Contentment

On a Sunday in mid March Mike Young went on a shopping spree for the first time in years before meeting his sister.  Getting off the F train in Mid Town he patronized the Borders on Columbus circle. He wanted to purchase ‘The Writer’s Market’ in order to browse the journal listings in privacy, pondering writing stories and sending them out. Mike walked around the fancy store noticing the yuppies with laptops, and the all around aura of money the environment breathed. He found the ‘Writers Market’ and picked up ‘The Best Short Stories of 2006,’ putting forty down plus change. Exiting the grandiose escalator Mike Young felt happiness in his day and his improvements.

      Almost three months ago Mike Young made the New Year’s resolution to quit drinking, and so far he kept it.  The coming and going of St. Patrick’s Day, or national drinking day, tested him, but he remained on the sober train.  Within weeks after the New Year Mike Young saw the monetary benefits of cessation as his ATM receipts decreased at a much slower rate, and not using his credit card.  All along Mike Young believed cigarettes were his financial culprit, but nights out seemed more so. Cessation gave Mr. Young other benefits as well, most notably a new sense of focus on writing, reading, and even at work he felt his performance made leaps and bounds.  He expected loneliness, and agitation from quitting drinking, but none of those feelings set in. One night in February he went to a bar with a friend and did not drink, but left with a phone number of an older attractive woman. Mike Young thought when he was ready for a pick-up scene the sober version of himself would fare better than the stumbling stuttering near to passing out drunk man he was.  Mike remembered a few women who wanted to lobotomize themselves partying like he did, but decided most females do not aspire to that lifestyle.

      Outside on Columbus circle, to his north the statue entrance to Central Park, Mike lit a cigarette contemplating the rest of his day.  In about two hours he would meet his sister for dinner. He wanted to look through ‘The Writer’s Market’ so he thought of a coffee type setting. Walking two blocks south he went to a Starbucks on 57th street. The establishment attracted the same clientele of the nearby Borders, yuppies that oozed money, and laptops on top of almost every table.  Delusions of this area being the publishing capital of America crossed his mind with publishing agents swarming trendy settings like these. Mike’s glorified day-dreaming was not enough, so boredom set in and he left.

      With plenty of time remaining before meeting his sister he went to the nearby Daffy’s discount store. Hit or miss with the shoes is the status quo at this place, and on that day they presented a particularly ugly assortment.  Mike Young looked at each one contemplating how up through college he brought tons of shoes. Strange how you could live at home with your parents, have a low paying part time job and be able to buy any material object you desire. Then you move away, acquire an adult career that pays decently and finances become a struggle. Mike found a pair of black simple sneakers and put them on noticing the comfort. Looking at the price tag of thirty dollars, he concluded he could afford them, and in fact needed them. With shoe box in hand he browsed the available clothing. Some jeans appeared at first glance fine, but then upon inspection possessed rips or ultra huge logos. Mike Young paid for his shoes, and even put them on despite the street slush outside.

      Across the street Mike saw a Gap clothing store and thoughts of jeans guided him to the entrance. In the brightly lit tan décor, Mike walked around for a couple of minutes until he found the loose cut fit jeans. All this time he tried to remember the last time he went shopping.  A couple of years at least must have lapsed since he purchased much of anything.  Most people his age have financial problems from clothes, i-pods, laptops, and other materials or gadgets. Mike Young’s problems stemmed from his past nights out, cigarettes, and food consumption.  Basically the financial strain developed from excess and digestion, not things to bring to show and tell. On the wall-rack Mike noticed dark blue and grayish blue jeans that were clean, not ripped or adorned with obnoxious logos.

      Mike wanted both pairs.  Because it’s been awhile Mike decided to try them on, usually he wears a 36, so he took a 36 and a 34.  In the fitting room Mike thought of the act as a great experiment deciding to try the 34 first, and they fit. Then curiously he put on the 36 size noticing they would require a belt at all times. Mike Young even though he worried about his estrogen levels, felt glad that he lost two inches in the waist.  Without looking at the price tags Mike gave the jeans that did not fit to a female clerk who told him of the half off shirts or tops for each purchase of jeans. So Mike looked around more finally picking out a polo shirt and a plan navy blue t-shirt both sized large. He figured no need to try them on and went back to the register paying about one hundred and twenty dollars. Mike Young was positive he could now afford this shopping indulgence.

      Last fall, or before New Year’s, this shopping scenario would have been impossible Mike Young realized as he walked to meet his sister.  About two or three weeks into January Mike noticed the curbing of his spending. Out of curiosity, he pillaged his dirty room for his credit card and checking statements.  After about half an hour of looking, he found both statement histories for the months October, November, and December. Adding up the bar tabs he charged 270 in October, 340 in November, and 380 in December on his credit card.  Accumulating credit card debt of over a thousand dollars for three months seemed bad enough until he sat down and analyzed his checking statements. Some weekend activity showed five or more withdrawals of forty to eighty dollars.  This depleted his checking account meaning numerous times in the last week or so of a given month Mike Young would charge necessities to pay rent.  In January looking at those statements Mike felt he solved the puzzle of his financial struggle, and has not used his credit card since, because he kept his resolution.

      Mike Young walked up to his sister who sat waiting on the steps of an art establishment.  “You bought Manhattan I see,” she gawked in good humor and he explained his purchases. They walked down Eighth Avenue catching up on the previous two weeks. Patricia Young made her living being a sculptress on various small incomes and grants since moving to New York eight years ago. Mike Young looked up to his sister happy to have family in the city eliminating the feeling of a cold move two years ago. For one thing she found various ways to do what she loves and feels passionate about, while he, to some degree, settled into a career.  Also she knows everything and attained financial responsibility.

      After some debate they went to a nearby sushi place for dinner. Over the course of the dinner Mike told of his new focus on everything, and how he believed cessation created this.  Patricia Young listened to her younger brother giving timely advice throughout the discussion. The sushi tasted good and the tea soothing.  Once the plates were cleared from the table, they lingered and she said this. “Being a writer or artist takes years of diligence, hard work, and set backs.  With your newfound discipline I now think you can work toward your writing goals and maybe achieve success.” Mike replied thanks in awe, even though this came from his sister, her level of drive, talent, practice, and devotion to her art form was on a different level. With the dinner over, they walked a couple of blocks until their direction differed and they said goodbye. Walking three blocks by himself to the subway with his shopping bags in hand, Mike Young thought of whistling because his mind hummed.