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> Tattered Blue Blanket, Merit - Odin 9
JLY
post Feb 28 07, 16:21
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Real Name: John
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Referred By:Larry Carr





Author's Note: The Time: Present Day with reflections back to 1966 / 1967; The Place: New Jersey...just 10 miles west of New York City; Items / Brand Names mentioned were all commonly known and used in the early to mid 1960's.

TATTERED BLUE BLANKET


There was a chapter in Eddie Franco's life when the world as he knew it, suddenly changed beyond repair. He fell literally and figuratively into a reposed state of despair. Filled with anguish and pain, he sought a quick reprieve from his broken body and mournful mind rife with shattered dreams.

When Eddie reflected back upon his recent embittered, skewed view of life, he always seemed to traverse a wayward path that brought him face to face with disruptive distractions. He allowed himself to become psychically saturated with sorrow, misery and regret. The escalating stress and strain brought turmoil and upheaval to his already depressed state of consciousness.

Tormented by demonic delusions, excruciatingly they summoned him, seeking to devour his soul. Lamenting his dismal predicament, surrender is what he chose to do. Opiates for breakfast, lunch, and dinner only advanced his depraved dependency. Not even Valium-filled veins could eradicate this aura of evil, which masked his vision of his own perverted silhouette. Back in 1966, prescription drugs to calm the mind and levitate the spirit were nowhere to be found. Eddie often relied on the magical powers of sniffing Testors glue out of a number nine brown paper bag.

During the darkest of times, Eddie would journey to the beach where he could be alone to ponder his innermost thoughts. Eddie would sit amongst wind-sculpted dunes drowning in loneliness and listless despair. A tattered, blue blanket covered his body but it couldn't obscure him from the smarting stings of anguished heartache. His self-esteem was ravaged by memories of indifferent women he once loved. They were void of affection, offering no tender embraces in return. Emotional debris of unrequited love veiled his perspective with a dour darkness.

The ragged blanket is but a memory of the one true love of his life. It was on this blanket, that Eddie's heart was first filled with a loving emotion so deep, true, and sincere. In Eddie's case, the first girl that he truly loved would be the only one he would let his guard down for, sharing his total gamut of emotions.

The twilight engenders loneliness and oftentimes a harbinger of wicked fantasies. Eddie's challenges and struggles arose whenever the night was dark and confused. He could not fathom an understanding of what had befallen him. His peers and social acquaintances viewed him as insecure and woefully misunderstood. He longed to be appreciated for his inner sensitive qualities that were masked by his guarded façade. Eddie never wanted to be relegated to someone's perceptive backstage.

Eddie was jealous of those who were embraced with a warm and nurturing hug. It always seemed to bequeath the recipient with a calming presence. Along with that comforting bond, he could imagine the tender words that were whispered with such beguiling ease. He wished to have his body and soul smothered with soothing, heartfelt kisses.

His illusionary daydreams were often overflowing with loving qualities that exuded a rich vitality. Frequently, he would be overcome with sensations that diffused his suppressed emotions. He lingered on gentle thoughts that were lyrical and never clichéd. Eddie was mesmerized by enchanted trances, which focused on a rendezvous replete with romance. Brilliantly vivid and exquisite images of sultry pleasures created many electrifying moments that sparkled and sizzled.

Eddie had fond recollections of his high school years back in the sixties with his best pals and gals, roaming the hallways in their celebrated brick and glass palace. He always thought that he embodied the right stuff, the one percent doctrine that would direct him to the secrets of success.

His friends were proud cocky, and cool. They would never be labeled conservatives with a conscience nor would they be considered high school heroes. They were carefree characters, absorbed in outlandish adventures filling their fertile imaginations with boyish spunky smirks. Their view of life that lied before them was that of a salacious scene from "Tropic of Cancer". They never grasped the concept that a beautiful mind was more exotically fulfilling than a curvaceous silhouette.

Eddie learned everything he thought he needed to know about sex from Jimmy Rampulla, a narcissistic guy with a Neapolitan nose. Jimmy was always hanging out at Sam's Candy store on Market Street. He was like an older brother that Eddie never had. Jimmy explained the rudiments of sex, as he knew it, not necessarily as it was in real life. Much of Jimmy's street corner lessons were colored with imaginative recreations of encounters that everyone in attendance suspected never took place. He was funny, told exciting stories and drove a GTO, so that made him more likeable with the guys. Jimmy, in reality, was a lonely guy who lived in a world of dreams.

The guys who hung out at the Sam's always joked and cavorted about their friend Eddie, but in reality he was a guy blessed with non-stop energy and a fascinating personality. To those around him day in and day out, he was a friend you couldn't live without. His sardonic skewed view of life enabled him to be free of senseless strife.

Eddie in his teenaged years was one dude who everyone thought would never be sad. He had been a friend to many, in good times and bad. The smile that was etched upon his face, made his friends feel secure in their time and place. Some of the guys carried their troubles on their backs while others just sat quietly mulling the dark corners of their adolescent minds. Eddie was the one sure thing, he would always inject a spark; being with him was like a trip to the amusement park.


Eddie sometimes deviated off course before finding the main road, but he always found time to help shoulder the load. In his warped way of thinking, he believed it was better to make fun of other's insecurities. It was his proven recipe to eliminate visits to a mental health facility. His unique brand of humor ensured that life would be jolly, dispelling any feelings of impending melancholy.

Eddie always hyperventilated at the sight of a pretty young gal. He fantasized about those schoolgirls that teased him just slightly enough to make him sweat and swoon. Those girls always giggled in the comfort of their sisterly cliques and put Eddie into that same excited state as when the Yankees were holding a 10 game lead over the Boston Red Sox. All the girls had a certain alluring style about them. They wore short skirts and their white blouses revealed just a hint of succulent creamy breasts, which were enhanced by a necklace hanging between their budding mounds.

In their senior year in 1966, Eddie and his group of self- aggrandizing guys boasted, that when they became kings, angels would arrive from above granting all of their foolish, wild-eyed wishes. Life would be grand and dreams would turn out exactly as planned.

Eddie and his pals lamented the chilly indifference of the local beauties. Those popular girls tried their best to act as though they were above the rest. The guys would often get frustrated with their "treat me like a Queen" attitude. Sometimes it was necessary to leave the borders of their friendly hometown to seek pleasure and adventure where their brazen charms would be much more appreciated.

Every high school group had its own unique sense of style, which evolved into a kind of teenaged ritual. There were no mirrors large enough for this group to check themselves out before they ventured out to the Friday night dance, so Eddie's gang always provided fashion tips to each other. All the guys wore the standard uniform of the day: ¾ length black leather coat, black pants, Flagg Brothers "roach killer" shoes and high collar shirt. Eddie loved his leather coat more than he did his Uncle Leo. The coat was smoother and much warmer than Leo's in your face, venomous personality.

The guys would get themselves worked up into a party fever when the raucous, up-tempo beat of the Swingin' Medallions million seller "Double Shot Of My Baby's Love" played on the radio. The sound echoed loudly when the reverb was turned on in Jimmy's car.

Eddie just got a razor cut from Hollywood Joes' barbershop. His haircut had a square back with the corners rounded. Some of the guys used Brylcream to slick back their hair, but Eddie preferred the white creamy feel of Top Brass. He felt good about how he looked and deemed himself ready. In his heart he knew it was going to be a great night and he was hoping to run into that hot girl from East Paterson who was at the dance last week.

As they entered the school gymnasium, the smell of Canoe and Old Spice hung in the air like Agent Orange over the Mekong Delta. Eddie zeroed in on a white lip-sticked bouffant beauty that was wearing an extremely well fitting pink angora sweater and black Capri pants. She wore an ankle bracelet and black ballerina slippers. As the song, "In The Still of The Night" played in the background, Eddie imagined this would be the girl he could have a chance to backseat after the dance.

But just as Eddie was getting ready to approach this hot looking, full-figured babe, something caught his attention. Out of the corner of his eye, he was stopped in his tracks by a sweet, dreamy sensation. It was on this April night, with Pegasus descending, that life took a euphoric turn for Eddie. He lost his bravado, sense of logic and reason as he encountered a gorgeous girl who would become his fair lady. The smile from her ruby red lips sent shivers down to his hips. Her eyes were the color of hazelnut coffee accenting flowing hair the shade of mahogany. Her complexion was as soft and pure as fresh whipped cream.

As he approached her, he became tongue-tied and began to trip over his awkward feet while glancing at her beguiling, sparkling eyes. She had a natural beauty and didn't have the look of a circus clown. So many of the other girls in attendance were heavily laden with makeup. It seemed like they used a trowel to apply their mascara and foundation, making them look like they had raccoon-like eyes. This radiant beauty was totally different, as if she were from a different group, like an upper-class kind of gal.

"Hi, I'm Eddie and I wanted to say that I like the way you smile. "

"Thank you Eddie, my name is Sue and I think you have a nice smile too."

Sue could sense his nervous energy and without any hesitation she proceeded to give him a very gentle, reassuring hug. Her lavender scented embrace was calming, soothing and aromatically alluring. Her skin felt soft as lemon chiffon pie. She seemed to possess a vivacious spirit with her perky, cheerful body language. Immediately he sensed her zest for life and it was excitingly contagious.

For their first date, they met for lunch dining on burgers and fries. They shared engaging conversation about their likes, dislikes and pet peeves. With no reticence whatsoever, she inquired, "do you like the Beatles or the Rolling Stones; the beach or the mountains; Pepsi or Coke; chocolate or vanilla; plain pizza or pepperoni?"

Eddie's head was spinning as he stumbled upon his responses, "I like chocolate Beatles and pepperoni mountains". Sue laughed, knowing that his confused responses were genuine because Eddie had that deer caught-in-the-headlights look. Beads of perspiration welled up on his brow as he tried to regain his cool composure. The Clearasil on his cheeks was getting streaked with rivulets of sweat.

As they left the diner, walking hand in hand, Eddie whispered softly, "wait until dark, and I'll take you to the park."

Later that night, they spread a tattered, blue blanket under the stars on their field of dreams at the County Park. The night was quietly still, only the static sounds emanating from his made-in-Japan transistor radio could be heard as they enjoyed each others passionate embrace. Eddie's mind was floating on whirlwind zephyrs and all the president's men could not dissuade him from pursuing this heavenly, emerging bond.

Their twirling tongues savored nectar imbued with desires so ravenous they could dispel a solar eclipse. Tingling, breathless sighs bespoke colorful, visceral visions, highlighting flirtatious yearnings that immediately aroused heartfelt confessions. No longer did they suppress those fervent romantic inclinations. His heart rode reeling rip tides of smitten, dazzling emotions. Eddie envisioned a sultry liaison with erotic encounters just like the ones portrayed in the dog-eared Henry Miller paperback he kept hidden under his bedroom mattress.

Eddie with his heart racing at full-speed whispered his feelings in a hushed manner. "Sue, you are the first one who has opened my eyes to the wonders and pleasures I have only dreamed about. You have filled my soul with a rapturous excitement that I have difficulty trying to control. I want to seize you in my arms and forever drown in your lovely charms."

Eddie contemplated a world with delightful encounters, walking hand in hand through meadows full of blooming flowers and serenading songbirds. The gentle windswept breeze would send a wave of flickering grass across the sun-drenched horizon reminiscent of glittering tropical seas.

To laugh, have fun and enjoy life with Sue is what Eddie longed for as he coveted the notion of loving with reckless abandon and to be loved equally in return. These were the passionate sensations that he envisioned for the next chapter of his life. Eddie continued to indulge his subconscious with enchanted fantasies that were both exotic and prophetic.

Sue was so carefree, confident, and cheerful. The flickering sparkle in her eyes and its ever-present twinkle filtered Eddie with a rapturous fever. Her brilliant glow, radiant as a lighthouse, illuminated his landscape and ignited his slumbering sensitivities.

The cinematic reels of his nightly mindscapes had him pursuing this flirtatious coquette. She had him panting and drooling when she said, "I want you and only you". That was his beckoning clue to search and probe under her pink velvet robe to identify the colorful images that would lead him to an oasis of affectionate filled memories. As he plied away Sue's high-cut cotton panties, Eddie awakened some repressed sexual desires. Eddie eagerly, yet tenderly, probed the recesses of her vestal canyon. As if in concert, Sue's melodic moans harmonized with her percolating pot of honey that first became damp, then spongy and soggy as the New Jersey meadowlands on a hot, humid August day.

Eddie in turn experienced a pulsating, throbbing feeling. He was blessed with a huge, hard erection. The sensation was so strong that it consumed his energy and all of his focus was on one rigid part of him. His grip on reality was slowly ebbing away as the pain overtook him and his mind began hallucinating. A vision appeared before his cloudy eyes, she was floating above the sand moving toward him wearing a long, black diaphanous slip. He could see her milky white breasts, rosebud nipples, and her tiny waist, curving into her sumptuous hips.

His erection became so hard and painful that he looked to Sue for help. One or two quick little jerks, what can that hurt; just one or two to stop this swollen ache. She grabbed his flesh fellow and then one...two...three. It was like pulling carrots out of the ground. Sure it was an unusual technique but it always worked for him. He first mastered this technique while looking at photos of Jean Shrimpton back in 1963 but it felt so much better to have Sue offer her lusty hand. Just as the first wave of pleasure came spurting out of him, he saw Sue staring at him with a sheepish smile.

Eddie's vistas suddenly became veiled with anger and sorrow. The tragic story that Eddie had been reliving all these years is eerily reminiscent of J Frank Wilson and the Cavalier's number one song, "Last Kiss". It was cold and raw on that Saturday morning in 1967 when Eddie was awakened from a deep sleep. His mother, Anna was shaking him and pleading with him, "Eddie get up, there is an important phone call for you."

Eddie was groggy from working the night shift at Wetson's Hamburger fast food joint. His mouth felt like it was full of cotton and he could barely verbalize a distinct hello. He wiped the sleep out of his eyes, stretched his arms above his head and climbed down the stairs to the living room where the phone was resting on the end table.

"This is Eddie, who is this?" On the other end, he could hear a high-pitched wailing voice that was faintly familiar. "Eddie, this is Irene Sadowski, Sue's mom. I have horrible news. Sue died in a car accident at 2:30 this morning. Eddie, could you please come over, my husband and I would like you to be here." Eddie was frantically screaming. His mother tried to console him. Anna hugged Eddie and told him "don't drive, I will give you a lift over to Sue's house, you're in no condition to drive".

On the ride over to 49 Belmont Terrace, Eddie was trying to recreate the events of the past twenty-four hours. Sue told Eddie that she and three of her best friends were going to go out for the night and would be going upstate. That was pretty much the routine for teenagers back in the mid 1960's. In New Jersey, the legal drinking age was twenty-one, but in New York it was eighteen. It was a rite of passage to make a weekly fifteen-mile trip north to Rockland County, New York or "upstate" as it was commonly known. There were a few well-traveled ways to get there. One could take Route 17 but there were always too many police on that stretch of roadway. The alternative was to take the scenic byway, Saddle River Road. The scenery was always nice when you started the trip, but on your return home, particularly if you had too much to drink, the roadway was not well-lit and it had many sharp and winding turns which would be like riding on the Wild Mouse at the Casino Pier in Seaside Heights.

Before Sue left for the night, she drove over to Wetson's to see Eddie, gave him a huge hug and a long wet, tongue wrestling kiss. Eddie reminded Sue that she was only to have fun, and maybe help her friends find someone to love as much as she loved her guy.

When Eddie got to Sue's house her Mom and Dad greeted him. Eddie begged them, "please tell me what happened." The policeman that had visited the home earlier in the morning provided Sue's parents with the grim details. The approximate time of the accident was 2:13am. A passerby who did not witness the accident phoned it in. According to the skid marks, the police estimated that the car was traveling 60 miles per hour and that particular stretch of road was clearly marked not to exceed 35mph.

Sue was a passenger in the front seat and in those days only the high-priced import cars had seatbelts. The driver of the car, Denise, was not familiar with the roadway as it was her first time driving the family car with the girls on a Friday night adventure. Denise evidently could not navigate the turn and braked too late. The car went off the road, through a white picket fence and stopped when it hit a fieldstone wall on the front lawn of a country estate. Sue was thrown through the windshield and her body landed at the foot of a towering oak tree. According to the police report, Sue died instantly and did not experience any further suffering. The driver, Denise and the other two passengers, Donna and Carol were alive, but traumatized. Donna and Carol had only bruises, but Denise had two broken legs and the firemen and police on the scene had to cut her out of the wreckage.

One dreary and sullen night, a solitary guardian spirit heard his hysterical, desperate pleas. His life as he knew it had become just a blur. Shining like a bright light, this divine messenger opened up his eyes to the wonders he had yet to foresee. Eddie vowed that if she would show him the pathway that leads to a life of serenity, his heart would be generously open till his last dying gasp.

Now Eddie's life appeared to be full and complete. Sue, his angel from above instilled in him an ever-flowing fountain of love. This afforded the resolve to reach high and touch the sapphire sky.

This was his epiphany! It encouraged Eddie to envision that one's life should be reveled in and filled with laughter. Providence, fate, destiny, or just plain good luck presented him with an opportunity to renew this human prescription.

It was possible that his new life would bestow him the courage and sense of purpose to travel emergent highways. Eddie vowed to embrace these renewed treasures of friendship everyday.

Today the sweet life is the gentle spring breeze, blowing with delicate ease, stirring the silver chimes, hanging like ornaments inside the bright white gazebo overlooking the placid pond. Reacquainting oneself with special people of the past is like an ice cream sundae replete with charmed emotions. Sparkling and brilliant are those friends who infuse one's horizon with fond memories that are revered like priceless treasures.

Eddie clutched his blue blanket and suddenly it didn't seem to be so tattered anymore.



·······IPB·······

Give thanks for your new friends of today, but never forget the warm hugs of your yesterdays.

Nominate a poem for the InterBoard Poetry Competition by taking into careful consideration those poems you feel would best represent Mosaic Musings. For details, click into the IBPC nomination forum. Did that poem just captivate you? Nominate it for the Faery award today! If perfection of form allured your muse, propose the Crown Jewels award. For more information, click here!


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Cleo_Serapis
post Feb 28 07, 16:25
Post #2


Mosaic Master
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Posts: 18,892
Joined: 1-August 03
From: Massachusetts
Member No.: 2
Real Name: Lori Kanter
Writer of: Poetry & Prose
Referred By:Imhotep



Thank you for your entry into Odin's Opposition! troy.gif

Perhaps you'll rise up, drink from the Well of Wisdom and be crowned the 'bringer of victory'? cali.gif

Best of luck in the battle! vic.gif

~Mosaic Musings Staff knight.gif


·······IPB·······

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to." ~ J.R.R Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Collaboration feeds innovation. In the spirit of workshopping, please revisit those threads you've critiqued to see if the author has incorporated your ideas, or requests further feedback from you. In addition, reciprocate with those who've responded to you in kind.

"I believe it is the act of remembrance, long after our bones have turned to dust, to be the true essence of an afterlife." ~ Lorraine M. Kanter

Nominate a poem for the InterBoard Poetry Competition by taking into careful consideration those poems you feel would best represent Mosaic Musings. For details, click into the IBPC nomination forum. Did that poem just captivate you? Nominate it for the Faery award today! If perfection of form allured your muse, propose the Crown Jewels award. For more information, click here!

"Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up." ~ Early detection can save your life.

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Cleo_Serapis
post Apr 30 07, 18:17
Post #3


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Posts: 18,892
Joined: 1-August 03
From: Massachusetts
Member No.: 2
Real Name: Lori Kanter
Writer of: Poetry & Prose
Referred By:Imhotep



Hi John.

There were just two entries this quarter (feb-apr) so I will be holding this one over for the next prose contest for the aug-oct quarter.

Besr regards.
Lori


·······IPB·······

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to." ~ J.R.R Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Collaboration feeds innovation. In the spirit of workshopping, please revisit those threads you've critiqued to see if the author has incorporated your ideas, or requests further feedback from you. In addition, reciprocate with those who've responded to you in kind.

"I believe it is the act of remembrance, long after our bones have turned to dust, to be the true essence of an afterlife." ~ Lorraine M. Kanter

Nominate a poem for the InterBoard Poetry Competition by taking into careful consideration those poems you feel would best represent Mosaic Musings. For details, click into the IBPC nomination forum. Did that poem just captivate you? Nominate it for the Faery award today! If perfection of form allured your muse, propose the Crown Jewels award. For more information, click here!

"Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up." ~ Early detection can save your life.

MM Award Winner
 
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Cleo_Serapis
post Dec 2 07, 13:25
Post #4


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Group: Administrator
Posts: 18,892
Joined: 1-August 03
From: Massachusetts
Member No.: 2
Real Name: Lori Kanter
Writer of: Poetry & Prose
Referred By:Imhotep



Congratulations John on your Merit placement! dance.gif

You have risen up, drank from the Well of Wisdom and have been crowned the ‘bringer of victory’! rose.gif champagne.gif

Well done!
pharoah2.gif


·······IPB·······

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to." ~ J.R.R Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Collaboration feeds innovation. In the spirit of workshopping, please revisit those threads you've critiqued to see if the author has incorporated your ideas, or requests further feedback from you. In addition, reciprocate with those who've responded to you in kind.

"I believe it is the act of remembrance, long after our bones have turned to dust, to be the true essence of an afterlife." ~ Lorraine M. Kanter

Nominate a poem for the InterBoard Poetry Competition by taking into careful consideration those poems you feel would best represent Mosaic Musings. For details, click into the IBPC nomination forum. Did that poem just captivate you? Nominate it for the Faery award today! If perfection of form allured your muse, propose the Crown Jewels award. For more information, click here!

"Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up." ~ Early detection can save your life.

MM Award Winner
 
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Psyche
post Dec 3 07, 11:00
Post #5


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Joined: 27-August 04
From: Bariloche, Argentine Patagonia
Member No.: 78
Real Name: Sylvia Evelyn Maclagan
Writer of: Poetry & Prose
Referred By:David Ting



Beautiful story, John! So romantic and sad as well. Loved it!
Congrats & cheers,
Sylvia minniemouse.gif


·······IPB·······

Mis temas favoritos



The Lord replied, my precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.


"There is no life higher than the grasstops
Or the hearts of sheep, and the wind
Pours by like destiny, bending
Everything in one direction."

Sylvia Plath, Crossing the Water, Wuthering Heights.



Nominate a poem for the InterBoard Poetry Competition by taking into careful consideration those poems you feel would best represent Mosaic Musings. For details, click into the IBPC nomination forum. Did that poem just captivate you? Nominate it for the Faery award today! If perfection of form allured your muse, propose the Crown Jewels award. For more information, click here!

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