Green River's Nightlife

This narrative is based on the Green River murders. Which took place in Seattle Washington during the 1980’s. Gary Ridgway would dump his victims along the Duwamish (Green River) River. The narrative is centered around the emerging Seattle indie scene (grunge music) of the same time frame.

     The daybreaks, the sun ascends into its throne. The holy rays peak through the blinds. Upon awakening, smiling in the comforts of her duvet. We spend a third of our lives sleeping. Lisa thinks as she opens the slide doors to her terrace. To perform her vinyasa yoga. Still yawning, Lisa begins to journal. So she may release the events that transpired the day before. She opens her heart and diligently performs the morning routine. 

      After the first cup of coffee. Lisa steps back out on her terrace to bask in the morning dew. Peering over downtown Seattle’s skyline. Now ready for the block walk to Starbucks Coffee’s headquarters. The walk was short with local band Malfunkshun in the walkman. Quinton the door man greeted Lisa with flirtatious vigor. Coy though passive she kindly regarded Quinton. Entering her office with five minutes to spare. Before the first conference call began. Swift and diligently Lisa got her presentation ready. Briskly she descended down the hallway to the projection meeting. Which opened with the charts of the past month's sales. Followed by the projections of next month’s forecast. 

“Lisa, is there a marketing plan pitch for next month’s forecast?”

“Yes, absolutely Mr. Schultz.”

     Over the next 15 minutes Lisa flawlessly went through the 23 slides of her presentation. The last hour of the meeting flew by. Flow state swarms its host without warning. Assuming the controls of the mind. Guiding its host with swift movements and conveying relevant thoughts. Upon finishing her workday Lisa briskly walked the block and half. Turning the tape in her walkman to side two of Malfunkshun’s demo. Back in her condo Lisa swiftly poured a glass of dry red. Quickly setting the bathroom to express her femininity. Vibing and chilling in the bathtub.Without warning and unbeknownst to herself. Lisa’s three friends, Myra, Courtney and Tracy. All rushed into her condo. Hollering how it’s Friday night and they needed to go out. Further lamenting how it was necessary for the four of them to connect. While they dilute their consciousness.  

     It took all of a half hour for Lisa to collect and organize herself to go out. As for Lisa’s three friends. While she was getting ready, Myra was making pregame drinks in the kitchen. Tracy put Malfunkshun’s tape on the stereo. While Courtney was touching up and finishing her makeup. The four of them collectively were venting and unloading the day's trials and tribulations. Courtney lit up and started the pass of a joint. On the terrace in observation of the Seattle skyline.

     In a pregame haze they left Lisa’s condo. Heading for the first bar on the corner. After two rounds they left for the next spot. Hooting and hollering the half block to the next bar. Lisa inquired whose place they will crash out at. Courtney blurted it was her turn to host. Tracy mentioned it would be a good idea.

“You live the closest to Central Saloon. Which is where Malfunkshun is playing tonight.”

     Myra inquired if Tracy was gonna introduce them to the band.

“I mean you’re dating the drummer.”

     However true the aforementioned statement may be. Tracy, Courtney & Lisa began ribbing Myra for wanting to sleep with Andrew Wood. After the ribbing died down and they finished the rousing of the bars around the Seattle Mart. The four of them split a cab to Central Saloon. Which is on 1st avenue south. Lisa calmly fucked up felt satisfied by the hive mind. Loosening up upon entering Central. Amped up for her favorite indie (grunge) band. Once inside they swarmed the bar in search of food and more spirits. Lisa quickly got the bartender's attention. Which was easy with her Heather Locklear styled strawberry blonde hair and bashful blue eyes. Ordering 4 Gray Goose and soda with Miller Lite pitcher. Ordering nachos and tenders as well. 

     The four friends gathered together. Giddy in glee exclaiming adulation for the start of the show. The four of them danced, ate and drank in excess. Courtney and Lisa stepped out for a cigarette. As they stepped out onto the avenue. A medium sized male with a blonde mustache walked up.

“Is Malfunkshun on stage yet, ladies?”

     Thinking he was kinda cute Lisa blurted fuck yeah. The cool river air was soothing the buzz as Lisa and Courtney finished their smokes. Excited and high from the night. Courtney and Lisa went back into the saloon. Regrouping with Tracy and Myra on the dance floor. The four of them danced and sang. Myra exclaimed it was 1983 and they weren’t getting any younger. After four songs Lisa went back to the bar to reload the pitcher. Waiting her turn to order she noticed the guy she talked to outside sitting next to her. Thinking he was cute she inquired his opinion of Malfunkshun. To which he proclaimed he preferred them over Green River. He introduced himself as Gary.

“I’ve followed Malfunkshun shows from Aberdeen all the way to 1st Avenue South downtown Seattle.”

     Stunned by Gary’s dedication Lisa continued the conversation after the pitcher had been filled. 

“I’ve been to all their shows, too. My friend Tracy’s dating the drummer. Kurt’s shy but he’s really cool. Anyway you look vaguely familiar. Have I met you before?”

     Calm and collected, Gary paid Lisa’s open tab. Stating how he saw her at the Moon Theater. 

“That show was a month ago, you remembered me?”

     As Malfunkshun began performing Stargazer. Which is Lisa’s favorite song. She became overwhelmed by her feelings. Aptly ordering a Gray Goose and soda to calm her nerves. Gary waved off the bartender.

“You can have mine for a beer out of that pitcher.”

     Lisa felt validated by Gary and accepted the offer. Halfway through the drink her inhibitions vanished. As well as any form of coherency. Her consciousness and vision reconnected as she was coerced out an emergency exit. Upon exiting the threshold into the cool evening breeze. A hard smack to her right temple turned out the lights. The pavement was cold with its hard embrace. Fading out of consciousness she felt tugged. Unaware that she was being dragged to Gary’s car. Lisa reclaimed consciousness from a sharp pain in the front and back of her head. Her hair was pulled tight at the root of her skull.Violently being taken as her forehead smacked the armrest of a backseat door. The welts on her body stung in response to the river overcast. Crying to the male grown’s of coitus. The pain from the back of her head subsided. Then Lisa felt an overly firm hand clasp around her neck. Squeezing tighter and tighter, falling again out of consciousness. Lisa felt a sharp pain enter the left side of her rib cage. Followed by another in her left clavicle. Falling out of consciousness Lisa felt a warmth within herself. 

     As the Duwamish River waves flowed and broke on her. Pulling and pushing her lifeless body in an evening dance. Calypso rose from her bed beneath the glow of the moon. Gracefully she danced toward the departed soul on her shore. Lisa, frightened, laid still in the body. Swaying and swooshing in the moonlight. Calypso turned and softened her gaze on the strange woman laying on her shore. Calypso is ever so playful. Especially those who depart at sea, though not a corsair. So elegant and gentle the temptress of the sea spoke the truth. 

“Nuh be frighten pickney. Mi a guh protect yuh an guide tuh di spirit world. Yuh did abandoned here. Yuh nuh lose dat wah mek me Calypso ave cum. So cum wid mi pickney suh mi may tek yuh home.”(Jamaican Patois: Don’t be frightened child. I’m gonna protect you and guide you to the spirit world. You were abandoned here, you’re not lost. That’s why I, Calypso, have come. So come with me, child. So I may take you home.)

     The truth eased Lisa’s restlessness. Her soul sat up and took Calypso’s extended hand. 

“It okay cum wid mi pickney.”(It’s okay come with me child)

     Lisa climbed into Calypso’s bosom. The cicadas began to sing to the Duwamish River’s melody. Calypso started her coveted dance of the dead. Swooshing and swaying Calypso led the way toward the light. Underneath the moon as the stars blanketed the night.