Philip Stared Down The Barrel
Character – gay bike messenger- Setting – shooting range
- Object – one-way plane ticket
- Situation – first day with the new brain
Philip stared down the barrel of his .357. Unlike the other alleys at the shooting range, his target wasn’t a human silhouette; it was a plane ticket. A one-way plane ticket to San Francisco.
BLAM!
The ticket made a very small target, and Philip missed wide to the left.
His coach, Bernard, clapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Phil. Everyone has trouble their first day back. That new brain will take some breaking in, but soon enough you’ll be back to your old self.”
BLAM!
Too high, and still wide to the left.
Philip wondered whether he’d ever really be back to his old self. His old self was proudly queer and ready to move to The Castro with Jerome. He already had a job lined up as a bike messenger. But then, that horrible day as a bike cop during the riot, taking a keg to the head. The brain transplant. Philip wondered if he’d ever feel gay again.