reversed rewind

I slid into the backseat of a cab and drummed my fingers on the leather.

'Where you goin' buddy?'
'Anywhere away from here.'

The driver gave me a strange look but pulled away from the bay regardless. My fare probably made sure he ate tonight.

'You from around these parts?'
'Oh no sir. I’m a long way from home.'

I slid from the backseat of the cab and thanked the driver. Threw him a couple of hundred dollar bills through the window as well.

'Your fare was only $10! Hey man, do you want some change?'
'Change would be fantastic.'

I walked away into the sea of people. I was immediately lost in the hubbub of New York, the delicious hubbub of New York.

'Watch where you’re goin' jackass.'
'Will do, sir.'

New York was wonderful if you wanted to disappear but not miss out on life. You could stand on a sidewalk for no more than 5 minutes and hear a million different stories.

'Luigi's on the Boulevard has shut down girl! You di'nt know? Cockroaches or somethin' nasty like that.'

'So I told him where to go, you know? No-one treats my sister like that and I told him that too.'

'Molly finally had the baby after, like, 18 hours in labour. I know right, 18 hours is a long time!'

Every anecdote had some meaning or heart behind it and that was what reached out to me so much. Listening to tales is my favourite thing to do; there is no way for people outside your head to fully differentiate between reality and fantasy. I can remember stories my mother used to whisper in my ear more than anything from my childhood - when everything is hectic in my world, its easy to slip away into a story from when I was 4 years old.

My feet took me to a sweet Italian cafe where you can sit in the window and watch everything go by. The waitress, a gorgeous old thing, spoke with a homely Italian accent that had picked up New York twangs along the way.

'A coffee, ah? You need somethin’ to bulk you up, how ‘bout a muffin?'
'No thank you bellisima.'

I sat in the comfortable armchair and drank cup after cup of this lady's own blend. The sky eventually turned an inky black, nightlife began to thrive and I was gently ushered from the cosy place with an old Italian lady making me promise to come again. She kissed me on both cheeks and bundled me onto the street, tutting at my lack of coat.

'Take care caro.'
'Always, bellisima.'

I slid into the backseat of a cab and brushed my fingers along the leather.

'Hey, its you.'
'Me again.'
'Home this time buddy?'
'Home is far away. Just to my hotel would be good enough for me, thank you sir.'

The driver pulled away from the bay with a smile on his face.

'Change will come soon y'know buddy.'
'Oh I know. I’m just waiting for the right moment to make it happen.'
'Hey, good luck with that. Lord knows someone needs to do somethin'.'
'Thank you sir.'

And I pressed another hundred-dollar bill into the cab drivers hand.

'For believing.'
'Anytime buddy.'

I slid from the backseat and back into the reality of my chaotic world where I checked my watch every minute for just the right moment.

fin.
to peter pan, who lives forever.