#Brain Curd 221

[notsocheezy]

Brain Curd #221

Brain Curds are lightly edited daily writing - usually flash fiction and sometimes terrible on purpose.

He's gonna be Frank with you. Read the rest of The Frank Program here on Tumblr!

Frank glared at the person sitting across from him at the studio table. The woman tried her best not to make eye contact as he attempted to dig through her soul with his piercing eyes. He sniffed, repeatedly.

Bike Mike walked in and handed the others cups of coffee. “Morning, everyone! Hope we’re ready to get started recording.”

Frank didn’t reach out to take his cup, so Mike set it down next to him. He just looked at it, with the same intensity as he’d looked at the woman, who cradled her cup like a baby bird and took little sips from it, mostly as something to do with her hands.

The recorder’s red light was on, and had been for some time. Recently, Frank had been losing track of some things - closing up shop, once second nature, became easy to miss as he floated through various highs trying to find one he liked.

“Where is today’s guest, Mike?” Frank slurred.

“She’s right here. This is Dr. Heather Jung. She’s an expert in substance abuse.”

Frank looked at Mike like he wanted to strangle him. Because he did.

“You weren’t finding us guests, we need to make a show, so I booked her. I think it’s an interesting topic.”

“You would think that, ya deadbeat cuckold.”

Mike rolled his eyes. “That’s a low blow, Frank.”

“No, that’s what your wife gave me last night.”

Mike banged on the table. “Fuck you, man! I stick by you when everyone else leaves and you treat me like dirt!”

“I’ll stop treating you like dirt when you stop sleeping in it.”

“I’ll stop sleeping in it when you get us a goddamn vacuum cleaner!”

“Oh, fuck this.” Frank pulled out a baggie of white powder and snorted it straight out of the plastic. Most of it ended up on his nose. He sniffed and wiggled his nose a bit, then wiped himself off with his sleeve.

His whole body jittered, then settled. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Frank Program. Today’s guest is esteemed - is she esteemed?”

Mike scowled. “Yes.”

“She’s esteemed. Dr. Heather Jung, drug expert. Say hello.”

She cleared her throat. “Uh, hi. Frank, are you okay?”

“Never better. I’m doing just fine handling myself. And I ask the questions here, sugartits. Capisce?”

“‘Capisce’? Frank, you’re a pretentious little bitch when you’re high.”

“Fuck off.”

“Okay,” Dr. Jung said, trying to keep a calm voice despite her nerves tensing up. “Why don’t you ask me a question?”

“Fine.” Frank leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. It was hastily boarded up months ago, after… an incident. He and Daryl had always talked about having it re-done properly, but neither got around to it. Now, Frank had accepted, it wasn’t going to happen.

“Doctor Jung, do you know what it’s like to lose everything you ever cared about?”

“I’ve had my struggles, same as anyone has.”

“No. Have you ever lost everything?”

“I suppose not.”

Frank leaned forward and growled. “Then don’t you dare try to take away what little I have left.”

Frank got up and walked out of the studio. He wasn’t seen for several weeks.

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