It had seemed like the beginning of happiness, and she is still sometimes shocked, more than thirty years later, to realize that it was happiness; that the entire experience lay in a kiss and a walk, the anticipation of dinner and a book.
-Michael Cunningham
THE HOURS, a novel
The Beginnings – Part 105: BLOODTHIRSTY ZOMBIES
October 14, 1983
Three girls at work were celebrating today. It was their last day in this office. They were all transferring to the FREMONT EBO Office: Susan Wiebe, Mary Alexander and Charlene Nakagaki. I’m envious of them. I could use a change from this office, too.
Helen was snobby when she commanded me to get my brother, Tony, some goodies. I don’t like someone to give me random orders like that. I decided to ditch her at lunchtime. I simply went for a solitary walk to the Kaiser Center. There was no need to eat. I returned to the office and called my mom.
I tried to call George also but he wasn’t home. I confirmed my date with Tammy for tonight.
It was an interesting evening. There was no answer for about five minutes after I was ringing Tammy’s doorbell. It was frustrating. I finally knocked on the door and her mom answered. Tammy finally emerged about ten minutes later. It takes her so long to get ready between all of the make-up, eye shadow, perfume and hair.
We departed in my car as I played that Talking Heads song PSYCHO KILLER. She liked it. We were going to walk along Alameda’s South Shore Beach as part of our ‘Play It By Ear’ date.
I had planned to visit my pad next but I decided to take a spontaneous detour to Berkeley. We were walking along University Avenue and I noticed that NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was playing, so we went to see it. It was scary and funny at the same time. Listening to the dialogue of such a classic from 1968 about a group of people hiding from bloodthirsty zombies in a farmhouse made for a very original evening.
I recall one line in particular: “We’ll beat them all night until they’re all burned up and we’ll stay up all night to do it!”
It was hilarious in some parts.
I said to Tammy, “We have become so sophisticated in our movie watching expectations since the sixties.”
After the flick we missed out on an accident on the freeway. Our timing was good.
I brought Tammy to my house. She liked it. It was her first time to the Townhouse. We listened to my INXS and GREG KHIN BAND cassette tapes as we browsed the latest Neiman-Marcus and SPIEGEL Catalogs.
“What else would you like to do tonight?” I asked.
Tammy said, “There’s an after-hours party in Castro Valley at my friend’s house but I don’t know if I want to go.”
“Which friend is that?”
“Jeff.”
“Jeff.”
We didn’t go to that party. Instead, we returned to Tammy’s house in Hayward and ate quesadillas. It was fun to just randomly cook at this hour. We were cracking-up over the oozing cheese between the tortilla creases when it was removed from the microwave.
“Wow--look how good that looks,” I remarked excitedly.
We were laughing a lot while seated comfortably on the couch. We started to watch THE EXORCIST.
“Oh I’ve always wanted to see that bloody masturbation scene. I’ve always been deprived of that from the TV version,” Tammy said.
I laughed, “I never thought of it that way.”
We had both fallen asleep. When I woke up I had a hard-on and I could have possibly taken advantage of the situation but I knew her folks were there. I felt it was late, so I got up and put my shoes on. I kissed her goodnight and drove off. I left Tammy’s house at around 2:45AM. I was in my bed by 3:15AM.
October 15, 1983
George never called last night. I guess the hopeful BRAINSTORM date is still on for tonight.
I woke up at 8AM and went bicycling until 9:45AM. After the ride I enjoyed breakfast at mom’s house and watched THE EDGE OF NIGHT, laughing over the antics of Raven Alexander Whitney, played by actress Sharon Gabet. I love her. I also enjoy the strengths of Jody Travis played by that young actress who is about my age (born 1964), Lori Loughlin. I left mom’s house after the mail delivery. My latest edition of the INTERNATIONAL MALE/UNDERGEAR Catalog arrived. I skimmed through it.
When I was home again I tried to take a nap.
Nici called me and I felt bad because I have been avoiding her.
I guess it’s apparent through her eyes because she shouted, “I’m not going to call you anymore!”
“Calm down,” I snapped.
“It doesn’t matter. I started smoking again and I have a joint now and then.”
I was not too thrilled by this confession. Yuck! I wondered if George has been ‘getting high’ himself these days. I know he likes that. I suppose I shall find out soon. It’s 3PM now and he should be calling if our movie fling for tonight is still ‘ON’.
I still feel a bit bad about Nici. I fibbed a little when she asked what I did last night.
I said, “I went to the library. And then I went to see a movie…alone.”
I mean, I couldn’t tell her I woke up with a hard-on in Tammy’s living room after two o’clock in the morning. Now…could I? I will have to call Nici at a later time to smooth things over. She needs some straightening out. I only wish she’d quit her naïve habits. I suppose we all have our own vices. Every one of us can ‘at least’ make an effort on kicking the ugly habits.
What do you know? George did call me at around 3:20PM.
I questioned him, “By any chance…have you been smoking any joints lately?”
“I’ve been tempted a few times…but I’ve held back from it.”
I do want to believe him for his sake (health wise). I hope he continues to avoid the junk.
Unfortunately, BRAINSTORM (Natalie Wood’s last film) was ‘OFF’ for tonight.
George said, “I’m required to work overtime from six o’clock tonight until midnight. It’s mandatory.”
I was skeptical and simply said, “Oh…okay.”
George suggested, “We could maybe go see it tomorrow.”
“Okay…that’ll be great.”
I was disappointed.
I decided to call Nici and I asked, “Why don’t you come over?”
“I have to stop at a girlfriend’s house first.”
She never showed up by five-thirty, so I went to ma and pa’s and watched Lesley Ann Warren in a flick called BEULAH LAND. It was very good. I enjoyed it very much.
Mom, Dad and I almost made it to GALLAGHERS in Jack London Square for dinner but got side-tracked and went to MEXICALI ROSE instead. It was all right; however, it was the Lesley Ann Warren movie that sticks in my mind. Lesley Ann Warren truly does something for me internally. The BEULAH LAND flick was the highlight of the evening for me. It was a miniseries detailing the lives of two Civil War families. It also starred Michael Sarrazin. I left mom and dad’s house at 1:30AM because this flick was six hours.
He was clearing them from his mind, just like draining water from a bucket.
-Arthur Golden
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
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