Early one morning we took our dog dog to the beach for a good romp in the sea. I was still tired so I went looking for a nice drift log to sit on. There were dozens to choose from along the beach but, because I'm a tall person, I set my eyes on one that was partially elevated. But as I started to sit though my wife yelled at me to stop! Was something wrong with the dog? Was something wrong with her? Oh no, what was going on?

As I sat down I realized the issue. For, you see, of all the dozens of logs to sit on, and of all the places to sit on that particular log, I somehow chose the spot with a large pile of dog poo on it. Seriously!? How did I not see that? Then as a large mammal I flattened the pile, all over my own tush and caking my jeans.

Now, I'm not a bashful person but there was one slight issue that day. Rather than putting on my normal boxer briefs that morning, I opted for the booty shorts my wife had purchased for me. I'd have no problem walking back to the car (a long way) in my boxers but the booty shorts made it all the more embarrassing.

Of all the logs to choose, of all the spots to sit, of all the underwear to have on...it seemed the world was working against me that day! Yeesh.

I used to be a most excellent quitter, but not anymore. I had a love-hate relationship with cigarettes for twenty-some years. I used to light up every morning and then quit every night, swearing to myself I would never touch another one. There were a few spells in there where I quit with every butt I ground out. I’ll bet I quit smoking an easy thousand times. The last time finally stuck.

We moved to Virginia Beach the summer after fifth grade, my mother, my sister and I. Mom had a boyfriend there, a Navy Pilot… you know how that goes. We were in an apartment complex with a pool. That very first day at the pool I met the prettiest girl I’d ever seen. I remember like it was yesterday; my shot nerves, leaving the town I’d lived my whole life in, starting a new school, wondering if I would have trouble making friends here. Our first conversation went like this:

”Hey.”

“Hey.”

”I’m Kim.”

”Chuck.”

”You new here?”

”Yea.”

”I’m going to have a cigarette. You smoke?”

”Yea.” (I had only tried smoking once, but I would have said yes to literally anything she asked me to do. I would have played Barbie with her, if that’s what she wanted me to do.)

”C’mon, then. Let’s go.”

That was the day I became a smoker. Kim and I were great friends all the way through high school. She was a bad influence on me the whole way, being the first to try everything, and then pulling me into it with her. We only ever kissed once, and the kiss was a let down for both of us, probably because it tasted like two ashtrays getting dumped into a bucket ;) Last time I saw Kim I had just quit college. She was fresh out of rehab. She still looked like a million bucks, although her eyes were a touch sadder. I truly hope she made it. God, did I adore her. There are a couple of stories inspired by her in my back catalog here on Prose, although the names were likely changed to protect the guilty. There are more stories too, ones that I will never tell.

So you see? It was a girl made me start, and it was a girl made me stop.

That last time, the time I finally really did quit, it was easy (but it was still damned hard). You see, Pooky-Bear had to quit. Cancer. Having that little bugger sneak up that close to you will do it every time. My winning quitting strategy went like this:

I laid a half a pack of Marlboro’s and a lighter on the kitchen table during a week of stay at home vacation from work. My project was going to be re-screening a very large screened-in back porch. I began work every morning at 7:00 am. Every time I had a hankering for a cigarette I grabbed a beer instead. By lunch time I was too drunk to climb the ladder, which was ok. There was always tomorrow. At the end of the week I had a beautifully screened porch, a raging hangover, and that half a pack of Marlboro’s was still lying on the kitchen table. In fact, they laid there for about two more weeks until I felt strong enough that I didn’t need their support. I have never felt the need for a cigarette again. Pooky-Bear flew through the surgeries and chemo just fine. She is now twenty-three years cancer free, and the same number of years smoke free. She didn’t need the beers, but then, she had her own incentive. Strong woman right there, kiddoes.

Strong enough to make a stronger man out of me… and one that would never quit her.

Dearest Writers:

Over the past 12 months, members of our community have expressed their desire to publish a book but lack of traction with agents or publishers. Our mission is to see members of our community succeed and fulfill their dreams of becoming published authors.

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Over the next few months, we will be inviting aspiring authors to submit their work and start their publishing journey with The Prose Press and share key pieces of their journey with you – their learnings, conversations, milestones, and excerpts.

If you are interested in turning your working manuscript into a real book, reach out to us.

Thank you to our supporters and community members for making this possible.

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Cheers,

Prose.

Pale-white wanderer on a distant shore,

Encumbered by regret, limping, sighing;

Waiting for the one whom he loved before,

Returning, renewing, death defying.

Brothers and lovers, by Ilium’s fall

Rememberèd. Phoenix-birthed from the pyre

To Thermopylae’s call, a last shield wall,

And Gallipoli’s wire - machine gun fire.

Rekindled by love, they fight and they die,

The circles of this world they cannot burst;

No final adieu, no farewell goodbye,

To their glory of youth - blessed and accursed.

A broken bough, a scattered vow - ’tis done.

They rest: till again, the cycle’s begun.

Here I am one more time

Saying goodbye to another man

Again things gone wrong

You told me about my first

He says things about me

You said you knew months now

How could you?

One month I haven't seen you

Everything fake about me

You believed every piece of it

Want to keep me but I can't

I have to quit you and life

Love was once upon a time

After that you destroyed me

No feelings, no sorrys

I shall fall into the fire of another problem

He sighed & took another sip of his drink. What now?

Then he heard the sound of a beating heart. But this one seemed to be beating like a symphony. He was drawn to the heart’s melody.

He turned a bit to see who was now sitting a couple seats away from him. Her hair was like magic. With a mix of colours ranging just like a rainbow.

She ordered some rum. He snickered.

She ignored his snicker. And carried on looking around the bar.

He shook his head and said something almost in a whisper, ‘‘Interesting hair colour.’’

She slapped her hand on her lap. “Listen, Mister! You know I can hear you right?”

He smiled and winked at her, hoping that would make her more irritated now. Of course it worked. She got off her chair, and started to head toward the exit door.

A hand fell on her shoulder. She turned around ready to punch whoever it was trying to grab her.

As soon as her hand reached near his face, it seemed to be stopped by an invisible strong force. “What in the world?”

He laughed and asked, “You should not be drinking rum. Miss...”

She dropped her fist, and stared at the guy. He was tall, dark and handsome. She tried to not laugh. If this was a romantic novel she would already dancing with him.

From there he would take her back to his place, and she would fall madly, deeply, in love with him. Hold her breath to be by his side forever.

She took a deep breath and scoffed. “This is not going to work, okay. I have work early in the morning.”

“What? No, I just wanted to know your name. I’m not buying you a drink. Not going to happen. Unless, you don’t mind me buying you one.”

She moved her hood over her head. “Thanks for the offer. But I have to go.”

He said, “I hope to see you again. Or at least bump into you in the area.”

She smiled, walking away from the stranger. Then hoped for the same thing. It’d be great to see him again.

Maybe she could come back later to check on him. She had been tracking him for a while now.

Underneath her enormous cloak— was a sword, some grenades, her trusty bow & several arrows. Hey, she had to be ready. This part of this village was full of many creatures from different realms.

#RumFun

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4qgYWWRpnD8

6/10/2020~Mardi.

Watch the gloomy mist that falls upon the earth;

watch it fall like split timber.

gaze for just a seldem moment on this mist,

that eccompases my world and encircles

every field and every forest.

Not a sound is heard and yet there seems to be an echo,

A deeply rich echo of thought inside my head.

This is my time for deep and cold feeling questions,

that give me chills to think about.

everything in life falls down to a lower rung.

The rain creeps along the clouds planning its daring voyage.

Next, it drifts downard, slowly spireling like a dancer.

One day the sun will return to earth.

Its dazzling streaks will flood all the land,

he will establish his throne again, but not just yet.

We all know a kings greatest rise must sometimes

come after the fall.