Live Encounters Poetry & Writing May 2024.
Ricardo’s Malleus Maleficarum, story by Rafael E. Fajer Camus.
Ricardo and I are in the counselor’s office. I’m online, reading the posts for The New York Writers’ Workshop. Ricardo is sitting on the desk, writing on the computer, hammering away at the keyboard. I look up from the screen on my laptop, to his screen.
Click… click… Enter shift dear shift mrs fullstop shift ramirez comma enter enter enter shift i take this opportunity to let you know that comma no… comma you apostrophe re son is doing well dot…
I’m trying hard to concentrate while Ricardo is concentrating hard on enunciating his every keystroke.
Click… click… click… shift notwithstanding delete ding his short time at the clinic comma he apostrophe s progress.
Rick, why are you writing emails to the family reporting their progress? Don’t we do it over the phone?
Usually yes but she wrote to me to see what’s going on with Jorge, he replies.
I insist, Could you write without describing what keys you’re pressing please?
I’m trying to read. It’s distracting.
Of course, big man. No problem, he says.
click. click. click.
Two minutes later he starts wording his keystrokes once again, softer voice,
still very audible. I’m able tune out his words but the clicking continues.
click… click… click…
He doesn’t write quickly. It takes a few instants from one click to another: more than for most.
click
click
click
This is torturing me. But I want to read the entries online. The other rooms and common areas are even more populated.
click
click
click
Words words words out of Ricardo’s mouth.
Click full stop click comma click apostrophe click.
Punctuation has never been this difficult.
If only he wrote like Saramago. Genius! I’m going to gift him Saramago’s The Gospel According to Jesus Christ. Double whammy! He’ll get an alternative perspective on the life of Jesus, and he’ll see how punctuation is overrated. How many painful clicks will that save me in the future?
Click..
click..
click..
Bad idea. He’ll probably report me to his church’s inquisition, and I know I can’t float to the surface of a body of water if I’m weighed down by a stone. Hell, I almost didn’t resurface without a stone once… or twice. I’ll give him The Stone Raft. Maybe he’ll drift off to another continent.
Click… click… click
Punctuation can be tough but never had I experienced it as pain. I read some posts online and find that punctuation takes space.
Is it necessary Maybe not Saramago certainly uses it sparingly Punctuation is overrated Fuck I have a few birthmarks and meth-marks that could be construed as devil engendered Tread carefully Will the inquisitors believe me if I explain that the markings on my skin are remnants of my drugged-up days Scars of when I would accidentally burn off parts of my skin with a lighter a torch and liquified meth Or will they insist I’ve been marked by the devil
click click
click
Ok have him read Saramago It ll definitely help This torture could become shorter What books would be good for him I think about The Double Yes an evil double takes over the protagonist s life No not the double maybe Ricardo will multiply
Click click click
How else can I economize his language yes no capital letter s that s perfect a few lesser clicks per paragraph this is genius for real this time should i give him death with interruptions no no that would definitely clash with his scatological stance he would undoubtedly report me to the authorities in charge of decommissioning the existence blasphemers
complete the ideas therein.
My mind. It’s going insane, but is it me? Wait, I’m I bearing witness to my mind
without falling into its machinations? Thank you Ricardoooh shit. Truthfully, no.
I’m immersed in my mind play.
It’s too late.
A chain reaction has been catalyzed. I feel a stake impale me. I can’t move. I’m
burning. BURNING!
Ricardo! You bastard. I will come back and haunt you. Revenge will be mine
(exclamation point) I curse…. you and your…
All I can see is white.
Blindness
© Rafael E. Fajer Camus
Rafael E. Fajer Camus is a Mexican writer who was educated at NYU and Naropa University. He has travelled extensively and has lived in Mexico City, Paris, and NYC. He’s been through a few rehab and psychiatric treatments in the US and Mexico. He’s now aware that he’s not a cyborg destined to settle humans on Mars and is working on his first book Notes on the Borderline. His work has appeared in: ACE Anthology III: Arresting, Contemporary stories by Emerging writers, ACE Anthology IV: Arresting, Contemporary stories by Emerging writers and in several editions of Live Encounters Magazine. His work has been taught at NYU. https://rafaelfajer.com/
Great work. Have you read Queneau’s Exercises in Style?