Box of Sunshine

                                                                              Box of Sunshine

                              It was one of those hard days when the rain had just passed and the threat of a storm hung in the air like the bad stench of a rabid skunk. He was tired of the hassle of the job he worked and the absolute ass of a boss for whom he worked. Tiger Town was one of the worse cesspools in the county, filled with black and white trash, horny pimps with old whores and dope dealers on every other corner. The man’s name was Otis and he was in his early twenties with a brief background in juvenile hall. He’d recovered from his bout with the law and was trying to become an upstanding citizen. After he managed to free himself from the constraints associated with being a ward of the state, he found a job in the cologne factory moving freight.

　

                            His old advocate, a gentleman who simply went by the name Stubbs, was still a part of his life supervising his career and always right by his side for support. Stubbs was pleased with Otis and the life he was leading; to the point where the two would have dinner a couple times, a week and Stubbs would share advice on how to make it in the world with a smile. Stubbs thought he was lucky to be able to aid a young man in his search for contentment.

　

                               Contented, however, was the last thing Otis was. He looked at the street where the bus had just dropped him and felt something clawing in his gut. The room he called home was in the back of a hotel that didn’t do any business since 1896. It was  pleasant enough (in terms of the people that lived there and the little fat guy that ran the place, Jerry) but it never really was homey enough. Clyde Street and Dexter Avenue looked like their usual mess and he allowed a short grin to grace his features as he considered everything. He’d just been paid and the rent was taken care of, so before he went home he would stop in Clyde’s Pub and have a couple beers.

　

                               The thought of getting completely drunk crossed his mind, he decided against it because he knew what a jerk he became when he was trashed and there was a cute raven haired chick that tended bar. Her name was Cyndi and he often considered asking her out but never had the stones to do it. Clyde’s was a dump that smelled like a pile of shit but it’d work.

　
                                 Otis walked in and saw the acrid smoke that filled the air, shook his head in silent expectation, and stepped to the bar. The place wasn’t crowded just yet but steady streams of people were entering. There were two bartenders that night. An old man with no hair and more wrinkles than anyone alive named Stuie, and Cyndi (who had her hair cropped short and excessively much bright red lipstick on) spotted Otis and shot a questioning look at him.

　
                              He winked as he snapped his fingers and pointed at the dirt spot on the bar in front of him. She laughed a little and nodded as she grabbed a mug and drew a draft. He sighed as he tried to breathe through the stink of the room. She brought his beer to him and put it down, smiled as she licked her lip, then turned away as a group of firefighters entered the bar. With a mild shrug of annoyance, Cyndi shot to the register and started taking orders.

　
                           Otis let out a short chuckle as he considered himself lucky to have a job where he was required to deal with only one ass. The room was getting busy and the noise the customers were making all but drowned the raucous music the jukebox was making. Otis felt a certain sadness wash over him as he thought of how frustrating it must be to make music that no one would enjoy. The brief desire to cry came over him and he gulped the beer. 

                         Soon there was a real party going and Otis was on his fourth beer and tempted to either scream or cry. When the bar went black and silence overcame the noise, he was convinced, at first, there was a blackout. The light that flooded the doorway had him do a double take. A youngish woman with long flowing white hair, a bright silk gown, and the most riveting eyes Otis could imagine, graced the dingy bar with her presence. She stretched a hand in the young man’s direction and drifted toward him. Pointing her index finger at Otis, she smiled brightly. “You, are the one, I have to speak to. The road has been long and troubling for you my friend. Fear not, the storm is truly gone and you are still here. I know that you wonder why it is that you struggle. Are you prepared to know?”
　

                        Otis was taken with this lady and saw no choice but to listen to everything she had to say. He nodded unconsciously as she lifted his face with her hands and held his eyes with hers. He couldn’t even think of anything to say or do so he relaxed and just enjoyed the moment. It was more than simply erotic, far more than romantic, and even greater than anything he could compare. With a blink, the two were skyward and Clyde’s became a passing thought.

　

                         “What the hell is going on? Do I know you from somewhere?” Otis asked his guide.
When they were high above the city, hovering there in the silent night, she wrapped her arms around his middle and laughed happily.
　

                         “I am a special place deep in your heart. I know you are confused right now but wait a moment and look at what I have to show you.”

　
                           His eyes were opened bigger than they’d ever been and he saw Baybridge from an entirely new perspective. Never before did he notice how beautiful the city was. With its bright lights reflecting off the majestic buildings, the soft ocean breeze blowing peacefully across the public gardens, and the gentleness of loving people with each other and their children sleeping. He was filled with awe and wonder (agog if you will) as he took in the sights.
　

                          With a sideways glance, he checked his guide for her reaction. She whispered to him. “This is life, as people have been living for years, and it is all yours if you want it.”

　
                          After a second of confusion, he replied with a sarcastic laugh. “Sure thing, all I have to want it badly enough and I can be happy?”

　
                          She nodded with a quiet sigh and said, “Yes, it really can be that easy. Do you honestly think these people and this place just came to be without desire? Come on, even you can’t be that stupid. It takes time, yes, and effort, you have to try. Think about it for a moment Otis, what is it that YOU really want? If it’s to live in a room populated by rodents and work in a cologne factory, then what are you bitching about? Your life is perfect. If you are yearning for something different than you have, or what other people think you should have, the change is up to you. See it, dream it, and one day (sooner than you think) you will live it.”

　
                         Otis could almost feel the truth of her words before he realized he must’ve been drunk and passed out. He studied the scene before them once more and felt the urge to sing. She kissed him gently on the forehead and waved her arm. “Take this,” she seemed to have a third arm emerge from nowhere and it held a small package, “it’s a box of sunshine to remind you of all the possibilities.”

　
                        He grinned and then a song poured out of his soul and danced with the stars that filled the sky. He winked at her and she smiled in reply then shot up and away as if a very large straw had sucked her up. He watched the magical dust she’d left behind slowly dissipate and held the small box tightly to his chest. He closed his eyes as the song drifted its way to him again. The putrid smell of stale piss awoke the young man and he looked around to figure out where he was. There was light everywhere and he was lying on a bed with his arm bound by a small tag. Quickly he read the tag and had a brief interlude of peace as he realized he was in Tiger Town Hospital. He had no memory with the exception of seeing the city from the clouds.

　
                        That’s when Stubbs walked over with a goofy smile and an extended hand. “Holy shit, boy you scared the hell out of a lot of people. Thank God you’re okay.”

　
                       Otis smirked back and responded, “Stubbs, nice to see you friend, what am I doing here?”

　

                      “The doctor said you might suffer from temporary amnesia, so don’t worry about it. That’s what friends are for right? To remind us of everything we’ve forgotten.”

　
                       Stubbs explained the blackout caused by a couple of dope dealers running from the law, the fact there was a small explosion, and that a piece of the roof landed on Otis’ head. Then the advocate started a short tirade about the dangers of alcohol and Otis turned his ears off.

　
                     “Any idea when I can get out of here, Stubbs?’’

　
                    “To tell you the truth, the doctor told me to let him know if and when you woke up. I think you can go as soon as he checks you out.” Stubbs said then turned to find the doctor.

                     Otis smiled sincerely to himself for the first time in years as he realized how lucky he was to still be among the living. Feeling his body to be sure nothing was broken, he had a surge of awe wash over him as he felt a tiny box planted on his chest. He picked the box up and opened it. The room became filled with the scent of flowers and the brightest sunlight he’d ever seen. He could feel sweet music vibrating through his body then. He laughed happily as Stubbs and Dr. Morris walked inside the room.

　
                     “Doctor, I really want to say thank you. That goes at least double for you, Stubbs. I am fine and will be leaving now. I have a dream that needs chasing.”

　
                      Before either man could utter a sound, Otis climbed off the bed and danced his way to the door.

　
                     His box of sunshine has been with him ever since and the city of Baybridge, as well as the county, state, and country, is proud of the man who changed the face of music to a medium everyone can enjoy. That is right; this is the fictitious story of how Maxton Lee became aware of his talent and real dream.

　

　

                                                                              -Finis-