CHAPTER 1
Blake Wilson; a man of thirty-two, his girlfriend; Joanna, and her younger brother of twenty-one; Olly, are having breakfast in this their run down, hardly ever tidy apartment in Skid Row, Los Angeles. Blake and Joanna are dressed for work; He’s a Junior editor in a book publishing house, while she’s a secretary somewhere else. Olly’s dressed for classes at college, his backpack hangs on his chair. He’s a Computer Science undergrad at UCLA; There on a merit scholarship. Although, he wishes he could get more girls … or just one, even.
Joanna sees Blake look at his watch, yet again. “It’s the third time you checked the time since you sat. What are you so anxious about?”
“Show-up time at the office is now 7:30. As if 8 O’clock wasn’t bad enough. The new management’s coming in today, and they’re already making changes before even getting here. Bunch of Jerks.”
“Whoa! New management!” says Olly. “I just hope you don’t get downsized, bro. That’s usually what happens when there’s,” he does air quotes: “new management.”
“Damn, he’s right, honey,” says Joanna. “It’s happened to us. When the place our dad--God rest his soul--used to work got ’new management’, he was outta the job so fast he still had a full two week subscription for the bus to work.”
“That why he shot himself?” Abie, the girl … or woman(age 34) next door, calls in from outside the front door.
“Screw you,” Joanna calls back.
A moment of silence as Blake ponders downsizement… Then, “Look, no one’s getting downsized, okay? Something like that ’bout to happen at the office, I’ll be one of the first to know. I’m an editor, guys. Nothing gets past the editors. We’re the final step in every process. We edit everything.”
Olly chuckles. “Then I guess you’ll be editing your own termination letter.”
They chuckle.
Joanna looks at the wall clock. “Well you better haul ass coz it’s already 7:10. You don’t want them using you to set an example.”
“Yeah, I better get going.” He takes the last bite of his sandwich, downs the coffee, gets up, and straightens his attire. “Please help me with the dishes, honey. I’m running late.”
“Olly’ll get ’em,” Olly winces, “his classes don’t start till 8:30,” says Joanna.
“I’m not good with dishes, man.”
“Rise above it, son,” Blake teases, “You’re a special special boy. Just put your mind to it and concentrate. There’s so much you could do,”
“Get a dishwasher, man,” says Olly.
“Maybe after we kicked you out we could afford one.”
They chuckle.
“Hey, how about me and my loving sister, Jo, here, kicked you out of our house so that we could afford the dishwasher, then.
More giggles.
Olly continues, “After all, we all know she makes the real money around here.”
Blake has to laugh… Or is he feigning?
Olly continues, “And besides, you’re getting downsized, bro, so you better start sucking up to her real good, you’re gonna need her, man. Hard times ahead.”
They giggle.
“He speaks from experience,” says Blake.
“Yeah, but good thing now I’m an honors student, eh, eh?”
“Bullshit,” says Blake, “you’ve been in college now for like … 7 years or something.”
They giggle.
“Isn’t that what you’d like to think? After spending a decade in college,” says Olly.
More giggles.
“Baby, you’re running late,” says Joanna.
“Oh darn, yeah.” Blake leans, kissing her goodbye. “Bye, baby.”
“Bye, honey.”
He now playfully ruffles Olly’s hair. “Be good in school today, son.”
Olly tries to ward him off. “Not the hair, man.”
Blake heads for the door. “Don’t poop your pants in college again, son.”
“We’re having breakfast here goddammit,” says Olly.
Blake chuckles, shutting the front door behind him.
“What an ass,” says Olly.
“Tell me about it,” says Joanna.
Then, the chirping sound of a car key fob gets her attention. “Oh hell no!” She rushes to a window, opens it, sticks her head out and sees Blake about to get in their 2002 Camry. Her glare tightens. “Hey! What are you doing?! It’s my turn to take the car!”
Blake feigns surprise; “What! How come?!”
“You had it yesterday, idiot!”
Abie appears, heading to get in the car with Blake. “Blake honey, drop me off at the salon, my hair needs a touch-up.”
“Hey, nobody’s dropping anybody off. It’s my turn with the car.”
Blake feigns realization. “Oh yeah! That’s right! But I really really need it, baby, I’m running late. I’m sorry, honey, I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
Abie makes matters worse. “He loves you, honey, but all you do is whine. There’s only so much he can take, you know.”
Blake’ll rather have her shut up. “Okay, shut up, Abie.”
Joanna just glares at them.
“I’m sorry, baby, I’ll make it up to you.” He blows her a kiss. “I love you. You the best.” He and Abie get in the car and zoom off. Joanna’s pissed, but she knew how this was probably gonna end.
“Son of a goddamned bitch, Son of a goddamned bitch.” She removes herself from the window and shuts it.
“He’s a real charmer,” Olly teases.
“Shut up and eat your breakfast. Oh I’ll get him good for this! I’ll get him good!”
“If it’s gonna be messy, and disgraceful, just make sure I’m there to watch.
