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Blog #8: The Search

After that fateful morning, I dived in to my search headfirst. As it turned out, Breaux is a pretty common name in the New Orleans area. I spoke to dozens of people but none of them knew anyone named Jenna or Ryan Breaux. The government reports of bodies that are too decayed to be identified struck fear into my heart, and made me even more persistent in my search. Mark supported me the whole way through, even covering for me when I got caught researching Katrina at work. Every lead  came up dead, like the Jenna Breaux who I read moved out to the British Virgin Islands after Katrina to start her own kite business, who turned out to be some businessman trying to avoid taxes. But at least he paid me $500 to keep it quiet. As a surprise snowstorm closed the bar for the night, I began to lose hope. I had spent dozens of hours searching and had nothing to show for it. Mark and I took a walk around the snow-covered town and the mood was just as sullen and foreboding as it had be...
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Blog #7: The Sunrise

The events of that morning sent me into cold sweats, and Mark took off work for the next week to take care of me. I was bedridden for 4 days with a high fever of 102 degrees. Mark stayed on my couch, made me soup, and told me that everything would be ok.  When I finally felt good enough to get up, I walked out to a window to witness one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen. I sat in the window and felt the light and shadows dance across my face for an hour before Mark approached me. "Look at you up early, How do you feel?" Mark asked. "Mark I have to find them. I have to find out what happened to my family," I resolved. "Whatever you think is right," Mark assured, "I am here to support you. But I have to ask, What happened with Ava at that party?" "I don't even know myself," I responded " The closer she got, a horrible feeling rose in my stomach. Something just wasn't right." "If it's not too i...
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Blog #6 - The Fog

"Stupid hotel." I walked down into the lobby with my fists clenched.  I had lost the key to my apartment at the party last night and not been able to find anyone who could help me get in. I struggled to keep my eyes open as I strolled out of the lobby into the street and noticed the overwhelming carpet of fog that covered everything. I started walking to the park aimlessly, trusting my knowledge of the streets as I couldn't see more than 10 feet ahed of me. I heard a scream out in the distance, and immediately blacked out. An image of fog flashed before my eyes, hurricane force rain slammed against my chest. I saw images of my mother holding my brother. I woke up in Mark's arms in hysterical tears. "Chris are you okay?!?" Mark exclaimed, " When's the last time you've slept, i've been looking for you since last night." "I haven't slept all night. I lost my key," I sniffled. "Chris you left it in the car, I have it....
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Blog #5: Saturday Night

I was jolted out of bed at 12:30 by a series of calls from Mark. "Chris wake up! Its our day off, and you know we're going out tonight!" He sounded excited; an excitement that I did not share. "Sounds... good," I replied. "Cmon Chris, don't bum me out, we'll have fun! Ill pick you up around 8. Later!" Mark and the gang shared this love of going out and drinking that I simply did not understand. I haven't had a drink of alcohol since before the hurricane, I only get by at the bar because of my relentless work ethic and research on drink-making. I rolled out of bed and slipped on my running shoes. After my run, I read until it was time to meet up with Mark. Mark picked me up at 8:30 and alerted me that we were going to meet up with Leo, Ava and Jerry and then to some party. The details never mattered to me, it was always the same: we go to some loud place and everyone drinks and dances to music we all hate but somehow still gets played,...
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Blog #4: The Bar

The days flew by after I started working at Platinum Time Bar. My newly-social job of bar tending was nothing like Mary Jane's. Often times it doesn't feel like work at all, rather it felt like simply getting to know all of the different, interesting patrons. Late one night, a new face stumbled into Platinum Time, looking stressed as can be. She ordered a Gin & Tonic, and asked in a gruff tone; "Have you ever had the police on your ass?" Obviously she didn't expect or want a meaningful response, only to be heard. "Just once," I replied, pouring a larger gin than usual. "Than you know what this is like," Bess exhaled. She took a long look at her glass, downed it, stood up, eyed the entire room, and stormed out. "I hope she figures that out, although based on that order I don't think it will," Mark laughed from the other side of the bar. Mark and I grew very close over this time. There were few mornings that he and I wouldn...
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Blog #3 - The Morning

"Chistopher Breaux, You're being bailed out," The words I had been hoping for but never expecting came out of the officer's mouth. My cuffs were taken out and I was walked out of the county holding cell through the station into the lobby. Last night flashed before my eyes; breaking into the quarry, climbing around the rocks, the alarm setting off and all of us getting caught. I was surprised to see Mark waiting in the lobby for me with a guilty smile on his face. "You have a lot of nerve showing your face here after last night Mark. What if one of the officers recognizes you," I whispered in his ear while strolling through the heavy police station doors. "Im not too worried," Mark shrugged rebelliously, "none of them saw my face anyways." When my cellphone finally turned on, I read two texts from Big Mama. "I heard you were trespassing at the quarry last night...People are talking about it, i'm gonna have to let you go. Im sorr...
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Blog #2 - the Quarry

    I was suddenly awoken by the ringing of the doorbell. I jolted to my feet and half yelled, half mumbled, "Welcome to Mary Janes!" "Oh haha sorry to wake you up man, it's 1:30, if I was working I would be asleep too," a 6 foot tall man with skin the color of rich chocolate, and eyes a sea-foam emerald calmly replied. I was very startled as it was not my style to fall asleep at work, even during the odd hours, It must be Because something is happening of late...  something about some dead old guy in the parking lot.     "So i'm gonna be honest with you, i'm not here to buy any candy," the stranger continued, "My name's Mark, I was walking by earlier and one of my friends thought you were pretty cute, I was wondering if you wanted to come break in to the quarry with us after you get off?" I immediately recognized him as one of the group that walked by as the sun set. "Well i'm not really into dating, but I guess i'm...
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