Barry Yourgrau writes, performs & attempts humor in multimedia. His early works A Man Jumps Out of An Airplane & Wearing Dad's Head are considered surreal classics. His book Haunted Traveller plays with imaginary travels. Fans know him too from MTV, NPR & the film The Sadness of Sex in which he starred. For kids (?) there's recent NASTYbooks series. South African-born BY lives in NYC, travels a lot. Has great nostalgia for years in LA. More info @ www.yourgrau.com & www.nastybook.com.
We are suspended high over a valley in one of those cable cars that go up to the tops of mountains. It is a terrifying sight down there, I darenot look or even move.
Suddenly a woman shrieks and all the women huddle to one side of the car. There is a man sluggishly banging around with a paper bag over his head; he has long gardening tools tied to his wrists with twine. I notice the old hand-powered lawn mower in the luggage rack.
I realize I have to protect the women. I forget my fear, I feel tremendous courage, I jump at the man and easily force him to the floor. He doesn’t resist or make a sound. His gardening tools catch in my coat. I start to pull the bag off his head; but a sudden horror seizes me.
I get up, trembling. I turn to the women. They are all in their slips, which the silently smooth and straighten for each other.
