The Beginning and the Hug-Chapter 1

     (Note: This story is a result of a conversation at our cookout. The one that is a writer of the bunch was talking about school. The writer was having trouble writing about father figures in her stories. The instructor was asking "why?" The father sometimes comes across as a Mr. Spock from Star Trek. This writer knows the father is not like that all the time, but at moments when others would be distressed or overjoyed. Pivotal moments when others emotions would flow freely. He refrained from expressing overly emotions. This story may answer some of those questions that were brought forth.)

      The sound of water splashing near him. His eyes are unable to focus. All he sees is white and brown blurry images. He is not sure if he is facing up or down. The only thing he is sure of is the pressure that is pushing hard all around him, the temperature is getting colder and the world is getting noisier. He is struggling and fighting for survival. Then, he hears voices and noises getting real loud. One woman is screaming as the pressure on him is increasing while another is calling for a doctor. Suddenly, he feels himself being shaken about and moving. The movement stopped momentarily. A bright light was shining on him and he felt some gloved hands on his head. A violent crushing force was pushing him and a pulling force at his head. Finally, the pressure was gone. Something soft was around him and it was getting warmer. He was gasping for air and he lets out a cry. With his head swaying side to side and his eyes are still unable to focus. He knows others are around. He tries to orientate himself in their direction They start to laugh and celebrate. Memphis is brought into this world on this summer day of 1960.
     Memphis starts his entrance to the world on the toilet. His mother was given an enema before the birth of her son to prep for the delivery, but he was ready to come into the world. It is here he learned his first lesson. The world is full of crap and will not hesitate to crap on you. His mother was honest with Memphis and taught him to be prepared for what is waiting beyond her arms. She jokingly calls him, " her favorite turd". Memphis excepts his entrance into this world and only looks up because how much lower can you go than the sewage. As Memphis grows up, he hears whispers about someone called "The Bastard Child". He never thought about who this child was, but he had a strange feeling. He felt like he knew this child. He had this feeling of connection with the one they spoke of. He didn't really worry about it, but always felt his presence as the adults whispered among themselves. Memphis has brown hair, a dimpled chin, and green eyes. His mom called him her cat because of his eyes. Memphis was one of five children in this family. The house was a three bedroom. So, the rooms had to be shared. He never thought about it until later in life. His dad and older brother shared a room.  His sisters shared the second bedroom.Memphis and his mom shared the final room. Was it because Memphis was a bed wetter and older brother didn't like it? This was the sleeping arrangement till he was six. He remembers hearing mom and dad arguing late at night. It got loud and heated some nights. Memphis would pretend to be asleep. Mom would close the bedroom door and lock it. She would slide into bed and gently pull Memphis close to her. She would gently cry as she stroked Memphis's hair. Her tears would gently trickle down onto his neck or sometime his cheek. He would gentle weep and wonder why mom was crying until they both whimpered to sleep. Sometimes he would act like he was just awaken and snuggle against her during those moments and listen to her heart beat. He would then hum or sing a little song, or ask a question to distract her from her pain. They would talk as she hugged him or ran her fingers through his hair. She would give him a gentle smile. She would smile saying, "my cat" and thank him for bringing a smile to her face. She knew he would be there for her.
      The year was 1972 when Memphis's world would explode before him. Like debris in a tornado, his life would be tossed and thrown upside down. On this day, he was in the front yard. His mom pulled up in her white "72" SS Impala with a black vinyl roof. She gets out of the car. Her hair is up in the beehive like style. The style for the era. She had a black dress with a red belt, red shoes, a red purse, and red lipstick on. This image is burned into Memphis's mind like picture to a negative. Memphis had a sense that something was about to happen. Something bad. She knelt down and called for Memphis. He ran to her open arms. His mom hugged him tight and tired not to cry. She told Memphis that she cannot come home again and that she would have to find another place to sleep from now on. The hug seem to last an eternity and a firm one at that. Suddenly, she stood up and wiped the tears from her face. She hurriedly walked to her car and said, "I love you". Memphis stood there as tears rolled down his cheeks watching that white Chevy fade into the distance. He stayed in the front yard till sunset hoping she would return. He sat on the front porch under the shade of the oak tree, listening to the traffic pass by, and waiting for the Chevy to pull into the drive. He played with the acorns that had fallen from the towering oak tree. They had fallen like his heart to the ground. He hoped as hard as he could that this was a nightmare and it never happen. As the street lights came on, he slowly walked into the house looking over each shoulder with every step until the door slowly closed. Before he retreated to his bedroom. He would move the window curtain on the door peeking out to the driveway, pausing for a moment and hoping that the white car was there in the drive. She never return to the house, but she did return to his life once things settled down.

(to be continued)

see ya,

Dog gone,

Dogman707

A Life Lesson.

It was June summer of "76" and I was working at the car wash. I was stationed at the drop off were the cars are loaded on the line to enter the wash. Today, I was on the passenger side vacuuming the cars and washing the floor mats. The weekends were the busiest times at the car wash. In the early morning you would get the older people, who have already completed their daily chores and are ready to relax. The late afternoon was busy with teenagers and college students. They were trying to remove the smell of pot and alcohol from their parents car that they borrowed for the day. Sometime it was the same car that their parents had brought early that morning to the wash. They have been spending the day at the park working on their tans, partying and trying to score a date for the night. On this particular day, it was crowded. People were line up, leaning on the wall, and watching us clean their cars. Well, there it was a Mercedes-Benz 450SL hard top convertible and the driver a young female college student. Well, needless to say that caught a 16 year old boy's attention. As you know, the hormones of a young man are just starting to kick in. This amazing thought came into my head. Here she was this bronzed beauty and I was going to make my move. She had golden blonde hair, blue eyes, and some curves a Ferrari would dream of handling. As I opened the door, the smell of pot and beer weaved out the open door. Those tan legs slowly glide out of the car and her hair gentle falls  out of its loose ponytail. It  was poetry in motion as I watch her slither out of the car and stand up. She was wearing short white shorts and a brown halter top that clinged ever so closely to the curve of her body. I was struggling to get the nozzle off the vacuum cleaner's hose to clean the blunts and cigarette butts out of the car's ashtray. I was not paying attention to exactly what I was doing. I was fixed on this beautiful young girl. I was planning my move from the minor league to the major league. Here I was going to the big league and catch a date with a college girl. You know the saying "Go big or Go home."  I was going  to the big league. Suddenly, the nozzle comes off! And the hose latched to my chin. With its tremendous force, it had a death grip of my chin. I was fighting that hose like it was an anaconda with a death hold of me. Everyone! Yes Everyone and I mean "The Girl" saw my fight with this beast. The struggle seem to last an eternity, but I final pried this monster from my chin. People were laughing, but all the blonde beauty did was give me a slight smile and a wink as she swayed ever so smoothly swayed into the building. That beast sucked the dimple out of my chin. Now, I had a Jay Leno chin that glowed red. Me and Rudolph could have guided Santa's sleigh through the foggiest night. It was a good thing my mouth was closed and my tongue in my mouth. The anaconda would have sucked it out of my mouth. This was the longest ninety minutes waiting for my shift to end. An old man that saw me lose the fight with the hose and he asked, "Hey son what's with the chin?" He laughed out loud as he shook his head. He said, "better luck next time". Every customer after that had grin on their face and a comment" After about the eighteenth customer I though to myself, "Why  didn't I go home ". I spent the next week at school explaining why my chin was red like a giant hickey. And almost as long for it to return to its normal shape. The bronzed beauty came back to car wash weekly till fall. She always gave me a hello and a smile. Did I try again? Or did I except defeat? Well, they say, If you first don't succeed try try, try again." Or, "if its too hot in the kitchen to get out". My friend I will let you ponder that thought. Let it simmer in your mind, "Did I try again or did I except defeat?" I will tell you there is never defeat just lessons in Life. Did I learn anything? Yes, I did. That is you never know until you try. Even if you stumble, fall or its a total disaster. You may have found something that does not work or that's not the path for you. But you can still achieve your goals even if there is some changes along the way. Even a turtle has to stick his neck out to get across the road.

See ya,

Dog gone,

Dogman707

Life's a Stage

As I sit here on the patio with the Banana tree branches hanging over me, I'm facing toward the horizon of the rising sun. I face this direction to watch the sunrise as it turns the page to a new day. A new day for me to star in. The crickets are chirping their lullaby before they go to sleep for the day. An Orb Weaver spider is consuming her web as she takes it down for the day and heads to bed. The sun is slowly peeking above the homes and trees as she rises to bath me in her warmth. The smell of bacon being cooked by someone preparing for the day. The smell of the dryer sheets swaying in the morning breeze as someone starts the dryer for clean clothes to begin their performance. Someone once asked me, "Why do you like the early morning so much". I replied, " Its like starting with a  fresh new sheet of paper to write my story". Its starting over, correcting a mistake from the day before or moving ahead with your dreams. Its a new chance to start over again or redirect your life. I now hear the soft coo of the doves as the squirrels scurry along the fence and the branches of the trees above. A robin sings me a song welcoming the new day. The rumble of the traffic slowly picks up on the highway nearby. The sounds of the automobiles grows louder as the sun rises like it is the volume control for the day. I have reflected on the day before and now as the sun rises I ponder what is in store for me today. What will I write on this new page of my life? Who will I meet? Where will I go? You see my friend we are the stars. We are the performers and directors of our lives. Oh, my friend. People will try to direct us, but it is ultimately your choice. You get to select the supporting cast, location, and direction your story goes. Your story may take you to places were you are alone or feel like an outcast. This can add more depth or a new direction in the story as you study the situation. This is an opportunity to expand ones knowledge and understanding. This could be the spices to the banquet of life. Oh, my friend there could be those moment of loneliness. I will tell you now. Me and loneliness have an understanding. He can come and visit me, but he cannot stay permanently. He will have to find his own place to stay. You see loneliness can be a time to reflect and listen for the whisper. My friend no matter where we go, who we meet,or what we do in life. You are the star on the stage. The sun is shining on you. We only play parts in this story of yours. You decide the direction of the story. You have a new page unfolding before you to write on. Well, my friend the sun is getting higher in the sky, The darkness is fading like a curtain rising before a play. The sun is growing brighter like a stage light. The traffic noise, the children's laughter, the bird's chirping are increasing like an audience cheering that the show is about to begin. As I look in my glass swirling the last of my morning drink, I stop and raise my glass to you. "Cheers my friend here is to Love and Hope. Lets' change a Life" It is now "Showtime".

See ya,

Dog gone

Dogman707