Sunday, October 21, 2007
Rob Barkstone
Robert Raymond Johnson woke to his cell phone alarm and turned it off quickly. He didn't want to wake Cathleen so early in the morning, he thought naturally. He allowed himself a five minute half dreaming/half thinking relaxation moment. Rob was predicting his future as he thought about his next immediate moves, for instance, putting his feet on the ground and retrieving the clothes he set out last night. He half dreamed his drive to work, his morning meeting, his next assignment, and fleeting pictures in his mind of possible events in his day. Finally he concentrated on the thoughts about actually getting out of bed.
He began his routine. Stand up, grab the clothes, wallet, cell phone, his daily items. Moving to the bathroom he went on with his rituals. The shower was his ...... The long, hot shower woke his brain up and his mind was predicting things again. Dry off, do the sink stuff, dress and get on to the other rooms of the house. In the kitchen he made a bowl of cereal, ate it and grabbed three bottles of water from the fridge and left them on the kitchen table. In the home office he found his duffle bag and laptop and went back to the kitchen table, leaving them there. Rob went outside to the patio in the backyard for a few more minutes to relax.
As he sat there quietly he sipped his water. He produced a joint and lit it. Rob knew he should give up pot, but it helped him get through the day. He rationalized that smoking dope was no different than some of his co-workers and their prescription drugs, their happy pills. Everyone seemed to have an addiction, coffee fiends were everywhere, cigarette smokers, nicotine gum chewers, drinkers, his professional group had addictions he thought. Besides, he only smoked one doob all day, he just took small breaks for a few hits. This was the first break, another chance to do more prophetizing about what his day would be like.
He loved his job and liked most of his colleages. He thought about what little joke he would tell Judy, something related to yesterday he predicted. He remembered that Sam was driving today and smiled, Sam was the best truck operator the station had. His mind drifted to the meeting, and he was guessing what story might be his. That city council meeting that got so heated yesterday? He hoped for something related to the Tigers, the team was in a good pennant race and he loved baseball, but he also knew he was the top reporter today and would be expected to cover the hottest story. He wondered if he could get over to the stadium for a quick story after whatever assignment he first got.
Rob carefully stubbed out the joint and put it away to take with him. He lit a cigarette and sipped water. He only smoked about four or five cigarettes a day, this was the starter. Rob now thought about history, somehow his mind had jumped to yesterday's story. It hadn't gone well. Interviewing the policeman at that gas station explosion was strange. "The man seemed to have a breakdown right in front of me." In mid-interview Sgt. Friday started talking some sort of gibberish. Rob laughed at that for a moment, a policeman named Sgt. Friday, what were the chances? Certainly it helped Rob remember his name compared to so many cops he interviewed. Some of the other officers came and got Friday and told us we couldn't use the tape, Rob recalled.
He also thought about his wife and family. Cath was great, the two kids he loved like nothing else. He wished he had more time for them, he expected that his next promotion would yield more personal time. The kids deserved more attention and Rob wanted to give it. As a top beat reporter there would be fewer assignments and a little more family time. Rob was in line for the top tier and everyone at the station knew Rob was probably going to replace his own mentor. He had mixed feelings about that. Tom Westerling showed him the ropes and Rob became his fan. Ol' Tom had been all over the town and this was his third station over the 40 or so years.
Time to move. Rob went back inside, collected up the stuff on the kitchen table and began to head for the door. He noticed his dog was giving him "the look" so Rob hooked him up to leash and let him out. He wished he had time for ---Bruno--- but he needed to get moving. While the dog did his thing in the backyard, Rob loaded the car. He called for Bruno who was excited to see him and wanted to play. Rob rubbed Bruno's back for a minute and then let him in the door.
Getting in the car, Rob
He began his routine. Stand up, grab the clothes, wallet, cell phone, his daily items. Moving to the bathroom he went on with his rituals. The shower was his ...... The long, hot shower woke his brain up and his mind was predicting things again. Dry off, do the sink stuff, dress and get on to the other rooms of the house. In the kitchen he made a bowl of cereal, ate it and grabbed three bottles of water from the fridge and left them on the kitchen table. In the home office he found his duffle bag and laptop and went back to the kitchen table, leaving them there. Rob went outside to the patio in the backyard for a few more minutes to relax.
As he sat there quietly he sipped his water. He produced a joint and lit it. Rob knew he should give up pot, but it helped him get through the day. He rationalized that smoking dope was no different than some of his co-workers and their prescription drugs, their happy pills. Everyone seemed to have an addiction, coffee fiends were everywhere, cigarette smokers, nicotine gum chewers, drinkers, his professional group had addictions he thought. Besides, he only smoked one doob all day, he just took small breaks for a few hits. This was the first break, another chance to do more prophetizing about what his day would be like.
He loved his job and liked most of his colleages. He thought about what little joke he would tell Judy, something related to yesterday he predicted. He remembered that Sam was driving today and smiled, Sam was the best truck operator the station had. His mind drifted to the meeting, and he was guessing what story might be his. That city council meeting that got so heated yesterday? He hoped for something related to the Tigers, the team was in a good pennant race and he loved baseball, but he also knew he was the top reporter today and would be expected to cover the hottest story. He wondered if he could get over to the stadium for a quick story after whatever assignment he first got.
Rob carefully stubbed out the joint and put it away to take with him. He lit a cigarette and sipped water. He only smoked about four or five cigarettes a day, this was the starter. Rob now thought about history, somehow his mind had jumped to yesterday's story. It hadn't gone well. Interviewing the policeman at that gas station explosion was strange. "The man seemed to have a breakdown right in front of me." In mid-interview Sgt. Friday started talking some sort of gibberish. Rob laughed at that for a moment, a policeman named Sgt. Friday, what were the chances? Certainly it helped Rob remember his name compared to so many cops he interviewed. Some of the other officers came and got Friday and told us we couldn't use the tape, Rob recalled.
He also thought about his wife and family. Cath was great, the two kids he loved like nothing else. He wished he had more time for them, he expected that his next promotion would yield more personal time. The kids deserved more attention and Rob wanted to give it. As a top beat reporter there would be fewer assignments and a little more family time. Rob was in line for the top tier and everyone at the station knew Rob was probably going to replace his own mentor. He had mixed feelings about that. Tom Westerling showed him the ropes and Rob became his fan. Ol' Tom had been all over the town and this was his third station over the 40 or so years.
Time to move. Rob went back inside, collected up the stuff on the kitchen table and began to head for the door. He noticed his dog was giving him "the look" so Rob hooked him up to leash and let him out. He wished he had time for ---Bruno--- but he needed to get moving. While the dog did his thing in the backyard, Rob loaded the car. He called for Bruno who was excited to see him and wanted to play. Rob rubbed Bruno's back for a minute and then let him in the door.
Getting in the car, Rob
