Funny JP story from new book: Like, Misunderstood

[Richard Shaw Brown]

CHAPTER 92: Living at John�s Pad (on the run)

Back in UK, at John�s pad, I�m meditating sitting crosslegged on a
couch. I�m wearing Indian/hippie garb, and have an Indian-clay tilak
mark on my forehead. John's living room has shelves of records and
Fillmore posters on the wall. 

I�m startled from my peace by the sound of a cupboard door being
slammed loudly in the adjoining kitchen. My eyes jolt open. I can hear
muffled voices. John and his wife Shirley are arguing in the next room.
They are trying to keep their voices down but they keep getting louder
and I can hear snatches of conversation. 

�I just don't understand why this guy is always around! Everywhere we
go!� Shirley rags. 

Gentleman John is trying to calm her. �Shirley� shhh. Listen, it's just
for a little while longer�� 

I hear more crashes and thumps. A plate slams down hard and another
cupboard door is slammed. Uh-oh, nasty, I think.

�First it was in California with the band. Now here we are in London
and he shows up again,� she bitches on.

I hear John: �Shhh�� 

Jeez! A china plate smashes against a wall. Now the voices get much
louder. �No I won't shhhhhhh� I've had enough, John! I can't take it
any more. I can't stand it! I can't stand you! And most of all I can't
stand your friends and this music business you�re in.�

I�m thinking: She doesn�t like the music business, and her husband is a
DJ? Looks like trouble ahead.

I hear more plates breaking. A door slams loudly causing the whole room
to shake. John ambles into the room, looking embarrassed. �Sorry about
that� She's a little tense at the moment. You know, with the move and
everything.� 

Hey, I can dig it. �It's OK, man. I understand. I need to leave. Go do
my thing, whatever that is. You've been really understanding.� 

�How much more money do you still need for your ticket?� John asks.

I shrug. �About forty quid. But I don't have any way to get it� All I
got is a few clothes � that's all I have left.�

I pick through a small pile of clothes piled on top of my bag next to
the couch. I fish out a brown suede fringed jacket. I hand it to John.
�Hey, try this on.� 

John takes the jacket and puts it on. It's a little large for him; the
sleeves hang past his wrists, but I need to split so I say, �Looks
cool! Good fit too.� 

John reaches into his trouser pocket, pulls out his wallet and fishes
out a couple of twenties and holds them out. �There you go. Forty quid.
In fact�� He pulls out another 20 pound note and hands it to me. �Make
it sixty.� 

I�m  kind of embarrassed. �Aw, John, you don't have to.� 

But John�s cool. �Hey, forget about it. One more night and she'd
probably murder you and me. Sixty quid is a bargain for peace of mind.�


�Man, John, I'm sorry to cause trouble,� I apologize.

John shakes his head. �No, don't be, Rick, it's just her, she's a right
bitch. God knows. I�ve got to shake her off before she drives me
crazy.� 

I give John a hug. �Thanks, John. You always seem to help me out of
trouble.� 

John smiles sincerely. �Don't mention it. It's my pleasure. You're like
a younger brother, Rick,� he adds, temporarily dropping his usual
reserve. 

�I'll get out of here before she gets back,� I assure him. �I can go
buy that ticket today.� 

John grins. �I just hope she doesn't find out about the 60 quid. I was
going to use that to buy her an anniversary present.� 

�Jeez! Sixty quid for a bottle of Hemlock?� I quip and start to
chuckle. After a brief hesitation John starts to laugh too. The
laughter gets louder and harder. Too damn funny!

Ref. http://www.themisunderstood.com/like-novel.html




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