Tina, can you get him to shut up, just once? shed say while the answering machine was on play-back. The whole AIDS awareness campaign falls short when compared to this guy! Flash reports every hour on the hour. What in the world are you guys working on?

Working with the kids, with the infirm, with old people, with those who never got the attention they needed, working in a frenzy that had Others instead of Me written at the page-header; it brought considerable amount of blood-flow from the practice of grief, to one of conscious effort. Every day in the office was a taste of the system that razed the poor majority and raised the rich minority on the stilts they built from their bones. It was exhilarating and the dips into that keen awareness enlightened her in ways that yoga classes could not.

Quite unlike what Tina was doing, Alice, bless her, surrounded herself with the familiar just for kicks: breakfast at the Planet with Dana and Shane, be creamed by editor at eight, drop whoever at the gym at whatever time, lunch with so-and-so, lose oneself to humor when the going gets rough. Then do something crazy because it was all part of the agenda.

Tina realized then that she didnt want to go to the gym, didnt want to meet the ghosts in bike riding class, the phantoms at the weights circuit; she didnt want to face Dana and her unusual calm or Shane in a vile mood.

Taking one bite of what Marina considered sinfully sweet, she said, Guys, I have an idea.

Go, shoot, Shane said.

A day in the beach. Joy ride. Come on, people. You know you want it.

Cool. Im cool with that, Shane said, looking as though she had surprised herself.

Dana shrugged, a smile starting to tug at her lips. I cant believe none of us actually thought of that. I mean, the beach is like, an hour away.

Okay, Tina said. Give Alice a call and tell her that her Coopers booked for the morning and the rest of the afternoon. Yes, a break from monotony, from old habits. Something refreshing, something bright and fast and utterly useless.

Shane had flicked her mobile open. Should we bring Jenny?

I dont see why not. The more the merrier.

Dana added, And I dont see why anyone eccentric could rock our boat any more than it already has.

Tina knew then, that the Planet had swiftly and slightly, tilted.

~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued…)