Bartholomew’s Thumbs

What world do you live in?

When the streets filled with people a strong energy welled up and began spreading out in waves through the city and out into the countryside. The people were not protesting anything but rather celebrating life. The air was filled with joy and music and shouting and the sound of many, many feet dancing.

Bartholomew remained indoors on his couch playing some allegedly innocuous video game on his smart phone. He was so immersed in the game that the sound of explosive mirth coming from outside was easy for him to tune out.

Suddenly the front door of Bartholomew’s house burst open and his friends Joaquin and Gary came running inside.

“Bart! Bart! You’ve got to come outside and see this. It will blow you away!”

Bartholomew gave them a brief glance and without saying anything returned his attention to his video game.

“Dude! This is the wildest thing you’ll ever see. You won’t believe it. Come on!”

Bartholomew did not move.

Joaquin grabbed the smart phone out of Bartholomew’s hands, turned it off then set it on the coffee table, “Seriously dude, you don’t want to miss this. Come see!”

Bartholomew stood and picked up his smart phone, putting it in his pocket. He then followed his friends out to the street.

As the three guys wandered through the crowds Bartholomew asked, “What the hell is everyone celebrating?”

Joaquin answered (he had to yell to be heard), “They’re celebrating life, man! Just life. Nothing else. They’re expressing joy, man! Isn’t it the wildest thing you’ve ever seen? It’s nothing but pure joy!”

Bartholomew did not even smile. He found it all very disconcerting. The intense vibrations of joy made him feel queasy. He was not comfortable with it.

But then he saw a beautiful woman jumping up and down and dancing and yelling and singing, her long hair whipping around her. Bartholomew became very excited by the woman.

His thumbs began twitching.

He then took his smart phone out of his pocket and took a photograph of her then returned the phone to his pocket. After continuing to follow Joaquin and Gary for a while he managed to ditch them in the crowd and he headed back to his house.

Once inside he locked the door then proceeded to his bedroom where he took out the smart phone and brought up the photo of the woman. Lowering his pants he promptly began masturbating to the image. When he was done he went back out to the couch and resumed playing video games on his smart phone.

Copyright by White Feather. All Rights Reserved. This is a work of fiction.

Speaking of sounds…