Sony Radio

Word Count: 1,374

Carved in a rotting piece of plank wood with jagged letters made from a pocket knife or a sharp rock was the words “WHERE CAN A GUY GET A SONY ICF-5500W AM/FM TRANSISTOR PSB RADIO?’” Millions of questions instantly pop into my head. First thought was, did this guy not have a craigslist? How long did it take for him to carve this? Why was this wooden plank nailed to a tree in the middle of a park where no one passes by? I like to imagine that when the guy wrote it, he was convinced that only someone who knows where to buy a Sony radio would pass by this sign. He would visit it three times a week, checking to see if anyone wrote to him. Slowly he becomes more disappointed that either no one has seen this sign, or no one knows what he is talking about.

The only reason why I was here was because it was a short-cut I recently discovered on my way back home from work at the Panda Express across the street from the university he attended. A little personal hell that consisted of long shift hours, rude customers, rude bosses, and stupid coworkers. It is a nice break from the streets that are bustling with people and car horns blaring at each other. Constant noise is always invading my head. No room to think or breath.

The weight of the backpack on my shoulders was beginning to hurt and the setting of the sun was bringing in a cool breeze. I bounce my bag on my back to a better position, but it still gives me an ache that I can’t seem to stretch out. The lights in the store windows became brighter and the loud chatter and busyness of the city amplify. The more street corners I turn, the more I feel anxious. 

I reach my old apartment complex, and with a heavy sigh I drag my feet up the stairs to my apartment.

I reach for my keys and reluctantly push the door open. I could already hear the yelling through the door. They are always yelling.

“You dirty cheater! I trusted you!”

I hear banging on the table.

“I would never! I can’t believe you would accuse me of such a disgusting act!”

“Look! You moved the piece when I went to get water! Look, I was here and you were here!”

“Are you kidding me? Why would I have to cheat when I’m clearly winning?”

I toss my keys into a green plastic bowel on the counter by the entrance.

“Hey guys, I’m back,” I announce.

Brian looks up from the chessboard on the blue foldout table, gives Charlie a warning eye, and then looks at me. “Oh hey Dean, great to see you back.”

“Hey Dean, can you pass me a bag of chips while you’re at it.” Jason calls from the couch with the TV playing some paranormal show.

“Yeah sure. Not like I went to work an eight-hour shift and I’m tired or anything,” I roll my eyes.

Jason gives me a thumbs up from his relaxed position completely missing my sarcasm, “Sounds good.” 

I toss my bag to the ground and kick off my shoes into the large shoe pile that no one bothered to organize. 

I head to our old kitchen where I see dirty dishes piled in the sink and food wrappers everywhere. I take a deep breath and clench my fists, trying to control my thinning patience. I roughly throw open a cabinet filled with a couple chip bags, some ramen, half eaten box of cereal, and beer cases. 

I grab a bag of chips and leave the kitchen before I feel myself start to explode.

“Jesus, when did I start living with a bunch of pigs,” I toss the chip bag and it hits Jason square in the face.

“Hey!”

“What? You wanted chips” I feign innocence.

“Someone’s in a bad mood,” Jason grumbles. 

The obnoxiously loud TV and Black Sabbath blasting from the radio next to Charlie and Brian start giving me a headache.

“All day and no one bothered to clean the kitchen. Why do I always have to do it?”

Charlie moves a piece on the chessboard and Brian curses under his breath.

“What’s the big deal? I’ll clean it later.” Charlie chimes.

“The big deal? The big deal. Right.” I squeeze my eyes tightly. 

Jason waves a dismissive hand. “Quit getting your panties in a twist. If it bothers you so much, you go clean it. Now will you keep it down they’re gonna reveal if it was fact or fiction.”

Charlie sneers and increases the volume of the radio. The host of the show and Green Day start to mix until the words become incoherent.

“Forget this.” I turn and head to my room and slam the door shut. It does nothing to mute the TV or the radio.

I change out of my work clothes and flop on my bed. From the other room I can still hear the voices.

My head starts pulsing.

Do you have the time to listen to me whine

About nothing and everything all at once?

…It could have been her mind playing tricks on her, but how would the woman have known Alicia if she hadn’t seen her before?

I cover my head with a pillow. I can still hear the voices.

Sometimes I give myself the creeps

Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me

…Unless of course we made the whole thing up.

 “Alright that’s it.” I rapidly roll off the bed and throw the door of my room open. I see all three of them in the exact same position I left them in. The TV and the radio battling for dominance.

I move in front of the TV to grab the remote and turn off the TV.

“Awe what the hell man?” Jason wines.

I move past Charlie and turn the radio off.

“Hey, that was my favorite part!” Charlie looks up from the chess game. 

“Can you guys just be quiet for five minutes! Just five. You know what! Clean the damn kitchen!”

Brian stands up from his seat and rests his hand on my shoulder. “Hey we’re sorry man. We’ll go do it right now.”

I release a sigh of relief.

Jason stands from the couch, his dark black hair in a mess and his Led Zeppelin shirt riding up. He scoffs in anger. 

“What? No! Who made you the boss? If it bothers you so much, you clean it. You don’t see me getting mad every time you leave a bowl.”

Jason sits back down and turns the TV back on.

My head starts to pulse again.

I reach over the couch and grab the remote to turn it back off.

Jason twists to pull the remote out of my hands, so I tighten my grip.

“Are you kidding me right now? Let. Go.” Jason strains as he struggles to pull the remote out of my hands.

“No!” I retaliate.

From behind me I hear Charlie laughing, “Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Brian starts laughing at Charlie’s chanting.

I use one last bit of effort to yank the remote out of Jason’s hands, causing me to fall back on to the floor and Jason, getting dragged forward in the process, hits his head against the arm of the couch.

For a moment all of us are in silent shock, and then we all burst out laughing.

“Alright man. You win this one.” Jason breathes in between laughs. 

I watch Jason stand up and head towards the kitchen with Brian tailing behind him.

Charlie laughs and stretches out a hand for me to grab, helping me stand. 

I massage my temples and shake my head, “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Charlie is about to turn to the kitchen, but stops himself and says, “Hey, do you know where they sell Sony ICF-5500W AM/FM Transistor PSB Radios?”

“What the hell?” I blink rapidly at a loss for words.

“I just think it’ll add to the ambiance of the apartment,” he says with a gesture around the room and a grin. “Also don’t tell Brian I moved his rook.”