Episode 6, 245 … on the streets of New York
Mishima Marconi* the millionaire photographer and his ex-actress wife, Maryam stand on the corner in downtown New York, shivering in the cold.
“When did Lucas say he saw Michael?” Mishima asked her for about the 100th time.
“Just last night. He was begging near the traffic lights.” Maryam said and held her hand out to him, remembering how they’d met so many years ago. There was a dewy dreaming look about her eyes.
“Ah … I think some god is getting his vengeance! That our only son should become a beggar and drug addict. I can’t believe this!” he moaned woefully.
Then, out of the dark shadows, a beggar comes towards them.
“Got a dime to spare mister?” he says with a certain amount of irony.
“Michael … oh my boy! We’ve found you at last! Come home with us!” Maryam throws herself towards him, but he quickly backs away.
“Ah shit! Are you still doing the loving mother role? Too bad you two were never around when I needed you as a kid. Always gallivanting from one country to another … the shining icons of the jet set. Just give me some money and leave me in peace!” he growls.
Mishima, head high and chest out says: ” Don’t talk to your mother that way. She’s been worried sick since you lit out last month. You didn’t even take a tooth-brush with you! Whatever were you thinking making us worry like this!”
He moves menacingly towards his son with the idea of trying to shake some sense into his brain. Michael, backs off for a second, but then the two begin to tussle in the street. Another beggar comes up and with him there’s a young woman.
“Stop! Stop!” she shouts.
Too late. Mishima falls to the ground hitting his head hard on the pavement. Blood seeps onto the dirty snow. Micheal grabs his mother’s purse and with the other two he runs down the street.
Music plays the scene fades from our screen.
* follow the link for the original story, A Casual Beggar.
Written for Mindlovesmisery’s Menagerie and Traces of the Soul
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