Triptych
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Sunday, January 1 (After Chapter 37 of Triptych)
[knocking]
aroslav: Hello?
AMANDA: Who is it?
aroslav: aroslav. Is it too early?
AMANDA: What time is it?
aroslav: 12:30.
AMANDA: In the morning?
aroslav: No. Sunday afternoon. Happy New Year.
AMANDA: Oh shit. Just a minute.
[Pause. Door opens.]
AMANDA: Sorry, Uncle Ari. I forgot.
[hug]
aroslav: How's my Mandy? Did you overdo it last night?
AMANDA: No. We were late is all. It was so much fun.
aroslav: Well, shall we go have lunch? Or breakfast?
AMANDA: Do I have to get dressed up?
aroslav: If you're comfortable, I'm fine. I've always liked girls in sweats.
AMANDA: You're a dirty old man, Uncle. I love you.
aroslav: Love you, too, Mandy. Let's go.
[seated at Denny's]
AMANDA: Thank you for including me. It's really been fun.
aroslav: You wanted to be in the story.
AMANDA: I thought you were going to make me a bitch. I like the way I'm turning out.
aroslav: It's hard to get it right when I'm dealing with someone so smart. Sometimes it comes off bitchy.
AMANDA: Well, keep going. I want to really break loose.
aroslav: Well, I have to record all the details in order to make that work. Who is Amanda Fortier?
AMANDA: You mean like whole name and stuff? Okay. Hi. I'm Amanda G. Fortier, age twenty, born on July 28. I'm a junior at Seattle Cascades University in the Pre-Med Program. I hope to finish here next year and go to Johns Hopkins Med School.
aroslav: What's the G stand for?
AMANDA: Grrrr.
aroslav: Really?
AMANDA: No. It stands for Graco.
aroslav: Um ... sounds like a story.
AMANDA: My stupid older brother. As the story goes, his toddler car seat sat next to my infant car seat on the way home from the hospital. He'd just begun sounding out words. The buckle on my car seat said "Graco." That's what he started calling me. My parents actually registered it as my middle name as some kind of bribe so that he wouldn't kill me. The bastard still calls me Graco.
aroslav: You were named after a car seat. Should I bring that up in the story?
AMANDA: Don't you dare.
aroslav: Okay, so tell me a little more about yourself.
AMANDA: Well, I'm five-five and weigh one-forty. I'd like to lose ten pounds, but I haven't been exercising enough to make it happen. I'm 34C, 28, 36. I'm afraid if I lose weight I'll be 32B, 28, 36. I don't fucking care. Just let me get on with my life.
aroslav: Whoa! Okay. And if it helps or not, I'd never have guessed you'd need lose ten pounds. You've always been my favorite niece and I think you're beautiful.
AMANDA: And you're my favorite uncle. Oh. I guess you're my only uncle, aren't you. Still...
aroslav: Let's just move on.
AMANDA: Okay. I've got medium light brown hair down to my shoulders that I usually keep tied up on top of my head. My eyes are blue.
aroslav: Bright aquamarine blue.
AMANDA: That sounds like something Tony would say.
aroslav: Which brings us to a subject we should talk about.
AMANDA: I admit. He's cute.
aroslav: Really?
AMANDA: Not in a movie star way. He's just ... all there. My view of him could be based on more than his looks, though.
aroslav: You're not falling for him are you, Mandy?
AMANDA: Um ... no. Of course not. I mean, what would he see in me? He's surrounded by beautiful women all the time and I mean for-real supermodel women. The tall blonde he plays racquetball with actually used to be a model. And all the rest of them are beautiful. And I'm ... well, I don't care.
aroslav: That sounds like a little bit of denial.
AMANDA: Well, I do care. But even if I lost a little weight, or a lot of weight, I'd never be able to compete with them. I'd still be a nerdy pre-med student who's been up all night. By the time I'm through my residency, these bags under my eyes will be permanent. Tony's cute and a nice guy and sometimes, maybe, I can trick him into a kiss or something, but that is all.
aroslav: Like your night in his chair at Tent City?
AMANDA: Oh. Uh ... we didn't really do anything.
aroslav: Mandy?
AMANDA: I just kind of warmed his hand in my armpit. He didn't touch me anyplace inappropriate ... with his hands.
aroslav: Okay. I'll let that slide for now. But why Tony?
AMANDA: You remember my last boyfriend?
aroslav: Not that slimy redneck who thought he owned you.
AMANDA: You make it sound like I have no taste at all.
aroslav: Well?
AMANDA: All right. He was slimy. I didn't think so at first. I thought he was rebellious and outside the box. And the more Mom said he was bad for me, the more I thought he was my bad boy.
aroslav: And?
AMANDA: Yeah. Well, he's in jail and I'm in college. I haven't had a boyfriend since.
aroslav: Mandy, you were fifteen then.
AMANDA: Kinda ruined it for me, you know? I mean, it's not like I never go out. I do, sometimes. But I don't develop a relationship. I've got too much going on to bother with the work. Boys are just dildos with emotions. No offense, Ari. But Tony is pre-tested. He's even got Bree under control and God knows that had to have been a task. And he's safe. He's got more relationship than he can handle. He doesn't need one with me, so if I can just borrow him once or twice or three times ... a month ... that would be fine.
aroslav: I'll keep that in mind. That exhausts the topic of Tony. Why don't you tell me about school? What made you choose to become a doctor? I really thought you were going to be a musician.
AMANDA: Yeah. Some days I regret it. But not usually. I still play my flute and violin. I don't have a piano. I've started playing guitar a little, but I don't really have the time to practice. This course is pretty demanding. I can do it, though.
aroslav: Why?
AMANDA: Do you remember Doctor Lila Faulkner?
aroslav: Your pediatrician? I only met her that one time when I had to take you in.
Saturday, July 16 (After Chapter 2 of Triptych) BETH: Hello? aroslav: Hi Beth. This is aroslav. Is this a good time to talk? BETH: Oh. Yeah. Tony said you'd call. I've got a few minutes. aroslav: Sorry we have to do this by phone. It must be eight o'clock there in Nebraska, right? BETH: Yeah. What time is it there? aroslav: 1968. BETH: Funny. aroslav: We're two hours different. It six here. BETH: So what did you want to know? aroslav: Well, I'm interviewing the people who are...
Saturday, July 30 (After Chapter 4 of Triptych) LISSA: Guess it's my turn to face the music. aroslav: Come in Miss Grant. Thank you for agreeing to talk to me. LISSA: Is this about a job? aroslav: No. We'd just like to know a little more about you. LISSA: I don't do modeling anymore if that's what you're hoping. Either fashion or art. Well, mostly... aroslav: Hmm? LISSA: I still model for Tony. And Melody. And Kate. But those are private sessions. I won't be modeling for classes...
Saturday, August 6 (After Chapter 6 of Triptych) AMY: Hi. I'm Amy. aroslav: Welcome, Amy. Thanks for participating in our interviews. AMY: Sure. What's this all about? aroslav: We'd like to get to know all the people who are important in Tony's life. AMY: You think I'm important in his life? I'd rather be important in, say, Melody's life, if you know what I mean. aroslav: I know, but we'll talk about that a little later. I'd like to start with basic information, if you don't...
Saturday, August 13 (After Chapter 8 of Triptych) aroslav: Welcome. Come on in. BREE: Where's the camera? aroslav: What? BREE: Are we going to talk first or do I just get undressed and diddle myself? aroslav: Bree? BREE: I'm not doing sex unless you're paying me full scale. aroslav: This isn't a porn audition. BREE: Looks like it. You at a desk with a computer and me on a sofa opposite. aroslav: I'm just keeping notes on the computer. You didn't really think I was auditioning...
Saturday, September 3 (After Chapter 10 of Triptych) MELODY: Melody Renee Anderson, age 19, born 23 January, sophomore, Student ID Number 9113507. aroslav: You're not a prisoner of war, Melody. I'm not going to interrogate you. MELODY: No sense of humor. Oh well. Whatcha wanna know? aroslav: Thanks. Are there any teens present who can hold a conversation without making me feel like an antiquated ass? MELODY: Aww. I'm sorry. I don't think you're an ass. aroslav: Oh? MELODY: Just...
Saturday, September 10 (After Chapter 12 of Triptych) ALLISON: You chose a great time for this. Couldn't we have talked sometime when I was sure and positive and knew what the hell I was doing? This is like the most confusing time of my life and I'm in rehearsal and have my senior project to do and ... Heavenly days! Can't anything be simple for once? aroslav: Hi, Allison. ALLISON: Breathe. That's all I have to do. Just take a deep breath. [Pause] ALLISON: Well if you was a...
Saturday, September 24 (After Chapter 15 of Triptych) GYPSY: You're new at this, aren't you? aroslav: Me? I do this... GYPSY: Relax. aroslav: I was going to ask you... GYPSY: Your questions will be answered. Cut the cards. aroslav: Okay. I wasn't intending to have a reading. GYPSY: Yet you shuffled for five minutes. Are you afraid I stacked the deck? aroslav: Can you do that? GYPSY: Card. [A card is turned] Five of hearts. Proof positive that I can't stack the deck. It has...
Saturday, October 15 (After Chapter 19 of Triptych) aroslav: Harold Anderson? HAROLD: Yes. Please come in. I appreciate that you came to see me. I don't think I could have made it to Seattle. The trip to Minneapolis pretty much exhausted me. aroslav: I hope your health is improving. HAROLD: Not likely, but I still have some hope. So what is it you'd like to know? aroslav: Well I usually start out with basics like name, age, and birthdate. HAROLD: Okay. Well, my full name is Harold...
Saturday, October 22 (After Chapter 21 of Triptych) aroslav: Welcome, Jack. It's good to see you again. JACK: Hey ya old goat. What's new? aroslav: More of the same. JACK: So you want to interview me for your story? aroslav: Might have a bigger role for you someplace along the line. Do you mind? JACK: Can't hurt. aroslav: So, name, age, and birthday. JACK: John Daniel Wade, also known as Jack. Born March 13, I'm 59 years old. aroslav: How did Jack ever become a nickname for...
Sunday, November 7 (After Chapter 25 of Triptych) WENDY: [to security desk] This is Mr. aroslav. He's visiting me for an hour or so. He's writing an article. [A bored hand is waved.] WENDY: I've wanted to tell people about this for a long time. Thank you for visiting, Mr. aroslav. aroslav: It's a pleasure, Wendy. But I have to say that I'm still pretty shocked. [sigh] WENDY: I know. Kate's the only one who knew before this morning. Now I guess everyone will know. Are you going to...
Saturday, November 26 (After Chapter 28 of Triptych) WHITNEY: Hey-ya! Knock-knock. You Dr. Aroslav? aroslav: Some people call me that. Welcome, Whitney. WHITNEY: Thanks. You really want to know about this little old Bayou girl? aroslav: No. I'm not really interested. There seem to be some people who believe you'll be important to the story sometime. They want to know about you. WHITNEY: Well, as long as it's not just you. What do you want me to tell you? Do you mind my Bayou accent? I...
Monday, December 5 (After Chapter 30 of Triptych) [Knocking] aroslav: Come in. [Knocking] aroslav: Come in! [Knocking] aroslav: God damn it. [opens door] Come in. SANDRA: Oh! Hi! I wasn't sure you were there. I couldn't hear anything. aroslav: That could be because you never stopped knocking. SANDRA: How else would I ... Oh. aroslav: How can I help you? SANDRA: Um ... Tony said to stop by. I know I'm not around much, but I thought I'd see if I could contribute. aroslav: And...
Monday, December 22 (After Chapter 33 of Triptych) [Phone Ringing] CLARICE: Tony Ames' phone. Clarice Bortelli speaking. aroslav: Clarice? How is Tony doing? CLARICE: Who's calling, please. aroslav: Sorry. It's aroslav. CLARICE: Aroslav? Oh. Yes. You are on Tony's list. aroslav: Is that good or bad? CLARICE: Just means he said you might call. aroslav: I'm just checking in. The past week has been pretty chaotic. CLARICE: You're telling me. aroslav: Why are you answering...
Monday, January 30 (After Chapter 40 of Triptych) RIO: Doctor aroslav? Can I talk to you? Please? aroslav: Rio! Come on in. RIO: I'm glad you're still here. I was afraid you'd gone home already. I know it's kind of late. aroslav: There comes a time when sitting behind a desk with a computer is the only thing left for a man to do. RIO: Oh, that's sad. aroslav: Not your problem. Not really even mine. Tell me what's on your mind. RIO: I heard you were interviewing Tony's...
After the reading and dinner with an old college friend, she retired, as had become the custom, to the hotel bar. Here her company was a boyish bartender who seemed to be desperately trying to think up something witty every time he passed by her but was never quite able to get it out. He’d pause, concentrate really hard, and then move on. Men and woman of various ages were scattered at tables behind her, one guy on the phone, sighing and giving an angry “all right” every few minutes.The bar...
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THEY DID A 50S RETRO SOCK HOP in the gym for a mixer. It went about like sock hops did in the 50s, if Happy Days was genuine. The guys sort of lined up on one side and the girls on the other and nobody hit the dance floor. At least I was thankful I had clean socks in my gym bag. The fact that they were bright white made me look hip in this environment. Black jeans and a black t-shirt made me look like the local bad-guy. Hello Fonzie. I headed over to the snacks and drinks table to get myself...
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“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!” When the last, slightly off-key note had rung out, Kate and I bent to our individual cakes and blew out our candles. I raised my head and met her lips in a sweet and delicate kiss. I could see Melody and Lissa mimicking our action out of the corner of my eye. When Kate and I broke our kiss, Melody captured my lips and Lissa kissed Kate. Then my two wives switched and I lost myself for a moment in Lissa’s sweet embrace. “Look! Kate missed a couple candles!” someone...
IF WE STAYED in the position we were in much longer, Kate and I would effectively be glued together by dried come. That had a certain appeal to it, but I didn’t relish eventually ripping ourselves away from each other so I let her slide off my lap to settle between Melody and me. I wrapped my arm around Lissa, pulling her close. I kissed her and licked Kate’s juices from her face as she absently petted me. After two such powerful orgasms in such a short period of time, it would be a while...
WENDY DID HAVE US BEAT. She wore a tuxedo-printed T-shirt with a v-slash cut-away at the bottom that just exposed her pussy. We all got a good laugh and persuaded Wendy to drop the servant role and sit and have breakfast with us. And what a breakfast! There was baked apple-cinnamon French toast that was unbelievable. Sausages. Bacon. Melon balls sprinkled with goat cheese. More coffee. Hot cinnamon rolls. And Mimosas. We were at the table eating, laughing, joking and staring at each other’s...
IT WAS AN INTENSE TWO WEEKS getting to Opens. After that incredible birthday party, when Kate joined us in the big bed, we spent Sunday drifting in and out of the bedroom, getting food, presents, and drifting back to bed. It was such a dream. Kate was ... just Kate. Every time I thought of her, my eyes started to water. But Monday morning, three of the four of us had to go to school. I had to go first since I had that god-awful seven-thirty Human Anatomy course. Not that anatomy is awful for...
LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT. That’s the way my week went. Class, class, class, practice, homework. The first break in the monotony of my schedule was Friday at nine-thirty when I met with Clarice. She wasn’t happy. I hadn’t done any work on the Singhs’ portrait since my sketch last Saturday. I promised that I’d have studio time on Saturday afternoon, but that this was reality now that I was back in classes. I was only going to get to paint in my studio about once or, at best, twice a week. I was...
MELODY GOT TO THE STUDIO with the boys right at one o’clock. They were excited to have an afternoon working with Tony and Meddy. Melody’s loom was set up on one side of the studio now and she was doing an intricate, loosely-woven hanging. “I’m still not sure this is going to work,” she said as she sat down at the loom. “I think I’m actually going to have to stretch it on a frame when it’s done in order to display it.” “I think it’s beautiful,” I said. “You are a constant reminder to me to...
WE LAY IN BED TOGETHER. It was still a little strange to think of making love to Kate in this bed without either Melody or Lissa there with us. But it was also okay. Lissa and Melody were making love to each other in Minneapolis right now and this was my special time with Kate. I wanted to make it as special as I could. We undressed each other, one piece of clothing at a time. I took off her top—she removed my polo shirt. I slid her cami up over her head and off—she unfastened my belt and...
“WE’RE GOING TO WHAT? SERIOUSLY?” We’d shocked Allison. For a minute I thought she was going to cry. One thing I’d discovered during National Singles last spring was that Allison is very sexual. Even when we were in enforced abstinence, she wasn’t above relieving herself. Neither was I, for that matter. We’d just told her that orgasms were forbidden as long as any one of us was still competing. “But my competition is a round robin. It won’t end till Sunday!” “Well, that’s good, Allie,” I...
ALLIE TOOK HER SECOND OPPONENT fifteen-five and fifteen-zero. The poor gal didn’t stand a chance. Not only was Allie winning, she was piling up a point spread that would be hard to beat, even if there was a tie. She stayed to watch Lissa and me struggle against our second round opponents from Wisconsin. We won by two points in straight games, but we were plenty worried. It felt like they were on the same wave-length that we were. What great energy. We showered and I fed Lissa a light lunch....
“THE SON OF A BITCH!” Melody spat. “He thought he could spare Mom and me seeing him while he was sick. He thought he’d crawl off and lick his wounds and try to heal himself. And if it didn’t work, he figured we’d be less hurt if he left us first because our grieving would be over and having him dead would be a relief. God damn it!” We’d managed to move from the huddle in front of the door and gradually get Melody to where she could talk over the past hour or so. Allie was in the bathroom...
ALLIE DIDN’T BOTHER TO SHOWER after her match, but went directly with us to the finals of the mixed doubles. We had to change venues because finals of the Open division and Pro division matches were all held in the big glass box in the center of the arena. Being the smallest of the Open and Pro brackets, ours was the first to play finals. Women’s Open Doubles and Pro Doubles would play their final round later in the afternoon. Tomorrow, most of the matches that anyone was interested in would...
DON’T ASK ME how we slept. I just know I woke up with my cock still wedged just inside Melody’s entrance and clamped tightly between her legs. I think I must have been hard all night. Melody shifted and I sank a little deeper. She moaned. I held my breath and started describing each of the two hundred plus pictures of water lilies by Monet in my head. “We could just...” she whispered as I pinched her nipple. “Wouldn’t be fair,” I answered. “But it’s all so perfect.” “Remind me to sleep...
AFTER SHE’D COLLECTED a quick kiss from Allison, Melody, and me, Lissa turned to the cameras and reporters to answer questions. I was surprised to find another pair of lips plastered against mine, briefly but intensely. They were quickly gone and Melody was tackled. Janet was about the same height as Melody and even though she was surprised, Melody responded to the kiss. Then Allison bent to receive her kiss. The interview continued next to us as we all three looked at Janet. “Um ... not...
“WE NEED A BIGGER BED!” I panted when we’d all recovered a bit. Allison and Lissa laughed. It had become my mantra. “What a great idea!” Melody said. She scrambled out of the bed and started tugging at the end table between the two beds. “Help me move this out of the way and we can push the two beds together.” I had to laugh. That was just what we’d done months ago when Melody moved into my dorm room after my roommate left; we’d shoved the two beds together and got a king size mattress pad....
Saturday, July 18 (After Chapter 21 of The Prodigal) Tony: Are you sure you want to do this? aroslav: Fair is fair, I suppose. Tony: You usually start out with the basics. Name, age, birthday? aroslav: My name is aroslav, all lower case. I'm also known as Devon Layne. I celebrate my birthday on August 2 and I'm two years old. Tony: You have no idea how weird that sounds. So let's start with the name. What ethnic background is "aroslav?" aroslav: Guinea pig. A number of years ago I...
Every year, June 22nd, she comes back to the park. This was her fifth year. She always wears the same thing–a cotton dress, sandals. Her hair, undone and loose, the waves cascading down her shoulder blades, caressing her skin, just a hint of sweat. Everything just the same as it was the day she saw Rowan. Five years ago now, hard to believe. She was younger then, just a few years out of college. Back then, nearly every day she wore a cotton dress and sandals. It was pretty much her uniform. ...
“Please give a warm welcome, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Lancaster!” The crowd cheered its praises as I continued to adjust my seating arrangement. Cross the legs. Uncross the legs. Twist the ankles around the chair leg. Nothing helped to alleviate the pressure that was ever present. I glared at my husband who sat next to me as he continued to applaud the couple on their new marriage. How is this man able to get me to do these things? Feeling my stare on him, he looked over at me...
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