They drove by the same sign on their commute six days a week for months. It hung above a bus stop across the street from a dignified graveyard in a formerly dignified part of town. Filth paved the streets and decrepit buildings filled with old business signs lined the filth.

            He had been living with her for a year and a half now and why he stayed with her escaped him. He hated everything in the life they had made together. Emotional breakdowns, top 40 radio, and a schedule dominated by this week's TV Guide.

            They were approaching the sign now. He was lost in thought, sustaining that same fake smile that had become permanently embroidered on his face. She was driving, belting out the latest pop hit. Oh, how she prided herself on knowing all the words. They were passing a failed restaurant, it's broken down sign used to say “Thanks for the Memories” but was changed by some youth with a penchant for truth to “thanks for the wories”.

            The car was passing more and more pedestrian traffic as it came closer to the bus stop. Drug addicts, homeless, poor, homeless drug addicts and random people were moving toward their stop. She kept singing.

            His thoughts raced, he didn't know if he could stand another day trapped in the New American Dream.  An attractive woman, a house, a dog, and soon she'd want kids too. It was reality TV night and tomorrow would be medical drama night, and the night after next would be forensic crime drama, followed by reality medical crime drama.  A never ending cycle of insignificant images inundating them both.

            The sign was looming over the bus stop. Its blue background with big yellow letters starting to morph from color patches to characters with a teleology. A huddled mass of homeless and poor stood underneath it at the bus stop. The words of the sign became clear: “Rent 'A' Center,” and below it the tag line: “Worry free living.” Then he wondered what would happen tomorrow on the medical drama. 

9/6/2009 - Worry Free

Posted by SilverWind Long time no see! I just loved this......it was great, and yet so true, that it was almost sad, but I laughed out loud over reality medidcal crime drama. Permanent Link

11/25/2010 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Zachtin it is very sad. Permanent Link

7/7/2011 -

Posted by linaklutz

You are a very talented writer! Would love to read more!

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