I Am the Messenger

He goes to try it again, but I reach over and grab the key from the ignition.

"Marv," I whisper. A whisper the size of a shout. "I need your help. I need money."

The moment slows, and I can hear us breathing.

A minute's silence passes.

This is the death of Marv's and my usual trivial relationship.

It truly feels like something has died.

It doesn't take much longer for Marv to get interested. The mention of money will do that to him. His eyebrows tense, and he looks over at me, trying to find a way in. He doesn't look too forthcoming.

He says, "How much, Ed?"

And I erupt.

I rip the car door open.

I slam it.

I lean back in and point my finger at the friend behind the wheel.

"Well, I should have known!" I get stuck into him. "You're the stingiest bastard, Marv...." I point at him as ruthlessly as I can. "I can't believe this!"

Silence.

Street and silence.

I turn and rest back against the car as Marv gets out and walks around to me.

"Ed?"

"I'm sorry." This is going well, I think. I shake my head.

"No, you're not," he says.

"Marv, I just thought--"

He cuts me off.

"Ed, I haven't..." His words trail off.

"I just thought you could--"

"Ed, I don't have the money."

This is somewhat of a shock.

"Why not, Marv?" I step forward and face him. "Why the hell not?"

"I spent it."

His voice is somewhere else. It doesn't come from his mouth. It seems to show up from somewhere next to him. Vacant.

"On what, Marv?"

I'm getting agitated now.