Ah! Schitz! Dang Dammo!
The man’s thumb had been in overdrive since ten in the morning. A day off meant lazy mornings, pots of black coffee, and too much time to spare. It was never enough just doing nothing, so Mel submitted to his part-time addiction, browsing the internet and stalking people on social media.
Mel, a small man, barely five-two, was a silent observer of the virtual world. Only breaking the quiet in his five-by-eight-foot room to bark his disdain, swearing at the screen and its damaging blue light.
Ficky Titty! Weasel Wonk!
There was no apparent reason for his displeasure and anger, figuring that he knew only two of his social media friends. There were roughly three hundred of them, and not a name or face drew a faint hint of recognition. Mel never used his real name. Or photo. He was Rocky XOXO with an image of a cobra as his profile picture.
It was a well thought and considered move, considering he resembled a Humpty-Dumpty in reality. Short, round, and bald. Could life be any crueler? Yes, it could. Mel was also a two-time divorcee, one time widower, and almost bridegroom for a third and fourth time. Both his catches had chickened out seven feet from the altar.
One said – I need time, the other said – I think I lost my mind.
Leaving Mel to entertain the guests and pay for the bored caterers. So maybe Mel’s anger was justified. And he took it out on the only loved ones he had. A senile stepmother and a junkie half-brother, cursing them out for ruining his adult life. Because someone had to take the blame, and they were the only ones crazy enough to listen.
Thus, the stout man resigned to his rented one room apartment, a hole in a wall, resuming his pathetic life, a garbage collector by day, a sobbing Romeo at night, his pillow a smelly swamp of tears and transparent nasal fluids.
It was during these testing times that Mel discovered another world residing in his phone. So began a love-hate relation with unknown faces and a secret loathing that felt refreshing. The man could spit his contemptuous thoughts any time he wanted. There was no fear of retribution or threat of having his ears boxed. He was Rocky XOXO and like a cobra he stealthily slithered about.
Suck my Pooky! Hobo Wobo!
Mel’s eyes were burning but his thumb wouldn’t slow down. It was enraged by the smiling faces and senseless, bloated descriptions of joy and love, faith and belief, family and friends. Which world was this? Either Mel was an alien, or he had landed on a planet populated with actors and morons.
His thumb stopped abruptly. It double-tapped the screen.
A face sprung out and he almost screamed. Those eyes, that smile, the crooked tooth that made him weak in the knees. It was her, not the third, but the fourth. Jane, not Tarzan’s, but his Jane, the one who had lost her mind at just the right time and had ran with her frumpy white dress raised high above her knees, never looking back to see Mel sinking into a pit of endless melancholy.
She wasn’t alone. There was a man in whose lap she sat, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Once Mel’s favorite territory that he often traced with his stubby fingers and kissed with his porky lips. A ring beamed on her third finger, an announcement duly in place.
Engaged to the love of my love – Tony. You and me forever babe.
Mel was sickened by the emojis. There were just too many. So he cursed even louder, his words bouncing off the walls and window. Only God or he knew what they really meant.
Asso Bimbo! Bozo Dogg!
Mel’s thumb then did the unexpected. It betrayed the faith he had bestowed in it. It tapped a tiny thumb resembling it.
LIKE
Adding fuel to the fire it scrolled down and typed three words in an empty box.
Congratulations Jane, Tony!
Before the man could take stock of the situation, the comment was posted with a sickly emoji languishing after it. A red heart.
Shatt! Shatt! Shatt!
This was preposterous. The double-crossing thumb would have to pay. So up it went, into Mel’s mouth, and he sucked on it like a baby craving for warmth and security. The ‘like and comment’ pasted on the screen, sticking out like sore thumbs themselves. Rocky XOXO, the cobra, had betrayed his own code of conduct. It was Jane – lost her mind’s fault, she was the reason for this awkward moment.
If this was unthinkable, then what happened next was irreversible.
Someone was typing. It had to be Jane. This was her profile which he had befriended in the garb of macho Rocky XOXO, the cobra. The typing stopped and then started again. Had Jane smelled a rat like him many miles away.
Mel’s mouth tugged even more viciously at his thumb while spit dribbled down his chin barely visible in the folds of his skin. What would she say? He didn’t want to know but he had to. Seconds seemed to slow, and time stood still, but Mel continued having his way with his thumb. Maybe it was the connection, sluggish and unreliable, or maybe Jane had gone offline so Tony could smother her with the love Mel had wanted to give her.
So to relieve some anxiety, Mel spit out his thumb and let out more expletives.
Dang Yo Mama! Dang! Dang!
The words, though nonsensical, proved to be magical.
The screen lit up with Jane’s reply. A like for a like, a comment for a comment. At least Jane had some social media etiquette. But only two words.
Thank You!
And an ugly flower emoji that Mel never knew existed. Was this what had taken Jane so long to type? Was the woman kidding? Looks like she never found her mind.
Hell! Hail Satan! Lucifer!
Mel could no longer take it. He flung his phone across the room. And right before it hit the wall it chimed not once but twice. Two more messages. But who would know what they were?
He’ll be working overtime, chucking garbage day and night. It’ll take some money to fix a broken phone. A broken heart is another story.
A Die-Hard Opportunist, he’ll do anything to get into his dream university. Even if it means trading his mother.
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Feeling the Akismet eyes following my every move, I will adjust my comment accordingly.
Dearest Miss Gill,
I fear that my words will not be enough to properly convey my feelings on your post regarding the gossamer threads of internet relations, but I shall make the attempt anyway.
The yarns you weave give us, the reader, purpose, a reason to browse the blogosphere each day in hopes of discovering a gem of creativity and levity that at times exposes sad truths that will hopefully enlighten us and help add color to the dullish greys of reality. This could not be accomplished without the inspiration, and thoughtful engagement that your work provides.
Your creative use of expletives such as, Ficky Titty!, Suck my Pooky!, Asso Bimbo!, Shatt! Shatt! Shatt!, and Dang Yo Mama! I have found so interesting that I shall for this moment on endeavor to incorporate them into my daily vernacular!
In parting, I wish you continued success.
As always, Dang Yo Mama!
Madd Fictional
Dear Rhyan,
I have finally stopped laughing, and now proceed to reply to your most gracious and too too kind comment. Words have the power to make us rise or strike us down. And your comments have been nothing but pats on the back, fist pumping adulations, and a reason for striving to write even better, with more gusto. A writer is nothing without the valued reader, and you have been playing a dual role with utmost care and devotion.
Your comments are writing proof of your expertise and passion.
Now practice these expletives on a daily basis and I’m sure you have some more to give them company.
As always I am indebted to your kindness and encouraging nature.
So Dang! Dang! Bozo Dogg be with you! 🙂
Ha, ha, so melodramatic. A lot of them just sum up social media etiquette with a “thank you.” which sometimes means the world. Rocky XOXO sounds like an agent in disguise.
Thank you so much, Shobana!
Social Media is treated as an oasis in a desert of bleakness. Every like and comment is pined for. Poor Mel and his cobra Rocky XOXO. Should’ve just stayed silent. 🙂
I really enjoyed this Terveen….I like your sense of humour….poor Mel…Melvyn?…Melfyn?…..Roxy XOXO sounds like a porn site
Maybe Melody!
Yeah poor guy was just trying to have a social life. Ah! Schitz! Shatt!
I was going to suggest Melody but thought that too obvious……
Shitz shatz
I have catz
Both like patz ‘n’
Datz is datz
I would have suggested Melody but thought that too obvious…..
A true gem of a story dripping with social-media irony. 🙂
Thank you so much, Patricia!
Social Media is treasure trove of stories.🙂
Wonderful. Your creative use of expletives reminded me of Captain Haddock of Tin Tin comics.
Aww! Thank you! He did have a way with his expletives. 🙂
Oh my, what an awesome story, Terveen. Your imagination and creativity are stupendous, just like your words and the story you’ve created with them. Wonderful, my friend. 😊😊😊
Thank you so much, Jeff! Every story has a bit of all of us in it. Such are human connections and their workings. 🙂
Indeed, I completely agree.😊 You’re most welcome! Have a great week!!
You too, Jeff. 🙂
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There’s a lot to unpack with this story. The satire, the commentary, the prose itself, and I could go on! Great story!
Thank you so much! It was enjoyable writing it. Would like to pass that on to the reader. 🙂
I agree with the commenters above, there are many different angles to this extremely interesting story. Since it’s longer than your usual ones, there’s more room for characters to grow so I feel like I got to know the speaker in the story more closely. I feel like the internet is full of a lot of people like this – using usernames as masks of anonymity so that they can add colour to their bitter, bitter lives by spreading hate to everything virtual that they touch without consequence. I also think that the other aspect about the relationship was interesting as well though. An almost flip side to the situation about how seeing others succesful and smiling and happy online can be hurtful. Your stories always manage to immerse and captivate and draw me in until the very end. I truly think you are one of the most talented creative writing bloggers that I follow.
Thank you so much! That’s such a beautiful compliment. I appreciate it a lot!
I feel the virtual world is a domain of make-believe where anyone can be what they want and freely speak without the fear of face-to-face confrontation. It’s like a free for all where you’re safe behind a screen and way out of the reach of the other person.
Also, there’s a lot of fakeness and hyped up dramatics, but those are the choices of others and their takes on their lives and situations.
But it’s not easy to digest rosy pictures and many boil and seethe at these picture perfect moments. Like they themselves have been denied the pleasure of them in their own lives.
This topic could go on forever. Thank you for always leaving such creative and well written comments. It’s such a pleasure to read them. 🙂