I went to Yale. I went to Yale. My
mom is coming to town this weekend. She is coming to town.
He beat his arms against the window
in a rhythmic way.
Kill, kill, kill. He chanted in an
easy tone as he fluidly moved his body around the subway car and barely brushed
against a couple who looked on nervously pretending to be cool with this Ivy League oddity
wearing a dark magenta blazer and a deep plum shirt. His curly hair sweaty and
matted. He is smiles and stern.
Essie knows what this is and gets
up and moves away and remembers the time
she had her studio in Soho and found an old friend on his knees praying to
Jesus or the Art Gods or someone to help him (he was also at Yale).
Dave, come with me she said leaning
over him. He looked up at her and his eyes were teary red. Dave. Now. Come with
me. He got up from the sidewalk and obediently followed her to the studio at 552 Broadway, 5th
floor.
Dave, what is your doctor’s name?
He knew exactly what she meant and
he gave her the number. She left a message.
I found Dave on Broadway and he is
having a psychotic episode. Please call me back at this number so we can help
him.
Within minutes Dave was on the
phone with his doctor and she sent him to Bellevue in an ambulance. The parametics
were gentle and kind.
Dave thanked her and they never saw
each other again. He knew exactly who she was.
He was someplace in between here
and there. Before she found him, more there than here.
I went to Yale grabbed the ceiling
bar in the subway car and lifted his legs up and curled them around his monkey
bars. His own jungle gym. Mumbled very important information to himself and to
those present.
Essie stands up and walks to the
end of the car and says to a stranger: he is having a psychotic episode. He
isn’t well.
Stranger: he looks so normal.
That means nothing.
I will tell the conductor and will
not be popular.
At 23rd Street she
slips into the next car and opens her book and reads the rest of the ride.
I went to Yale.
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