N19 STATES OF OUR GRACE

I. A SYNOPTIC REMINDER

I once lived in Houston, I worked multiple jobs, I had a studio, many friends, a good reputation, money, place, truck, and all of the things that constitute the American middle class. I never knew poverty until I became stranded in Anderson County. I never realized that cultural apathy, hypocrisy, and manipulation could be so detrimental while also being part of the cultural norm. I was so naive.

N18 A DISTANT LINE OF SIGHT

El-Pooh! now has perspective regarding Palestine, Texas because perspective requires distance. A few weeks before he left Palestine, a friend had stated that East Texas is a messed up place because it is so near the Louisiana border. Louisiana is chock full of Voodoo, Hoodoo, Santeria, and other bags of magic tricks. This seems logical and that would explain why East Texas is an amalgam of broken thinking, ineptitude, frustration, passing the buck, passive-aggressive behavior, manipulation, and the magical ability of allowing things to remain incomplete. In East Texas, one must accept the premise of extra effort when one desires completion. Attempts at completing anything is like walking uphill backwards on a dark, rainy night and you are in stiletto heels. One heel is also broken and you are drunk. Why else would you be in heels?

N17 JUSTICE LEAGUE

Hypocrisy is the driving force of the world today. College campuses now wish to be sanctuary campuses after Trump wins the election. That would mean that the police are not allowed to come on campus without the University's permission. A man just kills a lot of people on the campus of Ohio State University. I wonder if the police had to wait for a written invitation before they were allowed to do their job? I doubt it. People talk a lot of crap until chaos enters into the picture.

N16 FRANCOIS EST UN SAC DOUCHE

On Tuesday, I am telling a friend about my doctor. Last spring, I went a month without medicine because my employer at the time would not pay me. I miss almost a month of medicine because my doctor would not see me unless I had money for the appointment. When I do get to see him, he charges me an extra $55 for some tests, an extra $100 for a drug test. I pay the $55 part with the fee for the office visit. I ask him what the drug test is for. He says it is to see if I am taking my medicine. I just tell him that I have not been taking my medicine because I had no money for the appointment.

N15 THE AMERICAN DEAD

I. AMERICAN DREAD

America's problems are so deep that one leader will not be able to fix them. The essential problem with America is Americans. It is difficult to do anything with a gutless populace that is passive-aggressive in nature, irresponsible in general, and selfish in the specific. Corruption can begin at ground level or descend from the top. The problem with America is that Americans are deeply afraid and The Bible says that fear is a sin. Fear is one emotion that can send you to Hell.

N14 THE KING OF SHEBA

It is as if I am touring the local narcissists. I live with them in their natural habitats, I note their behavior, attitude, and habits. The remarkable thing about them is the delirium and banality that is prevalent throughout their grandiose lives. The irony of a great vanity is how little it holds. 

THE LAST DAY

I. PREDICTIONS ARE USELESS

If the election is honest, Trump should take at least 54% of the vote and the state of New York. Historically speaking, New York votes Democrat, but New Yorkers favor New Yorkers and Clinton is corrupt. However, all of this is a moot point because most of it does reside upon the backs of the American people. If Anderson County is a mirror to the populace at large then I do not hold much hope. However, I think that Anderson County is special in its lack of fortitude. 

DEAD EFFIGY

I. YESTERDAY’S LOST TRACES

Five hundred dollars was what it would cost to get my storage out of hock. I used to bitch if I made five hundred dollars in a week. My notebooks were in there. My Dad’s Railroad Time Books, my math library, theological library, language library, art library, literature library, and various other books. There were computers, tools, for computers, my archives, the remnants to my recording studio, cameras, photographs, paintings, and many irreplaceable things. There was the Bible that my grandparent’s gave me. That Bible is the only thing left from my grandparents. My Dad stole the watch that my granddad gave me. My sister and him sold the land that he had inherited. All I have left from my grandparents are influence and memory. My cousins still have their family land and things from our grandparents. There were letters, memorabilia, experiments, and all of the things that one acquires within a lifetime. My grandparent’s bed was in there, my solar panels, clothes, toiletries, some food. My taxes were in there and I desperately need those to settle my tax problem. Everything that was dear to me and everything that I required to get back on my feet was in that storage unit.

N12 EAST OF EDEN, WEST OF HELL, OFF OF HIGHWAY 19

I. SEX CRIMES

In 2012, Texas ranked 4th among the states in HIV infections. In 2013, Texas moved up to 3rd place. Texas ranks 13th in primary and secondary syphilis, 12th in gonorrheal infections, 10th in chlamydia infections, and 4th in tuberculosis cases. The East Texas region is 1rst in the state in HIV infections.

In 2012, people with HIV infections and AIDS was 38% in Anderson County, Texas. In 254 Texas counties, Anderson County was on top or near the top of HIV/AIDS percentages. Anderson County consistently trolled the bottom on matters of poverty, health, STD infections, crime rates, unemployment, and how these matters enable to their relation. 

N10 GANGLIA AND DEMOND

I. CASTING AN ENSEMBLE

Leaving tweakers is always a good thing. In Anderson County, everybody seems to be on something. I have began an arrangement in which I go to the apartment of an acquaintance to shower every day. I do not care to move in because I do not wish to get mixed up with anything unseemly. Avoiding drama is an all-consuming task that holds my determination.

N9 A DROLL CHAOS

I. SLOW GONE HELL

It is another miserable afternoon. My stuff is by the street again. It is hot. I am wanting my stuff and none of it is in sight. The cops come and we look around. Nada. He asks me questions and I answer to the best of my knowledge. In the end, I lose again. All of my stuff is on the street. I call a friend of mine to see if he can help me move. He says no. I finally call someone that I used to work for and his assistant comes by to help me. 

N8 TWEAKERS

I. THE DRUG AISLE IN HICKSVILLE

My stuff is fine for a few days. So far, Slinky seems laid back enough. However, I move my stuff into the shed out back. I am rarely there except to shower, tend to the cats, or go through my things. I slept on the couch for a few nights. It may very well be years since I last slept on something soft and conventional. There is a wariness to me and I trust that caution.

N7 TRANSITIONAL

I. LEAVING THE HOUSE OF MONTEZUMA

Redundo and Abnormal buy the House of Montezuma. We waste our time at eviction court. I realize that I am leaving and I have been wanting to leave. Everything is beside the fence. I lay down at six a.m. Redundo opens the door bitching at eight a.m. I am surprised and coming out of a dead sleep. I panic and begin throwing everything over the fence. I tell the neighbors that I will come back and get it. The neighbor does not understand English. He merely nods. 

N6 OPPORTUNE VENDETTAS

I. STACKING THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE

I can not claim Redundo and Abnormal among my multitude of fans. This was not always the case and the change occurred when they shorted me forty-five dollars on a job. I had been shorted before and I had enough. After being frustrated in trying to collect, I made some signs. They called the cops. Why do people think that cops are stupid? Shortly thereafter, someone called CPS on them and I was blamed. You can not deny the timing. No one asked me anything, my guilt was merely assumed. I look at what is coming as their second or third attempt at revenge.

N5 THIRD WORLD CONDO

I. LITTLE INDIA

On Saturday, May 14, 2016 the police are called to the residence where he has lived for a year and two months. The neighbors are Redundo and Abnormal and they are buying the house of Montezuma. Most likely, Redundo is driving a bad deal by taking advantage of the senility of Montezuma’s Dad.

N4 REDUNDO AND ABNORMAL

The names have been changed in order to protect the innocent, namely me.

I. REPEATING FIRST GRADE 

For a year and two months I have lived in one of the two trashy houses that reside across a local school in Palestine, Texas. I live with Montezuma and the neighbors are Redundo and Abnormal. The neighbors are not one of my fans. I used to work for them on a sporadic basis. For a time, I overlooked getting shorted here and there. I woke up one morning and had enough. That is when I made signs stating that they owed me forty-five dollars. I found it ironic that they called the police on me. They complain about the police and they seek to avoid them in their daily endeavors. One might say that they run their affairs on the shady side of life.

N1,2,3 NATIVES 1-3

HUMAN ANIMAL

I. THE HOUSE OF MONTEZUMA

Montezuma is fifty-six years old and lives with his parents. They pay his bills and he drives their vehicles. His dad is eighty-five and his mother is eighty-one years old. There are four dogs and a hoard of cats. This colony of man and animal is situated across the street from a local high school. They have lived here since the early nineties. The place has seen better days.