Surf City Donut

George knew his time inside Surf City, California would soon come to and end -- or it just might mean his! The pollen count would be the highest in decades -- and he with asthma. His mind kept saying, "Go to Santa Monica, where the westerly winds blow out the muck and pollen."  He discovered lately that one must go south to hit the Huntington Beach beaches, so that the winds that blow west stay at the beach
  He knew the pollen count would be high, ever since he had taken the Metro-Link to Oceanside on  over a month ago to pick up a check. He had witnessed flowers  blooming for the first time in years. The bees would be out in full force looking for the flowers with the best pollen scent.
  After a Trader Joe's breakfast of lox, bagels and hard boiled eggs, he left mold infested apartment and took the bus to Main Street, U.S.A. It was going on seven and the bus driver  somehow could make him out of the foggy morning. The inversion layer had been a beach  guest now for over one week. He sat in front of the Java bagel and donut shop. Across the street was Jack's, with their surfboard logo and lots of beach wear to go with it.
  He had his first donut in years two nights ago, and watching a man dunk a donut into his coffee made him yearn for another round. He left the round metallic table and entered a newborn beach store that served breakfast.
   "Ah...could I have the one with chocolate over it?"
   "Do you mean this one?" She placed her plastic gloved hand inside a display of sugar treats.
    "No...there...the large glazed one. Yes, Yes."
    "Would you like coffee to go with it."
     "Brought my own, but thanks for asking."
    Outside now, the fog began to lift...and his lungs opened up. The salty sea felt good inside his oxygen tank. He took his first of six bites of the chocolate covered treat. A few leashed dogs took interest in his desert but were pulled away by their owners.  Yes the fog had lifted and so too  his spirits. It was eight thirty and the Main Street Library would open at nine. A lady at another table came over. She smiled.
    "Remember me from the Senior Center...and the Dollar Store. Name is Mable."
     "Sure do, can't forget your smile. But you can keep the candy bar...Try not to go to the Center for more than once a week. I feel old there. Other day had a burrito at Sanchez. Wow, did they have a long line.
   She left and George thought about how he had kept Mel alive for now going on Five months at the sea cliff. Mel had told him that an eye doctor had screened him for glasses, but I had warned him about getting his name. My experience is that doctors seldom follow through.
   But seeing Mel every evening had taken its toll. The death bell would sound for him if he kept it up. Now he had to go to U.S.C. and buy a shirt and publicize his book. Schindler was still alive and next month on the 21st of April would celebrate his Centennial birthday.
   George just knew he had to stay alive until the book was published. He also knew it was so good that it would be picked up at every library in the U.S.A.  Shell, Smith, Mena, Robertson had died heading to one hundred.
   He also knew that if he died, fans would forget the Howard Jones class of the late 30's when the Trojans became ranked number one and Schindler had decimated the Tennessee Volunteers on  New Years Day of 1940.
   You can be sure that Schindler had stayed alive to witness the event of the book signing.