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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2003)
PULSE CREATE Economy of attention By Jeffrey Raymond McClain There it goes my heart, heatin' Again. I feel, Surprise, as my eyes shake sleep from their grasp, mesearchin' again, for my connection to the living Room. I hear rustlin' above the background Noise, open my lead lids to the lamp Light, and jonathan, sitting mouse-quiet At the oak desk, In the comer of the antique furnishings forest. spins a cell phone on the stained wood. The soft baritone of my voice doesn't distract. My heart thumps. Ihump. "you hear That, boy?" Ihump. "this could be the last beat." Thump, the non-responsive spinner chuckles, To himself, oblivious, "could be going at last, the damn thing. Just give-" 'riiiiiiing,' the phone chimes in merrily... "-out." jonathan answers. He gives it a sort of caress as he picks it up. "mischievous it is, boy. Always hit and miss, hit-" ..'Dong', went the grandfather clock "-and miss." ..'Dong', it strikes again, I stop, pause for it's- ..'Dong', -interruption. I breathe. ..'dong'. I look at it. Bought it with Betsy twenty ..'Dong', seven years ago. Dong.. .Dong.. .Dong' Eight o'clock, near Nighttime. Useless thing, I think. Always harping up. I breathe, again, jonathan gets up from my chair, smiling, talking. Wanders past the bookcase into the tile floor kitchen. I can't quite Make out what he's sayin' to the phone. "1 lived once," I say, "In florida, near an alligator sanctuary." I hear jonathan, conversing in the kitchen, put a burrito in the microwave. Turns it on. I feel its heat through the wall, "why? Why do they give a rip hout some old Reptiles from the cretaceous period?" I hear the micro whirrrr.. feel the waves Cascadin' through my bones. 'beep.. .beep... beep.' Done cooking. Jonathan, havin' heard the sound Many times before, responds mechanically. 'click-click'., its door opens. 1 le shuts it. I adjust my collar, sweating. It's hot. "they would eatya', ya' know, given half a chance. Eat ya' like you, eatin' that there burrito." 1 wipe a bead of saltiness from my brow. Jonathan, through the doorway glances over at me. Puts the phone down, takes a bite. Looks. I pause... "anyhow, one day one of'dem bastards wander away from his sanctuary. Wander, wouldn't ya' know, right into ma damn swimmin' pool. Happy as a clam, he was. I went out to him, he at first didn't pay me no mind, so 1 look him right in the eye, real stem. He smiled back then, right at me wit' dem 'gator teeth of his. 1 didn't have the heart to move him nowhere else. He look so content. So he stayed. Starved to death, he did." jonathan takes another bite, swallows. Givin' me that blank look I swear he patented When he turned sixteen or so. "I know, boy, what your thinkin', but-" 'riiiiiiing....' "-shit, ifit weren't-" 'riiiiiiing...' "-for you visitin' me and these-" 'riiiiiiing...' "-damn walls bouncin' my-" 'riiiiiiing...' "-own voice back at me..." 'riiiiiiing...' "I'd be alone." 'riiiiiiing... riiiiiiing... riiiiiiing...' jonathan's eyes stay steady on me. Beans crawlin' slowly down his chin. The phone stops, goes silent, unanswered. Jeffrey Raymond McClain is a student in the University’s Kidd Tutorial creative writing program. Artistic submissions of any medium should be sent to pulse@dailyemerald.com. Get the word out! Advertise in the Emerald classifieds Call 346-4343 NOW! Oregon Daily Emerald/Advertising SELL • cars • furniture • sports equipment • computers FIND__ • employees • lost items • jobs • roommates Best Rates In Town second Season Presents DE^OEMONA BY Paula Vogel Oct. 29, 30, 31, Nov. 1, 6, 7 & 8-8 PM Arena Theatre No Late Seating Tickets: UO Ticket Office EMU: 346-4363 UT Box Office Evenings of Performances o 016665 mm smm 199 E. 5th Ave • (541) 484-1334 Come see our sushi-go-round and open grill Sushi Starting at $1.75 We"" tempura udon yakisoba teppanyaki teriyaki lunch box specials and more... Take out available Your place for . .. NEWSreader polllnd more classifieds ARCHIVES. www.dailyemerald.com iBzsznr Call to help us shed some light on the problem. Have you or someone you care about been experiencing some or all of the following symptoms for at least a few months? • Sadness • Loss of interest in daily activities • Hopelessness • Difficulty concentrating If so, participants between the ages of 18 to 64 may qualify for a research study of an investigational drug for the treatment of DEPRESSION. All office visits and medical evaluations related to this study will be provided to qualified participants at no charge. For more information, please contact: 541.434.0346 RADIANT 755 E. 11th St, Eugene, OR RESEARCH Oregon Daily Emerald Your campus information source Publishes Monday through Friday Pick up the Emerald at over 120 campus and community locations
