West Whim

Week Twelve, The S.

“You bounced again!”

Lucy startled. “You bounced again. And hello to you, too.”

“You’re not supposed to do it without me. You could get yourself killed.” Jack shut the door. “What happened this time?”

The light changed and Lucy waited for an opening to turn left. “Actually, I’m not really sure. I was on a run, going up Windsor — and, well, here we are. 1982.”

He glanced at her. “Nice pants, by the way. Jumping out of a plane later?”

Lucy turned left onto 6th. “Nice pants,” she mimicked, but she was smiling. “You should talk.”

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“Home,” she said. “How do people live in apartments? The guy downstairs is a menace. Freakin’ country music. I’ve been passive-aggressively pounding an umbrella on the floor in time to the beat.”

“Not really all that passive,” said Jack.

(Week Eleven)

(photo via)

The Road, It Winds

“If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known. I’m still not sure.”

“But it’s so obvious, look!”

He shrugged. “Let me see your hand.” LuLu showed it to him. “They’re the same, LuLu,” he said.

“No, this one’s crooked, Ramon. Look!” she exclaimed.

He did, he looked closely. “Okay, you’re right,” he said. “The middle finger on your left hand is sort of crooked.”

“Way crooked,” she corrected.

He examined her face. “And your left eye is smaller than your right one. Did you know that?”

“Of course I did,” she said. “I told you that when we first met!”

“That was a long time ago, ‘Lu.”

“I know.”

(photo - Piccadilly Circus, London, England - 1949)

(Early Morning Fog - Badger Lake)

Sylvia knew that things would never be the same but she hoped that they would get better.

(doll via)

Week Eleven (Hooks In Me)

“Then you won’t have a problem working through the holidays,” he said.

“No, I could use the hours,” said Lucy. “Plus, you know, the economy and all.”

He nodded. “I’ll walk you down to HR. You can get your paperwork filled out & we can start your training tomorrow. Sound good?”

“Sounds good,” she said.

(Week Ten)

(photo via)

Early Morning Fog - Badger Lake

LuLu skidded to a stop & watched the soft, wet earth crumble to the water below.

(Ramon’s Story)

(photo via)

Ramon’s Story

He was starting to see feathers of dreams on the edges of his mind.

(LuLu Says)

A Tight Squeeze

Her grey coat flapped in the breeze, unbuttoned but belted at the waist. It was a little big. He didn’t mind, he could still see the shape of things to come, as it were.

(photo via)

Week Ten (On A Wing & A Stamen)

Nothing was real here, not even the people, especially not the people.  Lucy pushed open the door & stepped outside.

(Week Nine)

(photo via)

LuLu Says

“I don’t like this one,” whispered LuLu. “I wish we could change it.”

“I’ll change it,” said Ramon, starting to get up. “What do you want to watch?”

“Shhh! Whisper!”

“I said, ‘What do you want to watch?’” he whispered.

“I heard you the first time & it’s fine,” snapped LuLu. “Never mind.”

Ramon sat back in his chair. They were both quiet for a few moments.

Then, “I hate these visits,” she said.

“I know you do,” said Ramon, squeezing her hand. “I know.”

(Catmouse)

Week Nine

“I waited for you,” said Jack.

“I know, I’m sorry,” said Lucy, “it couldn’t be helped.”

“I had a cart & everything.”

“I know, and I said I’m sorry.” Lucy stood & peeked over the tops of the partitions to see if anyone else was in the trailer. All clear.

“Lunch, too. Did I tell you I brought lunch?”

She sat. “Wait. You had a cart? How’d you get a cart?”

“From the commissary. I borrowed it.”

“You stole it.”

“I put it back,” said Jack. “So, borrowed.”

(Week Eight)

(photo via)

catmouse

“I don’t think you can have one without the other. They go together.” LuLu reached for the bowl & dumped a few goldfish onto the table.

“Here you go,” said the waitress as she handed them their drinks. “And your glass of olives.”

“Awesome,” said LuLu. Ramon reached for a goldfish. “Here, take two,” said LuLu. “You need two. Maybe even three. These olives are kind of big.” She popped two goldfish & an olive into her mouth, tested. Then one more fish. “Definitely three,” she said, chewing. “It tastes just like these hors d’oeuvres my mom used to make for parties. They were made out of bisquick, olives & cheese, I think, & they were delicious. That’s what this tastes like when you put them together. Try it.”

“How did you figure this out?” asked Ramon. He counted out three goldfish & plucked an olive from the glass.

“I don’t remember,” said LuLu. “I just did.”

The olive was tangy & juicy — & it made the goldfish all doughy, & when they were together in his mouth it did become a beautiful thing. Ramon understood. “I get it, LuLu, I totally get it,” he said.

She smiled.

(Jolie)

Week Eight

Jack answered his mobile without looking to see who it was. He knew. “Yes?”

“I’m here,” Lucy whispered. “What do I do now?”

“Excuse me,” Jack said to the young woman he’d been chatting with, inexplicably dressed in a floor length, sequined halter dress. “I have to take this.” He stepped out onto the deck & slid the door shut. He could still hear the sounds of the party inside.

“The key I gave you? Did you use it? It worked?” he said.

“Yeah,” she said. “It worked. Lucky for you.”

Jack smiled. Lucky indeed. “I miss you,” he said, dropping into a chair.

“Yeah, sure,” said Lucy. “Now, what the fuck do I do?”

(Week Seven)

(photo via raurublock)

Jolie

“I wish my last name meant pretty,” said LuLu. “Mine’s boring sounding and it doesn’t mean anything.”

“I always hated my last name,” said Ramon.

“But it’s pretty!” said LuLu. “Rosa. Ramon Rosa.”

“Yeah, but it means pink, LuLu. Pink.” He did like the way it sounded when she said it, though. Rosa.

(Valpilou (for my great friend Philippe))

(photo via)

Week Seven

“But I also felt this way when I was still with you.”

(Week Six)

(Young Girl In Woods, c. 1920, by S. Ivanov-Alliluyev, via)