04-08-2022, 09:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-11-2022, 10:20 AM by Crunk. Edited 1 time in total.)
Sizzling in the Sun: Following Up with Morpheus Czargyros
By Saachan
(3,721 Words)
Years ago in Antarctica a man became a myth due to his short time in our small community. With each season, new research teams join our community as other teams completing their work head home. Each new person has come to me, asking, “Is what you wrote about Morpheus true?” Time has a funny way of passing and I find that there is no one else to back up my story. Every one who was here that weekend is now gone and only I remain to defend the veracity of my reporting. Incredulous as they might be, I’ve consistently insisted that each word was true.
My time with Morpheus was instructive and inspiring. Since his departure I’ve written with new fervor, pushing the limits of what areas of science I’d previously reported on and have done more to tell the human side of stories. After all, many of these scientists have had their greatest discoveries informed by dreams. Many have accidentally stumbled into world changing propositions. For all the pure data I wish to share with the world, the human stories for how this data came into fruition is captivating.
From my small hut, I’ve made life-long friends over the internet around the world. I’ve conducted interviews, created new contacts, and mastered the ability to maintain a large network without much face to face time. After spending so much time in relative isolation here, I found that I had a distinct advantage when the world went into pandemic hibernation. Not only did I know how to reach people, they went out of their way to tell me as much information as they could think of, just happy to have an audience of one. After long days of work, I became an audience member myself, streaming ISFL games to relax.
I first learned of the ISFL through Morpheus and found that I could push through hard days at work with the knowledge that an ISFL game was around the corner. Naturally, I became a Baltimore Hawks fan, Morpheus’ team, and fell deeper in love with the plucky underdogs. They had an amazing way of digging in during close games and never let themselves get blown out. Even when the odds were against them, you could see their tenacity and willingness to fight for victory, no matter how slim the margins of success were.
Last season was a particularly special one, as it ended with Baltimore’s Ultimus win. After a long rebuild and surges of courage, I cried tears of joy as Morpheus raised the Ultimus Trophy over his head among his teammates. I found new energy within and continued driving myself forward with increasing volumes of writing. I knew I would need to take a break soon but had a feeling a serendipitous opportunity of rest would present itself.
And present itself it did when I heard from Morpheus. I received an email from him just a few weeks after his Ultimus victory, writing:
“Saachan,
I’m unsure how often you check in on the ISFL but recently enjoyed some incredible successes. The sort of successes that make a man want to put his feet up.
I so enjoyed and loved my time with you in Antarctica but would like to try a different locale for some rest. On my tough days on the practice field, I’d ask myself ‘what would Saachan do?’ and I’d press forward relentlessly on improving myself as I know you are always improving yourself.
Thus, to properly celebrate, I’d love to take care of you and fly you on an East Coast adventure of the United States with me. We’ll hit up a few beaches, enjoy some quality food, and relax in a way I’m certain you deserve more than I do. I have been keeping up with your writing and am constantly in awe of the quality and quantity of your writing. Please don’t’ hesitate to take me up on this offer.
You deserve this.
Yours,
Morpheus”
A letter and offer this sweet was irresistible. I quickly responded “yes” and received a ticket to Baltimore, Maryland, within an hour.
It was unclear to me if Morpheus would be meeting me at the airport and as I left the terminal I surveyed my surroundings in search of an oversized athletic profile. Such size is not betrayed by heavy steps, however, and Morpheus snuck up behind me.
“Spaghet!!!” he yelled with a crooked smile. As in sync as Morpheus and I are, this was a joke I did not entirely understand, but the surprise synced with a silly grin forced a laugh out of me.
“Sorry,” Morpheus sheepishly composed himself, “It’s a joke I have with my brother and sometimes I forget not everyone watches as much Channel Cinco as we do.”
Puzzled, I attempted to reassure him, “I appreciate the notice for new content to look out for. But this laugh was genuine!”
Morpheus, satisfied and content with my response, put his arm around me and guided me towards his car. He drove a Honda Civic, with a strange dent on its roof, explaining to me, “You might be surprised I don’t spend more money on cars. My wealth is something I really try to use for good. Although, I do have a guilty pleasure, and that’s watches.” Morpheus flashed a Ball Engineer 2 Magneto S watch. “I love this baby.”
I dared gesture to the roof, curious to the origin of the damage. “That’s nothing,” Morpheus shrugged, “just a remnant of high school.” I could tell Morpheus had a hidden sentimentality within him. Or maybe it wasn’t hidden at all but brazenly on display everywhere he drove.
Morpheus pulled out of traffic and smoothly made his way on to the highway. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“Sometimes the best way to start a trip is with a beer. I don’t drink that often, but Baltimore produces the vast majority of Guinness that North America enjoys. So I like to take people to the factory for drinks after they land.”
“Antarctica doesn’t get much beer imported, so I’m looking forward to a fresh beverage.”
I looked out the window and saw industrial parks, then natural parks, and finally the asphalt Eden of suburbia littered with trees between pockets of cul-de-sacs.
“Strange place for a factory isn’t it?” I commented.
“Maybe not the surroundings one would expect, but it’s close to the airport and close to the city. As ideal as one could hope for transit.”
I pondered just how close we could be to the factory but before I could consider just how long we had been in the car already, we rolled into the parking lot.
“What did I tell you,” Morpheus exclaimed, “we’re already here!”
I exited the car and bore witness to a gigantic brown structure protected by a black gate, each adorned with “Guinness.” Behind the gate I could see a large outdoor courtyard filled with grass and picnic tables.
We made our way to the gate and Morpheus was let in without having his ID checked. He was clearly a regular. The young man at the front eyed my Japanese passport curiously, trying to confirm that I was over 21, to which Morpheus leaned over to point to my birth date and explain to the bouncer that I was indeed over 21. With a smile, I was welcomed to Guinness and we were directed to outdoor tables.
Sitting down, I told Morpheus he didn’t need to be so humble in his letter, that I knew the Hawks had had more than success, but instead had won the Ultimus. I also confessed I watched every game with glee and enjoyment. That crooked smile returned and Morpheus narrated.
“Man, I just took that season week by week. Game by game. I never thought ‘will we make playoffs’ or ‘are we going to win it all?’ I just practiced hard and tried to play harder. Everyone on that defense pushed me to new levels and together I was really proud of what we accomplished. I truly never was in a mindset of ‘we are going to be champions’ but only ever thought ‘we can win this game.’ Before I knew it, the grind ended in this incredible firework display with confetti and soon we were in a parade. The blur was beautiful and the let down a calm I’ve never felt before. When I knew I had to relax properly, reaching out to you was an easy decision.”
Beers quickly arrived at the table and we continued our talk, speaking to specific games where Morpheus made big plays and he was kind enough to ask a few questions about some of my reporting. Soon pretzels and crab fries graced our table and ate and drank with such contentment that the conversation slowed down.
“So where are we going next?” I asked with a belly filled to the brim with carbs.
“Ocean City, Maryland. Not a super far drive, but long enough for you to sleep off this meal.”
Morpheus raised his hand with his credit to pay the tab. Before his hand could fully extend, a server appeared and responded, “Champions don’t pay. What you did for this city will never be forgotten, thank you for coming.”
Morpheus insisted “If I can’t pay for myself, at least close all tabs with my card.”
The server beamed and accepted Morpheus’ offer, “You’re too good to us here.”
A few minutes later we were in the car, driving towards Ocean City. By the time we hit cruising speed I felt myself falling asleep.
“The people here love you,” I commented drowsily, “do you think you’ll be here for life?”
Morpheus, always quick to respond, took a moment. “Ask me again later, that’s definitely a longer conversation. You should enjoy a nap and by the time you’re up we should be there.”
Happy to oblige, I dozed off and awoke to the sun filling my eyes and the scent of salt filling my nose. Mixed with the sound of tires on asphalt, I heard the ocean to my side. As I came further to, my eyes fixated out the window and I could just barely see the ocean over a high protective sandbar covered with brush.
“Wakey wakey” Morpheus joked, “welcome to Ocean City!”
We pulled into a small building, the first floor a parking lot with condos all overhead. The parking lot was filled with sand that the wind had swept in. We gathered our bags and headed upstairs into Morpheus’ condo. Immediately I was struck by floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors revealing a brilliant view of the ocean.
We each had our own room and a shared living room and kitchen crammed with video games and board games. After settling in, we ordered food from Tequilla Mockingbird, opened some beers, and began a series of games of Scrabble, chess, and Connect Four. We found that neither of us were very good at either.
However, beyond the games, food, and beautiful sunset that eventually graced us, we enjoyed small talk surrounding international travel, favorite films, and guilty pleasures. We agreed to someday travel to South America together, agreed that we loved the new Spider-Man movie, and discussed our obsession with all things regarding French philosophy. Quiet moments in solidarity can feel like an eternity and into eternity our conversation went until we headed to bed.
The next morning Morpheus softly knocked on my door. “Saachan!” He whispered with excitement, “we gotta get outside and maximize beach time!” My jet lag was not prepared for such an early morning, but I didn’t fly across the world to sleep in.
Coffee already brewed, I came into the kitchen guided by my nose towards a poured cup. As I was halfway through the cup, I saw Morpheus pour the rest of the pot into a large thermos which he placed in a mesh bag filled with towels, books, and snacks.
“Ready to head down after you’re done with that cup?”
“I don’t have anything else to do,” I said wryly, though it was too early for sarcasm.
“Would you rather do something else?”
“No, no, no! Sorry, too early to try to be funny.”
“Well the swim trunk I packed for you will be funny enough.”
I looked over his shoulders and saw a 5 inch bathing suit laying on the couch behind him. Emblazoned on the tiny shorts was the American Flag.
“Welcome to the USA! I forgot to formally great you!” Morpheus laughed.
I let out hearty chuckle as I grabbed the shorts and headed into my room to change into the gift. When I came out, Morpheus had sneakily changed into a matching pair.
“Let’s GO” Morpheus blasted with joy. While I probably wouldn’t have bought these shorts for myself, it was fun to share in wearing them with my best friend.
We headed to the beach and laid down towels and put an umbrella above them. We laid down, enjoyed the sound of the surf, and Morpheus asked if I was looking to read anything. I asked what he packed and he provided two copies of “Sapiens.”
“I heard this was good” I responded to the offer, “but haven’t read it yet.” “Me neither, I actually brought two copies in case you’d said that. Want to read and talk about what we think of it?”
“That sounds great” I took my copy and started on reading. We sat in contentment, engrossed in our books until we each commented on how hungry we are. From his mesh bag, Morpheus pulled out cucumber sandwiches and chips.
“I know it’s not the healthiest but it is off-season. I’ve been good. I think I deserve a treat.” Morpheus commented, seemingly talking himself into eating less than ideally.
“You certainly do deserve a treat.” I reassured him.
After eating, we continued on reading but I could tell Morpheus was becoming restless.
“Everything good?” I asked.
“If you don’t mind, I’m just going to go for a short run on the beach. It will make me feel better after that meal.”
“Of course, go for it!”
Morpheus got up and began stretching. He started walking along the side of the ocean, a walk which turned into a light jog, and then a rapid sprint. I watched as he ran faster and faster, dodging beach goers nimbly. I waited to watch him lose momentum but instead lost view of him entirely. My eyes strained to find him in the distance and eventually I decided to give up and return to Sapiens.
I turned pages for what must have been at least half an hour when Morpheus returned from his run. The man was barely sweating, but steam emanated from his body no differently than when he was in Antarctica after saving Osiris Firestorm-Fjord. He was walking briskly and told me he needed to cool down in the ocean. I could barely see it, but it appeared that the heat of his feet was turning the sand into a fine layer glass as he walked towards the ocean. When he hit the water, a loud sizzle caused all beach goers to turn their heads towards Morpheus. A volcanic eruption of steam arose from his body hitting the ocean. And there he was, the man sizzling in the sun.
After he cooled down, he asked if I wanted to head back inside to order dinner. Curious eyes were tracking us after Morpheus’ impromptu steam explosion and I found no issue with finding shelter indoors. Once inside, he made a call to Liquid Assets which promptly delivered some of the best burgers and charcuterie I’ve ever had. After a true feast we sat on the couch and played a rotation of games including NFL Blitz, Mario Party, and Golden Eye. Again, we found that neither of us were very good at any of these games. Scratch that, Morpheus was good at NFL Blitz, telling me, “Simulation football is in my blood.”
Eventually we fell asleep and on our third day together Morpheus asked me, “ready for another road trip?”
“Abso-lutely. Where to this time?”
“Outer Banks, North Carolina. I know you didn’t get in the water yesterday, but you’ll have to get some time in the ocean there.” Excited to see the famous OBX, known primarily by the thousands of bumper stickers I’d seen on other cars, I gathered my things from my room and gave the condo a fond farewell look-over.
Morpheus and I packed up the car, got settled, and our journey south began.
“So how long is this drive?” I asked.
“Oh, like 10 hours, but no worries, I’ve got some stops planned. After all, I invited you for an East Coast trip, so we’ll see more than just two beaches!” And see more than 2 beaches we did.
We stopped in Chincoteague, VA, for unbelievable tacos at Pico Taqueria, then in Dupont Circle, DC, we had more near perfect tacos at Surfside, and finally in Chesapeake, VA, we had fresh and savory burritos at Burrito Perdito.
By the time we had arrived at OBX, I didn’t think my stomach could take any more meat, but nothing was slowing down Morpheus. “So, now it’s time for some Captain Franks!” he exclaimed.
With hotdogs in hand, we arrived at our beach house. Three stories high overlooking the beach, it felt like a lot of house for two people. But, I had a feeling Morpheus would make full use of the home.
Once inside, I was immediately struck by the size of the kitchen, taking up over half of the first floor. With a gigantic island in the center and endless counter space, Morpheus took a deep inhale when we walked in before exclaiming “good work will be done here.”
He looked to me and asked, “Do you mind if I introduce you to someone?”
“Of course,” I said.
Morpheus responded with a yell, “Come out brother!”
From down the steps, an equally gigantic man entered the kitchen. He was just as tall, strong, though a little slimmer. From his profile, I knew he must be Morpheus’ twin brother Orpheus.
“It’s so wonderful to meet you!” Orpheus declared. He met me with a bear hug and though I struggled to breath, I was filled with gratitude of the warmth provided.
I looked to Morpheus and he looked pleased, if not nervous.
“I wanted to tell you that I was going to introduce you to my brother, but we weren’t sure if Orpheus was really going to make it until the last minute,” Morpheus explained. “I don’t mind a surprise at all,” I reassured Morpheus.
“Well, how’s this for a surprise?” Orpheus asked. As he did, he opened the fridge which was absolutely overstocked with food.
“We’ve always loved cooking together. Any interest in cooking with us?” Morpheus asked.
“Absolutely!” I excitedly exclaimed.
And so we began a series of recipes, baking pastries, roasting vegetables, searing meats, and preparing complex plates. Hours passed with beers to mark the time and soon we oversaw a table transformed into a buffet prepared for an unforgettable night. Whatever time it took to prepare the food, we took well over double that time just to eat it. To describe our conversations over food would require another article to cover it properly. But, with multiple bottles of wine to accompany us, we sat and told stories, laughed with one another, and soon headed to our rooms for deep slumber.
I awoke to the sound of Morpheus and Orpheus cooking eggs, the smell of coffee heavy throughout the house.
Stomach still overstuffed from the night before, I waved away offers of food but gratefully gulped down cups of coffee. The brothers were already in their bathing suits and asked that I hurry my morning sips, so that we might, you guessed it, maximize beach time.
The water was clear and warm, the waves perfect for body surfing. We took turns riding waves onto the shore until we were tired and laid on the beach. Morpheus and I read Sapiens, Orpheus read a cookbook. Clouds soon overtook the sun and we gathered our things.
Thinking I would be leaving the United States soon, an epiphany arrived. I had a question to ask.
“Morpheus, do you think you’re leaving Baltimore at any point? You said to ask you again later. Is now okay?” Morpheus let out a sigh. “Ultimately, I play for people. I love my manager, I love my team, I love my city. But, I also love my brother. Right now I’m focused on my contract and want to win with and for Baltimore. But when my contract ends, I think we’re both going to consider our options.”
I paused. I wasn’t sure what to say, but more than anything, felt like there wasn’t anything I had the right to say. This was clearly hard for Morpheus to say and I didn’t want to ask him to make sense of complex thoughts he was still processing himself. I opted to nod and remark, “Whatever choice you make, I’m sure it will be the right one for everyone.”
Morpheus smiled. I was happy to have done my best to reassure him.
We all made our way up to the house and Orpheus said he had dinner covered. Morpheus and I decided to make good use of a hot tub provided on the back patio of the house. After half an hour in the hot tub we heard Orpheus behind us: “Two bros, sitting in a hot tub, 5 feet apart because they’re – “
“Hey,” Morpheus interrupted, “Is dinner ready yet?”
Orpheus regained his composure, “Oh yeah, that’s why I came out.”
Another feast ensued and I enjoyed another night asleep with a full belly.
The next morning we all packed our bags. Morpheus had arranged for a private jet to take me back to BWI, from there a flight to LAX, then SYD, and finally Antarctica.
It was hard to digest all that had happened. I’m still reflecting on those late night conversations. But for now, I know that Morpheus is authentic and real. He’s honest. And we are all better off for friends who love us freely and openly.
By Saachan
(3,721 Words)
Years ago in Antarctica a man became a myth due to his short time in our small community. With each season, new research teams join our community as other teams completing their work head home. Each new person has come to me, asking, “Is what you wrote about Morpheus true?” Time has a funny way of passing and I find that there is no one else to back up my story. Every one who was here that weekend is now gone and only I remain to defend the veracity of my reporting. Incredulous as they might be, I’ve consistently insisted that each word was true.
My time with Morpheus was instructive and inspiring. Since his departure I’ve written with new fervor, pushing the limits of what areas of science I’d previously reported on and have done more to tell the human side of stories. After all, many of these scientists have had their greatest discoveries informed by dreams. Many have accidentally stumbled into world changing propositions. For all the pure data I wish to share with the world, the human stories for how this data came into fruition is captivating.
From my small hut, I’ve made life-long friends over the internet around the world. I’ve conducted interviews, created new contacts, and mastered the ability to maintain a large network without much face to face time. After spending so much time in relative isolation here, I found that I had a distinct advantage when the world went into pandemic hibernation. Not only did I know how to reach people, they went out of their way to tell me as much information as they could think of, just happy to have an audience of one. After long days of work, I became an audience member myself, streaming ISFL games to relax.
I first learned of the ISFL through Morpheus and found that I could push through hard days at work with the knowledge that an ISFL game was around the corner. Naturally, I became a Baltimore Hawks fan, Morpheus’ team, and fell deeper in love with the plucky underdogs. They had an amazing way of digging in during close games and never let themselves get blown out. Even when the odds were against them, you could see their tenacity and willingness to fight for victory, no matter how slim the margins of success were.
Last season was a particularly special one, as it ended with Baltimore’s Ultimus win. After a long rebuild and surges of courage, I cried tears of joy as Morpheus raised the Ultimus Trophy over his head among his teammates. I found new energy within and continued driving myself forward with increasing volumes of writing. I knew I would need to take a break soon but had a feeling a serendipitous opportunity of rest would present itself.
And present itself it did when I heard from Morpheus. I received an email from him just a few weeks after his Ultimus victory, writing:
“Saachan,
I’m unsure how often you check in on the ISFL but recently enjoyed some incredible successes. The sort of successes that make a man want to put his feet up.
I so enjoyed and loved my time with you in Antarctica but would like to try a different locale for some rest. On my tough days on the practice field, I’d ask myself ‘what would Saachan do?’ and I’d press forward relentlessly on improving myself as I know you are always improving yourself.
Thus, to properly celebrate, I’d love to take care of you and fly you on an East Coast adventure of the United States with me. We’ll hit up a few beaches, enjoy some quality food, and relax in a way I’m certain you deserve more than I do. I have been keeping up with your writing and am constantly in awe of the quality and quantity of your writing. Please don’t’ hesitate to take me up on this offer.
You deserve this.
Yours,
Morpheus”
A letter and offer this sweet was irresistible. I quickly responded “yes” and received a ticket to Baltimore, Maryland, within an hour.
It was unclear to me if Morpheus would be meeting me at the airport and as I left the terminal I surveyed my surroundings in search of an oversized athletic profile. Such size is not betrayed by heavy steps, however, and Morpheus snuck up behind me.
“Spaghet!!!” he yelled with a crooked smile. As in sync as Morpheus and I are, this was a joke I did not entirely understand, but the surprise synced with a silly grin forced a laugh out of me.
“Sorry,” Morpheus sheepishly composed himself, “It’s a joke I have with my brother and sometimes I forget not everyone watches as much Channel Cinco as we do.”
Puzzled, I attempted to reassure him, “I appreciate the notice for new content to look out for. But this laugh was genuine!”
Morpheus, satisfied and content with my response, put his arm around me and guided me towards his car. He drove a Honda Civic, with a strange dent on its roof, explaining to me, “You might be surprised I don’t spend more money on cars. My wealth is something I really try to use for good. Although, I do have a guilty pleasure, and that’s watches.” Morpheus flashed a Ball Engineer 2 Magneto S watch. “I love this baby.”
I dared gesture to the roof, curious to the origin of the damage. “That’s nothing,” Morpheus shrugged, “just a remnant of high school.” I could tell Morpheus had a hidden sentimentality within him. Or maybe it wasn’t hidden at all but brazenly on display everywhere he drove.
Morpheus pulled out of traffic and smoothly made his way on to the highway. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“Sometimes the best way to start a trip is with a beer. I don’t drink that often, but Baltimore produces the vast majority of Guinness that North America enjoys. So I like to take people to the factory for drinks after they land.”
“Antarctica doesn’t get much beer imported, so I’m looking forward to a fresh beverage.”
I looked out the window and saw industrial parks, then natural parks, and finally the asphalt Eden of suburbia littered with trees between pockets of cul-de-sacs.
“Strange place for a factory isn’t it?” I commented.
“Maybe not the surroundings one would expect, but it’s close to the airport and close to the city. As ideal as one could hope for transit.”
I pondered just how close we could be to the factory but before I could consider just how long we had been in the car already, we rolled into the parking lot.
“What did I tell you,” Morpheus exclaimed, “we’re already here!”
I exited the car and bore witness to a gigantic brown structure protected by a black gate, each adorned with “Guinness.” Behind the gate I could see a large outdoor courtyard filled with grass and picnic tables.
We made our way to the gate and Morpheus was let in without having his ID checked. He was clearly a regular. The young man at the front eyed my Japanese passport curiously, trying to confirm that I was over 21, to which Morpheus leaned over to point to my birth date and explain to the bouncer that I was indeed over 21. With a smile, I was welcomed to Guinness and we were directed to outdoor tables.
Sitting down, I told Morpheus he didn’t need to be so humble in his letter, that I knew the Hawks had had more than success, but instead had won the Ultimus. I also confessed I watched every game with glee and enjoyment. That crooked smile returned and Morpheus narrated.
“Man, I just took that season week by week. Game by game. I never thought ‘will we make playoffs’ or ‘are we going to win it all?’ I just practiced hard and tried to play harder. Everyone on that defense pushed me to new levels and together I was really proud of what we accomplished. I truly never was in a mindset of ‘we are going to be champions’ but only ever thought ‘we can win this game.’ Before I knew it, the grind ended in this incredible firework display with confetti and soon we were in a parade. The blur was beautiful and the let down a calm I’ve never felt before. When I knew I had to relax properly, reaching out to you was an easy decision.”
Beers quickly arrived at the table and we continued our talk, speaking to specific games where Morpheus made big plays and he was kind enough to ask a few questions about some of my reporting. Soon pretzels and crab fries graced our table and ate and drank with such contentment that the conversation slowed down.
“So where are we going next?” I asked with a belly filled to the brim with carbs.
“Ocean City, Maryland. Not a super far drive, but long enough for you to sleep off this meal.”
Morpheus raised his hand with his credit to pay the tab. Before his hand could fully extend, a server appeared and responded, “Champions don’t pay. What you did for this city will never be forgotten, thank you for coming.”
Morpheus insisted “If I can’t pay for myself, at least close all tabs with my card.”
The server beamed and accepted Morpheus’ offer, “You’re too good to us here.”
A few minutes later we were in the car, driving towards Ocean City. By the time we hit cruising speed I felt myself falling asleep.
“The people here love you,” I commented drowsily, “do you think you’ll be here for life?”
Morpheus, always quick to respond, took a moment. “Ask me again later, that’s definitely a longer conversation. You should enjoy a nap and by the time you’re up we should be there.”
Happy to oblige, I dozed off and awoke to the sun filling my eyes and the scent of salt filling my nose. Mixed with the sound of tires on asphalt, I heard the ocean to my side. As I came further to, my eyes fixated out the window and I could just barely see the ocean over a high protective sandbar covered with brush.
“Wakey wakey” Morpheus joked, “welcome to Ocean City!”
We pulled into a small building, the first floor a parking lot with condos all overhead. The parking lot was filled with sand that the wind had swept in. We gathered our bags and headed upstairs into Morpheus’ condo. Immediately I was struck by floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors revealing a brilliant view of the ocean.
We each had our own room and a shared living room and kitchen crammed with video games and board games. After settling in, we ordered food from Tequilla Mockingbird, opened some beers, and began a series of games of Scrabble, chess, and Connect Four. We found that neither of us were very good at either.
However, beyond the games, food, and beautiful sunset that eventually graced us, we enjoyed small talk surrounding international travel, favorite films, and guilty pleasures. We agreed to someday travel to South America together, agreed that we loved the new Spider-Man movie, and discussed our obsession with all things regarding French philosophy. Quiet moments in solidarity can feel like an eternity and into eternity our conversation went until we headed to bed.
The next morning Morpheus softly knocked on my door. “Saachan!” He whispered with excitement, “we gotta get outside and maximize beach time!” My jet lag was not prepared for such an early morning, but I didn’t fly across the world to sleep in.
Coffee already brewed, I came into the kitchen guided by my nose towards a poured cup. As I was halfway through the cup, I saw Morpheus pour the rest of the pot into a large thermos which he placed in a mesh bag filled with towels, books, and snacks.
“Ready to head down after you’re done with that cup?”
“I don’t have anything else to do,” I said wryly, though it was too early for sarcasm.
“Would you rather do something else?”
“No, no, no! Sorry, too early to try to be funny.”
“Well the swim trunk I packed for you will be funny enough.”
I looked over his shoulders and saw a 5 inch bathing suit laying on the couch behind him. Emblazoned on the tiny shorts was the American Flag.
“Welcome to the USA! I forgot to formally great you!” Morpheus laughed.
I let out hearty chuckle as I grabbed the shorts and headed into my room to change into the gift. When I came out, Morpheus had sneakily changed into a matching pair.
“Let’s GO” Morpheus blasted with joy. While I probably wouldn’t have bought these shorts for myself, it was fun to share in wearing them with my best friend.
We headed to the beach and laid down towels and put an umbrella above them. We laid down, enjoyed the sound of the surf, and Morpheus asked if I was looking to read anything. I asked what he packed and he provided two copies of “Sapiens.”
“I heard this was good” I responded to the offer, “but haven’t read it yet.” “Me neither, I actually brought two copies in case you’d said that. Want to read and talk about what we think of it?”
“That sounds great” I took my copy and started on reading. We sat in contentment, engrossed in our books until we each commented on how hungry we are. From his mesh bag, Morpheus pulled out cucumber sandwiches and chips.
“I know it’s not the healthiest but it is off-season. I’ve been good. I think I deserve a treat.” Morpheus commented, seemingly talking himself into eating less than ideally.
“You certainly do deserve a treat.” I reassured him.
After eating, we continued on reading but I could tell Morpheus was becoming restless.
“Everything good?” I asked.
“If you don’t mind, I’m just going to go for a short run on the beach. It will make me feel better after that meal.”
“Of course, go for it!”
Morpheus got up and began stretching. He started walking along the side of the ocean, a walk which turned into a light jog, and then a rapid sprint. I watched as he ran faster and faster, dodging beach goers nimbly. I waited to watch him lose momentum but instead lost view of him entirely. My eyes strained to find him in the distance and eventually I decided to give up and return to Sapiens.
I turned pages for what must have been at least half an hour when Morpheus returned from his run. The man was barely sweating, but steam emanated from his body no differently than when he was in Antarctica after saving Osiris Firestorm-Fjord. He was walking briskly and told me he needed to cool down in the ocean. I could barely see it, but it appeared that the heat of his feet was turning the sand into a fine layer glass as he walked towards the ocean. When he hit the water, a loud sizzle caused all beach goers to turn their heads towards Morpheus. A volcanic eruption of steam arose from his body hitting the ocean. And there he was, the man sizzling in the sun.
After he cooled down, he asked if I wanted to head back inside to order dinner. Curious eyes were tracking us after Morpheus’ impromptu steam explosion and I found no issue with finding shelter indoors. Once inside, he made a call to Liquid Assets which promptly delivered some of the best burgers and charcuterie I’ve ever had. After a true feast we sat on the couch and played a rotation of games including NFL Blitz, Mario Party, and Golden Eye. Again, we found that neither of us were very good at any of these games. Scratch that, Morpheus was good at NFL Blitz, telling me, “Simulation football is in my blood.”
Eventually we fell asleep and on our third day together Morpheus asked me, “ready for another road trip?”
“Abso-lutely. Where to this time?”
“Outer Banks, North Carolina. I know you didn’t get in the water yesterday, but you’ll have to get some time in the ocean there.” Excited to see the famous OBX, known primarily by the thousands of bumper stickers I’d seen on other cars, I gathered my things from my room and gave the condo a fond farewell look-over.
Morpheus and I packed up the car, got settled, and our journey south began.
“So how long is this drive?” I asked.
“Oh, like 10 hours, but no worries, I’ve got some stops planned. After all, I invited you for an East Coast trip, so we’ll see more than just two beaches!” And see more than 2 beaches we did.
We stopped in Chincoteague, VA, for unbelievable tacos at Pico Taqueria, then in Dupont Circle, DC, we had more near perfect tacos at Surfside, and finally in Chesapeake, VA, we had fresh and savory burritos at Burrito Perdito.
By the time we had arrived at OBX, I didn’t think my stomach could take any more meat, but nothing was slowing down Morpheus. “So, now it’s time for some Captain Franks!” he exclaimed.
With hotdogs in hand, we arrived at our beach house. Three stories high overlooking the beach, it felt like a lot of house for two people. But, I had a feeling Morpheus would make full use of the home.
Once inside, I was immediately struck by the size of the kitchen, taking up over half of the first floor. With a gigantic island in the center and endless counter space, Morpheus took a deep inhale when we walked in before exclaiming “good work will be done here.”
He looked to me and asked, “Do you mind if I introduce you to someone?”
“Of course,” I said.
Morpheus responded with a yell, “Come out brother!”
From down the steps, an equally gigantic man entered the kitchen. He was just as tall, strong, though a little slimmer. From his profile, I knew he must be Morpheus’ twin brother Orpheus.
“It’s so wonderful to meet you!” Orpheus declared. He met me with a bear hug and though I struggled to breath, I was filled with gratitude of the warmth provided.
I looked to Morpheus and he looked pleased, if not nervous.
“I wanted to tell you that I was going to introduce you to my brother, but we weren’t sure if Orpheus was really going to make it until the last minute,” Morpheus explained. “I don’t mind a surprise at all,” I reassured Morpheus.
“Well, how’s this for a surprise?” Orpheus asked. As he did, he opened the fridge which was absolutely overstocked with food.
“We’ve always loved cooking together. Any interest in cooking with us?” Morpheus asked.
“Absolutely!” I excitedly exclaimed.
And so we began a series of recipes, baking pastries, roasting vegetables, searing meats, and preparing complex plates. Hours passed with beers to mark the time and soon we oversaw a table transformed into a buffet prepared for an unforgettable night. Whatever time it took to prepare the food, we took well over double that time just to eat it. To describe our conversations over food would require another article to cover it properly. But, with multiple bottles of wine to accompany us, we sat and told stories, laughed with one another, and soon headed to our rooms for deep slumber.
I awoke to the sound of Morpheus and Orpheus cooking eggs, the smell of coffee heavy throughout the house.
Stomach still overstuffed from the night before, I waved away offers of food but gratefully gulped down cups of coffee. The brothers were already in their bathing suits and asked that I hurry my morning sips, so that we might, you guessed it, maximize beach time.
The water was clear and warm, the waves perfect for body surfing. We took turns riding waves onto the shore until we were tired and laid on the beach. Morpheus and I read Sapiens, Orpheus read a cookbook. Clouds soon overtook the sun and we gathered our things.
Thinking I would be leaving the United States soon, an epiphany arrived. I had a question to ask.
“Morpheus, do you think you’re leaving Baltimore at any point? You said to ask you again later. Is now okay?” Morpheus let out a sigh. “Ultimately, I play for people. I love my manager, I love my team, I love my city. But, I also love my brother. Right now I’m focused on my contract and want to win with and for Baltimore. But when my contract ends, I think we’re both going to consider our options.”
I paused. I wasn’t sure what to say, but more than anything, felt like there wasn’t anything I had the right to say. This was clearly hard for Morpheus to say and I didn’t want to ask him to make sense of complex thoughts he was still processing himself. I opted to nod and remark, “Whatever choice you make, I’m sure it will be the right one for everyone.”
Morpheus smiled. I was happy to have done my best to reassure him.
We all made our way up to the house and Orpheus said he had dinner covered. Morpheus and I decided to make good use of a hot tub provided on the back patio of the house. After half an hour in the hot tub we heard Orpheus behind us: “Two bros, sitting in a hot tub, 5 feet apart because they’re – “
“Hey,” Morpheus interrupted, “Is dinner ready yet?”
Orpheus regained his composure, “Oh yeah, that’s why I came out.”
Another feast ensued and I enjoyed another night asleep with a full belly.
The next morning we all packed our bags. Morpheus had arranged for a private jet to take me back to BWI, from there a flight to LAX, then SYD, and finally Antarctica.
It was hard to digest all that had happened. I’m still reflecting on those late night conversations. But for now, I know that Morpheus is authentic and real. He’s honest. And we are all better off for friends who love us freely and openly.