Lincoln by Gore Vidal 8min @ LaGuardia Airport, November 2 2012 It is a hard name to live with. It is hard to be the man at fourteen. So much resting on such slight shoulders. He was waiting for his growth spurt. His father had been a tall man – the whole line of men on his paternal side were supposedly giants. But he was a David. Literally. David Lincoln aged fourteen, the sole male Read more
overheard on the Q60 8 min @ the midtown Hilton, NYC November 1 2012 She is the queen of 60. She reigns the only Queens bus that takes you all the way to Manhattan. She’s actually 55. No sleuthing necessary as she grills the young South Asian on her way to the mall. “How old are you?” She lobs the four words gently, smiling all the while. The girl does that side to side look Read more
The White Witch of Rosehall by H.G. de LIsser 8 min Oct. 29/12 in Aunty’s kitchen, Jamaica Queens Dangerous beauty was a drug he couldn’t resist. True he’d had a lot of wives and mistresses, even a few mistresses who were other people’s wives. But she was different. He knew it couldn’t last long. He knew he should stay away. He had common sense about most things, but these were extraordinary circumstances. No this was Read more
Just Kids by Patti Smith 8 min in Central Park, NYC Shut up, shut up, shut up. Shut. Up. Too late, I can see the hurt before I’ve even shut my mouth. Even though your eyes are unflinching, it’s like looking at a fresh wound as life oozes out. I opened my mouth and the words flew the coop. They’re out there in the world, masquerading with the white noise of the cappuccino machine and Read more
by Pema Chodron 8 min @ the Pick Me Up Cafe, L.E.S. Lena loved a good sale. What made a sale good? Start with a few simple words; closing, sample, up to 75% off. That was a good start. Lena hyperventilated thinking about the coup she made at the outlet mall in Italy, Moschino- Dolce & Gabbana – Bluemarine. Oh my fucking swoon. That had been a great bonus vacation. It might sound trite but Read more
In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner 8 min @ the dining table It feels like I’m in a Dicken’s novel. Or one by the two sisters who wrote about the brooding men on the heath. Don’t know what the frick a heath is but my gran loved reading those books. It’s romantic standing on the train platform this early with no one around. I can see my breath and imagine my cheeks Read more
The Chaperoneby Laura Moriarty 8 min @ the dining table “Hey.” “Hey.” She sounded bright and expectant. He nodded to invisible music. He was still stunned that he had actually called her name out. Loud enough that she heard. And that she stopped. She even smiled and turned back. The hall was deserted. This was happening. He was not prepared. “Hey.” She had picked up the rhythm of his head bop and harmonized with little Read more
The Sense of an Endingby Ann Patchett, Vogue, Sept 2012 8 min @ Kalendar Restaurant “No, I haven’t done it. I suck at breaking up! I’m a six year old emotionally. I can’t ever pull the trigger because I don’t want to be the bad guy. I hate being hated. It sucks being a people pleaser… What? I know, they just hate me more because I act out and screw around and make them be Read more