Egoneg passed a square, cement building on Greatway Avenue.
HAZEL'S GYM said the sign over the front door. A sandwich board on the sidewalk read: SORRY FELLAS. THIS GYM IS FOR LADIES ONLY.
Right up my alley, Egoneg thought as he went inside.
The woman behind the counter in the lobby got one look at Egoneg and held out a hand in the universal manner that meant STOP! "I am sorry, but you are not wanted here, my friend."
"Someone told me to meet her here. She's...she's..." He thought, aw, fuck it, what am I even doing making up stories and lying? That's what the old Egoneg would have done, and that Egoneg's dead and gone forever and good riddance.
Egoneg hit the clerk with a fear blast so fierce she dropped to the floor and frothed at the mouth.
It felt so warm in that lobby.
Egoneg didn't realize how cold he'd been until he went inside.
So, he thought.
Which way to the showers?
CONTINUE