The Pharaohs

By Michael J. Tuberdyke

Anthony is an artist in upstate New York who is just beginning to realize that his partying ways have the potential to lead to unsavory outcomes. When his best friend is arrested late one night at a party, Anthony hits the road with his buddy, Paul, in hopes of avoiding a similar fate. But Anthony is about to discover that life sometimes does not go according to plan.

Through road trip adventures that take the men to Chicago and New Orleans, Anthony develops keen insights into the interconnectivity of life and compares his journey to that of a pharaoh. But while basking in the warmth of the south, the duo soon learns they must return to New York to stand witness for their friends trial. As Anthony attempts to grasp the unsettling reality that it really is hard to go home again, his path changes once more as he embraces his need to look within to create his own destiny and learns to trust in himself and an ambiguous future.

The Pharaohs shares the tale of one mans journey of self-discovery as he travels across state lines and discovers that the key to happiness and fulfillment lie within himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Apr 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781480830264

Michael J. Tuberdyke

MICHAEL J. TUBERDYKE is the author of novel, The Pharaohs. He currently lives in Massachusetts.

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Copyright © 2016 Michael J. Tuberdyke.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-4808-3025-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-3026-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016906001

Archway Publishing rev. date: 4/14/2016

Dedicated to

Ann M. D’ Auriello

Contents

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1

EVERYONE is built upon a steady foundation of dreams. The foundation to any solid structure is held together with separate individual pieces. Little by little those layers are tested. With a speckle of hope and fingers crossed, we discover a light. For deeply hidden within that spark we are granted the right to burn far beyond our imagination and into the wonders of forever.

I thought about this intensely while I sat on the train awaiting my departure. I watched many faces coming aboard as they searched for a seat. I looked out at the city, as the untroubled snow fell lightly among the rooftops of the towers that looked back at us. The snow quietly drifted along, as each flake mounted itself on top of the trash that lay along the side of the rails. I didn’t understand my town anymore and was hopelessly lost among the familiarities. I just returned back to Canaltin after a few months’ departure, and within twenty-four hours of my arrival, I decided to cut out again.

Now it was a new year, and all the troubles of the past slowly started drifting before my eyes and were all but forgotten. However some memories, no matter how fractured, can still leave a permanent mark. In my seat I sat staring outside, nervous for what was to come ahead. Still even with that, I was pleased to know I had removed myself from the merry-go-round. All of those reckless nights that continued on and on made the water stagnant. I wanted a change. With a ticket heading west, I was able to accomplish just that.

I had returned home to fulfill a duty. Carson after all needed Paul and me to vouch for him, but I’ll get into that later. The doors to the train shut and there was no stepping off. We began to move down the track, I sat back and started to relax.

Looking back out of the window, the town now seemed as if it were a tiny fragment of light, growing smaller by each minute. I turned my head and looked forward as the lights behind me died that moment, in the middle of the night. I held my breath and thought about Laura and every other person that I left behind in that waning light. Down the line, we bounced along the track through the woods, passing through the surrounding neighborhoods just outside the city. I exhaled, letting go of every last thought of the past.

I first met Laura near the end of the August. The days were growing shorter and there were leaves beginning to fall from the trees. The lush green of the wild, explosive summer was now disappearing and slowly turning gold. As the fading summer breeze flushed through the air, it pushed what was once new out of the way for something else.

I remember I was leaving a party somewhere that night. I can’t recall where it was exactly, but I remember running toward a car and slamming the door behind me. In the driver’s seat sat Matt. He was tall and held a superior knowledge for getting himself into a confrontation with just about anyone. Carson sat beside him all beaten up.

Let’s get out of here before they find the fireworks in the dryer, Matt said as we began to pull out of the driveway. Adam came running outside.

Hey, we can’t forget him, I said. Matt stopped the car while I swung the door open. Adam ran and hopped into the car while the display of lights exploded throughout the house.

We all laughed. I can’t believe the kid hit me! I wasn’t doing anything, Carson said, as he waved his hands rapidly in the air.

Yeah man, ya got one of them faces, we all got ‘em. Matt looked at Carson, this time picking up speed as we tore along the avenues. It was late into the night where you couldn’t exactly call the time night anymore. Carson was falling asleep in the passenger seat. In his drunken fatigue under his breath, he still had energy to spit hate at whoever had hit him.

From the driver side, Matt handed me back a bottle of bourbon. I took a gulp while we rolled below the green lights of the vacant city. I passed the bottle to Adam, and we held onto the hooch for a minute in the back before Matt wanted another sip up front.

It’s starting to get to that time of year, man. Everyone is going to start losing their minds. Fall is here. We don’t have much time before we all start going crazy this winter, I said from the back seat while Matt shouted from the driver side.

Where do you wanna go? Let’s keep this night going a little longer.

The beach, I mumbled. The lights were all blending slightly together as we hopped on the highway, heading away from the city. We exited near Lake Avenue. As we drove onward passing a huge factory, we noticed a For Sale banner stretching along the length of the building. Foreclosure signs were stapled on nearly every residence in our view. A black smoke hovered in the air, as all the remnants of a bright past were slowly coming to the realization that industry had failed and the future for us was anything but prosperous. As I began to drink more, all of those thoughts dissolved. I was pleasantly stupid while we drove beyond a cemetery that led out to the wide reach of suburban homes.

The lake was just around the corner. Driving along the road, I could begin to see the sun rise through the trees. Rising above the water, the sun threw a reflection of small, pastel pink ringlets that brushed themselves in waves of perfect contentment against the shore. I was relieved to find myself far away from the city and the black spot of dust that followed. We were far away from the town now, and an air of peace swept through me as there wasn’t a single car around except ours. We weren’t listening to the radio because the radio was dead. With the windows down, you could hear the faint breeze echoing through the last moments of night. The wind and the lake’s current blended with the engine, which created a quite quick glimpse of freedom underneath that sprawling sky.

We made our way to a private beach that was tucked away behind some houses. There was a car waiting for us in front of a small gate. As we made our way closer, I realized that the vehicle didn’t belong to any of the local police. They all knew our names, and that was something I didn’t want to deal with this morning. We calmly drove by the vehicle and parked in front of a playground around the corner.

Stupid plastic swings, I said rather abruptly.

Yeah, the whole world is changing, Matt stated, as he leaned over and pinched Carson’s nose. He woke up comically with his hands flaring into the air.

Let’s head to the pier, Matt said. We slowly got out of the car.

We stumbled our way from the car to the sidewalk, and at a steady pace made our way over to the beach. There was a small gate around the grass, which we hopped over in order to make our way down a path that was carved out. The grass around our track was a little overgrown, and the sound of buzzards pulsated around my ears. Now and then you could hear a bird chirp; the whole world seemed to be waking up. The sky was colored in that early morning lavender as the lighter tones tried to desperately out shine the grays. There wasn’t a person around, and everything sat so still that when one of us accidentally stepped on a twig, it resonated with the sound of a marching band.

While making our way onto the sand, I looked over and saw a woman sitting on a slab of concrete a little ways down. Her feet dangled above the water. She sat out there all alone staring into the water, as the current came dancing onto the shore. She didn’t seem to notice our presence, which I was glad about. She looked perfect sitting above the lake. I lost my train of thought when Carson spoke.

So what are you going to do in New Orleans?

I’m not going to do anything, I started laughing. I missed my train. I was supposed to leave yesterday.

How come you missed it?

I passed out sometime in the afternoon and overslept, I said simply. I was at a party all night, chasing some woman around. She left and I was drinking until the morning and passed out cold by noon.

Can you get your money back or anything?

Nah, I can’t. I’ll leave here though and go on a trip, eventually.

Carson and Matt started laughing, Yeah right. You always say stuff like that.

I do not. When do I say stuff like that?

Matt looked at me, Whenever you’re drinking.

We kept on our way as we approached the pier. Making our way down, I looked out on the water. There was a single sailboat off in the distance floating alone on the sound. There was no apparent sign of life on the vessel as the waves carried the boat further along into the horizon.

My eyes traveled from the boat out on the water, to the slab of concrete near the shore where the young woman sat. I noticed that where she sat at one point in time must’ve been another pier. She sat above the half-sunken slab, watching the waves break up unevenly along her feet. Matt apparently was trying the whole time to hand me the liquor bottle, but I didn’t notice; my thoughts had drifted.

Hey, check out that girl, guys! What a babe! Matt boasted out, ’Ey there, man. Go talk to her! He kept nudging my shoulder.

She noticed us now. She looked annoyed as she began to gather up her things and walk over toward her car by the gate. I was embarrassed and just about ready to sink into my shoes and roll right into the lake.

Man, how could you do that? I exploded and hit Matt in the arm. The rest of the gang laughed.

If she doesn’t want to know, forget her, Matt said reassuringly.

We sat at the end of the pier near the lighthouse, and when I turned away from the water, I noticed two smokestacks that towered over the trees. We sat not saying much, looking into the lake. That smooth rhythm beat itself onward, picking up our cigarette butts every couple of minutes. Adam, who is a nervous wreck and constantly on edge, was smart and knew what to say at any given instance.

I don’t think this town is ready for us. We’re going to take it over! Every last street corner and every building in between will have our names painted across their façade. What an incredible thing to say to break the silence, and in due order, we each lit up a cheer.

Yeah man, I agreed. We’re going to be living in the highest estates, one of these days, far away from that black spot back there, I pointed toward the smokestacks and factories.

Into the future, Matt shouted. We all fell in line, shouting nonsense afterwards. Carson was finally starting to awaken out of his daze and into conversation.

I feel as though we’re on the verge of major success.

Afterword we took the liquor bottle and smashed the glass in a form of ritual agreement, then headed back to the car. There were people walking their dogs on the sand, as we headed back down the long pier. We must’ve looked rather unusual, like a side act on some circus carnival ride. We created a clutter of uproars walking past the locals while the sun now rested high up in the sky.

We floated along the sidewalk and noticed a police officer checking out our vehicle. We moved toward the bushes and sat hiding from the policeman. Hiding in the shrubbery, we noticed him scribbling something down in a notebook. He left, leaving a piece of paper for us.

We exited the brush and headed toward Matt’s vehicle. There was a ticket waiting for us along the top of the windshield.

We won’t be needing this, Matt said, tearing up the paper, while the rest of us entered the automobile. We roared out onto the road and drove down the street through the quiet lakeside neighborhood.

Hey man, drop me off at work when we get back to the city, Adam shouted from the back.

Alright, I will, Matt stated, driving onward. We drove through the black spot one more time, passing what was left of the laborers making their way into the factory.

At least you don’t work there, I told Adam.

He started laughing, No one does.

As we lined ourselves up with the city, we were stuck in traffic for what felt like hours.

Adam was getting nervous, I’ve already been late twice this week. They’re gonna can me for sure. He tapped his fingers nervously along the windows, edging them closer and closer toward the handle. I was beginning to sober up now, as the heat of the sun started to make my head whirl.

We got off at the next exit and drove through some side roads. There were men and women in suits heading into their offices for the day, as traffic boomed along side of us. We pulled up near the edge, and Adam jumped out. He shouted back toward us.

Alright fellas, give me a call later this evening. He went down the street, passing the armada of workers, to the bar and grill he cooked in.

Well what do you guys want to do? Matt looked over at Carson and myself.

Let’s grab some food. It was approaching a little before nine in the morning. Just twelve hours prior, we sat down to eat dinner together.

Sounds good.

He jerked the wheel without looking and nearly got us in an accident. The car behind blared on the horn wildly, as both drivers began to exchange vulgarities. Matt drove on while looking back out his window still shouting at the guy. We drove around the block and found a parking spot near a meter. The old analogue meters were being replaced with ones that were digital and capable of instantly printing out a ticket. We happened to be at an older one where the time you put in shows on the meter.

I hate those new readers, Carson announced as he walked past one of them. All of our money is going to things the city already has. Couldn’t they use it on something else?

That’s New York State for ya, taking and then taking a little more just in case.

Cars went passed us and every one around bounced, swooped, and moved quickly as they tried to enter their office on time. We walked carelessly next to the buildings as people went by us. The river that cut through the city, stormed on in an uproar as we walked above the water. Everyday the river beat itself without stopping, and everyone on the bridge kept pace trying to outdo their predecessor below.

You know, Matt started, that is one of the only rivers that flows north.

Yeah, isn’t the Nile the same way?

They’re the only two.

We sat down in a small diner and noticed a few people sitting at the counter and there were only a couple tables that were full. The building was extraordinary in size, and the diner was tucked away next to a few other establishments that lay hidden on the first floor. Along the walls were a variety of replicated Winslow Homer paintings, including one that I always enjoyed looking at. It was of three boys and an old fisherman somewhere out at sea. I laughed as I noticed a digital clock on the wall. That seemed to not fit in somehow with the elegance of the overall atmosphere. A couple of younger kids sat at the counter staring down into their phones.

We took a table somewhere in the back, so we could be slightly hidden. The waitress came over glaring down at us.

You boys want anything to drink?

We all unanimously said, Coffee. She asked if we needed any creamer. Carson looked at her sternly in the face and said mockingly, I’ll take my coffee black as a moonless night. We started cracking up as he finished the sentence. The waitress rolled her eyes and left our table.

So where did you move to again? Matt asked.

I was staying with Juliet, but I got my own place, Carson said. He was always moving around. He would get fed up and leave without any notice. Sometimes he would throw a party where a fight would start or a window would break. The landlord would come the next day with a list of complaints and evict him. This time, however, he had a pretty hard time living with his girlfriend.

I moved into a closet, over in the East End. I found an advertisement on the computer. Some guy needed help paying his rent. It’s actually not bad, the guy is never home. So I can be as loud as I want. No parties though.

The coffee came to the table, and, as I reached for a creamer, Matt threw one at me. I threw one back, but the missile missed and landed on someone else’s table. We laughed as they got up and left the restaurant. The owners didn’t seem to mind; they must’ve paid already. We kept to our business. Carson slightly worried, peaked his head around the corner. The waitress gave him a thumbs up. He returned the gesture and began talking.

So you guys hear that the temperature on Saturday is going to break records? In the hundreds at the end of August—it’s amazing. That’s thirty degrees higher than yesterday. We’re going to end the summer with a bang.

We all nodded our heads in agreement excited for the day to come. We talked for a while, sipping away several pots of coffee. The early afternoon rush of workers came in on their break, looking down at us in dismay. There was nobody left from the morning in the restaurant, and we had nowhere to go. By the time the clock was ticking closer to noon, I could only imagine what we looked like.

So you guys going to that party tonight? Carson asked leaning in closer to us.

Whose party?

I don’t know really, Carson began. I know there is a loft downtown, someone last night, maybe Eddy, mentioned it. I got to work, but I’ll go after.

I had to work as well, I remembered, but I didn’t say anything regarding the party other than, We’ll see what happens.

I had a quick fling with a girl so I was always on edge about going out and running into her, even though, I would go out often anyway, and never see her. We each paid our check and left a generous tip. Carson didn’t have any money left after paying the bill, so he left a couple cigarettes on the table for a tip. We left the restaurant and walked out over the bridge. Above the river, the sun came down on top of us as we made our way through the noon hour back into the car.

We drove on through the city, and I was dropped off at my apartment. I was exhausted. I told Matt and Carson that I would call them later that evening. On my way up the stairs, I noticed a new kid moving in across the hall. I heard some fumbling in the apartment, and I wanted to say something to him. My weariness over took me though, and I decided I would meet him later. After all, he just moved in.

I had a strange dream that afternoon, which to this day has still stayed with me. I have turned the occurrence over in my mind, nearly a dozen and a half times since, and still cannot believe it.

I was back on the beach, standing on top of the sand looking out at the lake as the waves came thundering in. I looked over at the pier and saw my three friends and I making our way toward the end. There along the shore was that woman, and she wasn’t alone this time. There was man who sat on a bench behind her. I made my way across the sand and approached her.

She looked over at me and traced my outline up and down. She didn’t

make any remark or change her facial appearance. She just turned her head and looked out at the water. The lake rolled along silently. The waves drifted toward the sand. I took a seat next to the woman; the man behind her didn’t move. I could see her glance out of the corner of her eyes and smile a little.

Her hair blew lightly with the early morning breeze. The wind was strong, as it cut through the open air. Out there on the pier, I could see myself looking embarrassed after Matt shouted toward the woman. I turned away on the pier. She looked me over then, while I took a seat next to her. The wind picked up and her hair blew around, covering up her visage for a moment.

Is that you? She asked quite comfortably.

Well, that was me, I said.

Was it? She asked kind of sarcastically.

The man behind us hadn’t moved. He looked miserable, as though his earth was starting to shatter.

You with him? I asked.

No. Well not really; it’s complicated.

We sat there for awhile as the rhythm of the waves sent us into a trance. Every wave had a significant