Arrow Friction To Fiction
Opened flesh illuminated by the embedded finest from Eros, I facet masks of Thalia and Melpomene fitted to Jacq’s character. Eros gloats. Embracing an ever returning ghost, I dance wondering am I haunted or hunted by what a god of passion delivers. Twice landed, a second mega arrow triggered two replays of the residing first, and again I found the unspoken absorption of who I name “Sprinkles.”1
He might as well appeared on a chesterfield sofa2. The magnetic radiance of one sunk the room. Not to intrude, I held reach. He leaned and lingered to tell a secret. A gentle voice so at home, I tuned-in surround. Ears and heart for eyes, the arrow altered me instantly. Like a Polaroid, I kept the last sight, and memory of his depth.
Micro focused fish bowled awareness among scattered Lucky Charms translated all into, “I love Sprinkles. … I love Sprinkles.” Communication forever departed that room. A new guest helping a recent acquaintance for fun, I was fired under the influence of Sprinkles, yet otherwise sober. Fallout from any other chaos in this time of my simple Manhattan life far from Mardi Gras town suddenly paled. Unusually silent, I returned to my daily local cafe seat, not a word from a soul sticking.
Marveled by an independent radiance with a magnitude of the sun, the second landing from Eros twice sparked the more than twenty years embedded Sprinkles. First was a harpoon noted to a date in the 4th post, holding its own fire and what-ifs of want from Sprinkles. I bled out dry into walking kill. Chihuahuas, in awe, maintained eyes upon me like circling herding dogs reminding of their food bowls.
Fish bowl bound aware, I channeled into fury for physical healing3. The hurdle began back-flat on a yoga mat looking beyond the ceiling in tearful frustration as to why I was still struggling to stay awake for three hours at times. Seated, I sequenced dance steps and rebuilt strength, then hurled fire toward regrouping my San Francisco medical team during a trailing pandemic, pulling life closer to present tense.
A year a month and a week later, the residing second mega arrow struck Sprinkles again in amplified composition paralleling the mental Polaroid of last sight, eleven days after introducing him as Jacq’s inclusion. Watching the scene, I fell into tears and cried a whole day both for the circumstances of Sprinkles and all I did not do. My mind scripted scenarios of unknown futures while cycling stages of grief.
How much convergence slides before inquiring a tending force? To a screen, I whispered, “Sprinkles? Is that you?” The array of oddity focused back to a specific time period and number of variables calling my attention there far exceeds this story. The source of the second arrow is flint to pyrite in every instance, broadly. Why? What a force so bold to overturn such hidden corners, to light up everything with love.
With encapsulated arrow and gem inclusion established in Jacq, the only question I can answer now is how and when Rose and Jacq first experience one another. As tending force of characters, of course, I will grace my creations with a double colliding arrow from Eros, and a sprinkled foot leading.
The best discoveries are reached from the grapevine.
Please do tell a few friends of common interests. Share directly, or via social media.
Scene Sample (early draft- Palms Manor party)
CLAIRE
(with an energized refreshed breath Claire leaves the dance floor and rings Jacq’s phone)
Is your precious head clear for business? Midnight’s next, angel. An extraordinary someone …
JACQ
(arms extended to present himself with an apologetic smile)
… arrives to save your day?
CLAIRE
(looks up from the phone upon hearing Jacq’s voice, delighted, hugs fast and pulls back)
Well groomed in a spark of time. How fortunate! A unique arrival has occurred
(single pat to the chest over his heart, smiles, walking away backward in a palm forward gesture of placing him and holding eye contact)
It’s important, to - Stay - where - you are… don’t touch - the cake. Gregory is helping. This will only take a breath.
JACQ
(glances toward the table)
CLAIRE
(in a loud whisper)
Not a print - don’t move.
(Throws a securing glance)
JACQ
(raises a doubtful staring smile as Claire briskly turns away, glances the table with Claire out of sight - HIS THOUGHTS NARRATED)
One more polar pedigree party peach picked to pacify me, Claire, and I plow past the palm trees.
KATIE
(passing by with three of her girlfriends)
Hi, Jacq!
JACQ
Good to see you Katie!
(warms to a sincere smile)
KATIE
We’re topping off at Belvedere’s in the city. You’re welcome to crash our table.
JACQ
I’ve done enough furniture damage today. Have fun girls; I appreciate the invite … take a taxi!
KATIE
(sarcastically accepting his advice, slightly rolls her eyes)
Of course, Jacq.
(her friends suppress a giggle, and continue walking)
JACQ
(warmly smiles back as the girls leave - solemnly drops his eyes - drags a finger along the edge of a raised empty cake platform impatiently, barely touches the icing, tastes it - HIS THOUGHTS NARRATED)
No feeling, nor vision, not now, not minute 45, not if I howl! The dart board by the cake tower is me, ladies. Take your pick. The lure to my right is layered in our finest cream cheese icing.
(swipes a full fingertip of icing, discreetly pretends to rub his lip after pushing icing in his mouth while shifting it over his tongue - HIS THOUGHTS NARRATED)
A dunking booth would have offered a shield. I could mime. I could pose as an ice sculpture. - Keep nodding, keep waving, keep smiling. -
(people pass, glancing, as Jacq’s sugar reaction intensifies)
Of the brilliant minds here, I am the one to pen this on my calendar, I would already know! From her set-ups, I claw constantly …
(like a big cat in a cage, blatantly swipes a larger fingertip full of icing, and a more pronounced swallow - HIS THOUGHTS NARRATED)
Yet I’m continuously catfished into her wishful thinking pond, like a tuxedoed toy waiting for a princess to plop a ping pong ball in an empty fish bowl.
(Jacq gets a vision, unconsciously swipes a small taste of icing - HIS THOUGHTS NARRATED)
… She’s scheduling my next arrival tonight! Why? No! You’re unhooking me, cake lady! Right now!
(YELLS ALOUD across the property)
I resign from holding my breath!
(swipes a final full fingertip of icing and shamelessly eats it while thrusting onto the table throwing hands into the air, yelling)
I’m a tree! A freaking palm tree now!- I do not move. I go nowhere, unlike the orchid. I do not care… but oh I do!
(flails his hands and body once more to pronounce finality, knocking the cake stand, and freezes still)
GREGORY
(arrives at the table during Jacq’s last sentence, conveniently stabilizing the cake stand before it falls)
CLAIRE
(stops approaching about 14 feet away with Rose and company at her side, jaw dropped, gasps)
JACQ!!! What on Earth …
JACQ
I blow in the wind. I don’t converse. I blend into the fringe. - You get one guess to tell me!
(looks down toward Claire, then sees the look of shock and disbelief in the soft gaze of Rose, slightly shifting to a concealed smile - he softly speaks in a retracting manner)
Never mind.
CLAIRE
(SIMULTANEOUS SEQUENCE (1-3) - storms forward toward Jacq, mouth gaping open)
ROSE
(SIMULTANEOUS SEQUENCE (2-3) - turns and briskly walks away through the sparse crowd)
GREGORY
(SIMULTANEOUS SEQUENCE (3-3) -drapes a string of fairy lights around Jacq’s wilting “palm tree” arms, pats him on the back consolingly, and continues to tidy)
JACQ
(does not move, staring into the empty spot where Rose once stood, softly speaks)
Who is she?
CLAIRE
Someone neither of us will see anytime soon, son. I offered a cake sample.
JACQ
I … I can not move. Introduce me.
CLAIRE
(To Jacq)
Uproot and return to the farm. Let Gregory take you.-
(quietly says to Gregory)
Can you leave a note in his pocket on where to find the Jag tomorrow?
GREGORY
(nods, with an experienced warm smile)
You’ve got it, sugar bee.
(continues organizing to depart)
CLAIRE
(Sternly stares at Jacq, pouts her face, then turns in a fluster, storming away with a hair flip to regain grace.)
ROSE
(sitting in her car out of sight grooming in a windshield mirror, listening for Jacq’s thoughts -HER THOUGHTS NARRATED)
Not so grounded, palm tree. You’re eventually gonna to need to come down.
JACQ
(Still on the table while a few people linger to clean up. It’s quiet aside from the sound of crickets, someone sweeping, and Gregory walking around)
My conscience returns with her persisting vision, sugar hangover… she will remember me!
ROSE
(HER THOUGHTS NARRATED)
That cake topper impression is questionable for a winning gesture, though you did sink the room.
JACQ
I didn’t get to bid my grasping adieu.
ROSE
(HER THOUGHTS NARRATED)
The unforgettable memory of your standing ground should hold.
JACQ
Unto the wind I send a kiss to find her … to make my true impression.
ROSE
(HER THOUGHTS NARRATED)
Anything you want, is your choice, Jacq.
JACQ
She’s a guest!
(hops off the table)
ROSE
(Lovingly - HER THOUGHTS NARRATED)
Adieu, palm tree. Enjoy the farm.
(Grabs the wheel and drives away)
JACQ
Gregory! I need tonight’s book.
GREGORY
That’s Palms Manor proprietary property. She’s not on it. You dodged your mom’s intro to Tracy and Ivy.
JACQ
She’ll return, here, to this very spot. But why? And when?
GREGORY
Powder room was her mission. By the way she walks through the room, she‘s in this biz. Good for you it’s not cake, though surely something.
JACQ
How long could it take to predict one woman?
GREGORY
I don’t know, though that conscious of yours better have dog ears.
JACQ
My conscious has dog eyes.
GREGORY
Better try howlin, Jacq. Let’s get you home.
Song Of The Post
The best discoveries are reached from the grapevine.
Please do tell a few friends of common interests. Share directly, or via social media.
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Your Bliss Or Mine (#2) describes how Sprinkles became a part of Jacq’s character.
Referencing Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams, a Chesterfield sofa is thrust into the present via the space time wash.
Eros Must Fix This (#4) briefly touches upon a health condition stalling my quality of life.