Google Famous

Google Famous

By Mathew SerbackArtsBooks
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Google Famous episodes

  • JUDAS SEDUCES JESUS WHILE BATHING NUDE IN THE RIVER STYX

    JUDAS SEDUCES JESUS WHILE BATHING NUDE IN THE RIVER STYX

    Since
    the day I became a man, I repeatedly read the last rites for the boys
    from Duck Island. Every ghost I hear makes the same sound as the boy
    that Mike hit in the chest with a baseball bat for stealing his bike.
    The same noises he made when he curled into the fetal position; knees
    tucked, teeth sucked, begging for his mother. Might as well have been
    orphaned boys. Might as well have been orphaned, boy.


    I
    watched from the corner where the Duck Island boys taught me to
    breakdance. Shitty and shoddy cardboard taped together. A tapestry of
    ill-fitting folds and duct tape. Piecemealed and handcrafted


    like
    our dreams. Just petty boys becoming petty thieves who learn they
    bleed the same blood as any other boy when they get stuck with a
    knife -


    and
    twisted. Lift him airborne. Rolling stone turns to tumbleweed; head
    over heels,


    and
    twisted. The gospel according
    to Michael tells me

    I
    am responsible

    for
    Judas seducing Jesus. He does not tell you

    that
    when Judas pulled at the loose threads of Jesus' loincloth,

    he
    did not have to wait long for the water

    to
    turn into wine, or for Jesus to stroke his head

    and
    tell him everything is going to be

    fine.

    2 min
  • IN THE ABSENCE OF ROCKSTARS

    IN THE ABSENCE OF ROCKSTARS


    when
    losing control, you will find the system failing you too


    comedy
    is tragedy

    when
    the magic makers decide it is better to fake it until you break shit
    and admit it was all weed smoke and prepared lines of coke on vanity
    mirrors the size of cucumbers that
    chick dug
    out of her purse in the bathroom of the party

    she
    got them wholesale
    from
    some CHINESE
    website
    – if
    you
    were interested
    in
    making a purchase


    or
    exchange

    they
    come in handy

    they
    donate to Ukraine


    you
    can see a snake eats its ass whenever you want on the internet

    our
    outlaws have been outlawed

    our
    outcries were nothing

    more
    than a reason to shut the windows and turn the music up


    as
    loud as they wanted

    losers

    our
    rockstars put down their guitars

    and
    replaced them with just
    an
    okay

    computer


    you
    can see a baby smoke weed whenever you want on the internet

    you
    can become a tourist on a cell phone for the rest of your life

    you
    can be afraid


    but
    you probably shouldn't

    finds
    reason to be afraid

    of
    yourself


    2 min
  • YOUR CAKE IS VERSATILE

    YOUR CAKE IS VERSATILE


    Neutral

    oil works better


    when

    trying to get it to bounce.

    Don't

    be afraid,

    sticky

    fingers,

    chase

    the smell of burnt butter

    and

    visions of butter-

    flies.


    I

    get my sugar from the source.

    Two

    taps. Get two taps.
    Love taps, love smacks,

    and

    a twist –

    with

    a split.

    Drizzle.

    Fizzles

    if

    you add too much


    vanilla.

    We

    didn't invent the spices;

    just

    honor them.

    You

    can choose a different flavor -

    chose

    your adventure

    if

    you think you can handle the curves

    in

    the road. You have to be able to handle the curve

    and

    wilt of the flowers

    that

    will die no matter how much you try to prevent it


    every

    winter.

    Powder

    kegs made of deviled eggs

    and

    wine that's been aged.


    In

    other words,

    it's

    either salt in the wound,

    or

    the salt is used

    to

    soothe

    because

    if you mix it up

    enough

    you get used to the way things are handmade.

    Cultured,

    creamed,

    and churned,


    the

    buttermilk

    becomes

    thick silk

    when

    we grab at it with no grace

    and

    no plan for what to do


    with

    our fingers.

    2 min
  • TWO PATHS DIVERGE IN A POEM

    TWO PATHS DIVERGE IN A POEM


    "Too high to riot. That's my best excuse for being lazy."

    -J. Cole


    Man, I
    wish I was good

    with my
    hands.


    Because
    if you aren't good with your hands,

    fam,

    you
    better keep that thing tucked

    as a
    backup plan.


    Drug
    dealer daddy's heavy hands hurt

    when he
    hits me. I should replicate

    that
    madness. I should

    stay
    away.

    Give them
    time. Peddle 'round

    the city
    until they miss me. Until someone else's mother

    shouts
    that it's too late for me

    to be out
    there.


    There are
    only a handful of things you need to build a bicycle from scratch:
    free time, spare cash, and YouTube tutorials. Fathers are considered
    optional,

    at best.


    At the
    indoor amusement park, the boy whose sister's quinceañera I attended
    threatened to jump me for street credit

    I don't
    have -

    he needs
    more than me -

    he needs
    more
    than
    me -

    or more
    than I do.


    Headstrong.

    Dead
    wrong.

    The
    infrared bong leaves my head

    stung.
    Eyes as bloodshot as red

    rum, and
    sends me past outer space, heaven, and into the dimension

    of the
    next ones.


    There is
    no amusement at the amusement park.

    But I was
    good enough with my hands

    that they
    left me alone. Even on the days, everyone said they jumped the other
    white kids. If we had taken better care

    of these
    hands, we wouldn't have all of this

    pain to
    take with our pills after dinner.

    We
    wouldn't have all this pain

    to take
    to the grave.

    2 min
  • RE: NOT EVERY NOISE YOU HEAR IS A GHOST, SIR

    RE: NOT EVERY NOISE YOU HEAR IS A GHOST, SIR


    I used to call even though you wouldn't answer.

    I used to call even though you wouldn't.

    I used to call.

    I used to.


    I used to call even though you wouldn't answer just to hear how you were going to get back to me;

    just to hear how you were going to get back;

    just to hear how you were;

    just to hear how


    I used to.

    1 min
  • DEVIOUS PENIS

    DEVIOUS PENIS
    You are my,
    and you are my intravenous.
    Enter

    Sandman.
    Send me to Venus.
    Darker side of me
    and my tedious
    mood
    swings. Wears me out like
    like
    like
    a mood ring.
    Mood: green.
    Moody blues
    clues excused as obedience.
    Flex
    your previously denied.
    Flex your deprived side-
    eyes.
    I
    flex mine.
    Takes time.
    Feel the burn,
    and wait for my turn
    to tell you
    how you are my,
    and you are my

    1 min
  • How I Imagined You After You Broke Into My Car

    This story originally appeared in The Dime Show Review (https://www.dimeshowreview.com/how-i-imagined-you-after-you-broke-into-my-car-by-mathew-serback/).

    This story is about the connection made between people in unfortunate circumstances.

    4 min

About Google Famous

From the publisher's feed

Mathew Serback reads some short stories he's published and talks about how they were written. If you're a writer who is looking to learn, Mathew does a brilliant job of breaking down the tools in your workshop.