I get the name skyscraper now. When you’re standing at its foot and look up, it’s like the Feldman Building never stops. The five hundred meters of slick, black steel pierce up through the fog, no different than a knife slicing the belly of the sky itself. Even up high, where those cartoon looking clouds live, the Feldman Building reaches and cuts right through. And when it reaches, I imagine that the sun, the sky and the clouds, all clutching their wounds, cannot help but pour rain. I don’t like to think like this— I’m far past the age of eating shallow nihilism for breakfast. Besides, I like the rain, it brings catharsis.
Still, my mind wanders; likes to think of these ridiculous little things. Untrue, unscientific, useless meanderings. Hasn’t done me any good. Hasn’t gotten me any closer to a place like that.
I wonder what the top looks like. Not the roof—I’ve seen the aerials— but the top floor. I try to will my perspective up there, to look down on the distant streets as some man wealthier than God. He’s laughing maybe, with a dry martini, talking to somebody who owns half of India. How did he get so rich? What size am I to him? Would he even try to discern figures out of the dancing ants on the ground? Still, my mind cannot reach, I cannot see. There it is again. Useless! Distracting, stupid stupid stupid.
At least the woman next to me seems nice. Not nice to look at per say, but who is anyway. She’s waiting on a bus, I’d bet the 46 or 138x, and has been talking on the phone for a half hour now— all “Mhm”s and “It’ll be alright”s. I can’t hear the voice on the other line but I’d like to think that her words of comfort were working. Maybe it was her friend calling, the one that married the first guy who looked her way. Or her little cousin, who’s viola string broke on the day of their performance. An ex-girlfriend, a husband, her kid, or hell, even an inappropriate boss. Anyone and anything could be on the other line— and I’m not getting enough details to make out what’s going on.
“It’ll all work out sweetie. I think I might have some money, just to help a little.”
Money. Of course, when is it anything else? My eyes still scale the painfully erect building. In return, it continues to exist, oblivious to my gaze.
“No, no, no, it’s fine, I insist! Please Barbs, let me do this for you.”
Barbs. Thats a bit old fashioned, but a cute enough nickname. Even with a stolen glance it’s clear that this woman is in no position to be giving charity. Phone wedged between her shoulder and ear, she’s rifling through her purse. The peeling faux leather screams that it’s past its prime, but the clunky design says I didn’t miss much. Otherwise she’s pulling it off— clean and put together, the cut of her blouse flatters her broad shoulders. I didn’t need the bag to know she’s poor though. I can smell it. Everyone has their own aroma of course— like all people. Some are reasonable, some are reckless. Some find joy, while others lay tired. They can be spiteful or forgiving, clever or foolish. Maybe they still have hope or maybe they’ve been beaten into submission. Doesn’t matter, I still see it. Especially the practical ones, like her. I can hear the list of bills and chores clicking in their head; at the bodega, I see the math behind their furrowed brows. Even practiced ones— used to being prey, confident in their abilities to mask and maneuver— I know.
I wonder if this lady has thought about me once this whole time— if she guessed about my life and family and thoughts. Probably not, all things considered. She doesn’t have time to dawdle on the weirdo who stares up at a building all day, trying to find its end. It’s odd—how the windows are tinted and polished, yet my reflection is muddled, almost imperceptible in its void. Can she smell my poverty? It’s hard not to, considering the grease and sweat permeating my clothes. Haven’t even had the chance to shower and change. I got distracted, again, as always. I need to leave soon, get a nap in before my next shift. Useless, useless, useless. Just focus. Maybe thats why. Not any aspect of the glass, but from my own smudges.
“Hello? Yeah it’s me. Mhm. Oh no, it’s no problem. I was actually wondering if…mhm.. mhm…. I understand. If you could— mhm… okay, yes, absolutely. Don’t worry about it.”
Looking now, she’s fidgeting with the button of her collar. It’s barely hanging by a thread at this point, but all the other buttons seem to be well fastened.
Second call of the day and so far nobody was letting this woman get a word in edgewise. Half of me wants to just grab the phone and yell for them to listen to the nice lady for a goddamn moment. Was she calling to request a pay advance? Maybe she’s abashedly approaching some rich auntie for help, or asking for that money she loaned her college roommate.
The Feldman building stood on, apathetically. It’s funny, the architect himself, John T. Feldman was the son of a coal miner. Classic story of rags to riches, building himself up on talent and grit alone. Became a premiere architect, known for his sleek, timeless designs. Somehow, he always felt far away from me.
I know lots about the guy. A lifelong bachelor, suspected Socialist, and former archivist. Interesting fella. The thing about Feldman is he loved discussing inspirations, to the point of frustrating interviewers. In his later years it was sundials— focussing on the importance of light and shadow. Early in his career, he drew from the Pantheons of Gods, arrows, and obsidian glass. Throughout he raved about the symbolism of spaces in between, contrast and reflection.
His most controversial work, a building titled “Terra’s House” rests all the way over in Virginia. Unlike any of the crisp designs he was known for, this building was designed decrepit and jagged. Inspired by a landslide that claimed his left leg and nearly his life— Feldman created a fully functional house that appeared destroyed. At the time of its release, many refused to even enter the building, fearing its structural integrity. A valid concern, as it’s adorned by broken pipes jutting out the side, beams that extend much too far or stop far too short, with crumbling walls. Even the roofs were built around boulders to appear as if they had fallen through. My favorite is the windows— he sealed broken glass to create the appearance of the moment of shatter. Despite critics’ concerns, “Terra’s House” remains intact today, with surprisingly good insulation. Per his request, Feldman was buried next to the largest boulder of the house fifteen years ago. I want to see it one day, to experience its disarray. I want to feel honesty in chaos. Here in front of me, the building of his namesake, felt so foreign to what I knew of the man who created it.
Why am I still here, looking at this beautiful monstrosity, eavesdropping on a stranger? I’ve got shit to do. Time is money and daydreaming is expensive. Gotta pick up toilet paper, eggs, rat traps, a card for Jessie and her present, drop off my Mom’s blender I borrowed, go to the laundromat— actually I can do the laundry tomorrow— make some food, shower, and maybe even get a few winks in before 5:30. So why can’t I move? An imagined weight crushing my body, I’m too buried to even shift.
Despite my stasis the world continues to breathe. Chinese food and second hand smoke ride in on the breeze. Pigeons fight over the soggiest piece of burger bun to disgrace these gutters. The perpetual sound of construction, clamoring in the distance. And for the first time in my memory, the doors of the Feldman Building part.
Out walks this statue of a man. Rich, filthier than porn rich. He has this stride I’ve never seen before, somewhere between Apollo and a runway model. His lineless face is unchanging, almost blank. He does not see me. He does not think of the woman, who is now stepping onto the late bus. He simply enters a car that’s been waiting, waiting for him. I start to feel the first few drops of rain, and I know it’s time to walk home.
AN: stupid little one shot thing I wrote at 3 am a while ago and quickly edited now. I’d really like to make it better so constructive criticism is very welcomed and appreciated!
Yes the Feldman building is phallic intentionally
1 note
·
View note