Tuesday, March 22, 2011

On the first full day of spring fat snowflakes fell between the raindrops.

Sophia cried and strained on my lap, batting away the bottle, convulsed by her mysterious forces.

Later I put her in the crib, tamping down her cries with shhhh, shhhh, shhhh. When she finally stopped I tiptoed away as if she were my house of cards.

Friday, March 04, 2011

Oil & Hay - 17

On the morning of qualifying day I sat on the end of the hotel bed, joylessly chewing my toast and jam. Still the telephone was silent. I waited as long as I could before I had to dress and drive to the track.

She rang just as I tied my shoes.

"Mal darling, I only have a minute."

"Where are you? Berlin?"

"Yes. No–"

"No? Yes?"

"I'm in Berlin right now. On my way out the door to London."

"What for? A photo shoot? A premiere?"

"I'm going to see His Holiness."

"The Pope's in London?'

Melanie laughed. "Not the Pope, my poor, dear Malcolm. The Maharishi."

"Who on earth?"

"Maharishi Mahesh Yogi."

"I'm hearing gibberish right now, my love. Baby talk."

"He brings a message of unfathomable bliss to every man, woman and child on earth."

"Well then by all means."

"You should come see him with me, Mal. You of all people. His Holiness can open up your mind and see inside."

"Sounds rather dreadful, Mel."

"Are you ready to sacrifice what you are for what you may become?"

"Beg pardon?"

"That is the question."

"I saved Rodney Sutcliffe's life yesterday."

"Oh my God, Malcolm. Sweetie."

"He flew off the track and landed in a kitchen. I found him in bed with two nuns."

"Were they about to kill him?"

"He was soaking wet with petrol."

"Then what happened?"

"We lay him on the grass in the rain. The ambulance came."

"You need a new mantra. Guru can give you a mantra."

"You don't like my mantra? What's wrong with my mantra?"

"There is no right or wrong, my dear. You need new."

"I thought you were coming here, Mel."

"I am."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"In time to kiss me good luck?"

"In time to kiss you congratulations."

"I shall drive all the faster knowing such a moment is to come."

"I love you, Malcolm."

"I love you too."

I hung up and sprang to my feet, my once-heavy heart now buoyant. I sang to my reflection as I knotted my tie:

He's a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his nowhere land,
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody