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Open Poetry #25
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Lookin' for Jake and a beer
| Open Poetry #25 |
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Lookin' for Jake and a beer |
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Duncan Member Ascendant
since 2001-08-07
Posts 5455 |
I always did seem to walk into the damnedest situations at Iambe’s, when I was only lookin’ for Jake and a beer. Made me wonder, every time what I’d been thinkin’, leavin’ the river. When I pulled up and saw Dillon dancing on the porch, I just smiled and enjoyed the view, until the sound of wood splintering echoed through the house. I started, Dillon didn’t miss a beat, then or in the silence that followed. Quickly as it’d fallen, the stillness broke, screen door flew open and someone flew out. Konrad? Couldn’t be. Hell, Konnie never moved that fast in his life. Just never was in a hurry to get anywhere, I guess. But today, well, he sure seemed to be movin’ for all he was worth. I couldn’t help but wonder whether the ghosts were ahead or behind. Konnie out of sight, I noticed a man still holding the screen door open, but didn’t recognize the face. From the look of the old truck parked in front he was most likely in need of some temporary fix, just to get her back on the road. Not sensing it smart yet to go in, I lit a cigarette, turned the radio on low and waited to see if anyone else came runnin’ through the door. Dillon had moved to the porch swing, and all was quiet again. But something wasn’t right, some force had shifted in the universe and a chill went through me as a sudden low rumble shook overhead. I closed my eyes, reflexively and waited for the flash. I opened them just in time to see the old truck pulling slowly onto the road, and the man who’d held the screen door, driving. He nodded his head in absent greeting, as he passed. It was several seconds before I placed the face. …….. Iambe had passed out on the porch swing one night that summer, an old crumpled picture in one hand, bottle of Scary Smooth in the other. It had been my misfortune to walk onto her porch the next morning. I didn’t see her, asleep on the swing, didn’t even sense her presence. I stepped, a board creaked and she was on me like mad on the hatter. That stinkin’ booze drenching us both as she swung the bottle towards my head. I ducked and she fell, the momentum of her swing, taking her down. All Jake saw as he walked, still half asleep through the front door, was Iambe fall and my stupid ass, laughing at her. As his fist approached my face, I swear, she was smiling. Even down, she always won. Even if a man wasn’t in love with her, if he’d looked into her eyes, just once, he knew losing wasn’t so bad, sometimes. When it was Iambe who won, everyone was happy. Sitting there where I’d fallen and still a bit uncertain why I’d been punched, I tried to focus on Iambe’s figure moving unsteadily towards the alley out back. The empty bottle of Scary Smooth lay on the porch in front of me. Something else was in her hand now. Jake walked over and leaned against the porch railing next to where I sat, neither of our eyes leaving Iambe. She grabbed a branch and tearing a hole in the top of the photo, she hung it there at eye level. Turned, walked the paces her mind had counted to settle some imaginary score, turned again and fired. Six shots, dead center. And so, when I’d held the photo later, the man had no nose. I looked at Jake, waiting for him to say something, anything that made sense of the morning. But all he’d said was, ‘His name’s Travis. Old friend of mine. She gets this need of him sometimes.’ And neither of us ever mentioned it again. ……… So, when he nodded, it took a few seconds for me to fill in the nose and the rest of the blanks. But it was him alright, the man Iambe used for target practice. Now that was a man, whose hand I’d like to shake. [This message has been edited by Duncan (02-15-2003 04:24 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Duncan - All Rights Reserved | |||
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the_loner_23 Member Ascendant
since 2002-06-08
Posts 5479Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
I really liked this Cold hands means a warm heart |
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garysgirl  
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Very exciting, Duncan....I'm loving these stories....  "Love makes the world go around" |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Wow loner!! you must be a speed reader... you read this long poem and replied all in one minute after your last reply post time on inkedgoddess's post. How do you do it??  Dunc...I'll be back...Im a slow reader and typer..Im a left handed moth you know  |
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Sunnyone Member Ascendant
since 2000-07-06
Posts 5334Staffordshire, England |
What a great story!!!! Just a great, great story, and it kept me going to the end! Nice one, my friend! A truly happy person is one who |
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regards2you Member Elite
since 2002-10-01
Posts 3940California |
"the man lambe used for target practice...." I love this entire episode. Very well done. Enjoyed greatly, Pat  ..without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Duncan...you never, ever let us down... never! Thank you, for taking all the characters, their attributes, their idiocyncracies...and blending them as smooth as the scary stuff... |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Not sensing it smart yet to go in, I lit a cigarette, turned the radio on low and waited to see if anyone else came runnin’ though the door. Dillon had moved to the porch swing, and all was quiet again. But something wasn’t right, some force had shifted in the universe and a chill went through me as a sudden low rumble shook overhead. I closed my eyes, reflexively and waited for the flash. ================================ All Jake saw as he walked, still half asleep through the front door, was Iambe fall and my stupid ass, laughing at her. As his fist approached my face, I swear, she was smiling. Even down, she always won. Even if a man wasn’t in love with her, if he’d looked into her eyes, just once, he knew losing wasn’t so bad, sometimes. When it was Iambe who won, everyone was happy. =============================== She grabbed a branch and tearing a hole in the top of the photo, she hung it there at eye level. Turned, walked the paces her mind had counted to settle some imaginary score, turned again and fired. Six shots, dead center. And so, when I’d held the photo later, the man had no nose. I looked at Jake, waiting for him to say something, anything that made sense of the morning. But all he’d said was, ‘His name’s Travis. Old friend of mine. She gets this need of him sometimes.’ And neither of us ever mentioned it again. ……… So, when he nodded, it took a few seconds for me to fill in the nose and the rest of the blanks. But it was him alright, the man Iambe used for target practice. Now that was a man, whose hand I’d like to shake. ====================================== You built this up like a summer thundestorm... I LOVE the fade to a flash back in time... and the way you brought it full cirlce... very very cool... and the part about Iambe shooting the pic... brilliant!!! Cant wait till the Capt sees this story line. bout time Jakes side kick showed up... hes gotta have someone to hang out with when Travis and Iambe are off at target practice |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
Love your view from the porch Duncan! lambe is a heartbreaker... hot damn that Travis anyway! Good stuff you're all writing! |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
geez...I'll have to come back or print this out...whew! |
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
Ducan - loves dat Scary Smooth, m'mmmm, smooth it is... BC |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
You've been having some late night fun again? LOL, is someone after you again? |
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Sunkissed Senior Member
since 2002-12-03
Posts 610 |
Well done, Duncan. *smiles* Sunkissed. |
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Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
Well now... isn't that just a kick in the pants... shot up the picture.. damn... Duncan... you tell a mean story...and your take on the characters as well as the way you built the tensions is masterful! Excellent work my friend...I like this side of your writing... very much like it. |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Duncan...you did this fantastically! Carried right along with the characters.. wondeful story... Damn you're good! ~Hugs~ ~ Trace my body with your words.. |
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Connel
since 2002-11-04
Posts 736Florida, USA |
Cool poem. Enjoyed the read. Thank for sharing. I wish to become a great poet some day, but it will only come in time. Til then, I shall write my poems, and wait. |
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