Dancing on the Wishes of Paradise by Daniel Blum (rainbow fish read aloud txt) 📕

downstairs turns on loudly. Sarah and Andy look at each other and cautiously walk down the stairs.
Andy sees the back of his dad’s head sitting on the couch. "Dad."
Sarah and Andy run to their father. Their father turns with a tire marked and corroded death face and laughs. The TV shuts off abruptly.
The Blue Castle Club

Martin age twenty seven skinny with a scruffy beard has short black hair. Liz age twenty four has a bubbly personality and blond hair to her shoulders. They walk on a crowded sidewalk.
Liz, "Martin why are we picking up a pig head?"
Martin, "My economics professor needs it for a party or a seance."
Liz, "I knew it. He always looked like a creep." Martin opens a taxi door for Liz.
Cabby, "Where are we going?" The taxi smells like grape bubble gum. Empty Coke zero bottles rattle on the floor.
Martin, "Latella and Sons farm in West Haven. Here is the address." Martin’s red Hawaiian shirt loses buttons by Liz throwing herself on him. The cabby stares at the new lovers.
Liz, "I love you so much."
Martin, "I now you do sour patch."
Liz puts Martin’s Elvis shades on.
Liz, "What are we doing after?"
Martin, "The Blue Castle club baby. Drinks are half off and dancing lasts till the sun comes up."
Liz, "Ow. You know I love to dance with you Martin."
Martin, "You shake those hips till the men die in their dreams."
Liz, "I love the twilight hour. When the sun hits the hoods of the cars making a path of light from the sea to the road." Dead marsh weeds blow in the wind. The taxi stops.
Liz, "Wait baby." Liz kisses Martin on the cheek as he tries to leave the taxi. Lipstick smears on his skin.
Twilight hits the empty barns and dead cars surrounding the quiet farm. Martin opens a barely recognizable door to the headquarters. A mounted buck head stares at Martin. Pictures of fat Italian men and a dry erase board with the weekly animal slaughters hang on the wall. Two obese Italian men fill a six by six foot office. The owner in his early fifties wears a black leg splint and weighs three hundred pounds as he sits at a makeshift desk. His partner has white hair wrapped around a tan bald head and sits in a half recliner facing all who enter.
Martin, "Do you sell pig heads?"
Owner, "What do you want one for?"
Martin, "To eat. You know I am starving and nothing kills the pain like good old fashioned pig brain."
The owner gets on a walkie-talkie. "Have Juan bring me out a pig’s head."
Martin stares at the taxi.
Owner, "Sixteen dollars."
Martin hands the owner a twenty. "I have got to be on my way." He exits the farm headquarters.
Liz, "Martin my legs are thriving to dance."
Martin, "I have got it baby time to roll."
The cab speeds off down the hill.
Martin, "I just have to drop this off to my professor’s building." The cab pulls up to a Brownstone.
Martin holds Liz’s hand as they walk up the steps of the professor's brownstone.
Liz, "I can feel the electricity of the moon baby." Martin knocks on the door. The Professor in his late forties has thin build with grey hair and seductive eyes for taking advantage of young students in exchang for higher grades opens the door. A man wearing a jester mask and a brown robe passes by the hall.
Liz, "Baby something just does not feel right."
Martin, "No it is okay he is going to pay me then we are dancing till the moon falls asleep."
Professor, "Martin back here."
Liz, "Is there a bathroom I can use?"
Professor, "Right down that hallway."
Liz, "Thanks."
Professor, "Diamond girls last forever."
Martin, "They do. They do."
Professor, "Martin I am glad we have a chance to talk."
Martin stares at a burning candle.
Professor, "Nitrous makes the royal clowns dance like swans."
Martin, "What?" "Baby let’s roll."
Professor, "The ides of March are watching us. Have a sip." The professor holds out a goblet of wine.
Martin, "No thank you. I am fine."
Professor, "Martin."
Martin exits the kitchen. "Baby where are you?" Martin opens a cold door. A dwarf wearing the pig head crawls on the floor. Men in jester masks hold down Liz. An ancient pentagram is on the wall. Candles burn as jesters breathe in nitrous balloons. Liz screams. Martin tackles a jester and knocks over burning candles. The dwarf snorts as he invokes the pig spirit. The professor holds a knife to Martin. Liz throws a heavy candle holder at the professor. A jester hits Liz in the mouth. Martin punches the jester and kicks a man wearing a gold mask in the chest. The pig headed dwarf squeals in the night. Jesters try to break down the hall door. The professor pets the pig headed dwarf. The fallen candles begin to ignite the room. Martin grabs Liz’s hand and runs out of the brownstone. Liz’s mouth is bleeding as her shirt is hanging off her shoulder. Martin puts on his Elvis shades and signals a taxi.
Martin opens the door. "The Blue Castle club."
Martin and Liz kiss each other in the back window of the taxi.

Imprint

Text: Daniel Blum
Publication Date: 05-19-2012

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