In Real Time

June 20, 2011

By Cheryl R

 

I needed to kick start my muse and I remember something about using the song titles of the next several songs currently playing on your radio as lines in the story.  I was sitting at a light close to home, so I wasn’t going to have time to listen to many songs.  As the next best thing I toggled through my presets and wrote down the six that were playing at the time.   I mixed in a touch of RL angst, stirred, and this is what you get.  Enjoy!

 

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“I’ve decided that we should be TV action heroes,” Blair said as he once again tried to get comfortable.

 

“You want to be an actor?” his partner sputtered as he once again batted at the hand trying to readjust the arm brace.  “Leave it alone.  I’ll turn the Game Ready back on in ten minutes so just chill.”

 

“No, I don’t want to be an actor.  I want to be a TV action hero.  Actors would have real injuries too.  I want to be able to heal like the do on TV.  Get shot on Friday, look suave and debonair in a sling on Sunday, and be back at work on Monday,” Blair glared at the hated arm brace.  “Instead, it’s get shot in autumn and be out until winter or later,” he grumbled.

 

“You’ll be out of the arm brace in a few more weeks,” Jim said as he emptied the water out of the machine and turned to get ice out of the freezer.  “The ice is already gone,” he sighed.  “They should really rent out a portable ice maker with these things.” 

 

Jim grabbed the list off the fridge and checked the cabinets to see what else they might need from the store.  “I’ll be back in a bit.  Leave the brace alone.  Here,” he tossed Blair the TV remote, “check out which TV action hero you want to be while I’m gone.”

 

Blair turned on the TV and started flipping channels.  He suddenly let out a wolf whistle as the scantly clad young lady in Hazard county bent over to ‘fix’ her jeep. 

 

Jim turned just in time to see the lean.  “Looking mighty fine, Daisy Jane.  Mighty fine.”

 

“Jim, it’s Mae.” Blair said knowingly.

 

“Nope, it’s October,” Jim said pointing at the calendar.

 

Blair rolled his eyes at his roommate.  “Not May, Mae.  M. A. E.  Daisy’s middle name is Mae not Jane.”

 

“Looking like that, she can go by whatever name she wants to. Hubba hubba,” Jim said waggling his eyebrows.

 

Blair tossed a pillow at Jim.

 

“Hey, your left-handed aim is getting much better,” Jim smirked.  “Okay, I’m heading out.  Do you want anything not on the list?”

 

“Yes, a new shoulder and doctor’s permission to drive again,” Blair grumped.  “It’s going to be another five weeks until I can drive again.  Five weeks!  I want to do my own errands, and button my shirts, and wear a belt if I feel like it.”

 

“Your shoulder is almost as good as new, you just need to give it time to finish healing.  You know that I don’t mind helping you get dressed or running errands for you, Blair.  You’ve done it for me before,” Jim said attempting to soothe his partner.  “Is there something you’d like me to get for you?”

 

“I really want a chi latte from Joe’s, but that’s across town and in the opposite direction from the store,” Blair sighed a bit sadly. 

 

“I told you Joe would get you hooked on those things.  You didn’t listen to me.  And now, if you don’t get a chi latte from Joe’s once a week you act like it’s the end of the world as we know it,” Jim stated with pride knowing that he was right.

 

Then he really looked at his partner… his slightly depressed partner.  It appeared this really was a big deal… heading towards the final straw of the miserable, emotional rollercoaster day Blair had experienced.

 

They had both thought that Blair was going to be getting the arm brace off today and be able to start in on PT the first part of next week.  Instead, Blair was trapped in the brace for another five weeks or more, a 1 ½ weeks due to the doctor being on vacation.  It was putting his normally unflappable roommate out of sorts.

 

Jim gave Blair a gentle pat on his good shoulder.  “Rest and watch Daisy rescue Bo and Luke.  I’ll be back soon.”

 

Jim headed out the door and pulled out his cell phone as he walked down the stairs.  “Hey Joe,” Jim said as the call was answered.  “Do you know of anyone who’d make a chi latte run out toward our place?  Blair really has a craving for one and he’s kinda had a rough day.”

 

“Sure thing, Jim.  My cousin Sally lives over by you guys and she is going to be heading home soon.  I’ll send one with her.  She owes Blair one anyway for the help with her youngest son’s homework.”

 

“Thank, Joe.  You can put it on my tab,” Jim said.  As he hung up the phone, he thought he heard Joe say something about ‘in the name of love’ but he could have been wrong.  Jim headed toward his truck with a lighter heart.   Five weeks wasn’t too long.  It should be just about enough time to spoil his partner rotten as a start on payback for all the help Blair had given him through the years.

 

The end

 

Feedback is greatly appreciated. Cheryl R

 

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Songs in order of appearance

 

In Autumn Op. 11 by Grieg

Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Daisy Jane by America

Far Away by Nickleback

It’s the End of the World as We Know it (and I feel fine) by R.E.M.

Pride (In the Name of Love) by U2

 

Yes, I do have an eclectic mix of stations programmed on my radio. J

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