The Planet Jack
(Thoughts on here)
by David Hallilday
The Planet Jack
Published by David Halliday at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 David Halliday
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The flag
Perhaps this is the first line of a novel. About the planet, Jack. This is their flag. I'm in their airplane. Or one like it. The man who is actually in the airplane was a great hero on Jack. His name was Victor Genova and he set all the speed records in their early days of flight. He disappeared over one of the oceans. Trying to circumvent the planet. Which is more difficult than circling the planet Earth. Jack changes sizes. Its as if the planet is breathing. And so, it is thought, Victor Genova crashed into the sea when the planet's chest expanded and the sea rose up in front of Victor's plane. Victor was trying to raise enough money so that he could have a sex operation. Not because he wanted to become a woman. But because he loved his best friend Terry F. And Terry was very heterosexual. This is the way life is on Jack. Unexpected.
Split-level Hole
Split-level Hole is what it is called. It is a river that appears to run upstream. I say appears because many visitors refuse to believe that it actually does run upstream. That’s another argument. There is a plaque nailed to the bottom of the river to one Edward S. Kuris. He is considered by many the greatest fisherman of the last 200 years. I must add that fishing is the national sport on Jack. Its part of people’s belief system. Almost like a religion. And Split-level Hole is the Madison Square Garden of the sport. The fish are large, lively, and succulent. They grace the menus of the finest restaurants on Jack. But that is not what draws fishermen. It is the water. Stepping waist deep into the river. Barefoot. The fishermen enjoy what can only be described as the ultimate pedicure. The waters ease the feet. Tittilate. Stimulate. Make one feel as if one is floating. And this is Kuris’s greatest gift to the people of Jack. He discovered Split-level Hole. And it is said that on many a warm night. Lovers enter the waters. Naked. And their cries can be heard for miles.
Death
The other evening I spent 6 hours at the hospital. I thought I was having a heart attack. I’d had one 4 years previous. It was a silent heart attack so the symptoms were not dramatic. Nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, discomfort. Well, that could be a lot of things. This evening it was extremely hot. I felt light headed. My blood pressure had soared. So I went to the hospital. Had tests. Waited. And thought about death. Death on the planet Jack is not treated the same way as it is here on Earth. On Jack, death is equated with waiting. And it’s boring. That’s the number one complaint from people who have died and communicated back. There’s nothing to do. You just wait. And when you ask those around you, who are also dead, what they’re waiting for, they just – shrug. That’s what’s so great about life. You’re always busy. Even when you’re waiting. In a hospital emergency room.