{"id":2036,"date":"2016-11-08T04:00:43","date_gmt":"2016-11-08T09:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/allandouglas.com\/blog\/?p=2036"},"modified":"2025-04-21T01:56:38","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T05:56:38","slug":"brain-spill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/brain-spill\/","title":{"rendered":"Brain Spill: Bernie’s Encounter"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nIn my interview with Sonia Rumzi<\/a> I mentioned that I produce snippets of dialogue or stories as a mind stretching exercise, I call this a brain spill, and that I keep these snippets as seed-stock for future story ideas.\u00a0 Some have asked for a peek into my Pandora\u2019s Box of story snippets.\u00a0 The following is one such.\u00a0 It is quite raw, I\u2019ve fixed up the typos but have not done any editing or polishing.\u00a0 It is just a fragment, the sort of stuff that spills out of my brain box when I open the lid.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

He stood, transfixed, heart pounding, staring up at where the man-creature disappeared as four of the men in dark suits split up and ran to surround the building.\u00a0 Two others approached him.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Scuse me son, we need to talk to you about what just happened here.\u201d said the big one.<\/p>\n

\u201cTalk\u2026 me?\u201d Their arrival had barely registered on his conscious mind before.\u00a0 Now, distracted from his wonder and terror he looked them over and his heart sank.\u00a0 Before him stood two men; early middle age, muscular, clean shaven, short hair.\u00a0 Each was wearing a well tailored suit; black, white shirt, black tie.\u00a0 And sunglasses; why always the sun glasses?\u00a0 One held out a wallet displaying a badge and government-issue ID.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know who you are.\u00a0 You\u2019re the government.\u00a0 You\u2019re here to convince me that I didn\u2019t see anything, or to threaten me into keeping quiet about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The big one\u2019s eyebrows arched, the other just smirked.\u00a0 The big one flipped his ID wallet closed and slipped it back inside his suit jacket, \u201cWell, now; it is true we\u2019re from the government, son\u2026 ah\u2026 what\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know my name, don\u2019t pretend you don\u2019t.\u00a0 How long have you been following me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing you?\u201d His eyes narrowed, \u201cShould we be following you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, no!\u00a0 I ain\u2019t done nothing, but isn\u2019t that what you do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSon, we just got here, found you standing here staring up at that building and thought we\u2019d ask if you\u2019re all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh-huh.\u00a0 And I suppose you didn\u2019t see that guy jump\u2026\u201d he wasn\u2019t sure what to say, or if he should say anything.\u00a0 Nothing seemed to make sense.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuppose you just tell us what happened. Ok Bernie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026\u201d he said absently, thinking back, then snapped to bright focus, \u201cWait!\u00a0 Bernie?\u00a0You know my name is Bernie?\u00a0 I didn\u2019t tell you my name!\u00a0 You have<\/em> been following me!\u00a0 You probably have a whole file on me!\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Why would you need to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

The smaller one shoved a fist against his lips to keep from laughing, the bigger one held his hands up, palms toward Bernie, \u201cAlright, Bernie, alright.\u00a0 I know your name.\u00a0 And I know you work at McDonalds, and I know you have a cat…\u201d<\/p>\n

Bernie cut him off, pumping a fist in the air, \u201cI knew it!\u00a0 I knew you were following me around.\u00a0 Why? What\u2019s this all about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, now Bernie, maybe I know these things because we\u2019ve investigated you, or maybe I know your name is Bernie because it\u2019s on your name tag, see\u2026 right there under where it says \u2018McDonalds\u2019.\u00a0 And that grocery bag you\u2019re carrying is thin plastic, I can see the label on bag of cat chow quite plainly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now Bernie\u2019s eyes narrowed, \u201cYou\u2019re messing with me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m messing with you.\u00a0 But you\u2019re acting really weird, Bernie, and when people act this weird it\u2019s usually because they\u2019re hiding something.\u00a0 Are you hiding something from me Bernie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0 He was petulant now, feeling foolish \u201cIt\u2019s just that fella who was following me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, someone else was following you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know that he was following me, he may have just been going the same way, but he kept gaining on me, and somehow I got a bad feeling from it.\u00a0 So I stopped and turned around, to get a good look at him and sort of confront him.\u00a0 To see if there was anything to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not always a good idea you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I suppose.\u00a0 But I needed to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI turned around, and looked him straight in the eye, see.\u00a0 And he was right back there,\u201d pointing down the sidewalk, \u201cjust out from that doorway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, his eyes\u2026 one minute they were normal, the next they were bright yellow and cat like, with vertical black slits.\u00a0 He grinned at me in a way that made me feel like I was lunch.\u00a0 And\u2026 he sort of growled at me.\u00a0\u00a0 I thought I was a gonner for sure, I couldn\u2019t move! \u00a0But just then, he turned toward the building and sort of crouched down\u2026 except\u2026 when he crouched; he\u2026\u201d Bernie waved an arm feebly, lost for words.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on kid, what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2026 his knees\u2026 they bent backwards!\u201d<\/p>\n

The two \u2018suits\u2019 exchanged a knowing look and waited for Bernie to continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen he jumped.\u00a0 But he jumped way up there!\u201d\u00a0 Bernie pointed to the roof of the building.\u00a0 \u201cHe jumped way up there\u2026 on top of a three story building!\u00a0 How can anyone jump a three story building?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bernie looked weak in the knees, as though he would fold any moment.\u00a0 The big one put a hand on Bernie\u2019s shoulder and gripped it firmly, giving it a little shake. \u201cIt\u2019s alright Bernie.\u00a0 It\u2019s over now.\u00a0 You\u2019re safe, Mr. High Jumper is gone and you can go home to feed your cat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, safe.\u00a0 Feed my cat\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s just one more thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bernie stiffened and pulled away from the big one\u2019s grasp, \u201cHere it comes!\u00a0I knew it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere what comes, Bernie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is where you tell me not to tell anyone else.\u00a0 Threaten me.\u00a0 Make me sign papers promising to keep it
\nsecret.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe big one rolled his eyes and sighed, \u201cBernie, Bernie, Bernie, you\u2019ve been watching too much television, boy.\u00a0 We may work for the government, but that doesn\u2019t put us above the law.\u00a0 And in the United States of America we have a law that says you can tell anyone anything you want to.\u00a0 But, I\u2019d suggest you think about it before you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u00a0 Or what will happen if I do?\u00a0 My family gonna start disappearing?\u201d<\/p>\n

The smaller one\u2019s eyes became steely.\u00a0 The big one closed his eyes and shook his head a little as he said, \u201cBernie,\u201d drawing the name out, \u201cYou can tell all your friends and family, you can tell the newspapers if that\u2019s what you want.\u00a0 We can\u2019t and won\u2019t do anything to your or them.\u00a0 But they will probably think you\u2019re nuts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u00a0 But I saw it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou saw what?\u201d Raising his voice. \u201cA man with animal eyes and backward knees who can jump over 30 feet straight up into the air?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he was after me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u00a0 And if he were, why stop and jump over a building?\u00a0 You\u2019re not exactly Arnold Schwarzenegger, kid!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe van\u2026\u201d he paused, reviewing his memory, \u201cYour van.\u00a0 It arrived just after he jumped.\u00a0 He saw your van coming, he\u2019s scared of you, and he jumped to get away from you.\u00a0 That had nothing to do with me.\u201d\u00a0 He stared at first one, then the other.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re following him, not me.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Who was\u2026 what<\/em> was that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBernie, you\u2019ve had a hard day haven\u2019t you?\u00a0 Long day at work?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026 how do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can see it in your face Bernie.\u00a0 You\u2019re tired.\u00a0 You\u2019re frustrated with something.\u00a0 You just wanted to get home, feed your cat and relax for a bit.\u00a0 Am I right?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe things didn\u2019t happen quite the way you thought you saw them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what did happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, I didn\u2019t see it.\u00a0 I just know it sounds pretty fantastic to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSuppose it does\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you go on home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026 wait\u201d he stiffened back up, \u201cyou said you wanted to tell me something.\u00a0 What was that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to ask you why you were walking around in this part of town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a short-cut home from work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u00a0 Take my advice son; don\u2019t walk around these streets alone; it isn\u2019t safe here.\u00a0 All kinds of weirdoes hang out in these back-streets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy!\u00a0 You\u2019re telling me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bernie turned and shuffled away from the two men.\u00a0 They watched him go until he was a half-block away.\u00a0 Then the smaller one turned to the big one and asked, \u201cArthropod?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely.\u00a0 And we probably just saved young Bernie\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, if we hadn\u2019t arrived just then that Artie would have peeled him like a banana to get a new disguise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCall in another couple of teams; we\u2019re going to need help containing this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight boss\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my interview with Sonia Rumzi I mentioned that I produce snippets of dialogue or stories as a mind stretching exercise, I call this a brain spill, and that I keep these snippets as seed-stock for future story ideas.  Some have asked for a peek into my Pandora’s Box of story snippets.  The following is … Continue reading “Brain Spill: Bernie’s Encounter”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[13,29],"class_list":["post-2036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-muse","tag-scifi","tag-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2036"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21482,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036\/revisions\/21482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}