In the spring of 2005, a recent American college graduate wastes away his days in Madrid, Spain, where he's escaped the reality of his life back home under the guise of an English-teaching gig. Unfortunately, a penchant for avoidance, thoughtless spending, and partying causes him to lose standing within the school where he works, and he must hustle to avoid deportation, starvation, and the reality of the chaos he left behind back in the States.

Table of Contents

Half Guidebook Half Gospel

Don’t worry, I told myself, there are endless other places to go. Close those eyes, and spin the globe. Not just once, but around and a... Read Chapter

Everyday Struggle

March 5, 2005 I know how it feels to wake up fucked up. When people blackout in the movies, they wake up with a start, shocked to fin... Read Chapter

Listen to Hunter

March 6, 2005 I woke up the next morning to find Pedro still mysteriously absent from our apartment. I’d managed to maintain enough... Read Chapter

Wantoni

March 7, 2005 The fact that I’d abstained from drinking the previous night didn’t spare me the misery of feeling like shit on tha... Read Chapter

Holden

March 8, 2005 The sun rose again in Moratalaz and I reluctantly along with it, although dragging a bit less than the day before. Ever... Read Chapter

Pic Porfi

March 9, 2005 I woke to a sore neck and visible red friction burn running down the left side of my neck, I guess from where the kid t... Read Chapter

Bushland

March 10, 2005 I woke late, tired but not hungover, a general weariness taking the place of the usual combination of headache, nausea... Read Chapter

Been Busy?

March 11, 2005 In the film The Usual Suspects, the customs agent Dave Kujay, played by Chazz Palmienteri, interrogates Kevin Spacey... Read Chapter

Prostitutes, all of them

March 12, 2005 I tossed and I tossed and I tossed. Without opening my eyes, I repositioned myself on the bed, searching for the postu... Read Chapter

Gabo meet Jerry

March 13, 2005 It was a long moment between waking up and knowing where I was. The television set droned in the background. No more p... Read Chapter

Recent Comments

S. K. Inkslinger

Hello ME Pesant, I was directed to your story from the review chain. First of all, I would like to say that the story is skillfully written. The down to earth descriptions, the use of metaphores, and the details in each scenes clearly paints the picture of Spanish neighborhoods in the reader's mind. Despite never having been there myself, I could feel the general atmosphere of your setting, as if my senses truly felt them, just by reading your descriptions. Great job!

Tue, January 31st, 2017 4:27am

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