Let Us Go-Go

“The brain’s like a backpack,” said Dr. Fusthi. “Different compartments with different functions. Always room for more.” He was not a real doctor, he just liked to lecture. He had some authority over this small group because they looked up to him. Dr. Fusthi did like to philosophize, and he did like to invent rules. Some people just enjoy being told what to do.

I didn’t, though. I’d come to this event with my girlfriend. It was an experiment. She’d go to something I was interested in (an auto repair workshop) if I’d go to something she was interested in: this. It was called “Dynamagic: The Soul-Brain Connection.” It was a series.

“I agreed to only ONE event,” I reminded Becky, after the talk was over and we were leaving without joining the crowd around the “doctor.” I’m not coming to this thing again.”

“Why not?” Becky asked me, smiling mysteriously.

“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Of course he doesn’t. But it’s fun to listen!” Becky enjoyed just about every instance of a self-appointed person getting up in front of other people and playing games of instruction, or admonition, or motivational storytelling. Except for outright preaching. To church we would not be going. That was a relief to me.

I had to ask her, though, “Why don’t YOU think up some plausible nonsense and start your own series? You’re the happiest person I know! That is something many of us would like to learn.”

“Let’s just say my backpack has a hidden compartment and I don’t know what’s in there. I'm not in control if I hafta talk to more than, oh, two or three people at a time. So I don’t. Who knows what I’d say? Or sing? Or do?” She laughed and grabbed my hand. We skipped down the park stairs to the bottom of the little valley where the fountain was. Becky took off her shoes and waded in, singing a song she made up about us. I’d heard it before:

“Wade is a wonder kind.
He has a funny mind.
When I ask him what’s for lunch
He has no idea!

I am a wonder girl.
I don’t have a mind at all.
When he asks me who I am
I have no idea!”

We are a silly two
We live in the human zoo.
When we kiss we like to say
Let us go-go all the way!”

“Maybe you can channel some entity, Becky. That’s probably what’s in the hidden compartment of your backpack: a transmitter.” I was continuing the metaphor of the evening, even though I thought it was silly.

“Entity! Can you read me?!” cried Becky, as she stepped out of the fountain. “Let us go-go!” That usually meant that we’d return to my place and have sex. She was already teaching me to be more easygoing. Learning her “love language” had been confusing, but only because it wasn’t on the list everyone was referring to these days. It was something all her own, and I was taking it to heart. I suppose I was in love with her, manic pixie dream girl that she was.

On the walk back to my place, we saw Dr. Fusthi holding court at a patio table outside a fancy restaurant/bar. Becky waved and blew him a kiss.

— Macoff