Get Lifted

Dusk was falling upon the streets of New York and the sky was tinged with orange. The wind cut through him striking every nerve in his body, it was as cold as the devil’s heart. A lottery ticket whisked past him. The wind stopped, Ben continued to follow the lottery ticket as it dropped lower, and lower.

60 feet? Maybe more? He was standing on the top balcony of the block of flats that he lived in. He could smell pizza and spaghetti, the Cimino family were expecting guests and Mrs. Cimino was mixing up her special sauce, Ben had tried to figure out the ingredients many times but it had never worked. If what he was about to do didn’t work, the recipe wouldn’t matter, and nothing would matter anymore.

 

What if he could really fly? Would he tell anyone? Should he tell anyone?

There was no turning back now, he had no shoes on, he had dropped them down to see how far he had to go, his feet clasped tightly onto the edge of the building. He looked up, and as he did, torrents of rain began to drop down, it was extremely cold, his face was frozen……

He sat up immediately in a cold sweat, gasping for air. It was that same dream again; he had been having the same dream for two weeks running. Something was wrong, Ben called his brother, he would know what was wrong, he always did.

 

It was 3:00AM, Jerry was in his office working hard on his president campaign, he hadn’t slept in three days. Election day was in three weeks and he was 8 points below top position. As he studied the writing on the sheet of paper, the text became blurry and he began to see less and less, “BRRRINNG!!!!” his mobile phone went off. ‘BRRINNNG!!!’, Jerry opened his eyes out wide, shook his head and answered the phone

“Hello?”

“Jerry, I’m coming over.” It was Ben, he could tell by the way that he was talking that it was something serious.

“Ermmm, okay…” Jerry hung up, grabbed his keys and jacket. He got into his car and drove off towards his home.

When Jerry got home, everyone was asleep but the living room light was on and he could see a moving shadow, he pulled his 9mm pistol out of his back pocket and crept up behind the door. He kicked it open and ran in pointing his gun forward screaming “DON”T MOVE!!!”. Ben stood still with his hands in the air, eyes wide open.

“Jeez!!! I thought you were a burglar.” Jerry was still trying to catch his breath.

“Since when did you have a gun? And why weren’t you home?” Ben was now advancing up and down the room.

“Ben, you know I gotta work hard on my campaign, but here I am. What’s wrong?”

“Have you ever had dreams about flying, or did you ever feel that you could fly?” Ben was now staring into Jerry’s eyes like he knew what he was going to say.

“……No…Ben, have you been mixing with the wrong crowds?” He hesitated before answering and then approached Ben.

“Last week, I could’ve sworn that I was raised above the ground at least 4 inches!! And for the last two weeks, I’ve been having the same dream that I am at the top of the block of flats and I jump off,” he was anxiously scurrying around the room, he stopped and looked at the portrait of their late father “ What about Dad? Did he ever mention anything?” Ben looked up and noticed that Jerry’s Wife, Kady, was at the door.

“Hey Jerry, you said you weren’t coming home.” She entered the room and went up Jerry to massage his shoulders.

“Yeah, well, Ben called and wanted to talk to me,” Jerry desperately trying to think of an excuse for what Ben wanted to talk about “something about a dangerous neighbourhood and he wants to move in with us for a while. Is that okay?” it wasn’t the best idea but it was something.

“Yeah sure Ben! You’re always welcome to our house, stay here tonight and then bring your stuff in the morning.” Kady went back up stairs after hearing the baby cry several times.

“I don’t want you to talk about this kinda crap to anyone okay?” Jerry hesitated and then started to walk out of the room.

“Why do you care so much about who I tell?” Ben was now curious and was yet again staring into Jerry’s eyes but now with more inquisitiveness.

“…..J..J-Just keep your mouth shut before the cops think you’re crazy and take you in! Then what will people think of me!!” Jerry turned round and tried to walk out as quick as he could before Ben could say anymore, but he wasn’t quick enough.

“That’s all you care about, isn’t it?! Your stupid Campaign!!!” a tear fell from Ben’s right eye.

“At least I’m doing something with my life instead of wasting it away with stupid worthless paintings!!!” Jerry could now hear the baby crying; he turned round and ran upstairs. Ben stood still and stared at, well, at nothing. Was he really wasting his life? Maybe he should live out that dream. Would it matter if it went wrong and he died? If he could fly, then at the moment, it wouldn’t really mean much, it would just be a ‘bonus’.

 

*   *   *   *

 

‘BEEP-BEEP!!!BEEP-BEEP!!!’

Ben tossed and turned in his bed before he could be bothered to wake up. Friday 8^th August, it had been two weeks since he had spoken to Jerry about his dreams. He was going to do it today, he was going to jump, at the second he had woken up, his heart had already started beating vigorously just at the thought of it all. It could either be the start of a new life, or the end of the one that he lived now. As far he was concerned he didn’t think it even qualified as a life, he’d slaved away at many canvases, he wasted so much money on paint, he hadn’t made a dime, he had to borrow money from Jerry – Jerry! He was giving a speech today at the memorial grounds just a few blocks from his flat. Ben got up and out of his bed and walked to the window, he looked out the window to see a flock of birds flying, he closed his eyes and imagined himself flying, soaring alongside the birds, overlooking the city. His mindless daydreaming was interrupted by the thunderous knocking on his door. It could only be one person behind the door at 6:00 AM, Jerry.

“Get some clean clothes on and follow me.’ Jerry didn’t even bother to walk in; Ben could tell that he was in a rush.

“Ermm, okay. Where are we going?” Ben scurried around his chaotic apartment rummaging through his empty closet.

“Take some colouring pencils if you want.”

“Haha, very funny.” still helplessly looking for a pair of jeans. Jerry stepped in and noticed a pair of tattered denim pants lying on the floor next to a pot of noodles which seemed to be growing a strangely coloured culture upon it.

“Look at this place, it’s a dump,” Jerry tip-toed around the dilapidated mirror trying to avoid any form of bad luck, “it’s a good job you’re moving in with me.”

“Okay, I’m ready. Where are we going?” tight jeans, white t-shirt covered in spaghetti sauce and a sports bag with a big gaping hole on the side, “Have you seen my shoes?”

“Might be by the rats nest, or possibly sitting by the dust bunny, I really don’t know. “

“Found them!” Ben wiped the paint off one of them and jumped around trying to get his shoes on.

 

“Okay so here’s the deal, I’m giving my speech at 2:00 PM I’ll drop you off at my house and you just meet me at the memorial grounds at 1:30 Pm sharp. Alright?” Jerry pulled up outside his house and looked at Ben.

“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Ben was trying to figure out how all his clothes had dropped out of his bag.

“Right, now scram!” Ben got out of the car seizing all his clothes in a big bundle in his arms. Jerry drove off and Ben was left alone. He shuffled up along the driveway path, careful not to drop any of his clothes. Kady opened the door with baby Ruth in her arms. “Ben!! Hey!! Ermmm one moment, “she went inside and came back out with a large plastic bag, “here, put them in the bag, we’ll get you a suitcase when we get inside”

“Ermmm yeah, sure. Are you going to Jerry’s speech?” Ben looked up at the skies, he could really feel it, he really wanted to fly.

 

People started to gather around the entrance of the memorial grounds, the speech would start shortly. Jerry paced up and down his podium wondering where Ben could be.

“He was supposed to be here at 1:30!!! Let me call hi-, “his phone rang, it was Ben, “Where the hell are you!?”

“Dude look up and at 4 o’ clock!! I’m waving!!” Ben was bellowing from the top of his voice. Jerry looked up. “What the….. Holy S***!!! Ben do not jump!!! I’m on my way!!” The press was now gathering, the speech was supposed to have started; the helicopters were now following Jerry’s movement towards the block of flats.

 

“Woooo!!! This is great!!! This is better than in my dreams!” Ben was now dancing along the edge building.

“Ben, listen to me. You can’t fly, now come here. Don’t be so stupid!!! I’m supposed to be giving my speech!”

“Well, go do your stupid speech I don’t care! I’m jumping!!”

“Go on then, do it! I bet you don’t!” secretly hoping that he wouldn’t.

“Okay, 3…”

Jerry looked up immediately.

“2….” Ben was not even anxious one bit. Jerry on the other hand, began to advance toward Ben, if only he had started moving earlier, it was too late.

“1…….” and with that, Ben leaped off the edge of the building. He closed his eyes firmly; mixed emotions were flowing through his absent mind.

As thoughts/memories of the last few weeks raced through his mind, a tear crept out of his eye, flying upwards.

‘You can’t fly’, Jerry’s words looped in Ben’s head. `        Would this be the end of it all? He could now feel, a bright white light gleaming through his eyelids. Ben opened his eyes; he could see clouds and his brother, smiling next to him.