Cez Presents: The Town of Men

Date: 9/2/2018

I was walking down the street in a non descript block, with sparse saplings n the like. And I couldn't quite remember what I was doing on the block. Was I out to get groceries? I was alone, so walking my dog was out of the question. As I tried to contemplate what I was here for, a black car speed up beside me, and a gritty voice barked "Get in." I stood there, even more confused and dumbstruck, squinting into the inky black cars tinted windows unsure, and the voice cut up my thoughts. "You are surrounded by snipers who will shoot on sight by command. You will only be safe if you get in the car. I suggest you get in the car." I gazed up at the faded skyline. Although I couldn't see the tops of the buildings 100% clearly, I could almost make out shadowy figures darting between the roof tops. I really, really doubted that getting in this car was the safest option, but I guess it was safer than taking the risk of being shot a thousand times. Begrudgingly, I opened the passenger seat. And wrestled with the black seatbelt that melted in with the all black car. The light turned green and the car speed off, leaving the nondescript block in the distance, like a moving picture. As I looked out the window, I wished that I was back on that block, not quite understanding why I was there, instead of being inside this car, asking the same question. It struck me that I never saw my captor, and just then noticed the limo- like barrier between the driver seat and me. "Where are you taking me?" Silence answered my question along with heavy breathing. "What am I doing here?" "You're cordially invited." A feminine voice affirmed, a firm comparison of an automated voice messaging bot, but more fleshed out. I could not quite tell if there was one or two people were in the front, but the voices kept shifting. I sat in hard concentration trying to listen for a presence, a conversation any word uttered from the front row, that I hardly noticed the car pulling up towards a glade Past a hill I saw distant lights and brick buildings peaking upward like hairs The car stopped. "Where are we?" "You have been cordially invited." "....." "You have been targeted by a very elite group of members. You are listed by name on the invitation list. You're job is to entertain them." "What do you think's happening over there...." I hugged the door's window peering at the lights ahead. " That is not advised to be told to you. If you leave the car, you would soon find out." "You must leave the car." I got the point. As I shut the door, the voice parted with "Enjoy yourself." Which surprised me greatly. I hiked around the grassy hill, realizing I was wearing the wrong pair of shoes for this terrain, because my feet soaked up the moisture and dirt of the patches of grass, attracting sand and swarms of gnats. Halfway past the hill, I was stopped by a well tailored man in an outfit becoming of black and grey. What he was wearing I cannot remember precisely, but he smiled at me a both sincere and insincere smile. "Welcome, you have been expected." I said nothing, I was too confused and worried about how wet my feet were. I pouted. "I will be your first escort to the party. Will you follow me please?" I held his arm as directed and walked the rest of the route around the hill. The ground became less grassy and more worn, from cars and foot traffic. I was lead to the end of a small ledge, overlooking the town. Although I was staring the town , my focus was on the small gathering of white men sipping champagne on the ledge, speaking very solemnly. Actually, as I looked out at the town, it seemed to be only men in the town. There were sparse women, but only being pulled to the sides of another guy. They were all dressed equally as formally If it weren't for this fact, I would have probably been in awe of the tiny town. It was strung with fairy lights and lampposts in the streets, and was a mix of industrial and colonial sentiments. It looked like a typical gentrified New England town, complete with a white church and brick road. Had it been different circumstances I'd be overjoyed at the opportunity to go antiquing. I had forgot the mans arm I was clinging to. He smiled down to me as I made such a realization. "Go. Socialize." He said in a sugar sweet tone. I walked (limped, my heels¿ were still caked in dirt) to the small gathering and was met with the delight and fanfare of the men. And given a champagne to awkwardly hold as I balanced on my heels But instead of socializing, I was never truly included into the conversation, and my escort was speaking to another man on the sidelines. He was a bit far, but thanks to my super sensitive hearing I can hear far away conversations. "600, 650? Will you go any higher than that? " "Not at 800. 650 it is for the new one. Pretty little thing." "Indeed." The two men exchanged cash and the latter came to my side. I smiled as best as I could in such a situation. After a while of parading me around, I got bored of smiling. I tried to act interested in their conversation, but it mainly spanned from economic stocks and praising trump for certain policies overseas and what not. I sense that my new "escort" felt the same, because he released me from his grip to go mingle with some girls with legs as thick as sticks. That left me free to explore the ledge and the other guests. While the men continued to praise themselves over solving the "problems of the world" my attention now focused on the only guy who was not dressed up, and was now squatting, and focusing on the floor. I approached him cautiously. "What are you looking at?" He looked up from the spot. "Myxogastria." "What?" He stared back down. "Slime mold." My eyes widened. "OH." I squat down with him. If I was going to be in this situation, like hell I was going to just sit there and not learn any science. Fuck you. I'm going to learn something. "You're a mycologist?" "I'm a Biochemist from Harvard. I work in penn and Columbia." "Oh really? I.....,,,," I stopped myself. Had it been a different situation, I would have introduced myself. It then dawned on me that he was just a pervert as the rest of the crowd. "I.....,,,,.. that's really interesting." "Which type is that?" I pointed out a fungus that looked like an inverted mushroom. It's top was flat and shaped like a ceiling button. He responded with a Latin name. "It's edible," he retorted, answering a question I never asked. I now dedicated my time to picking them in silence and sticking them in my pocket. As I picked them, I was filled with melancholy realizing how much my lover would have loved hearing that fact. A gentleman stopped our picking. "Ah, there you are," It was the previous man from before. He had a girl in his arms. "I'm bored with this one. Can I switch mine with yours?" He gestured to the lady on his arm. "Oh please, please switch with him," I thought but dare not say. I really just wanted to point out mushrooms and biology in peace. The biochemist solemnly nodded, and the pair laughed and walked off. The scientist and I walked deeper around the ledge and to the edge of town. As we walked, I pointed to all of the flora and fungi I was unfamiliar with. "What's that?" "That's not a fungi. It's a moss." "Oh...." we ran into a trio. There was a man with two women by his side. "Professor!" He exclaimed. They knew each other. The men exchanged greetings, and casual banter. By the time they had finished, the professor had one of the women under his arm, as he paid the man in full cash. They thanked each other and parted ways. I continued to forge for shrooms, eagerly adding to my collection. Maybe when I came back to you, I could cook them for you. Or perhaps I could make a display case out of them. I seemed to have enough formaldehyde at home. As the thicket by the entrance of town grew, so did the mushrooms. Some were up to the calf in height. The pair began to walk closer now. "What's that one?" "Hellvella crispa." "And that large one over there?" "Macrolepiota procera." "And that one?" "That's still Macrolepiota procera." The biochemist scowled. "Are you daft?! Leave us be. I don't care where you go." The scientist and his partner went into town to be somewhere more intimate. I was left quite literally in the dirt. There was not much else I could do but go into town also. As I entered town, I was given many looks. Several had the gall to stop me. "Where is your escort?" They questioned, And I would smile give them the same answer. "Oh he's over there see? Oh he's in the bathroom. Oh, he just stepped away, see?" As the stares got more evident, I went into a hustled sprint. In between buildings and walls and down stairs and tunnels, ignoring being pushed and prodded and catcalled. I ran down a hallway and bumped into a group of men. "Where's your man sweetheart?" They all chimed in unison. "Ummmm...." I looked around. There was no one else but me "He's coming down this hallway now! Yeah!" They nodded to each other. "Well, we can't let you go past until we see him. For now, you'll just have to wait here, ok?" I grimaced. I really hoped this turned out alright. I didn't know if I wanted someone to appear down the hallway or not. If no one showed up, I'd be in danger, but if someone did my fate was unknown. To my luck, someone did A chubby, 16 year old boy came jogging down the hallway to the group's surprisement. He was traveling alone also I smiled. "Oh, honey! I was looking for you. I must've gotten lost. These men won't let me through. Tell them we're together." He smiled also. "Oh gosh, you don't know how long I was looking all over for you. That old bat for brained scientist gave me quite a deal for you. But when I looked for you, you left me! He broke out into sweaty laughter. "You're number 626 right?" My smile broke. The men gave each other a look. "Thanks for finding em, fellas. Can't thank you enough." The men stepped aside and we went upstairs together. "My name's Michael," said Michael. "That's nice," I added, barely conscious of what was happening anymore. Upstairs, we went antiquing. I stared sadly into the eyes of many soulless wooden horses and discarded teddy bears. "Everyone calls me dirk. Because it's my last name. It's also my middle name. Dirk." Said Michael Dirk Dirk. "Ok my name is- "Girlfriend. You're my new girlfriend right? I had an old girl. She was bad. She's gone now. You're my new one. My new girl." "I'm...." "So beautiful. You're really pretty. No ones ever told you that right? Prettier than my old girl. Your my new girl now." I picked up a good smelling organic soap. It smelt like lavender and lemons. It smelt like home. I walked up to the cashier with a potpourri pouch and soap in hand. "Um...." "Oh look into your bag! I put all of my cards in there." I checked, and as he said, were 14 credit cards and gift cards to various places. I bought the items, and then we went into a furniture store. He talked my ear off about basketball and how his high school was getting into dirt biking. I listened graciously, and tested the comfort of each chair. I stole some of the lifesavers on the counter. I shoved one in my mouth, and the rest in my pockets We walked up the steps to a German confectionery shop. I admired its Victorian plaster. "And then my brother Dave crushed it on the black diamond! Do you like skiing? Wait of course you like skiing! You have to! Because you're my girl! Haha!" I gazed down at the glass filled with cookies. They were perfect Austrian treats. I was mesmerized by the articulation to detail in the Linzer tarts and the rose gold window glass staining on the cookies. It had detailed roses and tiny cursive on some of the cookies. "Oh look! The young couple. What a pair!" The old baker swooned. "Give us a kiss!" The customers gravitated towards us. He wrapped his arms around me and leaned in for a peck, which was all I could muster. "Common, girl, you can do better. Why don't you kiss me?" The boy leaned in, this time tighter. I turned my head to get my cheek slobbered on. With much relish, I pushed his face away. "Why would you do that????? Don't you love me?! Come here, answer me! " "Michael, you're nice, but it's over. It's been real." "Excuse me? AFTER ALL IVE DONE FOR YOU. No. You can't break up with me. I OWN you. You love me! We are dating. Doesn't that matter to you?!" That's it. That's when I lost it. I had enough. I was officially done. "NO, it doesn't! I love my partner! You have nothing on me. I am not yours. I'M NOT A GIRL, I WANT TO GO HOME!" And then I woke up.