Idle Musings

[DogOfHavoc]

It was still very early. Pete and I were sitting in a small cafe, sipping coffee. I huddled over my cup, fingers interlocked around it. It was a small building, with only four booths and cheap lighting. It was was the kind of place one walked into and expected to see dirt. One was rarely disappointed.

Today our booth was uncharacteristically clean. I figured this information would cheer me up once my coffee had shaken off my drowsiness. Two booths away from us, seated so that they were behind Pete's field of view, sat four college kids. They were making a lot of noise and being generally rowdy. My headache didn't appreciate it.

Pete was disheveled as usual. His chin was covered in stubble and his eyes drooped. His mop of black hair was unkempt and bunched out in preposterous clumps. He had two cups of coffee in front of him, a hand on each.

We weren't speaking. Hell, that early in the morning, we were barely alive. Pete sipped his coffee and seemed to be growing more agitated as he gained energy. He swiveled and looked back at the college kids, who were making more noise then ever. Turning back to me, he opened his mouth, worked his jaw, considered what he was about to say. Then he said it.

"I hate people."

I smirked. "Yeah Pete? Tell me why you hate people."

He didn't smile. "People are assholes. Here we are in what could possibly the shittiest dump in the world, and I can't escape that fact."

I said nothing. I leaned back in my booth, nursing my coffee mug. I listened.

"I mean it's people that cause all the bad shit in the world right? It's people that murder and flood the goddamned news channels with rape reports. People make war, people tell lies, people spread hate. Jesus Christ, do I hate people."

I was a bit overwhelmed with his statements. I mean it was barely 5 o'clock and this guy wanted to discuss the world's problems. Shit, the only world right then was sitting in a little cracked yellow mug, begging to be drank. But I humored him. "So do you hate me Pete?"

He waved his hand dismissively and took a sip of his coffee. "Don't be ridiculous, you're not people. You're a person. I've only ever met persons, never people. But I bet you," he jabbed a thumb at the college kids, "those assholes are people. They just look like people. Goddamned people." He took a long drag from his coffee cup, finished it, and started on the second one. "I'm sick of these people, they cause all the world's problems and us persons are left cleaning up the mess. I mean what did a person ever do wrong? Name one problem that was ever caused by a single person." He looked at me, I guess expecting an answer.

I thought for a second and then smiled. "Hitler was a person."

He looked at me, clearly annoyed. He paused.

"Fuck you."

 

[Ninva]

I simply loved this piece. You make so many good stories with witty characters and realistic settings. I laughed once I read your conclusion.

I dunno if you saw this, but here's a small part that was missing some commas.

But I bet you," he jabbed a thumb at the college kids, "those assholes are people...

That's all I caught. Good job. Do you have a portfolio on a blog or something that I can look at?

 

[DogOfHavoc]

Thanks a lot, I appreciate that. And no, I don't have a portfolio/blog for my work. In all honesty, I'm not as prolific with my writings as I'd like to be. I wrote this particular story in about ten minutes in a sudden burst of creativity. However, maybe I'll consider something like a blog or whatnot to showcase any work that I may become inspired to write.

Also, fixed the problem with the commas. Thanks for pointing that out and thanks again for taking the time to read and comment.

 

[Ninva]

No problem, keep writing. Send me a link to your showcase if you ever make one.