Trip to The Mall

A song by an ex-lover plays through the speaker over my head.
I slump into the cold grey wall behind me. I hate malls. I don’t even recognize the names of any of the stores anymore. They all seem fake. L. Lee’s? SOAP ESCAPE? Galactic Elements?

I am sitting on a plastic bench in one of the few stores I do recognize. LensCrafters.

I don’t want to drive to my ophthalmologist in Beverly Hills.

I’m sick of Beverly Hills.

Weirdly, Beverly Hills would have taken my insurance and LensCrafters has not.

A woman wearing a wool hat stares back into my soul from where she shops. Why is she wearing a wool hat, today? It’s been cold for seven months and today is the first day we’ve had heat in the Valley.

”You need progressive lenses.”

It’s Dr. Linda Wang.
Tall, masked, no perfume.

We’ve only just concluded our first eye exam, but I like her a lot.

”No, I don’t.”

”The progressive contact lenses haven’t been perfected yet and most people do not like them.”

”If most people do not like them, I will not like them.”

“Do you just want your regular contact lenses and a new eyeglass prescription?”

”Yes, please.”

The glasses I wanted to buy are no longer available. I don’t like any of the frames in the store. The music above me fades, like my fucking vision.

I’m tired.

I hate malls.

As I drive, I pass a motorcycle accident where there is blood all over the road.

I stop by my gas station and see Amir.

”Kel, how are you doing?” He’s wearing his usual baby blue vest.

”Got my eyes checked. Feeling responsible.”

I walk over to my fridge. I see it. After six years of asking, he’s finally done it.

“Oh my god, Amir you got Yerba and it’s the Mint.”

I look at Amir enthusiastically and the angel responds at my energy level, smiling with his beautiful capped teeth.

The older white-haired guy in the corner, whose name I’ve never known, turns to Amir and breathily speaks…

”I told you… I just sold one a few minutes ago… This is good South American drink… Delicious.”

I nod, I pay, “Man’s got a point.”

”See you later, Kel. Glad the Summer is finally here.”

”It’s Cancer Season!”

His face drops. I realize it’s going to take too long to explain, I smile, “Astrology. See you later.”

And I step into the hot sun, thankful I’m not a lunatic in a wool hat.