Brooklyn Baby

This is the original first two pages from my second book titled..."Lionhearts". Although I liked it quite a lot, I felt it didn't tie in with the rest of the story so well. As a consequence, I edited it out. It's kind of like a mini short story in it's own right, I think. I hope you like it.

The music drifted around the room as Beth Turner hurriedly packed her belongings. The bedroom was in disarray, with boxes and bags of books and clothing scattered throughout.The early morning sunlight filtered through the partially opened curtains, highlighting dust particles in the air. She knew this day was coming and planned her getaway to coincide with him being away.

Him was Peter Channing. Beth's boyfriend for the past two years. They had shared this apartment on W. 70th Street in Manhattan, for almost a year. It was time for her to move on. They had grown apart, she thought. He was gone so often, they had hardly spoken to each other in the last two weeks as it was. Absence was not making the heart grow fonder. On the contrary, she saw things much clearer now and realized their relationship was not working. Her younger sister, Stacy, had invited Beth to live with her until she got on her feet again. She accepted and now was waiting for Stacy and her boyfriend to come by and make the move final.

"You going to take that picture?" asked Stacy, pointing to a rather large photograph of the Grand Canyon on the living room wall.

"I don't think so. It's Peter's and I think he would be upset if I took it." replied Beth.

"So who cares. You've always liked it. I'm just saying he owes you something. Just take it. He can have another made. God Beth, quit being so uptight."

"I don't think so..."

"Ryan... come lift this picture off the wall and put it in the truck, will ya?" Ryan walked up to the picture and started to pick it up.

"Uh, hey, I'm going to need some help over here, you guys. This son of a bitch is heavy."

"Honestly, you're such a weakling, Ryan." Stacy walked up to Ryan to give him a hand. "It's just awkward, that's all."

"Stacy... oh never mind." Beth said, as they hauled the picture out the door and down the hall.


Beth looked around the room for the last time. So many memories. Some good, some bad. It had all started so hopeful and this is how it ends, she thought. Escaping like thieves in the night. She figured she should write a note or something. She at least owed him that.

She sat down at the kitchen table, pen in hand. The late morning summer sun poured through the window, warming her face. But what to say? All she could think to say was, that she was sorry. On a sheet of paper, that she left in the middle of the table, she wrote... 'I'm sorry'. And left it at that.


Here's a hint... the music 'drifting around the room' is Lana Del Rey's "Brooklyn Baby". Check it out. Play it while reading the story for a complete experience.

Stay tuned.

Why I write

 A great quote from Gustave Flaubert---

"It is a delicious thing to write, to be no longer yourself but to move in an entire universe of your own creating. Today, for instance, as man and woman, both lover and mistress, I rode in a forest on an autumn afternoon under the yellow leaves, and I was also the horses, the leaves, the wind, the words my people uttered, even the red sun that made them almost close their love-drowned eyes. When I brood over these marvelous pleasures I have enjoyed, I would be tempted to offer God a prayer of thanks if I knew He could hear me. Praised may He be for not creating me a cotton merchant, a vaudevillian or a wit."

Announcement

As you can see, I have changed the title to my blog to reflect the new direction I will be taking. I have not been writing much on the blog, lately, because I've been writing fiction for the past year. I've written first drafts for two novels. I hope to have them published, eventually. Whether by the traditional route or self publishing, I haven't decided yet.

So with this "new direction", I will be more attentive to creating content for the blog as a way of keeping my creativity going. Look for the usual memoir stories now and again. I've got lots more to share. Also, I intend to share story ideas of fiction works in progress. Maybe even a snippet or two of my novels I've written or am in the middle of writing. Could be exciting. Also I'm thinking of doing reviews of books, movies and music that I've encountered along the way. More excitement. As always, you know the drill, stay tuned!