Warning You might know someone like this. (excerpt)

“You were out of your mind?” How could that be true? All that you spoke about was how much your life sucked. Therefore, I took it upon myself to submerge into your psyche,” from an unknown voice. An unknown voice that is unknown to you now. “You admit it. You did this to me!” Carlton yelled. “Excuse me Carlton.” He did a triple take. Meaning he shook his head around like a dog would trying to reach that unreachable itch. It was the counselor asking him twenty questions again. He had had another hallucination. He wondered when he came back if she would tell him what the other counselor, who made six figures a year, told him. She’d tell him that he couldn't handle reality as it really was, so he escaped by any means necessary. As the DSM would label schizophrenia-of course his pride imposed, “Are we done here, yet?” Yes, that will be all. For now.” For Now was the ignition and it was back to Jack Karouc Darma Bums “Everyone knows everything.” Thus back to the omnisciently powerful being El’ Shier who had casts a spell on him. There were empty beer cans on the floor in front of his new chosen bed was where ever he could drink the most spirits, get happy, get destroyed, not remember anything, and then pass out. When he’d get up the next morning he’d conveniently have the next beer waiting on him. He had just moved in his over priced apartment. In a short while he had manifested his misery on the carpet with cigarette ashes and beer stains. He was on his, he didn’t count the number of beers he drank anymore. He monitored himself by his feelings. It usually started off with him being happy, then it went philosophical. He usually stopped when he felt nothing. Sometimes, he’d remember to sleep during this stage. He was at his happy stage when Al came by. Carlton called him Al. His actual name was El. He remembered expressing “I love you man” sentiments. That’s all he could seem to remember. It was as though Al had transported there. He gleefully handed Al the internet remote controller and told him to “choose whatever you want.” With a tone like he was doing Al a favor. El found a movie that was a collection of short stories “Bizzaro el’ terrifio.” Carlton met his friend El at his favorite bar. When Carlton got up enough liquid courage he’d go up to the bar and flirt with the pretty bar tender. After he tipped her three dollars she’d call him “Baby” in that tone that she hadn’t used on any other guy there-so Carlton told himself. “I’ll buy this one.” A hand comes across the bar and took his three dollars, “With this one.” Another hand swooped like an elegant and majest stroke as an artist would do adding a detailed shade to canvas threw down a large wad of cash wrapped in a fifty dollar bill. Her eyes went big. Like it was too good to be true. Then the same hand picked up the wad crumpled it up and released showing a long vertical scar from wrist to mid fore arm. It appeared to be an accurate suicide attempt scar. The money was thrown down again exposing half of a fifty dollar bill with ten one dollar bills. “You see. Things ain’t always what they appear to be. My name is El’ Shi’ar.”

Carlton is one of the main characters in my latest work.Carlton was introduced to readers, in the e-book TellMeVision, as being the childhood friend of Jason Brown. Jason Brown was the owner of Brown’s Funeral Home, Clarksdale Mississippi. TellMeVision main plot revolved around this funeral home.

In this excerpt from my novel in progress “GOING EDUCATIONAL” the reader has a chance to know Carlton more intimately. Many of my tales have aspects of addiction and recovery “High Cost Of Low Living.” Warning You might know someone like this.