Intermission

By Mark Binder

The time is now. The place is Providence. Every day is the same. Yet everything is different.

George and his son Roger are trapped at home, like everyone else, until a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles bumps their lives in a different trajectory. There they meet Keisha and Bree Lopez, and an unexpected old man in a MAGA hat....

INTERMISSION is a powerful, moving, kind,and honest look at resilience, and the compassionate ways people adapt to survive.

An audiobook short written and narrated by an Audie Award nominated author and storyteller.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Light Publications
• Release date: Sep 17, 2021

Mark Binder

Audie Audiobook Award nominee Mark Binder writes and tells stories for readers and listeners of all ages. His work is eclectic. He is the author of more than two-dozen books and audio books for children, families and adults. He tours the world as a performer for children and families, transmitting the joy of story across boundaries. He also performs work for adults that include, “stories of drugs death, love, theft, humor, hope and happy endings.”A writer who creates at least one new project every year, whether it’s a printed book or an audio book, an ebook or a play. Mark is constantly pushing boundaries, while keeping his diverse audiences of readers and listeners engaged.A performer with more than twenty years of programs in schools, libraries, theaters and festival for nearly 200,000 listeners of all ages. Every year Mark gives more than 100 presentations across the United States and around the world. Recently, he was featured in the Amazon/Audible series, “Story Live.” His audiobook Loki Ragnarok was nominated for a 2019 Audie Award for Original Work.Education... Mark studied mythology with T.E. Gaster and storytelling with Spalding Gray at Columbia University, mime and dance with the Adaptors Movement Theater. He earned an MA in English and Writing, Acting and Directing from Rhode Island College and the Trinity Rep Conservatory. He holds a third degree black belt in Aikido, studies centering and internal power, and promises not to throw you across the room.Entertaining, Inspiring, Challenging Whether written or told, Mark’s stories are always fresh and new. Some are pure fun, while others address issues, soothe fears and inspire change. Because he has such a broad assortment of stories, books and audio, he can work from a theme or offer “Omakase” stories that suit the day and the audience. Everyone who listens or reads is transportedA Teacher and Leader Mark knows how to teach by listening and coaching, by example and assignment. His goal is to inspire students to do more and better work than they thought possible. He has taught martial arts in a dojo, “Telling Lies” at the Rhode Island School of Design, and writing and storytelling in dozens of elementary, middle and high schools for young people and adults of all ages.And more... Mark is the founder of Light Publications, an independent publishing company. He co-created Bright Night Providence, and founded The Real Fun Theater Company and the American Story Theater. He has worked as the editor of magazines, designed books, and produced award-winning books and audios. He has been programming computers since 1977, and is constantly learning and adapting to changing technology. He has twice run for political office, and came frighteningly close to winning once.

Book preview

Mark Binder

Intermission

when nothing can be planned

First published by Light Publications 2021

Copyright © 2021 by Mark Binder

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Audiobook available everywhere.

Cover image by TonyWuPhotography. Used with permission per Pixbay license.

First edition

Contents

1. Rebound

2. Driving Tests

3. The Dick Move

4. Close Quarters

5. Ride By

6. Coffs

7. Services

8. Out and About

9. Emergencies

10. Interludes

11. Competition

12. Released

13. Take Out

14. Just a Dinner

15. Endings

1

Rebound

Ba da thuck

George craned his neck up to stare at the ceiling. Then, he took a breath, and refocused on pushing into his palms and feet equally …

Ba da thuck

George frowned. It seemed as if Roger, his son, was timing the bounces of the tennis ball off the floor and wall to whenever the yoga instructor on Zoom called for a downward facing dog.

George put it aside, and flowed through plank and a series of other asanas. After six months of home practice, he was finally beginning to understand the connection between mind and body…

Ba da thuck

Cursing, George jumped to his feet, banged up the stairs, and threw Roger’s door open.

I’m in the middle of math class! Roger mouthed, pointing at the Google Classroom open on his laptop’s screen.

It’s very important, the teacher was saying, that you understand the fundamentals. If you don’t, ask questions. Please. Please. I can’t look over your shoulder and see where you’re going astray, so you need to tell me.

George looked at the tennis ball in Roger’s left hand, and the pencil in his right. The boy’s desk was crowded with paper and books, his laptop precariously balanced on an old shoebox.

What? Roger silently mouthed.

George bit his bottom lip, shook his head, backed out, closed the door, and padded downstairs.

By the time he got back to his mat, the virtual yoga class was already in seated meditation.

Fed up, George quit out of the meeting, strode into the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine.

Then he closed his eyes, took a breath, and slowly let it out.

At least Roger was showing up for his online classes. George had read in the paper about all the absenteeism and how parents of younger kids had to log on next to their children to make sure they did their work.

Really, he and Roger were so lucky. They had food and shelter. Yes, his ex, Roger’s mom Karen, was in quarantine for another ten days, but that just meant father and son had more time together. Which wasn’t usually a problem—except when Roger whacked his tennis ball against the floor and wall during George’s morning yoga class.

Maybe the problem was coffee. To reduce his stress, George had postponed his first cup of coffee until after yoga. Clearly that wasn’t working.

While he waited, George reviewed his day.

Log on to work. Zoom meetings all day. Make dinner. Watch something on TV. Go to sleep.

Yep. Same old, same old.

He stared at the stream of coffee filling his mug. Come on!

At least he had a job. At least he wasn’t homeless or unemployed. He couldn’t imagine looking for work in this economy, with the virus. George excelled in face-to-face communication. He knew how to read body language and give that warm and encouraging handshake. How was Roger going to get a job after he got out of high school and out of college and into the real world?

By then, the virus would be gone, though. Wouldn’t it?

The coffee cup was only half full, but George didn’t care. He swapped the pot under, blew, and took a sip.

Coffee meditation. He smiled. He’d have to remember that the next time he talked to his therapist. Over Zoom, of course.

He sighed, looked at the clock, rolled up his yoga mat, and moved the kitchen table back. Then he pulled on the already buttoned Oxford shirt with a pre-tied tie looped around the collar. He tightened the tie, poured more coffee into his mug, padded over to the kitchen table and sat down. Commute over!

Still in his yoga shorts with no socks, George smiled, checked his reflection in his laptop’s camera, and logged in.

* * *

The day blew by. Three Zoom meetings, only half attention paid. Logistics and the shut down of a potential factory in China due to the virus. While his colleagues were panicking, George researched and found three factories in Viet Nam that were still open and looking for customers. He’d shot Mr. Denning, his boss, the list of new prospects, which made Denning look good for the suggestion, and banked George some brownie points.

God, work was boring. He missed flying around the world to negotiate and investigate potential human rights violations. Who knew what the conditions were for foreign workers these days? But George was actually getting more work done. Meetings, though more frequent, were more fluid. Although now he had no way to get out of working longer hours, because he didn’t have to go home. He was home.

Ba da thuck

Right! He stared up at the ceiling. Time to deal with his son.

Roger’s door was open

Ba da thuck The ball rebounded off the floor, the wall, and then landed in Roger’s left hand. Without switching, he threw it again, this time catching it in his right.

I’m not doing yoga, George said.

What? Roger scowled. Yeah. So?

You don’t have to do that.

What?

Hit the ball. To annoy me.

You’re not at work, are you? Roger knew enough to check their shared calendar to make sure he didn’t disturb his dad during work time.

No, George said. He leaned against the door jam. I’m here. With you.

Why? Roger asked.

George shrugged. There’s no where else to go. Besides, I like you.

What do you like about me? Roger said, accusational attitude turned up to about seven.

I like that we can have such deep and meaningful talks, George said.

Roger stared at his father. After a moment, they both laughed.

* * *

Over dinner, which was Chinese takeout, rather than the nutritious and balanced meal George had planned, they were both checking their phones. Staring at a screen was a bad habit, George knew. But sometimes it was easier to look at the phone than to talk to the person who was in the room.

You know what I miss? Roger said, suddenly.

Hanging out with your friends?

Yeah, that too. I miss the future.

What do you mean?

Roger stared at his phone, and then set it on the table, screen side down. "Before the virus, I figured I’d go to college and get a job and get married and have kids. You know? Not like I had it all planned out, but… That was the way things were supposed