Spin

Robert had talked for two hours non-stop, but probably didn't know it was that long, absorbed in his subject. The subject was himself, the only topic Robert ever talked about. Probably didn't realize that also. Jackie Marcos, however, did realize both, growing weary, fighting to stall back a yawn. Robert continued. He always continued. Today, the centerpiece was his mother, a frequent chapter in Robert's never-ending saga of family conspiracy, innocent victim rage, and jealous mistrust. With all his older siblings constantly plotting against him, there was always fresh danger to talk about. Robert kept busy, not only describing these dysfunctional relatives to anyone trapped into listening, but also busy creating them, keeping them all alive. You understand, Robert was an only child, abandoned by his young and selfish parents, then raised by a kindly, disabled aunt; a farm boy until grown. Jackie stood up abruptly from the small kitchen table, she'd had enough. Not only that afternoon of his long, self-focused diatribes, but also enough of laboring too much to be his friend after nearly a year. It was now time to go, it wasn't good, but it was impossible. Walking together thru the complex back to Jackie's car, Robert saw his new neighbor, a student, football player, in the laundry room. "Hey, I've got to do a load, I'll be right back." Robert said, expecting a quick peck-cheek goodbye with his lady friend, who was increasingly distant the last few months. Robert never understood these things, folks coming and going. Nonetheless, he hurried back, excited to talk with his new young friend. Robert decided he'd start at the beginning.