good heavens, arthur, you startled me.
why? i am just sitting here.
you mean you have already gone to your job interview and returned?
no, i decided not to go to the job interview.
oh, you decided not to go to the job interview.
i just was not up to it this morning.
i see.
besides, i decided i did not want to give up my dreams.
remind me again, what exactly were those dreams?
i wanted to be
a) an assassin
b) a beatnik poet
c) a communist agitator
or d) a desperate fugitive
i think we have had this conversation before, arthur. none of those things are actually remunerative occupations in the real world.
and what is the real world?
the one in which none of those are actually remunerative occupations.
that is what they want us to think.
well, arthur, you have achieved one of your goals at least. that of being an agitator. you have agitated me. i am going to take a pill and go to my room. enjoy your afternoon.
you just hate me, that’s all.
aunt geraldine went to her room, and arthur pondered whether to turn on the tv and watch ellen, or take a nap.
ellen had not had anybody really interesting on for a while. maybe she was due to have one.
on further consideration, arthur decided to make and eat a bologna and cheese sandwich, and take a nap.
*
arthur awoke from his nap.
he realized that someone was in the room with him, someone who was not aunt geraldine or anyone else he was familiar with.
who are you? arthur asked the intruder.
i am the archangel asmodeus, and i am an assassin, hired by your legal guardian, mr porter of porter, porter, house, stack, and marter , at the request of your aunt geraldine. if you wish to become an assassin yourself, i am the just the person to be your guide and mentor.
i am happy to make your acquaintance, arthur replied. how shall we commence our - my studies?
let us take a walk down by the river, the angel answered
down by the river? why? what is down by the river?
we are all gathering there.
2. the beatnik
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