31
Dec
William finished his oatmeal. Lynn had already finished hers and had been wandering around talking with the men of the shelter. He wondered why she wanted to know about stuff. Things like fishing, logging, and strangers in town that seemed odd. What those three things had in common, he simply didn’t know. She even asked about the Jr. High. That made no sense at all. No matter though. She was nice. She was pretty and she talked to him too. And somehow, she even knew to call him William. Was this love?
-MRC
30
Dec
Her confusion worsened. When Jeannie got home, she opened the envelope. Inside was a piece of paper. It was old and slightly tattered. It felt fragile in her hand so she gently lay it down on the kitchen table. There was nothing legible on it. At least nothing she understood. “What the heck is this?” She wondered aloud. It looked like a series of squiggles and numbers followed by another series of squiggles and numbers. It made no sense at all. She looked at the cassette. The writing on it she could read with ease. “For Jeannie.”
-MRC
29
Dec
(The following is a conversation between Faust and Mephistopheles.)
Faust: Who’s that there?
Lilly steps down from the stage.
Mephistopheles: Take a good look.. . .Lilith.
She walks right up to Frankie, who still looks dumbfounded.
Faust: Lilith? Who is that?
She whispers into Frankie’s ear. He smiles sheepishly.
Mephistopheles: Adams’s first wife. Beware of her. Her beauty’s one boast is her dangerous hair. When Lilith winds it tight around young men she doesn’t soon let go of them again.
Lilly, holding Frankie’s hand, leads him towards the back of the club and opens a door.
As they disappear into a dark room, the rest of the club awakens as if from a dream and continue their revelry.
-MRC
17
Dec
Cora gave me a complete and detailed account of an evening that ended badly. It went something like this.
Jeremy was a bundle of nerves. His luck was with him it seemed. He’d spent the night bluffing his way through several hands and won the night. Now it was time for the big prize. Cora was waiting for him. The guys rallied behind him as they walked the pier to Cora’s place. Several men were teasing him about using the tooth powder but Jeremy couldn’t hear them anymore. He was focused and a little more than nervous. His shoes were already untied by the time they reached Cora’s. They could all smell the jasmine emanating from her bath. Their jealousy was thick but none had any malice in their hearts for Jeremy.
-MRC
10
Dec
It seems there was one who could tame the beast
Frankie, stone still, watches as Lilly herself takes up the challenge of bringing peace to her club. Without violence or malice, Lilly dances for the instigator of destruction. The whole bar is frozen in amazement while Lilly works the lights. Her scarlet mane ablaze, she writhes to the music; her enticements on full display.
His attention at full alert to Lilly’s dance, Frankie forgets his previous motives. He is oblivious to everyone and everything around him except for the beauty in front of him. This would be a night to remember. Lilly is here and she has Frankie in her sights.
-MRC
7
Dec
The Keeper was near. He could feel it. The Keeper always found him; eventually. But who would it be this time? The Keeper was always in disguise. It was a game they played. Each disguised and in plain sight. His host would have to be careful not to be too revealing. Scorpius needed young flesh and couldn’t remain in the shadows for long. The Keeper knew it. The game was afoot.
-MRC