Inside traxx: Diary of DJ Sisyphus

Get in Where you fit in

I was in the kitchen feeding Teresa, gearing up for the usual Tuesday afternoon of sportscenter and tuna fish sandwiches. Little did I know, I was about to get the phone call that would change my whole week.

I was just scooping the last gerber spoonful into Teresa's mouth when it happened.

"BRRINNG!"

I distractedly grabbed the phone, trying to mop up Teresa's sticky fingers with my free hand.

"Simon?"said a pleasant voice on the other end.

"Yes?" I replied.

"This is Nina from the broadcasting school."

Holy Smokes! Ten minutes later, it was all I could do to hang up the phone, and not just because of my greasy baby food fingers. "Hooray," I cried, whirling Teresa around in a crazy jig. "I got in! Your very own big brother got into broadcasting school! I'm going to be a DJ!"

"Ga ga!" she cried, waving her spoon in the air. In my happy haze, it looked like a mic. I instinctively knew what she was saying. "Yes, Teresa, of course when you get old enough, you can be my co-DJ!" I said magnanimously. After all, I had just gotten into broadcasting school. I could afford to be generous.

Teresa rewarded me by opening wide and showing me all the chewed-up contents of her lunch. "Okay, little lady," I said sternly, "Time for a nap." An hour later I was flat on my bed, with visions of broadcasting school dancing in my head. On Saturday, I would go to the station and meet my broadcasting mentor. I wonder who it would be? The NBTN lady told me I would find out on Saturday. The only catch was, now I had to cancel on Keisha for the BBQ at her place. "Bummer," I thought. "But once she found out I was about to become a DJ, I'm sure she'll understand."

I resolved to go over to her house and break the news in person. I wanted her to be the first to know, besides Teresa of course.

I walked the long blocks to Keisha's feeling like I was floating on the moon. After all that frustration since graduating from college, I was finally on my way to becoming a real DJ. I was achieving my dream. "Why didn't I think of broadcasting school earlier?" I thought happily. " Keisha's gonna be so-busy kissing another guy?"

What the heck? Rooted to the spot, I stood and watched in disbelief as Keisha and some tall dude with dreadlocks made out like it was the last moment before the apocalypse.

"Keisha?" I said, unable to help myself.

"Simon?" she replied, blushing furiously as she pushed Dreadlock Dude away. "What-what are you doing here?"

"Forget it," I said shortly, turning around and walking away. I heard her calling my name, but I didn't turn around. One thing's for sure, Keisha doesn't deserve this DJ.

On to bigger and better things,

DJ Sisyphus