IN A BOX UP A TREE
improv-able
IN A BOX UP A TREE
When Cy and Ruth see each other, it's all gold. Her living down South, it doesn't happen much. The way they move together, through space and time, is pure art. Better than art. They're like dance-skaters.
She takes a shower and washes her graying red hair while he does push-ups in the hallway outside the bathroom door. They scream above the shower, talking about wind-surfing and gardening and TV re-runs and blackberry pies. They're characters, they are.
Cy makes coffee and Ruth hunts around the kitchen for some cognac or Kahlua or whatever.
"You know, Ruthie, I stopped with that stuff." "Yea. And airplanes can't fly." "Well, alright. But I keep it in a box up a tree. So I really have to
want it bad." "Oh god, Cy! You're flipping out! Just keep drinking until you're done.
Another week or year or two is all the same. Just wait until you're done. Then you're done. No rule you make is as strong as your life!"
"Blah! Blah! This works good for ole Mr. Cy. Besides, really, I don't drink any more."
They drink creamy coffee. Then they decide to walk for a while. Up is where Ruth always heads.
"My legs work great when I start out. But I need gravity on the way home."
Ruth is a smidgen over six feet tall. She moves a little like an ostrich. Cy says:
"You are truly one of the only young people I know. Not that I have a lot of friends."
Ruth bends over and gives him a forehead kiss. Cy gives her ass a little bop. They decide to walk up and see where the backhoes and crawlers and dump trucks are creating new potential building sites. Ruth shakes her head as a pear tree is uprooted and pushed onto a pile.
"Are we supposed to walk straight through here? Or can we go around? This is what I call 'heavy metal.'"
"Amen and a half. Every night I think about sabotaging those yellow monsters. I'm not sure what stops me. I know people got to live somewhere--but the process is so ugly. So violent. I simply cannot get a hold on it."
"It's like deconstructive surgery. First make it flat. Then make it square. Very crude. Reminds me a little of my close friend Thomas."
"You still hanging with that big ox. Amazing! It truly is."
"Amazing grace is what it is. Some times crude. Some times very square. But Thomas is my main squeeze. He looks to you like an ox. But he comes on to me like a bull."
Ruth and Cy speak often about animals.
They walk back to Cy's house. When Ruth goes potty, Cy climbs up the maple and gets his alcohol stash. Ruth is smiling and buttoning her jeans.
"Thank you, my man. It is always good to have a pre-brunch sip to get the taste buds active."
They leave again and walk toward town. "I presume you're still walking the tightrope with Mark!" "Nope, Not any more. I kicked the habit. Cold turkey I am. I got up
to here with his constant rages. He's too morbid. He just plain wore me down. I don't believe he knows the difference between loving and hurting.
They're a two-headed ax to Mark. It seemed no matter which head fell I got a deep gash."
"I'd say that was a long, long, long time coming. So, you getting any action these days?"
"Well, my dear Ruth, I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count. I see you give up. I, your friend Cy, am spending the odd evening with--a--female."
"A what? Will wonders ever cease. Why you corrupt dude! Give me five, three ways."
"Yes, Ma'am, I am." "Tell me more. And skip no detail!" "She's pretty, of course. Spanish blood. Gorgeous brown eyes. She
usually has one braid down to her shoulder blades. Mind you, we're only investigating each other. Her name is Monica. And she'll be 20 this month."
"Nineteen years old! Oh my God! You leap from the frying pan into the fire. You're one of a kind, Cy."
Ruth and Cy enter the New Moon Café. It's still morning. There are three young kids in a corner booth. The only other people are two men. The one is hanging on the other. Cy says:
"Doesn't that guy look like Sal?" "Yeah. But in miniature." Only Sal's head is showing above the table. When he gestures they go
over. Very Weird what is happening between Sal and the other man. Like a cat who has a paw on a captured mole. Sal was the mole. His lips begin to move, in a raspy whisper:
"Yesterday afternoon, Diane went into the hospital for a brain scan. The doctors wouldn't let me be with her. It was crazy. They took her away for three hours. Without telling me they started giving her chemotherapy. Finally, they let me in. Her eyes were vacant. They had put her in a straightjacket. Because she had started screaming and scratched a nurse. She begged me to take her away. 'I'm gonna die, Sal. Get me outta here, please!'"
Sal looks up, only with his eyes.
"What could I do" She was begging me. I said, 'Diane, is this what you want?' 'Please, sal. I'm begging you. Take me away from this place!'"
It got very quiet in there. With his tongue Sal wets his lips. The waitress is standing by the table where the kids are. She is taking everything in.
"So, I did it. Took off that stupid jacket and picked her up in my arms. Diane weighed nothing. I stole my own wife out of the hospital. I took her to our place. She was in bad pain. We talked and talked and cried. I tried to comfort her. I thought I did the right thing. She died about an hour ago. In our bed. Just lying there. Cold on the sheets."
Ruth put her arm out. Sal lays his hands and head on it. She lifts him up, just like that. Like he is a puppet. He is whimpering.
"What am I going to do? I have no strength. I'm almost dead myself."
It was true. Sal was hardly breathing. His body seemed deflated and his chest was closed tight as a fist. Cy is feeling for him. But he doesn't let it show.
"No way man! You got babies over there. They've got no mother. They got only you. I see you're hurting but you still need to come back and be strong for those kids."
"I can't. I've got no life in me to help myself! You two help me. I'm going to die too. Help me."
Ruth looks down at Sal and lifts him up to his feet. Then she lets go. For an instant Sal just balances. Like a wave. With her fist, like a hammer, she strikes his heart. Sal's eyes widen and his arms spread out and his mouth opens. Then he drops back down.
Cy and Ruth go back to their chairs.
"Ruth, that was a wonderful thing you just did. If he survives this ordeal, a lot will be because of you."
"I don't know what happened. It was out of my control."
"That was love. That was real love what just happened."
"I'm not sure what that was, Cy. But I think we better go. I can't eat anything right now."
When they get to the door, Sal stands up. He moves towards them, with the other guy right behind, looking very angry. Ugly angry. Sal says:
"You know, Ruth, I got severe asthma. What are you doing hitting me like that. I could have a bad attack right now. You'd be responsible."
The angry man, who is Diane's father, says:
"What insensitive people you are! I think you need someone to punch you in the chest!"
Then they leave.