Reading: "Sibyl of Doom" from 'RITUALS of the ANTITHETICAL' (A.Glass 2023)

 

Zabel turns right at Rivington Street, as a warm wind blows in from the East, she continues walking down the thoroughfare, crossing over to its left side, studying the graffiti and shop fronts which have been boarded up, “So beautifully broken,” she says, admiring the dilapidated area around her, she stands in front an empty, yet striking early Nineteen Hundreds building in its Moorish revival style, looking up she studies the circular and ornamented center piece, enclosed within is a symbolic six pronged axis, angled into a right formation. Stepping closer to the building, she places her left palm on the brick wall covered in graffiti, she closes her eyes. Looking up again, she imagines the middle part of the center piece, moving, akin to Galaxy spinning counterclockwise, to which in her psilocybin state, she watches the six pronged axis slightly gleam in the dark, even though it is part of an old and vacant Lower East Side synagogue which is over two hundred years old. She thinks of her mother.

Zabel walks on towards the night club on Eldridge Street.

*

“Joining us live from 65^th Street in Queens, is Deborah Kinsman. Deborah, can you tell our viewers what happened there tonight.”

Kinsman standing in front of a cameraman, holding the mic with her right hand, as police lights flash behind her.

“Thanks Joe. Yes, well what has happened tonight, has been multiple shootings which have occurred in and around 65^th Street, that ironically are not related, as you can see behind me, the police responded to a call of a man walking down 65^th Street…” Kinsman turns slightly to her right, whilst looking at the camera, pointing at the street behind her. “...And other call out was at 65^th Place, around the corner from 65^th Street, where two men, brandished automatic weapons and began firing at each other outside a party. But first the shooting that occurred here, which was in response to a man who threatened a woman with a handgun, police officers quickly responded and a shootout occurred. The officers shot the man, who was later pronounced dead at the scene. With the other incident, police arrived at the scene and miraculously no one was injured or killed with the shoot out on 65^th Place, however the two gunman, who are believed to be from rival gangs escaped. With police now asking anyone who saw the two alleged gunmen to come forward.”

“Another evening of gun violence in New York City, thanks Deborah.”

The live news report ends, stepping out of view of the camera, she checks her wristwatch.

“My shift is nearly over…” Kinsman says, looking at the cameraman who is staring at his phone. “…Can I get a lift? Sam, you heading back across to the city?”

“Yeah, I got an early rise tomorrow, live morning coverage,” he replies, whilst packing up the camera as he and Kinsman walk towards the network van.

“Lucky you,” she says, in a sarcastic manner handing the mic to him, as he opens the rear doors, placing the camera and its accessories into its secure mounts.

“Timing, my four year anniversary with the wife is tomorrow evening, well…” Turning, smiling at Kinsman. “...So, rather a morning slot than a later one…” Closing the doors, he walks to the driver side as Kinsman opens the passenger door, sitting down, closing the door as her colleague does the same. “...Unless, I get the call.”

Holding up both hands, she crosses her fingers. “Here’s hoping.”

___

(A.Glass 2023)

 Reading: "Sibyl of Doom"  from 'RITUALS of the ANTITHETICAL'  (A.Glass 2023)