#was gonna do some sketches to go with this but nahhhhh

[dizzybizz]

HITMEN CAN KILL IN DRESSES

[pointreyesjournal]

The Amnesiac : ep18

Sunday

My old boss finally reached out to me regarding my termination and offered to buy me brunch. We were pretty close friends before the firing, so clearing the air between us is the right thing to do. But it also means I can’t take my first dose of psilocybin this morning as prescribed. The last thing I want to do is have a meeting with a former colleague while tripping out of my mind on hallucinogens.

Brunch goes well. It’s Sunday, so we have mimosas with our Mexican restaurant chain buffet, and I explain the mysterious bump on my head and the “traumatic retrograde amnesia” that I’m experiencing. My boss really wants me to return to work, but has to convince HR, so he rationalizes that I was unable to respond to the emails because of the brain injury, and immediately offers me my job back, assuring me that he can convince HR to rehire me.

For the time being, I decline the job offer, explaining that my first priority is to unravel the mystery regarding my month long disappearance, and after that I would reconnect with him regarding the position. I conveniently neglect to mention my magic mushroom treatment plan and lunch ends on an extremely positive note.

With more than a few bottomless mimosas in me, I catch an Uber ride home and stumble into the coffee shop just before they close for an afternoon caffeine injection. Emma and River are working as usual and Emma greets me presuming that I’ve already started my three day journey into outer space.

“How is dose number one going?” Emma asks.

“Dose number one? I thought I was going to supervise your trip?” River says somewhat angrily.

“Nahhhhh” I blurt out. “If my eyes look glazed over it’s because I had about seven mimosas over brunch.”

“So when are you going to start?” asks Emma.

“I dunno. Maybe tonight … when this buzz wears off I guess. River, do you want to come supervise this evening?”

“You know I want to” River says.

“Nothing bad is going to happen” Emma says. “It’s just a little first dose.”

“I know, but at some point, the psilocybin is going to turn into a truth serum, and I’m going to be there with pad and paper to find out every last detail inside the curious brain of Mr. David Flood” says River.

“That sounds a little creepy and voyeuristic there River.”

“Maybe so Emma, but aren’t you curious about what’s going on behind those eyes?”

“Not really” says Emma.

“Well I am, and when the faucet opens, I’m going to be there with an empty glass to catch everything that pours out” says River.

“I’m fine with that. The goal is to figure out what’s inside my head.”

“Just don’t violate your doctor/patient relationship” says Emma.

“Yeah River … don’t rape me when I’m stoned.”

“Oh don’t you worry about that! That ain’t gonna happen!” River says assuredly as she tamps the espresso down into a puck. “That’s ain’t gonna happen!”

I hand Emma a $100 bill for the coffee and give the $95 in change to River. “8pm. My place. Bring Chinese food or something for dinner. If it gets late, you can crash on the couch.”

—

Zing zing. It’s River at the door. I buzz her in and meet her at the top of the stairs. She’s holding a paper grocery bag with a fresh French baguette sticking out of the top.

“Chinese food?”

“Oh God no. Charcuterie and white wine.”

“Works for me.”

River sees herself in and goes straight to the kitchen island where she starts unpacking dinner. I pull out a nice big cutting board and start unwrapping the cheeses while she washes and slices the fruits. I put olives and figs in little bowls, and wipe down a couple of wine glasses. It only takes a couple of minutes to prepare dinner, then I move the charcuterie board to the coffee table and we sit down next to each other on the couch. The unmarked pill bottle with fifty doses of magic mushrooms is there on the coffee table. River has a large pad of art paper and a box of colored chalk. “Maybe if you’re tripping balls … you can sketch what you’re seeing” she tells me.

According to Doctor Dave, I’m not supposed to take the mushrooms with alcohol, but this is my journey, not his. So for night number one, I’m breaking the rules. The lights are down, the mood is right, I’m ready for a fantastic voyage, so I lift the glass of white wine and offer a cheerful toast to River.

“Cheers River. Thanks for keeping me safe tonight.”