Page 17 of The Art of Being a Psychopath

In your own mind.

You want us to see you...

And we do... (He shook his head)

But we won’t be kind.

Because we see you in a way you’d never believe you’d be seen.

Empty.

Hollow.

A money machine.”

Two machines, that I hadn’t noticed before, were set up at the side of the wall, and they began to shoot fake money out into the crowd. There was a general hum of astonishment, and some made a grab for the notes, maybe to keep as a memento of the night. But I got the irony. I wasn’t about to chase the cash he was showering into the crowd. That wasn’t what this was about. He was making a statement with his words and his actions. And so were some of the people here, despite being oblivious to it.

As the machines slowed, and the noise died down, he spoke again.

“While I have your attention.

As I stand here today.

I’ll tell you what I think.

I’ll have my say.”

The spotlight, that’d bathed him in a silver glow, turned red now, and I noticed two buckets on either side of him placed upon the wall. He picked up the one to his left and began to pour the contents down the wall. I think it was paint, but the red light shining on it made it look like blood as it gushed down the bricks. In fact, it seemed to be thinner than paint. I had no idea what it was, but as it spread down the wall, words began to appear. Words that’d been spray-painted onto the brickwork. Like a magic trick, we saw the words; pride, honour, respect, humble, and self-worth appear.

Once he’d drained the first bucket, he picked up the second and repeated his actions, exposing the words; dignity, morals, humility, and selfless. And when he’d finished, he stood tall, red trickling down the wall of words as he continued.

“To me,

Pride means spilling your blood, sweat and tears.

Working to provide for your family for years and years.

So Molly doesn’t have to rely on free school meals.

And little Tommy gets a role model that shows him what it means,

to work for a living.

To take pride in your strife.

To build something for others that you didn’t have in your life.

A legacy not founded on privilege or greed.

But one built on honour and sacrifice and need.

When she stayed with the children,

even after he left.

And she works three jobs,

though she feels bereft.