A Star is Gone

“Someone to watch…over…me.” She ends her set with this song, that for her, is a prayer. The applause dies down and she walks backstage. She sits in her dressing room in silence but can hear the crowd laughing in the background. “It must be Joey or Joanie on stage now.” She thinks to herself. That silence though! It overwhelms her and she begins to shake, afraid she will shatter to the ground and disintegrate in a whirl of dust…

An Unexpected Encounter

The actresses and models were always drawn to him. Perhaps they felt he could write a story with them in mind or help cast them in a movie. He didn't fancy himself as good looking - rather he was average looking. If he had not been a successful writer he would not be looked at twice. It didn't bother him at all if anything it empowered him.

An Unexpected Lunch Date

He brought her to an Italian restaurant and ordered a bottle of red wine. It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon, a week away from Christmas so both of their schedules were clear. The restaurant was set up to look like a dimly lit cave somewhere - so there were candles on their table and they were in the back of the room within an encircled section. 

Nurture

Tony was a heavy set kid and was dark skinned. In Brooklyn he had often been mistaken as a spanish kid. It never bothered him since his best friend, Bobby, was from Mexico City and they were often mistaken as brothers. Also, in Brooklyn, it never really mattered whether he was Spanish, Italian or Jewish; he was liked for who he was - Tony.

El Capitan

     Tommy had hoped to experience a whole new world and to be inspired to write a story based on the old man. He had hoped to catch a lot of fish and to find a job in one of the local papers. Instead he became ensnared by the fishing and the smell of the early morning sea. It wasn't long before he was able to rent his own apartment on the other side of the marina.

Two Strangers

“That’s a lot of luggage to bring into a marriage.” “As if it’s not tough as it is.” She said. “What are you going to tell her?” “I am going to tell her to make a decision based on what she feels. If she is scared at any time when she is with him - that is a bad thing. Couples should feel safe when they are together.” “So why don't you just tell her not to marry him?” “Because it’s her decision to make. If I tell her to do something it's my decision. She needs to understand that whatever direction she is going to choose in life, she has to own it.”

Infidels

Marie was a gypsy eyed, dark skinned woman with a cropped black hair style and lips filled with her venom. She had that way of looking at me which made me feel exposed and revealed. No one had ever put that spell over me as she did.

Blood Oath

He didn't consider himself a cannibal. The fact that he enjoyed the taste of the blood left on his weapon of choice after an assault of his latest victim, didn't seem to be cannibal like, but more blood thirst. So when Denise asked him what kind of food he liked, he simply said, “hand made food.”

Dream Come True

These past years have been financially and mentally exhausting - fodder for my stories is the reason I feel I have been thrust through the tunnel of failure over and over.  I walk into the restaurant and I catch a glimpse of her smiling. Nothing as beautiful to me in the world than her smile. 

The Rain in Juarez

We started off drinking some burgundy from a bota bag and then moved on to partake in the bottles of tequila, homemade, that were being passed around. There was a table beneath the overpass with local homemade food which the ladies brought in trays. We kept on dancing as long as the band kept on playing. The tequila made me dizzy so I drank some more which brought some equilibrium - the rain subsided and the clouds parted to reveal and hot sun. The band began to play a familiar tune, to me at least, and we stood aside and watched as some locals performed a dance they must have danced a thousand times.

The Power of Hatred

I would not compare Hitler to Trump - simply because I do not consider Trump a mass murderer. I consider him someone who has lived in the elitist society for so long that he has lost all sense of what normal society is. I consider him the basis for the quote, "He was born on third base but acts as if he hit a triple." Trump sees something he wants and will do whatever it takes, hurt anyone along the way to get that prize. "The ends justify the means," is his mantra.

The Fainting Boy

"Freddy? are you ok?" He opened his eyes to find himself on the floor being prodded awake by his teacher. "Its so hot out here, we shouldn't have these kids outside. Get me water please." Someone put something wet on the back of his neck, another person was fanning him and then someone put a plastic cup of water to his lips.