The best thing about the massage parlor was the enormous water fountain that ran over smooth stones. The sound of falling water filled every room in the place. Of course no hand-jobs were given there. Adam only amused himself by calling it his “massage parlor.”

His masseuse was fifty-eight and specialized in Swedish. He loved the way Jane rubbed his shoulders. He always seemed to have the clearest thought and focused concentration when his face was pressed into her blue oval support ring.

“Why are you so tense?” Jane asked him.

Adam was silent for a moment. “I’m really worried about nanotechnology.”

“Are you talking about Mork From Ork? I loved that show.”

Adam corrected her. “Nanotechnology. Scientists can rearrange molecules and create anything that comes to mind.”

“Anything?”

He thought about it for a while, and nearly dozed off. He snapped back into it, and realized that five minutes had probably passed. Adam broke the news to her about the new technology. “It’s the fastest growing industry in history, and more money is going into nanotechnology than any industry – ever. It’s the big bang. In five years everything we have now will be obsolete, and everything in our lives will be completely different. Really. It’s going to happen.”

Jane rubbed on his naked ass. “I don’t understand. Are you saying that my car will be obsolete in five years? I will finally have it paid off by then. That’s just great. I can’t believe it. It will finally be paid off when it’s obsolete.”

 

Adam slipped into a trance, into a dream.

 

 

From “My Infancy, et al”

Popcorn rotates and pops in a microwave. We are microwaving ourselves with all these electronic devices. We are buttered popcorn. I’m going to be sick.

 

 

Jane snapped him out of it. “What are you talking about?”

Adam opened his eyes and stared down at the floor through the cushy pillow. ”How long have you been giving massages, Jane?

“Oh… more than 7 years.”

Adam thought about what Jane said. “Wow, you must have touched a lot of skin. I bet you have many interesting memories.”

She seemed to take offense to his remark. “Well, just how long have you been getting massages?”

Adam slipped again into deep thought. He delved deep into memories. He thought of his mother.

A telephone company technician in a royal blue uniform and bright yellow hard hat was using red handled pliers to pull red wires from inside an open phone box. Another technician was conspicuously standing lookout. They appeared suspicious and crafty.

 

Adam finally spoke. “It was May of 1994. It was right after my mother phoned to tell me about the guys in blue uniforms in her back yard working on her phone box. She said they were ‘out there installing Bill Clinton’s Super Information Highway’ – right in her back yard, and she said they would be able to watch her through her television.”

Jane seemed concerned. “Oh, my. I always keep my T.V. covered when I’m not watching it.”

“Back then I thought she was crazy as bed bugs, but anymore I think she was onto something. Have you seen the news lately?”

“I avoid the news. It’s never any good. Now, roll over.” Jane held the blanket up, giving Adam space to move.

 

He remembered watching CNN and screaming at his television when George Bush and John Kerry appeared on the screen.

 

“I used to watch the news constantly but I developed something like a mania and started arguing with the newscasters. I would argue for hours every day. The election of 2004 nearly killed me. I eventually had a nervous breakdown and had to give it up. I stacked up my sets on the front sidewalk.”

“Oh, dear.”

“Well, I can hardly stand politics anymore. I just ignore it. But I’m really worried about nanotechnology.”

Jane chimed, “Na nu, Na nu.”

“Well, can you imagine a kid who gets anything she wants, just by thinking about it? Anything. Now imagine our world when every child on Earth is so spoiled. Everyone will have the Midas Touch.”

Jane quickly lost interest in the discussion, and let out a slow “hmmmmmm”.

“That’s what stressing me out Jane, really. That’s exactly why they’re putting up walls on the borders to keep people out. It’s going to get real crazy.” He closed his eyes and imagined a rainbow shoot over the sky to disappear behind a border wall. A crowd of Mexican immigrants rushed toward the wall, where they were instantly machine-gunned down by a dozen uniformed soldiers perched on top.

Jane sensed his upset and pressed harder to calm him down. “You know what I like? I like my tomato plants. I spend a lot of my time with them. They make me really happy. Why don’t you tell your girlfriend this stuff… I really don’t want to hear about it anymore.”

Adam listened to the gurgle of the water until Jane finished the session.