new flash piece, Raven Hall Pool, Firefly Magazine
Raven Hall Pool
She tells me childhood stories as pool water laps our mouths. Her words grow flippers and soar to the steel beams above. A lifeguard duo with prismatic baby blues. Cerulean so clear, their angular faces disappear beneath water. Both brothers displaying the rock-hard swagger of overtaxed muscles. Gluteus sauntering along Raven Hall’s perimeter causes much chlorinated gulping. Mouth-to-mouth the prize.
I understand water is the best place for many reasons. Below the surface you imagine heaven. This pool is old. Its white edges gray. The ceiling is missing a few tiles where words can get trapped. If the roof spoke, it would have a lisp. Yet the water sparkles like her stories. Here all are weightless. I’m thankful the world is mostly water. In salt-aqua things older than the universe continue on. I’m sure she cherished Raven Hall Pool for the same reason. And those lifeguard brothers. She dated the younger and was infatuated with the older. Not difficult imagining two handsome lifeguards all the way down to their bulging confidence. And her first kiss.
The water temperature is perfect. Never over-chlorinated. I keep my eyes open while swimming beneath. No goggles or cap, not ready for those. When we lift our legs up the steel rungs, it’s with grateful exhaustion. Until the next time. And there will be more swimming sessions. Many more I pray. To hear stories and watch her words grow flippers. This pool is worn, but in the underwater silences a dream makes its best escape. The world is mostly water. Imagine, all those words swimming to the sky.
ghosted background photo you see is my gorgeous mother showing off that movie star smile of hers!❤️
Sup AnnMarie I got good news to report I am feeling better and got the support now of an outreach program of caseworkers who will meet with me every week to help me in my recovery. The first few weeks is paperwork. I am doing better with my diet and eating fruits and veggies because I feel good I have some distractions like football that give me joy so its easier to diet and just rest and not worry about my writing. it may take a few months before i recover and i really feel well with these distractions to keep my mind engaged with something else then thinking about my recovery. i feel a lot better than i did two weeks ago. hope you are well. ttys
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so glad you’re feeling better, Dan
eating well is the best revenge
just remind me I said that, when I’m peppermint patty binging 😉
am:)
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AnnMarie is sad, AnnMarie is whacked, AnnMarie better get her shit together…
If you weren’t and you did what would we read😁
Enjoyed Raven Hall pool.
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and what would I write 😘
thank you so very much, George
am:)
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