There’s no basement in the Alamo
-Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
The March was on a brisk, busy street. Hundreds of shoppers, commuters, tourists
and working folks rushed past its doors every day. The March, like the businesses that surrounded it, was background to the individuals on that brisk, busy street and those individuals rushing past
the bar blurred into indistinct parts of a crowd to the folks inside. Indoors, an
interesting event like Mary’s brush with the criminal element captured the
attention of The March staff and patrons for days on end; outdoors, other interesting
happenstances enjoyed perfect secrecy despite happening amidst
of throngs of incurious souls.
Take for example a reedy looking Karl Rafferty lounging
about on the steps right outside the March, rolling cigarettes and taking
inventory. Bulstrode walked down
the street and caught Raff in his eye, battled for a moment with his fight or
flight reflex, and then steeled himself and strode purposefully toward his new
nemesis.
“Why are you here” demanded Bulstrode. “I thought we had an agreement. Why are you so determined to destroy my
life?”
“Least you had a life,” said Raff, bitterly. “I never had no place but The March and
the joint. I’m going in for a
drink soon. “
“I’ll give you two hundred dollars in cash right now to walk
away,” said Bulstrode.
Raff took the money and walked away.
Bulstrode walked past the bar, turned the corner and then
took a moment to lean against the wall.
He knew this would not stand.
He knew something would have to break soon. Eventually, he’d figure it out. Right?
Something had to change.
He turned around and walked back to The March, where he had
a meeting with Tré and Caleb.
Tré had just had his own moment outside The March. He was standing outside, preparing to
present his plans to launch the rebrand at The March when suddenly he found
himself so overwhelmed with fatigue and nerves that he had to rush around back
to the alley to vomit. “That’s
it,” he thought. “I’m puking in an alley at 11:30 in the morning. I’m talking to Rosie today. Something has to change.”
He walked to the convenience store across the street for a
coke and some gum.
Later on, you might have found Will hiding in the apartment
building steps right by The March, where he’d ducked in after spying Brooke and
Teddy walking into the bar. He
lurked there, listening to them arguing.
Teddy was insisting that he would finish his book but that when he did,
it would make no difference. He told
Brooke to make sure she had no children.
“They’ll be no world for them, my dear. I’m just glad I’ll be dead before the end.” Brooke was clearly frustrated with
Teddy. But rather than argue, she
just sighed deeply. Will could
practically hear her rolling her eyes.
He found the exchange surprisingly inspiriting, despite Teddy’s
depressing commentary.
Later still, you’d have heard Caleb pop up for a visit with
Jorge. Celia had finished her
shift at Marshall Fields and was hanging out in the door, making plans for a
movie with Gio.
“Gio,” said Caleb.
“I think it’s time we got you trained for the bar.”
“Really?” said Gio, excited.
“Yeah,” said Caleb.
“It’s time to get you and Brooke trained. You’ll start Fridays week after next. And, Celia, it’s nice to see you. Now
go away and let Gio do his job.”
Celia laughed and said, “You bet, Caleb.” But when he left, she jumped up to hug
Gio and they started kissing right there on the street.
