Excerpt for Dead Inside at 25 by Alex Sargeant, available in its entirety at Smashwords

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Dead Inside at 25


By


Alex Sargeant






















Preface


Reader, what you are about to read is a random collection of incredibly short stories, strange thoughts I was forced to write down (my hands and brain are plotting against me) and an essay or two. I wrote this book because it’s the book I have been wanting to see in the free section of the Kindle store. It’s short, fun and doesn’t involve any paranormal teens.


You’re reading a free book on the Kindle, so I am going to assume we share more in common than either of us are comfortable with. That’s okay, people don’t always have to be different. Or do they? What a fundemental question. Must people be different? Oh no, did I lose you? No! Sorry, there’s no philosophy in here! I’m sorry! Come back! I swear, I’ll be good! Oh, you’re back, thank you for coming back. You’re very pretty. You know authors can access any of of their Kindle books and look at the person reading it? Yeah, it’s like a two way mirror thing. Weird huh? Anyway, you’re very pretty and I really am sorry for talking about philosophy. Thank you for coming back, it means a lot.


While I have you here, I have a question. What is love? I mean what is it really? Is it simply certain neurons firing at at the right time and in the same pattern? Or is there something deeper? Shit! I did it again! I’m sorry! I know I promised no philosophy but you came back and I figured if you came back once you would come back twice. Don’t leave, I’m a very desperate man. I need attention constantly. If you leave, I’ll die. I’ll just die! Don’t leave! Please! Don’t leave me! If you leave I’ll have to think and as an insecure adult male, you don’t want to leave me alone!


If you actually read the preface, I’m sorry. I know a lot of people don’t read the preface so I figured I would just write whatever to make it look like I really tried to write a good preface.


Please, enjoy the book. If you enjoy one story in it, then I have done my job. Thank you again for downloading this book. I know it’s free and you have a lot of other romance novels you could have chose from. I really do appreciate you choosing this book. It means a lot. Also, you really are pretty when you do your hair like that.


Thanks,


Alex Sargeant







Foursquare @ Starbucks


CRAIG STARVERSON JUST CHECKED IN- @ STARBUCKS (STUDIO CITY, CA)

Just checked into Starbucks via Foursquare. No one I know has checked in so I must be the only one here. I'll wait to see if anyone else checks in before I get a coffee. 

TEN MINUTES LATER

No one's checked in. This doesn't make any sense. I checked in like an hour ago. This is such bullshit! I just put it into my Facebook feed. There's no way someone hasn't seen it and thought, "Fuck, Craig just checked into Starbucks via Foursquare. I better go meet him there so he has someone to talk to. 

FACEBOOK STATUS: "Just chillin' at Starbucks. Fuckin' crazy. I love it. Probably going to chill here for another thirty minutes." 

That should do it. Won't get a coffee yet. Someone should show up. What band is playing? I really like this. 

"Excuse me, what band is playing right now?" 
"Jack Johnson." 
"Yeah, but what's the name of the band?" 
"That is the name of the band." 
"But you didn't even check the satellite radio or anything." 
"That's because I know who sings this song." 
"Oh. Are all their songs like this? I could throw back a couple of brewskies on the beach listening to this. Really mellow stuff." 
"Are you going to buy anything?" 
"Waiting for a friend." 

TEN MORE MINUTES LATER

FACEBOOK STATUS: "Just bought the new Jack Johnson album. Pretty fucking awesome. If anyone wants it, I'll be at the Starbucks. I'll just give it to you. Totally free. Don't even mind. Probably be here for an hour." 

TEN MORE MINUTES ON TOP OF THAT SECOND TEN MORE MINUTES. THAT'S THIRTY MINUTES. 

Hey, Karen's here! Awesome, we haven't talked since high school. God, I forgot about those freckles. I could just nibble each one of her freckles off. FUCK! I want to fuck her. Shit, why didn't I realize this when I added her on Facebook like a month ago? She knows I'm here, I fucking Foursquared this shit. This was meant to happen.

"Hey Karen!" 
"Oh, hey... k-"
"Craig. How are you? Fuck, I haven't fucking seen you in fucking forever." 
"I was backpacking through Europe for the past two years." 
"Yeah, yeah. I saw those pics on Facebook. Crazy huh? You didn't fuck any Europeans did you? I know it's none of my business, but it's just that European men have more penis diseases than American men. They're much dirtier." 
"Hi. Yeah, just a grande coffee. No room for cream." 
"Yeah, I'll have the same. I got this Karen." 
"You sure?" 
"Yeah, my pleasure. God, your hair..." Creepy sigh. 
"Sir, I'm sorry, but do you have another form of payment you could use?" 
"My card's fine. Run it again. The strip sometimes gets fucked up." 
"I already ran it twice, sir." 
"Well fucking run it again please." 
"So Karen, you ever listen to Jack Johnson?" 
"Not since my freshman year of college, no." 
"It's still saying declined." 

“Try wrapping a bag around it, it’s probably the magnetic strip.”

“It’s not the stip sir.”
"Hey Karen, is there any way you could get this?" 
"Seriously?" 
"I'll get you next time. Promise." 
"Please don't." 

THREE MINUTES LATER

KAREN AUGURA HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM YOUR FRIENDS LIST

FACEBOOK STATUS: "Just saw Karen Augura in Starbucks and she mentioned something about getting herpes from a European dude.” 

CRAIG STARVERSON JUST CHECKED IN - @ BEN & JERRY'S (STUDIO CITY, CA)



FOUND: Doomsday Laser Machine


I already tried Craigslist and no one responded so I figure I'll give it a go on here.

Yesterday I was out walking and I came across a Doomsday Laser Machine in the middle of the street. I actually walked past it thinking that someone else would probably help it out of the street, but about four blocks later, I realized no one else was going to help it. I couldn't just leave it there.

I went back and sure enough, there it was, still in the middle of the street just waiting to get hit by a car. I ran back to my apartment, found the dolly and came back to find a woman trying to move it. The two of us finally got it onto the dolly and I rolled it to the sidewalk. She said she knew someone who had a Doomsday Machine and that it might be theirs. She pointed me to the castle at the end of the street and went on her way.

I knocked on the doors for about ten minutes until a frighteningly pale wizard answered. He didn't even have to answer me. I saw his Doomsday Machine behind his outstretched leg that was keeping it from bolting out the door. He said he'd never seen it before.

I just don't understand. I mean, there's no tags or chips anywhere on the thing but it knows how to destroy the world so I know someone loved it enough to program it to do that.

Anyway, I didn't really want to bring it home because I wasn't sure if the cat and it would get along. Turns out it's good with cats, too! I just can't stand the thought of someone missing a Doomsday Device. What if they had kids? I mean, the kids are the ones that are going to miss it the most. I can't imagine explaining to a child why their Doomsday Machine isn't around anymore. Heartbreaking.

I hope the owner sees this. I still have it and it's safe. If you have any information about the owner or you yourself are the owner, please, please email me before I get too attached to it.



The Moon Journals


Day 327 - The Moon - Capt. Robert Johnson - USA

FUCKING RUSSIANS! I swear to God! No, maybe I shouldn't swear to God, because these Commie bastards don't believe in religion! I wish those Vodka guzzlers believed in something that had the ability to smite them! I would pray to whatever beast that was every single night until it happened! I would!

I just don't get it! Why does this have to be an international moon base? Why? I can't answer that. I also can't answer why the fucking Russians have to eat all my peanut butter! It's got my fucking name on it! R-O-B-E-R-T. You can't miss it! It takes months before the supply ships get that in! They said they didn't do it, but I know it was them!

Discovered single celled organisms on the dark side of the moon today. Blah! More work! :(

I know they said no sex, but I've been up here almost a year now, and if you count the time I was on Earth it's been like six since I've launched my space junk in a woman!

I'm not usually into Turkish chicks, but Vanu is looking pretty nice compared to anything else up here. Makes sense though, can't be smart AND hot... unless your parents used cheat codes (Gawd Hakzors). I mean, she's okay. She's a California 3 but a Moon 10. I bet the Russians wouldn't take my peanut butter if I was banging her.

Speaking of sex, one of my ex-girlfriends from high school (the one that got away) just Twittered that she's getting married. I don't want to sound emo or anything but right now it feels like the only man-made structures you can see from the moon are the Great Wall of China and the love I left behind for her. Whatever, I'll probably end up fucking Vanu and then I can Facebook about it and she'll be all like, "Robert's too good for me. Look at him, fucking hot Turkish scientists on the Moon while I'm doing an investment banker from Liverpool! I suck!"

Oh, totally almost forgot! This morning I was in the greenhouse and the Russians were in there and I was all like look at this and then turned around with a giant cucumber hanging out of my space suit. They're assholes, but they still thought it was fucking hilarious! Do I care about their feelings? Niet. Do I care about their laughs? Da.

- Capt. Robert Johnson.



If James Joyce Wrote a Blog


If James Joyce wrote a blog, there would be a lot of asterisks.*


*Here the blog's author's bias is being shown. What he is doing, is making assumptions based off of false pretenses and a poor introduction to a great writer. The author is an asshole. ** With a better teacher or a better head on his shoulders, the author might not have ever written this paper.

** Here the footnote's author is stating an opinion. It is a fact that the author of the paper is a jerk, but there is no conclusive evidence to show that he is, or ever was an asshole. There is, however, proof that the footnote's author is a shithead. ***

*** It's true, the second footnote's author and I were at a party last week and the footnote's author was there and we saw**** him making out with a girl that was clearly not his wife. Totally a shithead.

**** Though the second footnote's author and the third footnote's author were both at said party, neither of them were at a close enough vantage point to be able to say with any certainty that the girl in question***** was not the footnote's wife.

***** Hi, second footnote's author here. Just wanted to say that I am pretty sure it was her. Also, the fourth footnote's author only said that because the footnote's author has pictures of him kissing another man.******

****** Who told you about that?*******

******* Your wife******** did!

******** You bastard,********* I'll have your head!**********

********* A bastard is an illegitimate child.

********** The only head you'll have is your boyfriends... in your mouth!


Guys! Enough!*


*Shit, it's the author, everyone scram!



An Open Letter to Mandy Moore


The following is a letter I wrote to Mandy Moore's Myspace celebrity page. I have a good feeling she'll write back.

First off, I don't care what anybody says, Mandy Moore... you nailed it! It was perfect. No one could have done what you, Mandy Moore, did with that role. Every single word was thought out, accented, and delivered without flaw. You were a surgeon using a word scalpel. Girl Bear Cub could not have been played by anyone but you. Dr. Dolittle 2 would have been nothing if not for your golden voice. You were born to play Girl Bear Cub.

The other day my friend Rob was all like, "I thought Mandy Moore was just okay in How To Deal." You know what I did, Mandy Moore? I horse punched him in the face! In case you don't know what horse punching is, Mandy Moore, it's punching someone as hard as you would punch a horse if a horse were to pose a direct threat to your life. I underestimated the force it would take to bring down a horse, Mandy Moore, and ended up falling down, and making Rob's face really red. The point is, Mandy Moore, I stood up for you! And once Rob's face got less red, I yelled, "That's how to deal, mother fucker!" I told him that, I did!

I heard you've been feeling sad, Mandy Moore, so I decided to write some jokes to cheer you up. I hope you like them. (It's taken me months to write them. If only I were as funny as those tour guides on The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland).

Hey Mandy Moore, what's so bad about a dead lawyer? Lawyers can't die! They're like vampires! Hahahaha.

Hey Mandy Moore, the other day I saw on TV that Craig T. Nelson had a new sitcom. Hahahaha.

Hey Mandy Moore, how does the Whale Mafia put out a hit? By saying, "krill him!" Hahahahaha.

Hey Mandy Moore, what do you call it when a "Bro" has reached perfection? BROmeostasis! Hahahaha.

Hey Mandy Moore, did you hear the one about Helen Keller? Neither did she! Hahahaha. (I stole that one because it was SO funny.)

Well, I hope you write back Mandy Moore,

-Alex "A Run to Remember" Sargeant



UPDATE: Doomsday Laser Machine


The owner has claimed theDoomsday Laser Machine. Turns out the owner went on vacation to some volcano hideaway or moon base (I wasn't really listening), left it with the neighbors and it got out.

I'm just glad it's back with its evil owner. I know the owner's evil because he didn't even offer me a reward. Dick.



But He’s a Vampire!


"Hey Aleksi, where's everyone going with all those pitchforks and torches?"
"You know the man who lives in the castle on the hill?"
"Oh, you mean Count Mesinov. Yeah, nice guy."
"Well he's a vampire!"
"So."
"And he's taken Lord Veimire's daughter! For all we know, she may already be dead. Blood sucked from her body!"
"So what?"
"What do you mean so what?"
"I mean so what. What has Lord Veimire ever done for us? We're simple townsfolk, farmers really. Yet because his daddy was a lord, appointed by a king we've never seen, he's allowed to rule over us like some chubby demigod? And unjustly, I might add. We don't even make enough to pay the taxes he's imposed on us."
"But his daughter. She is not her father and she is still a person."
"That she is. She's the person who burned down your bakery and broke up the Pasmonov's marriage by tempting Mr. Pasmonov. Count Mesinov, on the other hand, sells those honey sticks our children so enjoy at the Sunday market."
"He's not human! He's a beast, and must be stopped!"
"Stopped how? By murder? Am I talking to Aleksi, or am I talking to a crazed murder? When your brother raped all those children, did you assemble a group such as this one to go to his house and murder him in cold blood?"
"Well no, we-"
"We had a trial. A fair trial, in which your brother was found innocent on account of him being a man. A great man at that."
"I guess you have a point."
"Of course I do. We may be poor, but we know better than to judge someone just because their family has evolved at a pace which our simple minds cannot possibly comprehend. Now let's turn this angry mob around and storm Lord Veimire's place!"

And that, kids, is the true meaning of Bastille Day.



I am a Man


I’m a man! I do man things! Example: last night, I had a dream I killed a lion... with the body of the first lion I killed with my bare hands! That’s how manly I am! Even in my dreams I’m manly! Update: That wasn’t a dream, it was real!

I had to replace my fire alarm with a ninja alarm because I had way more ninjas trying to kill me than fires! The only weakness ninjas and fire have in common is me!

Yesterday I walked by some kids playing baseball when their baseball rolled to my feet and they asked me to throw it back. I did, except it hit that kid in the back of the head and killed him because it circled the Earth before exploding his brain. Mother fucking man! Speaking of mother fucking: When I went to the boy’s house to apologize for exploding their son’s head, his mother refused my apology. I then fucked her into space. Literal space. I watched myself fuck her in Hubble’s giant mirror... because I’m a man!

I cut off my own hands (both of them) just so that I could have interchangeable hands. One hard pair for beating up gang bangers and large animals and one soft pair for fingering ladies in exotic landscapes. I’m a man!

Two weeks ago someone put a landmine in my alligator chili and I didn’t even notice until I pooped out a piece of claymore.

After naked women, my picture is the most sought after picture in the United States military. I am Manspiration!



A Phone Message


Dude, bro, pick up the phone, I have a fucking sweet movie idea! I know everyone else is always all like, "I've got a sweet movie idea dawg" but compared to the movie idea I have, their movie ideas are just a bunch of gay bullshit! This movie idea is so good I almost don't want to say it, bro! You'd probably have your mind blown just by how fucking good it is, you would be all like, "Bro, that's a cool idea." One, two three... BAM! Your fucking head just exploded! The only way they would know it was you would be because of your sideways hat and the way in which your thumbs were positioned in the up position.

Fuck it! I'm just going to say it. I am not responsible for any deaths caused by how fucking rad the movie idea is. Alright, check it out, these people are on vacation with a bunch of people and someone's killing them but they don't know who but in the end it's going to be one of them! How fucking crazy is that! Eat a thousand dicks M. Night Shaman!

Anyway bro, going to Hollywood, I'll be back in an hour or so after I blow Hollywood's mind and then we can go see Dave... Matthews!



SPANISH POEM



El amor es simple
Como el sistema vascular humano
El amor es verdadero
Como un unicornio
El amor es duro
Como la parte superior de los niños dirigen
El amor está libre
Como el nuevo Macbook en esos anuncios de la bandera
El amor es diversión
Como las tres películas pasadas de Star Wars
El amor es odio
¿Qué? ¿Huh? ¿Acabo de hacer eso? ¡Acabo de hacer saltar su mente con cómo está loco que era!

In case your simple brain cannot understand the beautiful language that is Spanish, I have translated it for you below. In case your brain can understand the beautiful language that is Spanish, it's probably best you read my translation because I just copy and pasted it into an online English to Spanish translator so it won't make a whole lot of sense.

Love is simple
Like the human vascular system
Love is real
Like a unicorn
Love is hard
Like the top part of an infant’s head
Love is free
Like the "Free Macbook" in those banner ads
Love is fun
Like the last three Star Wars movies
Love is hate
What? Huh? Did I just do that? I just blew up your mind with how crazy that was!


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