Read Online A Self Made Monster by Steven Vivian - Free Book Online
Authors: Steven Vivian
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look, but it still had to go. He squeezed. Holding a paper tissue to his purged pimple, Edward knew he could not narrate his documentary. He would have to find someone else.
Edward dropped the tissue and wondered why he had not thought of it earlier. “Holly,” he said in a stage whisper, “you look very good on camera. Yes, I really think so. Okay, now just talk naturally into the camera. Try not to look like you’re reciting my script.”
According to the itinerary, the class was to meet in the coffee shop at 9:30 a.m. By 9:45, all the students had arrived, and they waited for their professor. Jimmy drank coffee with his back to his classmates. He had been up since 5:00 and had already taken a walk up Michigan Avenue to the Chicago River. Last night, he had slept poorly. He was not used to having a stranger in the room with him, and Carl had snored all night. Jimmy lay in bed, staring at the darkness and getting angry. Twice he got out of bed and poked Carl. Carl apologized, fell asleep, and resumed snoring.
Infuriated, Jimmy clamped his hand over Carl’s nose.
“What in the hell…!” Carl suffered a coughing jag. “Get me some water!”
“I will if you stop snoring.”
“Fuck off, midget.” Carl stumbled to the bathroom, stubbing his toe on the way, and drank two glasses of water.
“What the hell’s wrong with you, midget?” Carl stood over Jimmy, waving the drinking glass like a club.
Jimmy got back into bed, pulled the covers up to his chin. “Relax. You won’t snore any more because I scared you.”
Carl cursed again, got into bed, and slept without snoring for a few minutes. Jimmy dressed and left the room.
Now Jimmy looked at his watch: 9:45, and no sign of Resartus. Maybe the guy is sick, Jimmy thought, and will call off the scheduled events. Then Jimmy could concentrate on charming Holly Dish before the return trip. Jimmy hoped that his superior Chicago savvy would put him in charge. Rush Street was not the place to go, he would announce with amusement. Only conventioneers and suburban divorcees went there. River North, once a run down shambles, was now an upscale neighborhood of bars and restaurants. It was, Jimmy thought, the place to be. Or, maybe they’d get up to Wicker Park, another refurbished and suddenly hip neighborhood. Jimmy would promise Holly the real Chicago. Once he gained her confidence, he reasoned, his charm would do the rest.
Jimmy’s schemes evaporated when he saw Resartus enter the coffee shop. Jimmy sighed and joined the group.
Carl was waiting for him. “I want to let you know I won’t be bothering you any more. I’m bunking with a couple of guys down the hall.”
“Your snores will still wake me up.”
Alex reviewed the day’s schedule: two hours at the Field Museum, lunch break, then two hours at the Museum of Art. At 4:30, the students were on their own until Saturday afternoon, when the class would attend the matinee performance of St. Joan .
Throughout the day, Jimmy tried to insinuate himself with Holly. Several attempts at conversation died in the Field Museum. Holly was especially annoyed when Jimmy attempted to speak with her as she gazed at the museum’s gem collection.
He should have known better. Her eyes were large and motionless, her lips slightly parted, as she studied a diamond from Ghana. The diamond, flattered by the room’s precise lighting, sparkled inside the display case. He tried to look impressed by squinting and pursing his lips.
She did not note his appreciation.
“It’s…Yeah…!” He stared at the diamond. Why do women love diamonds so much? he wondered.
Holly nodded, a line of irritation drawn onto her forehead.
“And it’s pretty.”
“Yes.”
Jimmy wanted to add, “You’re just as pretty.” But just the thought of it made him feel ridiculous. “Pretty,” he repeated, tongue darting at the corner of his mouth.
Edward Know It All appeared on the other side of Holly. He whispered something, she nodded, and
Edward dropped the tissue and wondered why he had not thought of it earlier. “Holly,” he said in a stage whisper, “you look very good on camera. Yes, I really think so. Okay, now just talk naturally into the camera. Try not to look like you’re reciting my script.”
According to the itinerary, the class was to meet in the coffee shop at 9:30 a.m. By 9:45, all the students had arrived, and they waited for their professor. Jimmy drank coffee with his back to his classmates. He had been up since 5:00 and had already taken a walk up Michigan Avenue to the Chicago River. Last night, he had slept poorly. He was not used to having a stranger in the room with him, and Carl had snored all night. Jimmy lay in bed, staring at the darkness and getting angry. Twice he got out of bed and poked Carl. Carl apologized, fell asleep, and resumed snoring.
Infuriated, Jimmy clamped his hand over Carl’s nose.
“What in the hell…!” Carl suffered a coughing jag. “Get me some water!”
“I will if you stop snoring.”
“Fuck off, midget.” Carl stumbled to the bathroom, stubbing his toe on the way, and drank two glasses of water.
“What the hell’s wrong with you, midget?” Carl stood over Jimmy, waving the drinking glass like a club.
Jimmy got back into bed, pulled the covers up to his chin. “Relax. You won’t snore any more because I scared you.”
Carl cursed again, got into bed, and slept without snoring for a few minutes. Jimmy dressed and left the room.
Now Jimmy looked at his watch: 9:45, and no sign of Resartus. Maybe the guy is sick, Jimmy thought, and will call off the scheduled events. Then Jimmy could concentrate on charming Holly Dish before the return trip. Jimmy hoped that his superior Chicago savvy would put him in charge. Rush Street was not the place to go, he would announce with amusement. Only conventioneers and suburban divorcees went there. River North, once a run down shambles, was now an upscale neighborhood of bars and restaurants. It was, Jimmy thought, the place to be. Or, maybe they’d get up to Wicker Park, another refurbished and suddenly hip neighborhood. Jimmy would promise Holly the real Chicago. Once he gained her confidence, he reasoned, his charm would do the rest.
Jimmy’s schemes evaporated when he saw Resartus enter the coffee shop. Jimmy sighed and joined the group.
Carl was waiting for him. “I want to let you know I won’t be bothering you any more. I’m bunking with a couple of guys down the hall.”
“Your snores will still wake me up.”
Alex reviewed the day’s schedule: two hours at the Field Museum, lunch break, then two hours at the Museum of Art. At 4:30, the students were on their own until Saturday afternoon, when the class would attend the matinee performance of St. Joan .
Throughout the day, Jimmy tried to insinuate himself with Holly. Several attempts at conversation died in the Field Museum. Holly was especially annoyed when Jimmy attempted to speak with her as she gazed at the museum’s gem collection.
He should have known better. Her eyes were large and motionless, her lips slightly parted, as she studied a diamond from Ghana. The diamond, flattered by the room’s precise lighting, sparkled inside the display case. He tried to look impressed by squinting and pursing his lips.
She did not note his appreciation.
“It’s…Yeah…!” He stared at the diamond. Why do women love diamonds so much? he wondered.
Holly nodded, a line of irritation drawn onto her forehead.
“And it’s pretty.”
“Yes.”
Jimmy wanted to add, “You’re just as pretty.” But just the thought of it made him feel ridiculous. “Pretty,” he repeated, tongue darting at the corner of his mouth.
Edward Know It All appeared on the other side of Holly. He whispered something, she nodded, and
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