Remember. Remember a snowy television screen? The loss of reception that left pixels scattering in what appeared to be a random order. Have you ever stared at it? Really observed it I mean. Observed it long enough to make sense?
Almost speaking to you… not in words of course. That would be insane. Sort of speaking in a formula, more precisely an algorithm. I would spend about an hour a day observing. Observing like I imagine Henri Charriere observed
the ocean tides at Devil’s Island before making his great escape. Only instead of a break out, I believe I discovered a break in. Allow me to elaborate without getting too “Rain Man” on you:
Amongst the snowy static there is a series of dots. Dots in pairs. Dots that circle around each other like atoms above a black background. Multiply these dot duos 997 times (Depending on the size of your screen of course) you
get a seemingly random pattern that un-randomly repeats every 3 minute 31 seconds.
Numbers, numbers, numbers. At this point in my obsession said numbers I have mentioned are of no relevance. However what is relevant is the result. The event, the “Cycle”
A human mind created this device. Everything a human mind creates is based on a program or theory that repeats in cycles, patterns, algorithms. Some cycles are longer than others.
What does this mean? How are any of these alleged discoveries of use to anyone? Well…
“Sir?, Sir?” Susan impatiently asks. “Uh…yes?” A baggy eyed sleepless man replies entranced by the woman’s breasts. Realizing this, his eyes quickly make for the name badge.
“Are you ready to order?” Susan stares at the the blank check as to not make eye contact for being so rude.
The baggy eyed sleepless man uses this awkward moment to polish his charm. “Still thinking, it all looks so good. It’s hard to choose.” Unaware his menu is upside down.
She rolls her eyes. “If you ain’t gonna get anything, then your loitering. I’m gonna have to ask you to leave if your loitering.”
He smiles lowering his eyes with confidence. “Susan, that is a bit presumptuous. I seriously doubt staring at a menu for 10 minutes would be considered loitering by California state law.”
Susan tilts her head chewing her gum like a teenage brat. “It’s been 2 hours?..”
Oh, there is one (of many) catches to being an observationalist extraordinaire…Your perception of time goes to shit.
“Touche kind Susan! I’ll have the sausage breakfast sandwich.” The baggy eyed sleepless man replies nervously.
Susan jots down the order and walks away unaffected by the baggy eyed sleepless man’s wit.
The baggy eyed sleepless man begins to brew an inner monolog:
I am waiting for a variable. There was no point explaining this to my unsmileable waitress Susan.
There wasn’t even a point in informing her that her cheaply made uniform has a 197 thread count as opposed to the already shitty 200 thread count. There was no point explaining that irregular thread count number meant her
somewhat recently purchased gruel suit was already forming holes in the arm pits. Three more weeks of wear in that uniform and she’ll become a holy grease ghost.
…Wait. I inner mono-logged that a bit too soon. Rewind a little.
There is a casual enough looking man to the left side of this grease pit. The guy over there near the restroom. You know that trucker type with the flannel. Only he doesn’t drive trucks.
I seen him three week ago sitting on a bus bench near Beach boulevard. He was carving the name Susan onto his left arm with one of those Swiss army knife deals.
I remember it distinctively. It was the type with the toothpick insert on top. I remember thinking to myself “Really?! A toothpick?!” I digress.
Aside from the name carving being ironically similar to the waitress in question, he conveniently seated himself near the restroom.
That lady must have some sort of bladder issue. Or maybe her 197 thread count uniform is chaffing. At any rate she is making a trip every 10 minutes…or half hour. I forget how long I’ve been here again.
I can see in his eyes he gets a kick every time she passes. He’s planning his move. I see something bad calculating. Since I can calculate this, it is not the variable.
I’ll keep waiting. It’s bound to show itself.