I. the runt

norm was born under 4th st, in the sewer, eleventh of eleven. the smallest. his brothers squeaked at everything: a cat, a broom, a car, a red candle glowing on somebody's phone through the grate. they ran. norm didn't. not because he was brave. he just didn't react.

II. the bar

one winter night somebody threw a rusted barbell into the alley behind the gym on 4th st. twenty kilos of iron and one bent plate. norm found it at 3:33 am. he could not lift it. he came back the next night, and the one after. one rep. then two. nobody was counting, so he counted himself. he never skipped a day. leg day is every day.

III. the lamp

years later, what climbed out of the manhole was six foot four of rat. 260 lbs. jeans. a belt from the lost and found. he found the lamp on 4th st, the one that works sometimes, and stood under it. he has been standing there ever since.

IV. the things that fall

the city tried to make him react. it dropped things on him: cheese, a television, a sofa, a grandfather clock, a covered car once. everything bounced off his head and rolled into the gutter. he did not react. somebody printed MISSING posters. he was not missing. he was right there.

V. the chart

then somebody found the one thing that moves him: a buy. every buy on the chart, norm does one rep. sells? he does not react to sells. dumps, fud, red candles: the bar keeps going up, as long as somebody buys.

VI. the town

a town grew around his lamp. a corner store that tells you how to buy. a studio that takes his picture. a room full of memes about him. a gym where the chart hangs on the wall and he lifts it, one buy at a time. norm owns a pair of jeans and a belt. he has never posted. he has never replied. he is not your financial advisor. he is norm.