flashquake Editor's Picks flashquake I chose "The Man With the Plan" because it breaks some rules. The narrative voice is strong, edgy even a little over the top. The sudden point-of-view shift at the end of the piece is jarring but necessary. When the original speaker is silenced, the new voice takes up the rant. The strong similarity to the original speaker's voice demonstrates cause and effect and the cyclical nature of things. |
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Just a few steps, buddy. Maybe three unless they're baby steps, but we don't want any of that crap, do we? When a man's mind is made up he needs to assert himself. He needs a cocksure stride that shows he's embracing his destiny and if you mess with him then watch out! Yeah, man. Three get-out-of-my-way-cause-I'm-coming-through steps. That's the plan.
Wow! I'm juiced, aren't you? I feel positively tingly. Won't be long now. The platform's filling up, but that's okay. We want a crowd, right? The more the merrier. It'll validate everything we've planned for and it'll give us impact! See all these people? Years from now in the deep dark of the night they'll be lying in their sweat-soaked sheets thinking about this day. Reliving it. They'll be thinking it should of been them walking with attitude, taking destiny by the scruff of the neck and fucking it right up the ass. It should've been me, they'll be screaming. Sorry. Got a little too into the moment there. Need to relax. Need to focus! Breathe with me. In. Out. Mmm, that blonde's wearing some fine perfume. Smells sweeter now, doesn't it? Did you notice how everything has a sharper edge to it today? The whole day felt different, didn't it? You had a lightness in your step and you saw people looking at you different. They thought, now there's a man with a purpose! And the women looked too, didn't they, instead of walking past you like you were so much garbage. In fact, that good smelling blonde just gave you a glance, didn't she? She tried to be sly about it, but you saw it. Hell, I saw it! Well, just let her look somewhere else, because we ve had enough of them, haven't we? Inferior sex, my ass! They've got the goods and know how to work it. How many of them have made you a doormat to wipe their precious feet on? How many girlfriends and ex-wives? And your Mother! We won't even talk about her. But you're not that kind of man anymore, are you? You're the man. The man with the plan. Now don't wimp out on me. I felt you wavering. Straighten those shoulders and hold your head up. This is the time for courage. That's not fear you taste in your mouth, that's excitement. Let it buzz you. Feel it crackle. It's here, man. The hour has come. Just seconds now. Time to focus. Time to execute. The air's rushing in. The train's coming. Now close your eyes and listen to me. Crowd everything else out of your head until I'm the only voice left, okay? I'm your only friend, right? I've been with you through thick and thin and I'm the one that pulled you out of your deepest despair and got you here, right? Now don't disappoint me. There's no turning back. It's all lead up to this one moment in time. Your moment. There's the air horn. One step forward now. Good. Open your eyes. I said open them! You're going to want to see this. Everyone's looking at the train, planning their maneuver for a seat. They don't notice us yet. Good. Another step. The do-gooder is looking at you. Forget him. We're almost there. Just seconds. Just think how real this is gonna feel. Too fucking real. This is it, boy! Count it down. Three. Two. One.... Oh Christ! Did you see that? That guy just jumped in front of the train. God, what a mess. Awful thing to look at, but kind of hard to look away isn t it? Should have known something was up. That guy was looking pretty weird, all sweaty and shaking. And he was giving you some dirty looks, too. Staring at the tie little Lisa gave you for Father's Day, the one she calls the dead hippie tie. Well now isn t this great! Here comes the MTA asking everyone to leave the station. How the hell do you get home now? Figures, doesn t it? You should've stopped off for a beer with the guys. You know, I bet they're still there, and it's not like you re in a hurry to get home to your wife's nagging. You can tell her you needed a drink to calm your nerves, after all, you just saw a man get crushed to death! Look at it this way, it s a simple decision. Do you head for the exit that's closest to the next station like everyone else, or do you head out the other exit towards the bar? All right, there you go. Now that's what I like. A man with a plan. |
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And ain't the plan what it s all about? Ain't it the essence of it all? Still, plan or no plan, you gotta be on your guard. Like that guy standing over there. Looks like a damn do-gooder if you ask me. You can tell from the way he holds his shoulders as he reads that paper — the sports section, of course. You just know he's got a wife and two point three kids waiting for him at home. Smug sonuvabitch. Nice suit, huh? What do you think that set him back? Three and a half bills? Four? And that's a Father's Day tie if I ever saw one. Ugly damn thing. Keep a watch on him. Keep him right there in the corner of your eye. I wouldn't blame you if you shuffled a bit away from him. On second thought, don't draw attention to yourself. Focus on the plan, man. Focus on the plan!
