Outside a Small Circle Of Friends

“It's all about the Manifesto, mate.” Max said. Max was tall and lean with a large mohawk, a leather jacket and torn jeans. He was heading down the sidewalk into the fading light as hes spoke. His companion, Aaron was shorter with messy brownish hair sunglasses and a gray over-shirt.

“So wait you mean the Russians were never communists?” Aaron asked.

“Communism is a word.”

“But they weren't legit? Not even in the beginning, Lenin and shit?”

“Who the hell legitimizes community? That would ruin it.”

Aaron shrugged “The people? I mean that's how democracy works right? It's a legit as long as the general population is satisfied.”

“Pacified.”

“And classified huh? But I guess that doesn't work with communism man. I mean cuz there is no credible voice of the people in a communist government.”

Max stopped moving. “Aaron, dude, communism is not a fucking form of government.”

“Right. Yeah I know.” Aaron muttered as Max fell back into stride. “but that's how it works right? I mean cuz if the government owns everything –food, money, land, animals-- that's a pretty fucking solid chunk of power. ”

“Read the fucking book! That whole all possessive government, that's just a step. As Marx describes it, the prolit's rebellion establishes a firm government like that, but that's just temporary. Until the capitalist selfish mindset fades out. Once the idea of possession is eliminated you don't need a government. See Marxism is beyond government. ”

“I don't know.” Aaron said skeptically. “I mean I get it but it seems to me that the most essential part of society is--”

At this point he was rudely interrupted by a fit of coughing coming from a pile of rags and matted hair at the corner of a building. The coughing didn't stop. It increased so intensely that the The rags and matted hair --and now visible, bony pale arms-- jerked violently against the building.”

“Shit.” Max muttered, transfixed. Aaron fairly charged up to the man, for the figure. It was a man, as expected, his greasy well creased face made vague appearances through the hair as as he shook. The eyes were deeply sunken. Aaron dropped to his knees.

“Breath man.” He muttered trying to catch the man shoulders. Stabilizing the bony frame didn't help, and Aaron was rewarded with a face full of foul smelling breath and luke-warm slobber. The coughing continued.

“C'mon dude, stop.” Aaron mumbled. His mind was at racing loss.

“Deep breaths.”

“It's like lamaze. Pretend your giving birth.” Max said.

The man's bloodshot eyes shifted momentarily to Max who was standing over them with his hands on his hips.

After catching for a few seconds the hacking increased to the point where Aaron could no longer hold the man's shoulders still. His convulsing was o bad that Aaron had to move back for fear that flying elbow could cause him serious injury.

“I think he's in shock.” Max said.

“What the hell do you do whens someone's in shock?”

“I don't know!” Max's voice had risen several decibels. “All they teach in CPR is keep them form going into shock.”

“Well that's fucking helpful!” Aaron cried. From behind the man he gripped the shoulder s again. His thumb was caught in a snarl of oil hair.

“Just calm down man. It's going to be OK. ” He tried to speak evenly. Max had his cell phone out and was speaking with an emergency operator.

“Between eight and Jefferson. Yes, extremely wreaking coughs. I mean so hard that we're having trouble loosening the tie.”

The fingers on Aaron's right hand broke through the shirt. They were met with with sticky hot skin pulsing irregularly. The man was jerking more tightly as if something was trying to get out.

Finally worts broke out of his rebelling throat.

“T-tie?” He rasped. Bloodshot eyes focused wateringly on Max. Max shrugged and squatted next to the pair.

“I didn't figure unidentified bum would light much of a fire under their ass.” He explained through the return of the coughing.

“So listen man. Yeah, deep breaths. It a little bit everything will be fine.” Aaron spoke, more out of the necessity to do something then any sort of plan. “Everything will be great, it's be fucking happy and sun-filled”

“C'mon man your gonna get through this. Trust me.”

“Or God, or love”

“Yeah whatever keep you breathing man. Jerry Garcia . . .”

They kept talking quietly until blue and red lights cut through the night with a familiar scream.

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Please tell me any thoughts you have.

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