….why paisley???

courtesy of friday 5 at poefusion….

“aint no such thing
as the calm of the evenin’
an that quiet you hear
is a trick..”
as the words disappear
and the sirens set to screamin’
they splinter the silence
right quick..

on the corner, the new crop
the young ‘gits is slangin’
they dope or they bitches
or both..
as they mamas light votive’s
and pray the gods have forgiven
their freshly dead son’s
bloody oath..

as neighborhoods molder
under trash and addiction
punctuated by a bullets
loud pop..
we busy ourselves
with designer distractions
going green,, and how local
we shop….

photo:

http://mchasesteely.deviantart.com/art/Resident-of-the-3rd-Ward-2-61961954

did she call out your name in dulcet tones
and tell you that she loved you?
did she follow you into the streets
in the dark of the night,,
so you wouldn’t have to be alone?

did she hold you so close
that you forgot to breathe?
or did she suck you in
and steal your life,,
that night you joined the ghosts?

did she assume her place
in the sequence of your life?
or did you disappear into her
as you grafted her into your vein,,
and succumbed to her everlasting embrace?

as you suckled her breast did it ever occur
that you would die before you were calved?
that you would never grow old
that you would draw your last breath,,
but never exhale her sweet scented myrrh?

when at last the two of you became, fatally entwined
did she then reveal her true self to you?
and as you looked upon her that first time
was she in fact your beloved dulcinea,,
or a cold, dead, skeletal rind?

photo:

http://vurian.deviantart.com/art/Behind-the-mask-44655192

[Fiction] Friday Challenge for November, 2 2007:
Have a character explain an odd hobby they practice.

this is an ongoing story,, you can find it in its entirety,,, here…

silence XIV

weren’t long till baby sister was with child,, her and lloyd they sure wanted them a girl,, with the house full o boys it was time for a change,, when they had her,, they named her mae pearl

she was a beautiful child,, like their lost sister,, with her yella hair and cheeks all aglow,, she cuddled and cooed and n’er left off a cry,, was the darlin’ of all that she know’d

silence thrilled with the prospect of girl things,, soon got busy a making her toys,, outta old wore out socks and some corn husks,, she made dolls ,, as she shew’d off the boys

they weren’t to be put off so easy,, they was a wantin’ to make dolls of their own,, silence taught em with patience to turn ‘em and tie em,, and the socks she herself took to sew’n

one night as they turned and they twisted,, baby girl rocked little mae pearl of to sleep and she told the boys a story she heard in childhood,, scared em so they could nar go to sleep

she told ‘em fore she was even a baby,, granny silence had another boy child,, he died at the hand of an old crazy woman,, and the loss well it had made silence go wild

she twisted and turned her some dollies,, she took ‘em and a candle for flame,, and burnt down that old womans house while she slept,, but no one knows if she was really to blame

so be careful she told them boy children,, cause no matter how kind your granny might seem she could be a cold blooded killer,, and come after you some night as you dream….

if they believed baby girls tale they never said so,, but they took to mindin’ silence,, sure enough… for they was taking no chances,, and never did know,, if baby sister was just a callin’ their bluff….

This Week’s Challenge

What happens when a character, while cleaning out a house before moving out, finds a roll of film?

******************************************

everything of importance had already been loaded on the moving truck.. the remainder was inconsequential,, if not outright trash… there was a sense of beginning,, but also a great feeling of loss, of emptiness in the house..

janine sat on the steps and wondered where to begin.. the house had been sold.. to a lovely young couple,, the brewsters,, stan and mary.. they had a son,, jamie and a cat,, maize,, she had never met,, but was sure would take great pleasure in the sun streaming across the window seats every afternoon as it was accustomed to doing…

the living areas of the house had already been emptied, and cleaned to her satisfaction,, it was only the attic rooms and the basement that needed the final once over before she would say her last goodbyes to her house…

the only house she had ever lived in as an adult.. the house she and brian had come home from hawaii to after their honeymoon.. the house that had welcomed both of their children into its warm embrace,, the day after they were born..

yes,, this house has seen its share of life. her life.. her life with brian.. their life with the children.. and then her life without brian,, when it was just her and her boys,, struggling through it the best they could. yes indeed if walls could talk the brewsters would be engaged in some heady conversation for years to come….

she donned a roll of heavy weight black trash bags,, a broom and a dust pan,, and a wet towel,, and headed up to the attic.. as she flicked on the light,, she thought of all the times she had climbed these stairs,, to store away clothing the boys had out grown,, or were yet to grow into.. to hide christmas presents,, so that santa could deliver them in the deepest darkest depths of their slumber on a christmas eve…

to find solace in the smell of brians clothes,, to read thru his journals.. to wrap herself in his memory,, after he was gone.. here she could hold him close and tell him it was ok.. and they would be alright.. tho never the same without him.. here she could cradle his memory.. relive her memories of him,, before he was taken by her,, his dark mistress… before he chose the pursuit of her over everything that this house stood for,, everything they had built together,, everything he ever loved….

in some ways there was more history in this attic than she had ever given it credit for, she thought,, as she opened the built in cupboards,, making sure all of them had been properly emptied,, and methodically wiping off any reminiscence of life…

she worked her way clockwise around the room which was her cleaning style.. that way she could do it more or less mindlessly,, and be assured nothing had been missed..

she entered the big walk in closet and saw a few straggling wire coat hangars,, plenty of dust balls and a rumpled paper grocery bag.. she swept up the dust balls first,, stuffed the hangars in the grocery bag,, so that they wouldn’t tear thru the trash bag on her way out of the house and thus create just another mess to be cleaned up.. and for what ever reason she raised the broom and ran it over the course of the shelf to make sure there was nothing left behind.. to her surprise,, it dislodged a black and gold kodak film canister,, and tossed it not only off the shelf,, but well across the room….

janine concluded her work on the closet,, all the while wondering what could possibly be on that film,, a mystery for sure,, she couldn’t recall ever having misplaced a roll of film..

they had taken so many pictures over the years,, and she hadn’t always been as faithful as she would have like to at putting them together into album’s.. although she did spend a lot of time after brians death,, delving thru pictures,, recreating life.. branding the memory of the good times indelibly on her heart… organizing the story of their love for the boys,, so that when they were old enough to really know and understand their father,, she would have it all there,, a time capsule of the love of her life,, and the father they had never really known…

the possibilities were endless..

as she worked her way around the room sweeping the floor as she went,, she finally made it over to the spot where the canister had come to rest… she lifted it and snapped off the lid,, realizing full well nothing could be told from the out side of the roll of film but curious non the less.. she tipped the canister,, and  into her hand dropped two small squares of waxed paper,, each with a tiny rainbow stamped on the flat surface..

heroin…

brians dark mistress.. in the end his one true love… she thought just then,, how it was true,, he had left everything he loved behind in this house… everything…

this is an on going story,, you can find it in its entirety, here….

this weeks prompt: Give a virtuous character a sordid past.

silence XII

tho’ silence worked day and night, with no sound to be heard, she was quickly becoming home sick,, baby asked her to stay,, please complete all the tests”,, “no one ever said i’d ever come quick.”

so silence agreed and she settled in,, to do in what ever the dr watson advised,, but back of her mind,, she was fast losing faith,, if this worked she would sure be surprised…

while silence was busy with the dr every day,, baby girl,, took to lookin’ for work,, she wasn’t one to sit idle, for days at a time,, so she took a job as bank clerk…

he was a fine lookin’ man,, tall and straight as they come,, he worked at the local dry goods store,, he never did give a second look or a nod,, to the new teller they called “elenore”…

yes,, baby sister had done it,, gone and took her a name,, as she just couldn’t bring her self to say,,” hi my name is baby,, but you can call me girl”,, just didn’t sound right in the city some way….

she had taken a pen name some time, while back, ‘fore her first story got bought,, and so she took to callin’ her self what she wrote on that story,, elenore mccurdy watt…

friday finally come around,, and in walked that tall, good lookin’ man with his pay,, and elenore made sure,, that she sat in the window,, where he would most likely do his biddin’ that day..

he came in and he said “i would like to deposit, my money in this here account”,, “well sure you would, mr.. um er what did ya say was yer name???” “lloyd,,” he said,, “loyd mount…”

so there it was,, she had made his aquaintence,, and she now didnt feel so much out of place,, when she entered the dry goods and invited him to meet her for coffee, over at katies place…

he said he got off at 5:30,, but if she was a willin’ to wait,, he’d sure like to have coffee and maybe a bite,, and set and talk awhile,, if she wouldnt mind,, later on tonight..

the timing was perfect, as baby,, or, elenore,, had silence to fetch and to tell,, that she found a man name a lloyd,, and in city words,, boy he sure was swell…

silence was happy for baby,, yet all this testin’ and studin’ had took a toll,, she was more than happy to rest,, in her room with a sandwich,, and early hit her bedroll..

baby dressed and was waiting at 5:30,, and very soon out the door come himself,, she said she was happy to see him,,, he said,, “and you look pretty good yerself…”

they had a good laugh about that one,, all the way thru the main street of town,, by the time they arrived over to katies place,, it was clear,, “baby’s man had finally come ’round.”

it was after they had finished their dinner,, yes he bought her the hot plate and all,, as they walked back to the hotel,, he somethin’ to tell her,, that he wanted her to know above all..

he’d been up to the work house in the captal,, he was there for ten year,, he killed a man.. that man had raped his mother and killed his sister,, he saw red,, and had took the law in his own hand…

said he wanted to have it out in the open,, he hoped ellie would please understand,, he was born in the hills and was raised to believe,, eye for an eye,, man for a man…

ellie teared up,, couldnt speak for a moment,, said “no it’s you who should understand,, we are mountain born people,, and if you handn’t done what you did,, it is that,,, i would never understand…”

when they did explain it all to silence,, she understood,, as she had been there first han’,, silence smiled with much more than understandin’,, and welcomed him to her fast growin’ clan…

when they told her they was married,, silence heared ‘em,, she heard the love she could see in their eyes,, sure thats why they had come to the city,, and learnin’ talking was just a clever disguise….

this is an ongoing story,, you may read it in its entirety here…

this weeks prompt: Pick an unusual phobia and explain why a character has it.

silence XI

with the sun the train roared into the station, puffin’ smoke and the clangin’ a bells, sister awoke to see silence still just all takin’ in by the new sights,, and city folk smells.

as they wandered on to the platform, not quite sure what they ought to do next,, they spied a little man in wire rim spectacles,, with a note card he held across his chest..

it said “silence jane mccurdy”,, yes,, in truth thats silence’s given name,, silence spied it right off,, and sister waved a hand,, as if to say “here we are” and his attention to claim…

the little man,, bowed at the waist ever graciously,, with one hand still a holdin’ the sign,, the other was holdin’ a handkerchief over his mouth and his nose combine…

“let us get out of this filthy place,” he mumbled,, and started walkin’,, “my office is just across town”,, and tho they couldn’t see it you could tell from his tone,, on his mouth it was sure he wore a frown…

silence linked her arm up in sisters,, and follow quickly behind him they did,, thru the dust covered streets of old ft mcraine,, like a couple of gangly school kids

they saw the shingle proudly displayed on the door post,, dr elmer o’hara watson,, Otolaryngologist,, they looked puzzled from one to the other,, even tho they thought they had the gist…

he had them sit in two wood chairs, in a vestibule right inside of the door,, as he washed his hands and his face,, “here freshen up the two of you”, when he was finished,, he did emphatically implore..

he babbled on about the vast number of germs, they were sure to have come in contact with, he placed out fresh soap and towels,,”wash well,, remove them all,, then come and sit forthwith….”

as they washed,, he wiped down chairs and tables,, with yet another hanky over his face,, then sat down behind his desk,, said nothing and smiled,, and crossed his legs with a fine ladies grace..

how strange indeed was this dr ,, silence looked on amazed at baby girl,, and the two afraid to sit back down, just stood there,, till his much needed explanation he did unfurl…

“my mother she died of the typhoid,, passed thru the soup at a small luncheonette,, and i am ever weary of germs,, i can’t help it,, i am sorry if i have made you fret…”

“i realize it is quite an obsession,, and of that i assure you i am not proud,, but we are not here to talk about me,, but rather to surmise,, if uhm,, yes, silence,, will ever speak aloud….”

he looked expectantly first, at baby sister,, as if he intended her to speak for her mother,, but silence had already took to writin’ her own words on one page then another…

she explained she had been like this since her birth, never knowed no other way,, her girl had learned her readin’ and writin’,, but what brung her a way out here today

was the fact that one night some time back,, when a rockin’ her fretful grand child,, she feeled a rumble come up from inside a her throat,, and baby girls curiosity got riled

she was sure if silence could make that hummin’ sound,, there was words in there yet to be said,, and no one in the house would rest,, till they put that notion a hers to bed…

she wrote and wrote till she had filled,, five pages at least,, to be sure,, dr watson, reached out his gloved hand,, and smiled,, knowingly,, her trust he had hoped to insure

he patiently read her solumn words of hope,, he felt by them quite encouraged,, as when her heard it was hill folk a commin’,, in a word,, he had been quite discouraged…

he hadn’t pictured this strong willed young woman,, with her mother here by her side,, he hadn’t expected them to come a callin’,, heads held high with pride..

what he had pictured them to be ,, they weren’t,, they were not dumb,, not backward,, not slow,, he had a feeling he would learn from them,, many things even he did not know…

if he thought he she would speak,, he never said so,, but they could tell by the gleam in his eye,, that dr elmer ohara watson,, was going to give it the ‘old college try’……

this is an ongoing story… it can be read in its entirety here...

A character gets three wishes…

silence X

the train ride was quite something for silence,, as nothing like it had she ever done,, as the train rolled down the tracks,, her face pressed to the glass,, as she peered into the now setting sun…

baby sister she thought a mile a minute,, about what this would mean if they could, help silence to speak, just a little bit,, crossed her fingers and knocked hard on wood….

if she could have three wishes,, this was the first of ‘em, to hear her own mother speak her name,, if there is a god, pretty sure there ain’t one,,, but if there was she would call him by name…

she’d say “god if i could just have three wishes,, the first bein’,, that momma could speak,, the second i guess would be a man to love me, alone,, and last but not least a job writing every week…

as she settled into her seat for the long ride,, her momma’s face to the window,, yes still,, she thought “god if you’re there could you do somethin’ ?? and if ya do i’ll believe,, promise i will…”

she laid back her head and took to dreamin’,, about talking and laughin’ with her ma’,, about being held by a man with love for her in his heart,, and having stories she wrote,, read with awe…

yes indeed this was the first step in a lot of things,, this train ride into the setting sun,, she’d knocked wood and she’d prayed and lord willing some way,, they’d come true her three wishes,,, well maybe one……

if they could hear what she was thinkin’,, they never said so,, all them folks on that city bound train,, but silence and baby girl was off into the night and neither’s life would ever be the same….

this is an ongoing story. it can be found, in it’s entirety, here…..

This Week’s Theme: Pick an adult character (it can be a new character, an established character, or even a famous character from fiction) and write a scene where the character demonstrates one of the following child-like habits. Constantly twists hair around finger. l’il henry he growed up to be a fine man, he was broad, and he was handsome, and he was strong.. he didn’t get off a the farm much,, but when he did,, it didn’t take him long… to find him a little girl,, name a cherry,, she was small and kinda plump,, peach colored hair.. she was younger than baby girl, but still old enough,, so he asked her daddy, preacher married ‘em right there… he brung her home, for the first time, meet his kin folks.. she never see’d a deaf woman ‘fore, so she just stare.. she smiled nice enough,, but was caught without a word,, just a stood there a twistin’ on her hair.. silence knowed what it was, so she took the slate board, and the biggest piece a chalk she could find, and she wrote her a note,, to set her mind at ease,, and from then on they got on real fine… come the night time silence knowed, what was a comin’, though she wanted not to think ’bout it a’tall,, was the same thing happened to her,, many a moon ago,, when she wasn’t but a girl,, just that small… how she wanted to tell the story.. of her first night to henry’s, cherry,, just to let her know i’d be alright.. but she thought twice and she stayed silent,, about what happened,, to her on her own weddin’ night…. as the sun set,, one by one they went to sleepin,, strung a blanket round the big bed for henry and his new wife… silence couldn’t sleep a lick for all the wonderin’.. and baby girl and brother john,, was just too nosey to sleep that night… they heard henry tellin’ the girl, that he loved her,, that he’d make her proud,, and if she could just be patient and hang on,, she could learn to love him too, weren’t no rush now,, and by the end of night,, it was more than her heart he’d won… silence closed her eyes, and spoke to henry, her dead husband gone but not forgotten, nar a day.. she let him know that his boy had took him a wife now,, and brung her home to join the family this same day… soon,,, the night come and they was a sitting down to supper.. everyone was there,, even baby girl,, and henry cleared his throat and start to speakin’,, cherry sit there all a pink cheeked,, a twistin on her curl… henry said, “we’s gonna have us a baby. come the spring time, be another mouth to feed”,, brother john rocked his arms and mouthed out baby,, an’ silence understood,, baby was one thing she didn’t need to read…. she hopped up from her seat and commenced to dancin’,, one by one the whole family joined in,, was a night to be remembered and it was meant to be shared,, after all soon they’d be a birthin’ new kin…. as the snow melted slow off the mountain,, the day come and the pains they began,, brother john he went to town to fetch cherry’s momma.. by now at birthin’,, silence was an was ol’ hand… cherry birthed henry a son,, and as her momma wrapped him,, she lay there quiet,, just a twiddlin’ her hair,, but the pains they come back with a vengeance.. ‘for long they had ‘em ‘nother boy baby there!!!! if they spoke a the twins birth, she never heared ‘em,, but that never seemed to hinder her joy.. as she passed round a note to all who come a lookin’,, sayin,, “damn right, them’s my two gran-boys!!!!!!!”
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this is an ongoing story, the previous chapters can be found here……

This Week’s Theme: This Week’s Theme: Use as many of the following 25 words as you can. barge flare harsh ordinary sore bore floor hoard rare torch carve folklore lair scorn tore fare gorge lord snare unicorn flair hare marvelous soar warn baby girl took to spendin’ time down the mountain,, with the chil’ren born to ms. edna and mr. george, they had eight kids and never noticed how many et there,, and baby girl on ms. ednas butter cookies, herself would gorge… for silence had no extra money or time for cookies, tho’ there was food, and they pert near never had to starve.. she served up hot soup, biscuits,, corn and taters,, here and there they had a bird or pig to carve.. weren’t just the food that drew the girl, to george and edna,, t’was the stories mr. george would tell, he called folklore.. since silence had heared no such stories,, an couldn’t tell ‘em,, to the little girl, her home an momma, b’come a bore… she dreamed of livin’ in the world, as mr. george colored it,, full of pretty ladies an’ handsome men, they called ‘em lords,, they was rich folks, born to much and lived in plenty.. while the poor folks lived below ‘em in angry hoard’s… he spoke of white knights and ladies dressed in silk and satin,, ’nuff to set a poor girls head and heart to soar.. far above her lowly mountain, and the hill folk,, far away from their sooty fires and plain wood floors… these handsome men,, they was always saving someone,, from an evil prince, or a dragon, in his lair.. and they won every battle they found there self in, with downright cunning and pure dramatic flair… silence knowed that it was time for her girl chile,, to go off to school and get book learnin’,, she had the thirst, for things that silence couldn’t give her,, so down the mountain, off to school she went.. she was the first… from the start,, she had a love for all things words, and took to writin’.. for short stories and tall tales, she had a flare,, she had learned to love the art of story tellin’.. thank the georges,, for the sweets and stories they telled down there… older she grew,, she spent more time,, down the mountain.. in the school, reading books, and writin’ fare,, time came soon that she wasn’t home in time for supper,, to see her there for the sun down,, was getting’ rare…. one night she strode in well after dark time,,, silence a pacin’, worried ‘bout her girl alone, at night, out in the cold… but in her hand, her girl chile held a crisp 10 dollars,, from a story,, to a magazine she had sold…. it was then that silence learned that words was power.. they meant somethin’ more in this world than she had ever knowed,, and she sat down with baby girl, now turned young woman,, to teach her words,, because you never are too old…. soon come the day that silence saw words in the letters,, and the words they meaned all the things she couldn’t say,, all her life she had lived,, inside her silence,, she had never knowed there was any other way… if they spoke of her now, tho’ she couldn’t hear ‘em,, baby girl could write it down for her to see.. from then on she was aware,, and a whole new world had opened up,, comin’ alive,, as if just for her to see….
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this is an on going story,, the full text can be viewed here…

This Week’s Theme: Be the Bard. Make up your own word and use it. Shakespeare did it often with words like champion, cold-blooded, eyeball, moonbeam, obscene, and skim milk–now’s your chance. V now brother john, was just a bucket full a mischief, he weren’t like henry, he was always into somethin’ he shouldn’t be,, never did pay no mind to his brothers wailin’,, he’d just call back.. “yep…that’s jus’ why you isn’t me!” he was short and he was thick, like a li’l tree stump.. don’t know where he got his size from,, not silence’ kin.. he wore his heart on his sleeve,, anybody teased him,, got his lip cracked,, or swift kick in his shin… he didn’t take no lather, from the school boys, when they walked past him,, as he was workin’in the fields ever morn’.. he’d kick the spit out any one that come a asking,, and he was always just a tootin’ his own horn… one summer night,, as the sun set on the mountain.. he stealed away to the hayloft all alone,, smokin’ corn silk cause he could’t git no tabaccy, watching the sunset,, smokin’ his pipe,, here, he was a man, all on his own… baby girl she stole up on him,, and climbed in silence,, the wooden ladder that their daddy made ‘em so long ago,, ‘for she was born, back when she was nothin’ but a twinkel,, she stood down a rung,, so he couldn’t see her tho…. she seen him smokin’,, tho he knowed henry would wup him,, he didn’t care “it didn’t hurt” or so he’d said, didn’t care if he went to bed without no supper,, he was a tough one,, her brother john,, head, hard as lead…. she never said a word, ’bout be’in up there,, she didn’t want anyone to know, she’d she’d found his perch, she dug around some and found his old pipe and some dry cornsilk,, in a fish tin under a hymn book,, he stole from the church… not a firestick to be found, then she remembered.. brother john brung the lantern from the milk stall in the barn,, she climbed back down,, and left off her smokin’,, for the time be’in,, for if he caught her,, she knowed for sure shed get a tarin’.. next day, they was up, with the sunrise, boys off to the fields,, or so she thought,, momma washin’ up the dishes in the kitchen, she lit a spike, and took it with her,, was the lantern that she sought… as she stepped into the barn,, henrys old cat name a yeller’,, jumped down from the loft just a grazin’ her head…. she dropped the fire,, an the hay it took to burnin’… she got scared, run in the house,, hid under the bed… it was a slow wind,, but it was steady,, blowin’ thru the kitchen… silence smelt fire and ran quickly to the door,, she grabbed the shot gun.. got off two shots to let the boys know.. boys they,, heard her signal,, smelled the smoke,, took to a run… they ran right for the trough,, start throwin’ water.. silence grabbed brother johns shirt near yanked it off . she made a signal with her hand wavin’,, ’bout waist high,, boys knowed,, she thought the little one,, was a burnin’ with the hay stack.. brother john he throwed himself into the water ,, he soaked his self from the sole of his feet to the top his tow white head,, and run hell bound into the barn,, fear be damned,, he never knowed his li’l sister was under the bed…. when her “wannano“ finally got the better of her ,, she slipped out and stood in the front room by the door.. watchin’ silence and henry tryin’ to oust the fire,, till brother john, full in flames, screamed out that barn door.. both silence and henry grabbed a hold of ‘em,, threw him head first into the water,, held him down,, till he come up gaspin’ for air and spied his sister,, in the front door,, just a lookin’ at the ground… his first thought was to tan her,, for the fright he’d had,, but his second was how glad he was to see her there,, silence, henry ,and brother john ,, they runned up on her,, all of ‘em cryin’ and kissin’ her red curly hair…. they lost the barn,, all the hay and most the plow tools.. but in hind sight,, it weren’t nothin’,, no one cared.. they had their girl,, that god in heaven,, couldn’t get him this one.. she was safe now,, and she was gonna stay safe,, right there…. if they talked about the fire,, she never heared em,, tho they spoke of it a lot,, she was unaware,, the tellin’ of her boy john,, not fearin’ death, at the flames hand,, just got taller,, ever time that it was shared…..
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