This is the sixth part of a twelve-part story called Ten at the Trio. It takes place in and around the Chicago area in the Spring of 2000. It is dedicated to everyone I have ever gone to an Alkaline Trio show with. For previous parts go here.
Ten at the Trio
VI. I guess I only claim to be nice
Of the three bloody hearts tacked to the wall, the most prominent stood at eye level with his mother’s kitchen skewer running straight through it. They were just bits of plastic and paint, but driving them home made him feel better with each stab. And yet, his parents offered no reaction whatsoever. Could they really be so blind? He had to up the ante.
Left alone for the week, he first covered the entire wall with aluminum foil, the sound of a Muppet movie in the background acting as warm and comforting white noise. Standing back, he admired the gleaming silver wall as it reflected the afternoon sunlight in perfectly uniform lines. No time to waste, he routed around in his dresser drawer, coming out with a Bible stolen from a hotel during their last family vacation. Flipping open the book, he ran his fingers over the thin paper, tore out the first page without hesitation, ran a glue stick around the edges and stuck it in the uppermost left-hand corner of the wall. After the video had played through several times he was deep into Revelations and there wasn’t an inch of silver visible. He dropped the shell of a book and let his body relax. There it was, as inspired by his favorite movie, The Omen, starring Atticus Finch of all people. But now to make it his own he took out a red marker, drew a giant heart with a skull inside in the dead center of the wall and began scrawling out lyrics.
“This house is full of ears, but I can’t talk to anyone…”
Finishing the line he wanted to do more but the show would be starting soon. Enough time for one final touch. He took the crucifix his aunt had given him when he was a child, tied a string around the bottom and tacked it to the ceiling above his bed, upside down. Feeling more powerful than he knew possible, George grabbed the car keys and ran out the door laughing maniacally.
End of Part VI
Words will keep us together 