APE EES, r EE SE GR q ) by Serena McCarroll Image by Little Jimi Crowbar Freedom Everybody Pays by Little Jimi Crowbar (1991, and again in 1999) In a corner on the right, waits the ghost of John Birch, holding photos of naked millionaires, and making promises on bor- rowed time (time is money!). "Nemesis" is his daughter, who makes him pay and pay. She carries her kickertude to Berlin, and strums her harp in the ditch, begging for change. He'd forsake her punkness, but for want of an heiress? So he pays. Iran is from Iraq. "I don't expect you'll be staying long?" the pretty Nemesis says to Iran, who's trying to escape today and make it safely into tomorrow. "It's true, I have no future, and I have too much history...but today is the same for us all" he says. "We have today!" our Princess cheers, "And we'll have another round, and who cares about tomorrow!" The waiter brings the wine, and the bill, and they pay. It is true that tomorrow doesn't exist. The next second doesn't exist. Only NOW exists, but it is gone before you can grasp it, then it is history. "Where are we?" asks our dynamic duo. "Between a place that's gone and a place that doesn't exist", answers the server. Iran puts his arm around Nemesis and wonders what should be done next. She ignores the past, and he wishes he could. History always repeats itself. She wants more wine. He pays. In walks the Traveler who feels he's seen our drunken duo before. "Perhaps it was in Beirut?" Iran suggests. "Or the Hippodrome?" offers our Princess. "No, I'm sorry, you didn't exist until I came through the door", says the Traveler. Iran agrees. He's glad to forget history. The Traveler casts his pleading eyes on the punkette, and asks her to dance. She puts her arm around him, and touches something exciting. She holds fate in her drunken hands. She orders a Pina Colada, and he pays. Nemesis suggests a dip in her Daddy's pool. Just then the door bursts open and her Daddy comes raging in, clenching cash in his fists and falling out of his pockets, ranting about a swim in war- time economics and the moral majority. An evening watching Ronald Reagan movies, and drinking red wine 'til the blood stains the car- pets. Somebody will pay. The Traveler had seen the tyrant coming. He existed before he came through the door. There was no way of stopping him, so everyone dove for cover. The next morning the pretty punkette was found floating face down in the pool. Iran's mutilated body was found in the river. A broken bottle of wine was apparently used to slash and hack them to death, and another full bottle to bribe the judge. The Traveler was gone. When something becomes history, there is a price; when something desires a future, there is a price. If something prefers not to exist; it is Free. Freedom costs. Everybody pays. influx: Magazine April 1999 25 Freedom Everybody Pays by Little Jimi Crowbar (1991, and again in 1999) In a commer on the right, waits the ghost of John Bich, holding photos of naked millionaires, and making promises on bot rowed time (tine is mone!) "Nemesis his daughter, who makes him pay and pa. She carries her Kckerade to Beri, and strams Ber harp in the ditch begging for change. He'd forsake her punkness, but for want ofan ies? So he par, Trani fom Iraq. don' expect youl be staying long?” the prety Nemesis say t0 Ira, whos tying to escape today and take it safely into tomorrow. "If tue, ave no fre, and I ave too mich history. Dut today is the same for salle says. "We have today!" our Princess cheer “And wel have another round, and eho ‘ares about tomorrow!" The water brings the wine, and the bil, nd they ps. Tei trv that tomorrow doce’ exist. The next second docs’ exist. Only NOW nist, but it gone before you can grasp ‘then iis history. "Where are we asks our dynamic duo. "Between a place thats gone and a place that does exist” answers dhe server Iran pute hi arm around Nemesis and wonders what should be done next She ignores the past, and he wishes he could. History abeays ‘peat itself She wants more wine. He ps In walks the Traveler who fels he's seen our drunken haps was in Beira” Iran suggest. “Or the ‘offers our Princes. "Noy Tm sory, you dia exit ‘unt Tcame dhrough the door’, says the Traveler. ran apres. Hes iad to forget history. ‘The Traveler casts his pleading eyes on the Punkete and ask her to dance. She pts hee arm around him, and Touches something exciting She holds fate in er drunken hands. ‘She orders Pins Colada, and he pays ‘Nemesis suggzate a dip inher Dad's pool, Just then the door bursts open and her Dadly comes raping in, clenching cash in hie fits and falling out of his pockets, ranting about asim in war {ume economics and the moral major) An evening watching Ronald Reagan movies, and drinking fed wine‘ the blood sane the ar pets: Somebody wil pay "The Traveler had seen the tyrant coming, He existed before he came through the door There was no way of stopping him so everyone dove for cover. The next morning the pretty punktte ‘rat found floating face down in the pool. rans mutated Body was {ound inthe river. A broken botle of wine was apparently used to slash and hack them to death, and another fall bore to bribe the fudge. The Traveler was gone. ‘When something Becomes history there i a prices when something desires a fature there va price. I something prefers not to ext itis Free. Freedom cost. Everybody pay. influx Magazine April 1999 25