Free Milosz by Cordelia Strube

doesn’t. Why would he give her a plant? Was this your idea?’
    â€˜Definitely not. He helped me plant the babies.’
    â€˜I see. Well, spider plant, Spider-Man. Don’t you think she might connect the dots?’
    â€˜I hadn’t thought of that.’
    â€˜That’s your problem, Milo. You don’t think. Good night.’ She slides the doors closed. He wants to call after her but he is way too chicken.
    â€˜Thoughts are circular,’ Pablo says. With the La-Z-Boy in full reclining mode he is able to trace large circles in the air with his arms. ‘You ever noticed that?’
    Milo, remote in hand, surfs.
    â€˜You wake up and you think it’s a new day and what happens? Circles.’
    An actress straddles an actor on a couch. He fondles her breasts.
    â€˜Which is not necessarily a negative thing,’ Pablo adds. ‘ Life is circular. Me and Wallace were doing demolition at the Centre of Circular Wisdom because Sarah Moon Dancer don’t want no square walls there anymore, and she said … ’
    Milo cranks the volume, amplifying the actress’s orgasmic moans. Vera stamps on the floor above. ‘Turn that bloody thing down,’ she calls. He does to stop her stomping downstairs.
    Pablo adjusts the La-Z-Boy to a sitting position. ‘Sarah Moon Dancer says we have to accept life’s circularity before we can begin our transformational healing.’ The actor rolls the actress onto her back and thrusts into her. ‘Your neighbour was mad about the panties, wasn’t she? I wouldn’t worry about it. Women like it when men steal their panties, they just don’t show it.’
    â€˜Did Maria call?’
    â€˜I left another message.’
    â€˜You can’t stay here.’
    â€˜You need a friend, Milo. I saw this movie about this guy who’s, like, so bottled up inside, you know, like he can’t talk to nobody, and then he meets this waitress who’s, like, totally open. At first he’s, like, “no way am I hanging out with a waitress,” you know, but she’s so totally open … ’
    â€˜They get naked,’ Milo interjects.
    â€˜Not right away. It’s a journey, right?’
    â€˜Circular.’
    â€˜Exactly.’
    Milo retreats to a cot in the basement and watches the hamster cage, expecting Puffy to scurry about on the wheel experiencing his circularity, but no, in the dead of night, the nocturnal rodent is asleep. Hanging from hooks above Milo’s head are Gus’s implements for cutting, drilling, sawing, bashing and splitting rock. They have always frightened Milo with their sharp edges and blunt heads. One mistake and off goes a finger, oops, there goes a foot. His father took great care of his tools, sharpened and oiled them on his days off. Milo inhales the toxic stench of oily rags and Varsol in an attempt to get stoned, to forgive and be forgiven – to begin his transformational healing. Another fig leaf drops from his hair.

hey want to see you again,’ his agent says. ‘ ASAP . These folks are serious.’
    â€˜They made me run around half-naked.’
    â€˜Whatever you did, chief, do it again. We’re talking serious coin here. Three spots, national . We’re talking serious residuals.’ Stu runs his hand over his bald pate as though checking for growth. ‘Your new look is working for you, seriously.’
    â€˜What new look?’
    â€˜Are you serious? You’ve filled out a bit, you’re looking more mature.’
    When Zosia dumped him, Milo stopped seeing a barber and shaving regularly. ‘I’ve been thinking of getting a haircut.’
    â€˜Are you crazy? This look fits a demographic they’re targeting. Go for it. Seriously. Can you sing?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜They just want you to be a regular guy singing while you sling back a few.’
    â€˜I can’t sing.’
    â€˜Sure you can.’ Stu rubs his