He pulled the mail off the coffee table set up next to him. His wife thoughtfully put it there every day for him to go through. After work he'd slide through the back door, peck his wife on the cheek, then brew a cup of hot chocolate. She'd tell him about her day (mopping, laundry, dusting, so and and so forth) and he'd make an effort to say more than "My day was fine." Then he'd settle into his chair.
Bills, sympathy notes, and a plea for money from a charity. The sympathy notes were for the death of his wife's father. He was the black sheep of the family and disappeared a number of years back. His third ex-wife tried to find him and, in the process, discovered that he'd died two years back. No one knew why no one informed the family of the death. And now that they did know, people were sending them sympathy cards of a man no one cared about two years after he died. Such is life.
Then from under the notes emerged a package. Greedy eyes lit up his face. He knew what this was. His hands fumbled with the package for a few minutes before getting it open after a few curses. Into his hand slid a fresh, hot off the press copy of the new Slipknot album. Tears sprang into his eyes.
"Harold!" The wife's call came from the kitchen. Her footsteps brought her closer.
Fear lept into Harold's eye and in one smooth motion he hid the cd in the crack of his chair, next to a few stray pennies and a pencil. He put on a bright smile as his wife poked her head into the room.
As a middle aged man Harold was ashamed of his status as a "Maggot," or a big Slipknot fan. His wife was against hard music, and any music with nasty lyrics. He figured it was best to keep his love secret. After all, apart from Slipknot, Harold only listened to classical and jazz.
She left and Harold brought out the headphones. With those safely over his ears, he fished the cd out from the chair, happily pocketing the quarters. Harold opened it and puts the cd in his player. Pressing the play button, Harold leaned back and closed his eyes.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
very strange, evocative and creative TT, thanks!
2 - BRICKLAYER
Dude, if the above is secret code for "this record is softer than a tastee-freeze that's been left out in the rain on the hottest day of the year", I couldnt be in more complete and utter agreeance with you. After the lovely Iowa, this release is too watered down, too influenced by the lead singer's lite-grunge vanity side project, and the inept handling of the sometimes impressive Rick Rubin production. With all of the supposed tension amongst the group, and the lead singer's crazy talk of how this record would be their Sgt. Peppers, I had grave doubts about what this might sound like. I'm not saying it stinks, 'coz it's a few notches above that, but with all of the directionless, attempted melodic meandering, and half hearted attempts at bringing the metal, they might as well be any of the other faceless, maskless, bands that get played on my crappy local modern rock radio station. They had better step it up for Ozzfest, because Hatebreed is gonna tear 'em a new one on the second stage this year. May I be so bold as to recommend the new discs by God Forbid, All That Remains, and Killswitch Engage for those discerning heads looking for wonderful combinations of the sweet and the crunchy? Now, Mr. Theory, howsabout a review of the new Pedro the Lion, please, kind sir?
3 - joshT- indonesia, age, 8
well, i think those people are quite wrong about slipknot beeing bad.
i picked up the music since i was in grade two and i think it was great........................................ps. all who oppose of heavy anti-christ music are motherfuckers!
4 - Alan
slipknot is a very bad do not lisn to the sliipnot.
5 - Ray
Slipknot are good and i am lame
6 - jim AGE 11
i think slipknot RULES THE FUCKING WORLD...... [Eleven year old's pottymouth remark deleted by Comments Editor]
7 - jacob AGE 13
SLIPKNOT RULES oh ya comments editor that stupid you dont block out fucking or mutherfuckers
8 - richard
alan dont a lissioan to a alan a a a a
9 - Christopher Rose
What an articulate bunch of kids you are, I'm sure Slipknot must be very proud to have fans like you.