Stagnation Kills
The coffee shop was small and quaint, brick walls, exposed rafters, roaring-20s inspired lighting, and large beautiful windows that cascaded the evening sun into it. This was a central hub for the community and though it wasn’t the only coffee shop in town, when someone said ‘the coffee shop’ it was undoubtedly implied. It doubled as a bakery and tripled as a deli; there were only a handful of employees and the owner took great pride in working alongside them. Like the building, she too was a staple of the community.The group had spent a considerable chunk of their teen years in the shop, they even had their favorite table (much like everyone in town had) centered between three bay windows in the front, large enough for them all to gather and enjoy their favorite past time; cards.
Prudence returned from the counter with her steaming coffee in hand but looked hurt as the others were already knee-deep in a game; which was more specifically known as The game since it had been the only one they had played the past few years. It was complex and competitive; equal parts tactic and luck. It required two decks and often got heated.
“Heey! I thought you were going to deal me in?”
“Those who arrive late get no fruit cup.” Jack said, voice full of sass.
“We can start over…” Rosie offered.
“Nah come on, we can make it quick.” Lee had a good hand, not yet willing to give it up.
“It’s not like we’re going anywhere anytime soon.” Ben remarked.
“Do we ever?” Prudence said with a defeated sigh as she took a seat at the end.
“Eat it!” Jack said throwing down an ace, to which Lee had to take the whole pile.
“Laugh it up tough guy, you’re gonna be weeping by the end of this.” Lee wasn’t bothered.
The game took longer than they had implied which left Prudence frustrated.
“Come onnnnn. Hurry up!”
“Hold your mallet girl, I’m about to take the pot.” Jack confidently boasted.
“Oh my god, can you imagine actually betting on this game?”
“It wouldn’t do any good, there’s no way of predicting a win.” Lee pointed out.
“You can take over my hand hun…” Rosie offered.
“What, are you out already?” Jack asked.
“Come on babe, we’re almost at the home stretch.” Ben was also winning, but in secret.
“I’m just…”
“What? Losing?” Jack teased her.
She looked embarrassed, “A little bored.”
“How can you be bored?”
“Well we’ve been playing all day.”
“Not to mention all week…” Lee added.
“What else is there to do?” Ben asked, or rather pointed out the obvious.
“I don’t know...I’m just saying maybe let’s do something else?”
“You know what? She’s right. This has gotten a little repetitive.” Lee threw his cards down.
“Oh don’t tell me you’re out too?!” Jack really wanted to win.
Rosie followed his lead and laid her cards down, looking at her boyfriend for support.
He too didn’t want to give up the win, but he knew the wisdom in complying with that look.
He laid his cards down too, “Sorry mate, they got a point.”
“Oh come on!”
“Yeah! You guys make me wait this whole time and then give up?” Prudence was frustrated.
Lee offered his cards to her, “Here you can take my spot.”
“It’s not going to be fun then!”
“Hey!” Jack spouted.
“I’m saying with just two people, it’s nothin’ on you mr sensitive.”
He too threw his cards down, “I resemble that remark.” He folded his arms but then grinned.
She rolled her eyes. “Are y’all seriously just gonna give up then?”
They all looked at her with worn down eyes, Jack was the only one to answer.
“Hey I may not be the sharpest nail in the box, but I know when I’m outnumbered.”
“Oh you can count? Since when?” Prudence liked teasing him.
“Oh ha ha.”
“Come on guys, there has to be something we can do, right?” Rosie hopeful.
“We could see a movie?” Ben offered.
“That’s all the way in Ravenwood!” Lee cried.
“What about the beach? Maybe get a bonfire going?” Rosie suggested.
“Two problems, one we’ve done that like five times already, and two- again, that’s in Ravenwood.” Jack threw his arms behind his head.
“Not really, it’s Cedar Creek.” Prudence corrected.
“Excuuuse me, half-way to Ravenwood.”
“Well I don’t see you coming up with any bright ideas!”
“Honey, my ideas are so bright they’d blind you!”
Everyone laughed, Jack was a little hurt but smiled it off anyways.
“I heard Mackenzie was having a party tonight.” Ben threw out, but immediately regretted.
The group groaned in unison and acted like they were dying.
“She’s the worst!” Prudence whined out.
“Seriously dude, what’s wrong with you?” Jack smacked him lightly.
“What? She’s nice…sometimes.” Rosie thought about it, “...occasionally.”
“And knowing her there’ll be no booze, no music, and we’ll spend all night playing that stupid murder mystery game that she brings out every damn time.” Prudence hated it.
“All FREAKING NIGHT.” Jack added. There were few things they could agree on, this was one.
“There’s gotta be something we haven’t done over and over again. We just need to think.”
They sat there for a few minutes, each in a furrowed zone as they racked their brains for entertainment. Nobody spoke, they just sipped their coffees. Occasionally someone would take a deep breath as though they had it, but then quickly decided against it. Jack broke the silence but with nothing of use.
“Hey I may not be the sharpest nail in the box, but I know when I’m outnumbered.”
“Oh you can count? Since when?” Prudence liked teasing him.
“Oh ha ha.”
“Come on guys, there has to be something we can do, right?” Rosie hopeful.
“We could see a movie?” Ben offered.
“That’s all the way in Ravenwood!” Lee cried.
“What about the beach? Maybe get a bonfire going?” Rosie suggested.
“Two problems, one we’ve done that like five times already, and two- again, that’s in Ravenwood.” Jack threw his arms behind his head.
“Not really, it’s Cedar Creek.” Prudence corrected.
“Excuuuse me, half-way to Ravenwood.”
“Well I don’t see you coming up with any bright ideas!”
“Honey, my ideas are so bright they’d blind you!”
Everyone laughed, Jack was a little hurt but smiled it off anyways.
“I heard Mackenzie was having a party tonight.” Ben threw out, but immediately regretted.
The group groaned in unison and acted like they were dying.
“She’s the worst!” Prudence whined out.
“Seriously dude, what’s wrong with you?” Jack smacked him lightly.
“What? She’s nice…sometimes.” Rosie thought about it, “...occasionally.”
“And knowing her there’ll be no booze, no music, and we’ll spend all night playing that stupid murder mystery game that she brings out every damn time.” Prudence hated it.
“All FREAKING NIGHT.” Jack added. There were few things they could agree on, this was one.
“There’s gotta be something we haven’t done over and over again. We just need to think.”
They sat there for a few minutes, each in a furrowed zone as they racked their brains for entertainment. Nobody spoke, they just sipped their coffees. Occasionally someone would take a deep breath as though they had it, but then quickly decided against it. Jack broke the silence but with nothing of use.
“We could….” They all looked at him expectantly, “play the game.”
“Jeez dude, give it up.” Ben said what they were all thinking.
“Hey, I’m coming up with nothing.”
“Yeah. This town sucks.” Prudence huffed and started organizing the cards.
“The only thing to do in Crestwood…” Lee started, in unison they all finished it.
“...is to get out of Crestwood!” They cracked themselves up again. They were lucky in the fact that even without a plan or a goal, they could still have fun with each other.
“What if we took Prudie’s car and just cruised around for a bit?” Ben thought.
“Come on guys, you still owe me gas for the last time.”
“I’m just saying it might give us a fresh perspective, we could come up with something cool.”
“Cool is definitely what I’m looking for.” Jack said.
“Yeah, an adventure! Something we’ve never done before.” Another commonality between Jack and Prudence was their love of thrills. It was this comment that he looked at her, she looked him and they both looked down. It was also this comment that lead Lee to get lost in a thought.
“Jeez dude, give it up.” Ben said what they were all thinking.
“Hey, I’m coming up with nothing.”
“Yeah. This town sucks.” Prudence huffed and started organizing the cards.
“The only thing to do in Crestwood…” Lee started, in unison they all finished it.
“...is to get out of Crestwood!” They cracked themselves up again. They were lucky in the fact that even without a plan or a goal, they could still have fun with each other.
“What if we took Prudie’s car and just cruised around for a bit?” Ben thought.
“Come on guys, you still owe me gas for the last time.”
“I’m just saying it might give us a fresh perspective, we could come up with something cool.”
“Cool is definitely what I’m looking for.” Jack said.
“Yeah, an adventure! Something we’ve never done before.” Another commonality between Jack and Prudence was their love of thrills. It was this comment that he looked at her, she looked him and they both looked down. It was also this comment that lead Lee to get lost in a thought.
“Okay, what’s an adventure we can have that’s free and new?” Rosie pondered.
“AND doesn’t require me to drive.” Prudence threw in.
“The game!” Jack laughed.
“So help me...if you say that one more time!”
“Yeah dude, it’s getting old.” Ben threw him a sideways glance.
“All I’m saying is I’m at a loss for an idea, and rather than just sit here and scratch our chins all night we should just have fun; the good ol’ fashioned way. By me kicking your butts.”
“Anyone else?” Rosie asked hopefully, she too was at a loss.
Quietly, slowly, and cautiously- Lee spoke up. They often turned down his ideas so he was never exactly thrilled to suggest them, but this one was different. It was new, it was local, and most importantly- it would be an adventure. “I think...I think I got something.”
“Oh this’ll be good.” Jack teased.
“I don’t know...it might be nothing…”
“Come on man, spill.” Ben was tired of thinking.
“Yeah, at this point anything is better than what we got.” Rosie was too.
He nervously looked around them, the little voice in his head told him it was a stupid idea that they would never be down for, but decided to go for it anyways.
“Well you know how my dad grew up here, and things weren’t any better then. One night a while back he told me this story-”
“While he was drunk.” Jack prodded.
“Dude…not cool.” It didn’t matter who said it, it was the general consensus.
Lee looked down shamefully, he never liked admitting that fact; even if they all knew it anyways.
“Yeah...he was actually.” He shook it off. “Anyways he told me this story about how he and his buddies discovered this storm drain that lead to the sewers below.”
“AND doesn’t require me to drive.” Prudence threw in.
“The game!” Jack laughed.
“So help me...if you say that one more time!”
“Yeah dude, it’s getting old.” Ben threw him a sideways glance.
“All I’m saying is I’m at a loss for an idea, and rather than just sit here and scratch our chins all night we should just have fun; the good ol’ fashioned way. By me kicking your butts.”
“Anyone else?” Rosie asked hopefully, she too was at a loss.
Quietly, slowly, and cautiously- Lee spoke up. They often turned down his ideas so he was never exactly thrilled to suggest them, but this one was different. It was new, it was local, and most importantly- it would be an adventure. “I think...I think I got something.”
“Oh this’ll be good.” Jack teased.
“I don’t know...it might be nothing…”
“Come on man, spill.” Ben was tired of thinking.
“Yeah, at this point anything is better than what we got.” Rosie was too.
He nervously looked around them, the little voice in his head told him it was a stupid idea that they would never be down for, but decided to go for it anyways.
“Well you know how my dad grew up here, and things weren’t any better then. One night a while back he told me this story-”
“While he was drunk.” Jack prodded.
“Dude…not cool.” It didn’t matter who said it, it was the general consensus.
Lee looked down shamefully, he never liked admitting that fact; even if they all knew it anyways.
“Yeah...he was actually.” He shook it off. “Anyways he told me this story about how he and his buddies discovered this storm drain that lead to the sewers below.”
“The sewers?” Again, the general consensus.
“Yeah. Apparently there’s this whole underground system of tunnels down there.”
“I think I heard something about that…” Ben remembered it vaguely, probably from his own dad.
“It was built waaay back in the day. Supposedly when prohibition was at its peak. The bootleggers used to run their distillers down there.” Lee felt better about not being alone.
“OH YEAH! It was also a refuge for Japanese Americans in the forties.” Rosie threw in.
“Refuge from what?” Jack was confused.
“From the internment camps…”
“What internment camps?”
“Dude, you need to learn your history.” Ben just shook his head.
“History’s a mystery.” He smiled.
“Go on hun, what else.” Prudence gave a caring look at Lee which made his heart jump.
“Well supposedly there’s like, cool things to see down there. I don’t know. It’s a stupid idea.”
“No it’s not...It’s better than anything we’ve come up with so far.” She said.
“In the sewers though?” Rosie didn’t look to comfortable with the idea.
“It hadn’t been used in ages, even back then he said it was dry as a bone.” Lee said, back into it.
“It would be an adventure.” Ben added, getting more on board.
“One I don’t have to drive to.” Prudence said with a sigh of relief; that was her main selling point.
“Really guys? The sewers? Between the five of us that’s the best we can come up with?”
Jack wasn’t exactly opposed to the idea, just the fact that it wasn’t his idea.
Gaining a little more confidence Lee said, “Think about the stories we could tell. I’m sure we’d be the only ones at school who's done this. We could like, carry on the tradition, y’know?”
“We could drunkenly tell our kids the same thing, and then pass the torch.” Jack- sarcastically.
“Oh hell no. I’m getting as far from this po-dunk town as I can. No way am I having kids here. I don’t know about y’all but I’m kinda liking this idea.” Prudence said with a smile. Lee smiled.
Jack huffed but then asked, “You sure there’s stuff down there? We’re not going to spend a hour wading through the town’s shit bucket with nothing to show for it, right?”
“I’m pretty sure.”
“Pretty sure, or sure.”
“Yeah. Apparently there’s this whole underground system of tunnels down there.”
“I think I heard something about that…” Ben remembered it vaguely, probably from his own dad.
“It was built waaay back in the day. Supposedly when prohibition was at its peak. The bootleggers used to run their distillers down there.” Lee felt better about not being alone.
“OH YEAH! It was also a refuge for Japanese Americans in the forties.” Rosie threw in.
“Refuge from what?” Jack was confused.
“From the internment camps…”
“What internment camps?”
“Dude, you need to learn your history.” Ben just shook his head.
“History’s a mystery.” He smiled.
“Go on hun, what else.” Prudence gave a caring look at Lee which made his heart jump.
“Well supposedly there’s like, cool things to see down there. I don’t know. It’s a stupid idea.”
“No it’s not...It’s better than anything we’ve come up with so far.” She said.
“In the sewers though?” Rosie didn’t look to comfortable with the idea.
“It hadn’t been used in ages, even back then he said it was dry as a bone.” Lee said, back into it.
“It would be an adventure.” Ben added, getting more on board.
“One I don’t have to drive to.” Prudence said with a sigh of relief; that was her main selling point.
“Really guys? The sewers? Between the five of us that’s the best we can come up with?”
Jack wasn’t exactly opposed to the idea, just the fact that it wasn’t his idea.
Gaining a little more confidence Lee said, “Think about the stories we could tell. I’m sure we’d be the only ones at school who's done this. We could like, carry on the tradition, y’know?”
“We could drunkenly tell our kids the same thing, and then pass the torch.” Jack- sarcastically.
“Oh hell no. I’m getting as far from this po-dunk town as I can. No way am I having kids here. I don’t know about y’all but I’m kinda liking this idea.” Prudence said with a smile. Lee smiled.
Jack huffed but then asked, “You sure there’s stuff down there? We’re not going to spend a hour wading through the town’s shit bucket with nothing to show for it, right?”
“I’m pretty sure.”
“Pretty sure, or sure.”
Lee straightened up, if he could get Jack on board they’d have the majority; and in this group, that’s all it took to pass a motion. “I’m sure. I know it.”
He sighed and then drained his coffee. “Alright I’m in.”
“Really? Just like that you’re in?” Ben asked incredulously.
“Hey it’s better than bickering all night. Besides, y’all shot down the game.”
“I don’t know about this…” Rosie peeped. She was the most hesitant of the group so it came to no surprise. Even though a majority had been reached the rest of them were eyeing Ben, trying to get him on board because once that happened she would ultimately follow. Finally he caved.
He sighed and then drained his coffee. “Alright I’m in.”
“Really? Just like that you’re in?” Ben asked incredulously.
“Hey it’s better than bickering all night. Besides, y’all shot down the game.”
“I don’t know about this…” Rosie peeped. She was the most hesitant of the group so it came to no surprise. Even though a majority had been reached the rest of them were eyeing Ben, trying to get him on board because once that happened she would ultimately follow. Finally he caved.
“Fiiine. But only for an hour or so.”
“More than enough time!” Prudence bounced happily, finally able to have something new to do.
“So where is this entrance you speak of?” Jack asked, not wanting to show his excitement when Prudence did. He still liked to give her a hard time, even though he was happy she was on board.
“It’s at the top of Crestwood Blvd. Like WAAY up there.”
“This means I’m going to have to at least drive us up, huh?” Prudence asked.
“Uh...yeah, probably.”
“UUUUGGGGGHHHH...fine.”
Ben looked at his watch, it was only 11:15 am, the day was young. “So what’s the plan then?”
Lee finally was excited, it wasn’t often his ideas went through. “Well it’s going to be dark down there so we should each get a flashlight, maybe a jacket and definitely comfy shoes.”
Prudence looked down at her strappy heels. Right...these are totally not going to fly. She thought
“I’ll grab some snacks.” Rosie sighed, defeated.
“Alright, so we gear up, head back here, drive up and then start this little voyage. Sound good?”
Jack wanted desperately to take the reins so he stated it like a command.
“Down.” Prudence.
“Sounds good.” Lee.
“Alright.” Ben.
“I guess.” Rosie.
“Let’s do this!” Jack clapped his hands together letting it ring loudly in that small space, Jules looked up momentarily but turned back to her work.
And with those three words they embarked on the greatest adventure of their lives.
“More than enough time!” Prudence bounced happily, finally able to have something new to do.
“So where is this entrance you speak of?” Jack asked, not wanting to show his excitement when Prudence did. He still liked to give her a hard time, even though he was happy she was on board.
“It’s at the top of Crestwood Blvd. Like WAAY up there.”
“This means I’m going to have to at least drive us up, huh?” Prudence asked.
“Uh...yeah, probably.”
“UUUUGGGGGHHHH...fine.”
Ben looked at his watch, it was only 11:15 am, the day was young. “So what’s the plan then?”
Lee finally was excited, it wasn’t often his ideas went through. “Well it’s going to be dark down there so we should each get a flashlight, maybe a jacket and definitely comfy shoes.”
Prudence looked down at her strappy heels. Right...these are totally not going to fly. She thought
“I’ll grab some snacks.” Rosie sighed, defeated.
“Alright, so we gear up, head back here, drive up and then start this little voyage. Sound good?”
Jack wanted desperately to take the reins so he stated it like a command.
“Down.” Prudence.
“Sounds good.” Lee.
“Alright.” Ben.
“I guess.” Rosie.
“Let’s do this!” Jack clapped his hands together letting it ring loudly in that small space, Jules looked up momentarily but turned back to her work.
And with those three words they embarked on the greatest adventure of their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment