drawing by APO
Royal Mutt drove listening to the quiet hum of the morning radio program as Panda Bear slept in the passenger seat. The morning rays were now fully stretching their arms and the highway was a sea of shining cars. They were approaching the bottleneck that is known as LA traffic. The freshness of the morning air was beginning to lose to the exhaust of cars. They passed a shopping center on the right that had interesting architecture, it was made to look like an ancient ruin on the outside. However, Royal Mutt could see all too clearly the name brand stores that lurked within, stores that could be found in any non-ancient ruin shopping center. “Funny,” thought Royal. The time was 830am.
Royal Mutt was signaling to turn left and just as he was making the turn, a red GT mustang came from behind and roared into the space that Royal Mutt was turning into.
Royal Mutt: Fuck.
Royal Mutt beeped his horn, but the other driver paid no heed and made no gesture of acknowledgment.
Panda Bear woke up.
Panda Bear: What happened?
Royal: A car nearly hit us, we almost died.
Panda: Dang, that would’ve sucked.
Panda Bear then tried to make several unsuccessful attempts to fall back asleep, but couldn’t. Noticing the sun’s ascent, he brought out his bamboo plant and held it outside the window to catch some healthy rays. Royal Mutt noticed Panda Bear’s relaxed manner.
Royal: You seem quite happy, considering we almost died.
Panda Bear thought for a second.
Panda: Well, I’m sure that regardless of dying or not, there was nothing we could’ve done about it. These things happen, has nothing to do with me.
Royal: You’re not afraid of death?
Panda: No, not at all.
Royal: Why’d you say it would’ve sucked?
Panda: Hmm, well I just said that off the top of my head, again I was kinda sleepy when you asked me. It was just a social reflex, you say “we could’ve died” I say “that would’ve sucked”, you say “what’s up” and instead of saying “the sky” I would say “not much.” But honestly death doesn’t scare me.
Royal Mutt made a quick glance over at Panda Bear to check if Panda’s face matched his voice with the same sincerity. Panda Bear was calm and poised, with his right hand outside the window firmly gripping the base of his bamboo plant.
Royal (concentrating on the road): I want to live forever.
Panda (chuckling): Good luck with that.
Royal: You don’t want to?
Panda: If you mean living in this body forever, I’ll pass. I don’t think it’s natural, if there’s life there must be death.
Royal: Why?
Panda: Well, life needs death as much as death needs life. In this reality, everything is in flux, things change. For change to happen, the old has to make way for the new, thus: death. Everything has a time limit, thus living in accordance with everything else we must have a time limit as well.
The sun was getting stronger and the reflection off the other cars in traffic caught Royal Mutt in the eyes. He moved the sun visor to the front.
Royal: Regardless of if it’s natural or not, do you have the desire to live forever?
Panda: Nope. If life had no time limit, time here would be less worthwhile.
Royal was about to say something when Priscilla Ahn’s song “Dream” starting playing off the radio. They were both fans of the song.
Panda: This song reminds me of butterflies.
Royal: Yeah.
Royal Mutt had no idea why he agreed, but somehow it made sense to him. Royal checked his blind spot and carefully moved into the left lane.
The two of them were inching up I-5 as they made their way across the LA sprawl.
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