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Crystal
| Open Poetry #37 |
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Crystal |
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XOx Uriah xOX Senior Member
since 2006-02-11
Posts 1403Virginia 
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Crystal was one of the guys. Not as strong or as fast as some of us, but alot tougher than a few. She could take care of herself. Years of having been neglected, taught her how. Thirteen years old, with a vocabulary that caused ruddy faced truck drivers, with naked women tattooed on their forearms, to turn redder than the Radio Flyer that she pulled along behind her; Every Saturday morning, out by the roadsides, Picking up soda bottles. Every Saturday afternoon, around lunch time, she'd haul them into Belcher's Store, for the deposit. We played football in the field behind the store. Crystal always joined in. Rough and tumble, down in the dirt, mud or snow. Crystal was one of the guys. ~ There was a hell of a bash on her birthday! Belcher's Store had closed by then. Rooster and Jimmy rented the building and the field for the weekend. Crystal was nineteen years old. Didn't look like one of the guys. She had a "Come here" walk, with a "No Way" follow through. Crystal could take care of herself. Years of tailgating with the boys had taught her how. At the party, she made more than a few One Percenter back off, holding his stinging jaw while his ears burned with laughter from his brethren. She had a vocabulary that could make leather faced scooter tramps with red, white and blue wings, turn redder than a tombstone tail light. She wasn't as strong or fast as most of us, but alot tougher than a few. At twenty one, she was the type that could "Make a blind man smile." and "Make a preacher lay his Bible down". There were a couple of months when it seemed too incestuous to call her "Sister" anymore. ~ At twenty three, she was gone. She'd be forty six now. I've heard a couple of rumors. One: That she stepped off a curb in Daytona and was run over by a drunk in a cage. Two: That she married a devout Southern Baptist, teaches Sunday School and has three kids. I like the idea of rumor number Two. I would also be very interested in knowing how that "Loved by all...Sworn to none" tattoo on her butt, went over with hubby. ~ I can bring many memories to my mind's forefront. I can see her... Clear as day... But, when I first speak her name... When her memory first arises... She's pulling a red wagon, filled with soda bottles. ~ Crystal? If you're out there? If you haven't high sided... I love ya, Sis ! |
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| © Copyright 2006 Larry F. Leake - All Rights Reserved | |||
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
What a wonderful tribute to a very good friend! I hope that Rumour 2 or another as good or better than that is true. I hope you meet up with Crystal again so that you can reminisce about the good old days! - Owl |
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Rainbowdust Member
since 2002-12-05
Posts 320Sydney, Australia |
Larry, I love these little sojourns into your life. The soul would have no rainbows, had the eyes no tears. |
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