PAST LIFE DIARY 2 - Story 410 - Jason in trouble (Jeremy)

JASON IN TROUBLE (Jeremy)

This describes the incident referred to in story 409 - Pipe dream.

It's dark outside. "Jay-Jay!" I say, coming into the bar. He's standing by the opposite wall, holding his hands up with the palms facing the sides of his head. He rushes towards me, looking down. "Money" he says. "Oh, you want money?" I say, grabbing into my pocket. "What did he have?" I ask the people standing around. One young man is standing by the pool table, holding the cue stick upright, looking at me. "Hey, we don't appreciate him coming here" he says. "I get it, yes" I reply hurriedly, as if trying to prevent more provocation. He says: "Why don't you take that…" - he looks out the window, jerking his chin in the direction of my pickup truck - "… and get out of here before the police come." "Yeah! The police!" another young man anxiously adds, obviously wanting to avoid trouble for us. "You hear that?" I shout at Jason, "We're getting out of here!" It's more intended for the other people to hear than Jason himself. I notice the bartender - an older man, perhaps in his sixties - is uncomfortable, probably hoping to avoid a fight from breaking out lest the place gets damaged in the process. So far, I don't even see any broken glasses. Lucky perhaps that there's not that many people present, only about five customers. I'd explain to them about my brother, but I guess I don't need to; they probably can tell from their short encounter with him. I leave a paper bill on the counter. I assume this would generously cover whatever drinks he might have had. The bartender, having realized that I overpaid, panics. "Y… Your change!" he calls out in a hurry as I'm already at the door and Jason's outside. I go back to the counter to receive the change. "Here you go, sir" he says, making sure to sound polite, then whispers: "Thank you, sir."

I turn around and leave in big strides. Once outside, I say: "What were you thinking, brother?" His reply, as usual, doesn't exceed his one word format. "Hammered" he says. "Hammered??" I ask, confused. Does he mean someone pulled out a hammer? I sternly gesture at the passenger side of the truck, an order he swiftly complies to without hesitation.

I bring him back to his aunt's house. At the door, I tell her to give him his medicine (to sleep).

Q: How did you know he was at that bar?

Jeremy: We got a "safety call". Jason keeps a phone number with him which people can call when necessary. He knows that he has to show it to someone when he can't find words.

I'm with Charles now at another bar, telling him about Jason's minimalist explanation for what he did. He laughs real hard. "Probably a word he picked up there" he suggests. "White folks jargon, huh?" I say. He shrugs and lifts his beer bottle as if about to propose a toast. "Hammered!" he says, then breaks out in giggles, shaking his head from hilarity. I smile. I guess he's at the point where everything seems funny to him. I sip slowly, still at my first beer. He's had three and is ordering his fourth now. Oh no… and another one for me too. I tell him I don't want it and that I need to get back to Louise. He spreads his arms with a look as if to say: No problem, I'll just talk to the bartender.