Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A new race of man / Marrow


A man wearing a designer suit, patent leather shoes, and expensive sunglasses runs into a laundromat and makes a bee line for a pile of unfolded clothes. He rips off his tie, uncomfortable shoes, and unnecessary sunglasses along with the rest of his clothes and proceeds to put on a pair of someone's sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt. He quickly scans the room for a more comfortable pair of shoes. Seeing none he he dashes out of the establishment to the shoe store across the street, leaving his $1,500 suit, cell phone, wallet, and other personal belongings behind. The man is in and out in a matter of seconds, not giving the laundromat's patrons enough time to react, let alone protest the man's actions.
The man enters the shoe store and has a pair of cross trainers half way on his feet before the door closes behind him. Again, before the shoe store employees have time to say anything more than, "May I help you?" the man has left the store and is sprinting down the street. Back at the laundromat the man's cell phone rings. It's his girlfriend waiting for him to pick her up at the airport.
The man comes to a sudden stop as he comes upon a fruit stand. The fruit guy asks him if he has the time. "It's time to eat." replies the man as he begins to peel an energy restoring, vitamin C rich orange he's taken from the display.
"Hey man! You're gonna have to pay for that!"
The man assesses the current situation in a matter of nanoseconds, surmising that he has no money.
"That, I cannot do." the man says, matter-of-factly.
The fruit vendor makes a half ass swipe for the orange and mumbles something to the effect of calling the cops. The man, sensing a threat, punches the fruit man as hard as he can, knocking him out cold.
The man tears down the street as fast as he can. He runs until his legs ache and his lungs burn. Behind him puzzled onlookers wonder why he's running, why he's knocking over the men, and why he's sexually assaulting the women as he passes. Even further behind a police officer is following a trail of dropped grocery bags and pissed off pedestrians.
The man tires and locates a fountain in a nearby park. He quenches his thirst, defecates, and promptly detects an empty park bench. He is asleep in a matter of seconds.
Later the man wakes to the prods of the police officer. He is handcuffed and places in the cruiser. The man is questioned about the laundry, the shoes, and the orange. The man denies nothing. He is placed in a cell. The man serves a sentence of one year for shoplifting and assault. Over the course of the year the man is fed three times a day and provided with a place to sleep. He is content. He pays his debt to society and is released.
His father picks him up at the jail. It's time to eat. His dad treats him to McDonald's. The man asks for a large orange drink.
It's not the same.

zeroth life lesson: sometimes you just need to go back to the basics - maslow's heirarchy style.

No comments:

Post a Comment