newbies

the car is a horrid blue and has a giant 'courtesy' sticker on the driver door. you laugh because you know c frowns everytime he's forced to stop at the traffic lights. fiddles with the stereo to avoid meeting eyes through the window.
'nice one,' you say, smiling. you run your finger over the sticker, 'more like...'
'cuntesy'.
you both laugh.

squashed next to the girl that's replaced you, you make idle chat as you drive towards to the 'coop'. the manager has been fighting for this land for years and you're sure its splendour couldn't validate all the drink rings you had to clean during meetings and trial briefs and voting days. you hit the beaten track, the rocks flying - denting, damaging, laughing - saying its the mechanics fault for not returning c's car sooner. he pulls over by the house.

the house is disheveled and slanted. on the west side a tree has fallen on the roof which makes it look from the east side, like tim burton has grown a tree right through the middle.
'now until there are permits for the b&b, we're not really sure what to do with the house,' the manager says.
'party?' asks e.
you laugh and finger the mainsafe key in your pocket. at night, once all the keys are locked up, that house is as good as yours.
'there's blood on the carpet,' t squeals.
'less to clean up,' e whispers.

the sun sets while you're all standing there - in the most magnificent pink - and you remember a line from a kafka novel - in a battle between you and the world, back the world...
even though all you can smell is cow dung - you know you haven't seen anything as beautiful for a long time. the blue car turns a kind of purple. you smile.