Connecting Mark : Nicholas Wong

Morning

Mark wakes up. He gets five dollars from Johnny and heads to the sundry store that doesn’t ID. He buys a forty ounce and a Cup Noodles. He shits in the park bathroom then walks down the beach, looking for bulging wallets.

Noon

Mark tries to pick up girls on Queen’s Beach by saying “aloha.” It has worked a few times in the past. A tall, thin blonde is coming out of the water as he is going in. She has a killer body but a horrible face. He gives her the eye and says “aloha.” She smiles.

Sunset

The boys are working out in the park. Pull ups and dips today. They stand around and share a joint, waiting for their turns. When Mark goes up someone pulls down his pants from behind. Everyone laughs and teases him about the birthmark above his ass crack. “It’s the only thing my Dad left me,” he says. Chad remarks, “It looks like a red turd.” Mark splits his lip with a right cross.

Chow

Johnny makes Mark and Chad get dinner for fighting. They stop off at Jack in the Box and order ten Jumbo Jacks. The sign at the door says “no shirt, no shoes, no service” but they are served anyway. The crew and customers don’t want any trouble. The boys take buttermilk tubs and packets of ketchup by the handful before leaving.

Early Night

The bottle of Trader Vics is shattered on the road and glimmers when cars approach. The pine tree trunks that line the road are splattered with ketchup, twisted packets lie below. Everyone is asleep, save Mark. He feels a headache building and goes for a walk down the strip. He has his shirt and shoes on this time.

The Pick Up

She buys him a six-pack of beer and a bottle of tequila and invites him up. No one is at the front desk of the hotel. They catch the elevator up and head for her room. Murmured pants can be heard as they walk down the carpeted hallway. “I recognized you from this morning,” the girl says, pushing the door open. There is a woman asleep in the bed by the window.

The Encounter

They spit booze into each other’s mouth while the woman next to them sleeps. Then they get into bed, drink beer and kiss. Mark keeps his eyes closed as he slides in. She is tight and moist and moans. He smiles, thinking of the boys at the park.

Sun Up

The bed next to them is made. The bottle of tequila rests uncapped on the nightstand. The girl rolls over to kiss Mark and he tries to slide back in, horizontally. “Not now,” she says, before rolling away. She gets up and walks to the bathroom naked. The sight makes Mark want to puke.

Mid-morning

Her cinnamon kiss lingers in his mouth as he walks back to the park. Johnny asks where he was last night. Mark hands him a wallet from a Lt. Walter Morrissey of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Johnny says nothing more and gives him five dollars for breakfast. Mark buys a forty ounce and a breakfast burrito.

Noon

Is it possible or just a coincidence? Did I see it right? Was I that fucked?

Mark asks himself as he swims to the buoy. He doesn’t plan to see the girl again, but runs into her on the way back. She tells him to come over at five and kisses him on the mouth. He turns to watch her walk away, the cinnamon flavor renewed.

Sunset

She is drunk when they meet. They push the beds together and fuck. Mark takes her from behind to get a better look at it. It’s identical. He stops for a moment and comments. “Supposedly my dad had one just like it,” she replies. Mark feels himself shrinking.

Thereafter

They are silent and fully dressed as an episode of The Wonder Years begins. The room smells like coffee and ham sandwiches. Mark sits in a chair by the door. The blonde sits on the bed by the window and chews down her nails. They glance at each other only to look away. Mark wants to leave. She wants him to leave. They don’t even watch the show.