I will be doing regular readings of all my books from the last Ten years, in lieu of my new book "Coeval of the Hedonic" (A.Glass 2025) which needs to be settled for at least a month, before the readings will begin. Reading: "KALAS" (A.Glass 2020)

 

Novik then checks over his phone apps, opening up the social security icon. “...My password...” He looks up at the clear blue sky. “...Tk7T9L...I think.” Novik types in the code via the small interface. Still looking at the screen, with his right hand he reaches across and lifts up his beer. As the social security app opens up with his details. “...Whaddya know…” He also sees that a payment has been made to his nominated bank account. Closing his eyes. “Fuck! I finally got some money,” he says quietly, lifting the beer up in a celebratory manner, as a sense of relief, that with the viral pandemic which has swept the nation and the monetary chaos ensured, the checks on his employment history and tax details weren't as thorough in this time of crisis. Placing the phone back into his pocket, he leans back continuing to drink his beer. Novik notices to his right, two young men approaching him with a dog on a lead, with one of the men wearing a medical mask. He has another sip of his beer.
“Hey Tommy!” The man holding the lead says, as Novik looks at the dog, acknowledging the man who said his name.
“Morning, Shevon”
“No spare beer?”
“No sir...Not today...” Novik, lifting the bottle to his lips, as the dog looks up at him, to which he holds his left hand, as the pitbull sniffs. “...Everything going alright?” Novik asks, while he pats the head of the dog.
“Yeah, it's all good...This is Mike…” Shevon says, referring to the man next to him with the medical mask, as both of them stand in front of Novik, looking around the park area. “...he had the virus.”
Novik nods, looking up at the man who raises his eyebrows, without taking off the mask.
“As bad as they say it is?”
“Fuck yeah, I mean it's mostly the old that are dying from it, but, it's like the flu, just way worst. It hits you after a few days when you get it, like bang, temperature goes up, chest tightens...”
“Fever is hell. Right?” Shevon adds, as he looks up at the main road behind wear Novik is sitting, as a white, unmarked car with tinted windows slows down.
“Real bad… I gotta wear this, even though I'm clear now, I live with my grandmother, she gets tested every fortnight.
“What about you Shevon? How's your mom?”
“She was doing rehab before all this shit...She's good. Y'know...Hey, you got a fifty?”
“One note?”
“Yeah...”
Novik smiles. “You're giving me change?”
Shevon chuckles, he then reaches into his front trouser pocket and pulls out a collection of bills folded into a silver money clip. Handing the lead of the dog to the man standing next to him, Shevon unclips a single note, passing it to Novik who reaches forward with his free hand and takes the bill from the young man. To which Novik studies it, he then hands it back to Shevon.
“This one is better”
“Better printer...” Shevon replies smiling, taking back the ten dollar bill, folding the note over and placing it into the money clip. “...I gotta roll, take it easy Tommy.”
“You too Shevon,” Novik says as he sips his beer, while the two men walk back up towards East Mosholu Parkway Street. Staring ahead, he thinks of the area that he has lived in most of his life, The Bronx. The young man presented him with a forged ten dollar bill, he is part of the local gang's that run petty crime, which includes passing off counterfeit notes, drug dealing and theft. Nothing has really changed for the poor and destitute living in the cheap accommodation or New York State's housing which are prominent throughout the Bronx area. They've been hit hard by the virus outbreak, with many relying on the local hospital system, which has been pushed to breaking point since the pandemic. With a significant death rate amongst the minority peoples of New York City, for Novik, all he has ever known is survival. An outsider of society, yet, even from the peripheral he is unsure of what will be next. When the underground would gauge the society for its plays - everything has been thrown into turmoil. It is the complete structure of society that has broken down. Novik reaches into his inside coat pocket and takes out the hand sanitizer. Placing the beer back down onto the park bench, he squirts the jelly fluid onto his left palm, rubbing his hands together. “Stay low key Tommy,” he says to himself.

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Reading:  "KALAS"  (A.Glass 2020)