull.

Space between the feuding parties had grown enough for those who charged,

To cross the void,

Were easily restrained.

Monk and I were now in damage control mode,

stopping friends from crossing to the enemy's side for more swings,

and stopping the opposition from getting back to the house.

The Po had been called and were en route-

The thugs from some other tribe,

these antagonists,

had wandered never turning a shoulder or batting an eye,

into the street.

'We gonna fuuuck you up BITCH!' A tall and furious black directed at me.

He was the roughest of them all.

Hard face- red shirt- yellow eyes- no sense.

They all offered another brawl.

Our side shouted back further challenges and taunts.

Burns if you will.

Creative curses I wish I could remember.

A couple willing acquaintances had joined Monk and I,

On the sidewalk in between our tribe and the enemy.

I wasn't worried about them re-igniting things,

didn't have the desire and you could tell.

Tone says everything.

Monk got the nerve to walk out into the street,

To negotiate. 

It was as he ad approached a wasps nest,

The way the bent and readied themselves,

for more violence.

A quick vision of Monk on the ground,

being bombarded by basketball shoes-

That'd be good to avoid.

So I joined him.

Things were more than tense-

The tension grew every step I took.

I wasn't too worried-

It wasn't fear anymore,

But if I wasn't so concerned with emerging unscathed

my hand could have shook.

It was still and we began trying to reason with them again.

'Look this can all end if you just take off, no stress from us we don't give a shit'

I offered as unthreateningly as possible.

They spat replies that could have been grunts-

Angry and unsatisfied.

No luck.

'Dude no one in there want's to fuck around and were just-' Monk began.

'FUCK you fool' The hard faced black barked stepping closer.

'Here we go' 

I thought it but may have said it aloud.

' Man just take off no ones comin' after ya' Monk said with a compromising tone.

Tone.

Always the key.

Still they spat curse and hate.

They were the type who were used to speaking with their fists.

'Tell em the cops are comin'!' A voice (no clue who) suggested.

' Ey man the cops are comin' theyre close- just take off before they get here.'

I said. They actually paused and their stances changed. 

The idea of leaving was sounding good now.

They run.

The cruisers whip around the corner-

Four.

A fire truck-

Always a surprising guest in altercations like these.

Didn't seem to be a reason.

Maybe they were bored.

An ambulance-

I hadn't seen, or rather inspected the wounds of those around me,

But there was blood on most of the door frames inside.

The enemy had made it to the corner when they were apprehended.

Tried to warn em.

Searches-

Badges walking through halls of shaken wallflowers

Once rowdy and full of shouts-

I sit on a metal chair,

Glad the boxing is over,

and ready for the PO-Show.

They look around,

scanning meaningless contraband.

Pot was un-impressive in burbank-

Anything harder-

surely nestled snug between nuts and thigh-

Cheek and Cheek-

Swallowed by the ambitious.

I did what I could to explain the situation,

In my best Po voice.

Welcoming,

Subservient,

The essential bitch.

Sometimes you just gotta bend over.

Everything cleared and party goers dispersed.

Monk, Me, One of the twins, The Queen

 (Who had been dubbed so this night by searching and finding) 

and Rumblin' Dyl sat upstairs,

Dyl's room.

We indulged and reflected-

apologized as a third party-

and left the battleground.

Blood-

Fines-

Badges-

Searches-

Between the moon and the sun

Was,

And is our time.

I tap these keys as the sun is rising,

the tribe has held its ground.

Between the moon and the sun

Was,

And is our time.