Read Online The Last Days of Video by Jeremy Hawkins - Free Book Online Page B

sarcastic puff of laughter.
    Clarissa Wheat is calling, and it sounds like bad news, she thought. Waring’s on an epic bender. Pierce just broke up with me. Pierce fucked me before breaking up with me. Jeff just saw me crying. My makeup is running. Blockbuster just opened. I live in a dinky town thirty minutes from the dinky town where I grew up. I’ve never lived anywhere else. Waring is a ridiculous human being, and he might be running out of money. I might lose my job. No one will ever hire a girl with these tattoos. There’s a marijuana charge on my criminal record. I’m half-drunk in the afternoon. I haven’t talked to Daddy in a month. I haven’t visited Sprinks in six. I’m old. I’m gaining weight. My only marketable skill is . . . my only marketable skill is . . .
    â€œThanks for the update, Jeff,” she said.
    â€œCan I do anything?”
    â€œYou can leave me the fuck alone.”
    Silence.
    Then she listened to Jeff descend the steps.
    And now I’ve been rude to Jeff, aka the Nicest Kid in the World.
    She’d apologize later. But not now. Now all she could manage was—resetting High Fidelity to the beginning of the scene with Cusack and the girl in the car and taking a huge gulp of beer.
    Your life hasn’t turned out how you wanted , Waring had said.
    No shit, Sherlock.

THE DISCREET CHARM OF CLARISSA WHEAT
    A few moments earlier, the store phone had rung, prompting Waring to stare at it in disgust. He didn’t want to answer, but Jeff was nowhere in sight. So after four rings, Waring slammed down his book, snatched up the phone, and offered the caller an annoyed “Mm?”
    â€œWaring Wax, please?” asked a sober female voice.
    â€œHe’s retired. Or asleep.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œI don’t know where he is.”
    â€œPardon?”
    â€œMessage,” he barked. “This is where you leave a message.”
    â€œI must say, sir, you’re being a little—”
    â€œSo sorry, ma’am. I’ve got a line of ten customers.”
    â€œOh?” said the woman, her voice rising in what sounded like pleasant surprise. “That’s nice to hear. Please tell Waring that Clarissa Wheat from Guiding Glow Distribution called—”
    Waring stood from his director’s chair. His entire body cringed. With his free hand, he punched the air as if battling a shadow, or perhaps Clarissa Wheat herself.
    â€œWait!” he cried into the phone. “I see Waring! Just a sec!”
    Waring had put off talking to Clarissa Wheat long enough. After a brief pause, he spoke into the phone using a ridiculously deep voice and, for some reason, a pinch of a British accent:
    â€œClarissa! How are you?”
    â€œWaring, my darling.”
    â€œDarling?” he said, instantly confused.
    â€œWaring, dear, I’ve been trying to reach you. I don’t think we’ve spoken personally in over a year, since my last visit. Did a Blockbuster recently open near your store?”
    â€œOh, is that all?” He tutted a fake laugh. “It’s a long way down the street. Miles, really.”
    â€œStill,” she continued, “the board of Guiding Glow is concerned. There’s a not inconsiderable balance on your account, and it’s been growing as of late. And, to be frank, we’re surprised that you didn’t inform us earlier about Blockbuster, as it’s quite likely to impact your earnings.”
    â€œI see, I see. Oversight on my part.” His voice trailed off, and he punched the air again.
    â€œOf course, we should have kept you informed ourselves,” Clarissa Wheat said. “For that, I apologize.”
    â€œUm, apology accepted.”
    â€œWe’re concerned, as I can tell you are. We had a group prayer for you this afternoon.”
    â€œWhy, thank you. I recently did some . . . some praying myself.”
    â€œHow is business,