Summary of "Dave Mowers: The Burning of Atlanta"

Introduction

In the captivating episode titled "The Burning of Atlanta," featured on The Moth podcast, storyteller Dave Mowers recounts a tumultuous experience during his temporary employment at the Neuropsychiatric Surgery Unit of the Emory University Children's Hospital. Recorded live at The Moth main stage in 2003, this narrative delves deep into themes of deception, addiction, and unforeseen consequences, all intertwined with a fiery climax that forever changed Dave's life.

Background: Struggling with Addiction

Dave begins by painting a vivid picture of his life leading up to the job at Emory University. He confesses, “[06:45] I had this job for a year before that, which I rode around in a van in Florida. And it left me with nothing. No money, no skills, nothing but a habit. I called it my two by twelve habit. Two packs of cigarettes and twelve ounces of vodka every day.” This admission sets the stage for understanding his desperation and the lengths he would go to secure employment, even if it meant landing a job for which he was utterly unqualified.

Landing the Temp Job: A Web of Lies

Despite lacking the necessary skills, Dave somehow convinced the hospital to hire him by fabricating his qualifications. “[04:30] I somehow managed to convince them that I typed 80 words per minute and that I knew how to use WordPerfect.” Upon meeting his formidable boss, Livonia, Dave’s facade begins to crumble. Describing Livonia, he notes, “[05:15] She was this huge, enormous black woman, you know, and she was put together. I mean, this girl was done.” Her authoritative presence and unwavering standards quickly expose Dave’s deceit, especially when she confronts him about smelling like smoke: “[07:10] ‘Why do you smell like smoke?’ And I said, oh, my roommate's a chain smoker.”

The Descent: Struggling to Keep Up

As days pass, Dave’s inability to perform his duties becomes evident. His attempts to learn basic computer commands, such as "save" and "open," are fraught with anxiety and ineptitude. “[09:20] It was like, you have no money. You have no skills. You have no job.” This internal struggle is compounded by his addiction, leading him to seek solace in smoking even during work hours—a risky move that would have dire consequences.

Climactic Chaos: The Fire Incident

The tension reaches its peak when, overwhelmed by stress and fueled by addiction, Dave inadvertently sparks a fire in the office. “[10:45] I started to pull it together a little bit...and that's when I smelled this little acrid puff of chemical smoke.” Panic ensues as the fire alarm triggers, and the sprinklers activate, yet the fire remains stubbornly resilient. In a desperate bid to extinguish the flames, Dave resorts to pouring vodka on the fire, resulting in a dramatic and surreal scene: “[11:30] So I'm now looking at this flaming basket while the rain pours down.”

Unexpected Resolution: A Fireman's Intervention

Just as chaos seems insurmountable, a miraculous intervention occurs. A fireman named Bruce arrives, coincidentally sharing Dave’s first name. “[12:10] And he says, ‘What a coincidence. That's my name, too.’” Bruce not only helps extinguish the fire but also offers Dave assistance, including transporting him to the firehouse to file a report. Their ensuing dinner date, however, reveals the fragile nature of their brief connection: “[12:50] He said his day off was the following Tuesday. And he really did take me out to dinner...I maintained this illusion the whole time that my name was, in fact, Bruce.”

Conclusion: Reflections on Deception and Consequences

Dave concludes his story with a poignant realization of the precariousness of his deceit. His final interaction with Bruce underscores the complexities of his situation: “[12:55] And he said, ‘I could never seriously date a smoker.’” This rejection serves as a catalyst for Dave to reflect on the unsustainable nature of his fabrications and the inevitable unraveling of his lies. The narrative leaves listeners contemplating the intricate dance between truth and deception, and the unforeseen repercussions that arise when one attempts to manipulate reality to fit their desperate needs.

Notable Quotes

• “[06:45] I had this job for a year before that, which I rode around in a van in Florida. And it left me with nothing. No money, no skills, nothing but a habit. I called it my two by twelve habit. Two packs of cigarettes and twelve ounces of vodka every day.”

• “[04:30] I somehow managed to convince them that I typed 80 words per minute and that I knew how to use WordPerfect.”

• “[07:10] ‘Why do you smell like smoke?’ And I said, oh, my roommate's a chain smoker.”

• “[10:45] I started to pull it together a little bit...and that's when I smelled this little acrid puff of chemical smoke.”

• “[12:10] And he says, ‘What a coincidence. That's my name, too.’”

• “[12:55] And he said, ‘I could never seriously date a smoker.’”

Final Thoughts

Dave Mowers' story is a masterful blend of humor, tension, and raw honesty. Through his recounting, listeners are invited into a world where desperation leads to a cascade of unfortunate events, ultimately highlighting the human capacity for both error and redemption. This episode serves as a compelling reminder of the fragility of our constructed identities and the unpredictable nature of life's challenges.