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Rules of Reality
Prologue: Rules of Reality
America in 2050 was no longer about freedom. Americans had willingly traded freedom for constant surveillance and fear. What began immediately following 9/11 as a war on terror, quickly became a war on everyday decent citizens.
Why focus on terrorists when it would be just as easy to focus on everyone.
Between the horror of 9/11, massacres on college campuses and the murder of the President's son, Americans were ready, at any costs to feel safe. If it meant a bit of government interference here and there it was worth it.
If a large, faceless corporation constantly offered you an opportunity to keep your children and the children of your community safe, there was no arguing about it. This is what started the introduction of a new drug,Reality, designed to eliminate violence in children and lessen its probability among post adolescent consumers.
Save your children or watch them die.
Reality was the beginning of America's rejection of democracy, free speech and most importantly, free thought.
More addictive than Heroin, it was also community sanctioned by celebrities and politicians alike. We were all made to believe that although it was not the best or a perfect solution, at the moment it was good enough.
At rallies across the country, the positive effects of consuming Reality were shared. Rallies were renamed parties and offered as a place to meet and greet friends,find out more about Reality and of course, determine the best way to allow the government to do its job(protecting citizens).
While many people joyfully entered the parties that were enclosed by a large steel,lifeless gate,there were historians among the masses who knew and understood this level of manipulation and governmental control.
They had names like Griefers,trouble makers, mavericks.
This group of people were considered radical but would have been known as thinking, average citizens twenty years before.
A simple question or a public disagreement could get you taken care of.
No one noticed people not being at the parties, the assumption was that people had forgotten, had other things to do and maybe just weren't up to all the noise and interruption of their day.
Human beings have an incredible ability to convince themselves of almost anything.
My family was told that I was causing concerns within our community and my afternoon of questioning was simple a safety precaution. My family was told that it was a random choice and that periodically everyone was brought in to discuss anything that might be a danger to the community.
The definition of "danger" in the community constantly changed.
Constant change in what something meant or stood for was the first indicator that we should expect more interference and not less.
As a history professor and writer it was important that I teach young people to question authority and not assume that because rallies were now being named parties that anybody was gonna have a good time.
Be careful what you name things and who gets to do the naming.
My biggest regret is that my young nephew was taught how to rebel and not maneuver.
My nephew never learned to rename the truth and it costs me my life.
I'm glad he never learned to recast the truth.
Truth manipulators always have a good reason for their behavior and love to think that this is the best way to deal with life. Those of us labeled as trouble makers are the only ones who have ever made a difference.
We are also the ones who have been watched the most.
Fear kept good people quiet and average people uninvolved.
Rallies, parties, political removal, resorts. To a rational mind, none of this made sense, people didn't want rationale, they wanted security and guarantees of safety.
Christopher Mitchell
Since the 'incident", I 've structured my world with very few surprises or upset. Sunday is the day for rest and reflection. On Mondays I shop for food and cook meals for the week. Tuesday means lots of reading and organizing thoughts on paper. Wednesday is the day to check in with mother and the family, if they allow it. Thursdays I see a therapist. Fridays are the worst- two days of loneliness. Saturdays are the most difficult. My family always avoids me on Saturdays.
For one year I carried on like this. One day I saw a commercial urging young people to save the country, be good patriots and redeem their social clout. The instructions were simple: put yourself on a disc discussing your likes, dislikes and family ties and whether you thought this country could turn itself around and take back its former glory and rule the planet. There was no way the government was asking for something this simple in an effort to restore America to its former glory. Whenever I heard that familiar Reality jingle, I'd race to the television.
Mother called today. She saw the ads and thought it would be great if I stopped moping and got out of the house. She left a message because it was Monday and I was doing my weekly shopping.
"Hi Chris, it's Mother. Just wanted to say hello and ask if you had decided what to do for work. I've been seeing these ads and I think you'd make a fine civil servant. Your uncle, wherever he is, always felt that civil engagement was extremely important. Ok. Love you. Bye."
The one phrase , wherever he is made me wince and retch. No matter what I did or how many times I apologized, my family would not let me forget that I was the reason my uncle was removed. Perhaps this new gig will allow my family to love and accept me and allow help me return my uncle to our family.
After listening to this message twice, I decided to apply for this new civil servant position (Joyman)and support the government in launching a new program.
Two Sundays after I applied for a Joyman's position I was left a message via a mechanical voice.
Cold and sterile it stated:
Dear Christopher Mitchell, Congratulations. You've been selected for the initial interview process. We will see you Tuesday." End of message.
I got a serious case of the "Willies" after the last word, Tuesday.Is it too late to retract my application? Would this raise too many suspicions? The fact that a nonhuman recording voice left a message let me there was no way I could "change my mind".
"Would I be interviewed by a computer as well?"
"This is ridiculous." Christopher heard himself say aloud. How can a computer interview anyone? Had America gone that mad? Was this the price for protection and liberty?
There was nothing to do but prepare, show up for the interview and hope for the best.
I need to make sure that whoever interviews me understands that I am as frightened as any good American and willing to do whatever I can to protect the country. Uncle Allen refused to keep his trap shut and go unnoticed. With this new job , I should be able to find Uncle Allen and even leave the country for a short time.
"So tell us Mr. Mitchell, why would a bright young man like you be interested in working in a place like this and for the government?"
Interviews always started like this. A deadly dance that reeked of desperation , arrogance and ill preparation. Who would put themselves through this voluntarily? No sane person would eagerly take this on hoping to get anything out of it but grief.
"I've always been one for government involvement ,civic duty and ongoing community involvement. It seemed like the next thing to do and well…"
"That's nice but what we're looking for is someone dedicated to making change and who is unafraid of making people uncomfortable".
The ominous voice slithered from the small cordless square grey box. In the year 2050, humans didn't bother to interview with people face to face. Who had the time, patience or wherewithal. Instead, you entered a sparsely decorated room and hoped for the best. Most of the time you didn't get it. What you got was a voice activated, heat sensitive interview box. Christopher had heard about these contraptions and was unsure whether or not he should believe this urban tale. Ten minutes into the interview he wished he'd believed the tales and prepared more thoroughly.
"Being uncomfortable is my middle name ". Christopher's response was weak and predictable.
His computer generated foe picked up the rise in heart rate and blood pressure then immediately shot out a question that would make Christopher sweat and stumble just a bit.
"Give me an example of confronting uncomfortability and your immediate community including your blood relatives."
The machine released a small human like sigh followed by a throat clearing that startled the ill prepared interviewee.
"I set up my uncle by playing a disc in public where he criticized the use of Reality, in particular as it relates to small children."
Christopher was banking on the assumption that no one, not even a dumb computer, would believe that any human would willingly and knowingly sacrifice a loved one. A dim bulb came on and off three times in a row.
Three days later he received a Congratulations letter and a new hire information packet.
60 days after he began his work with the government, he knew it was time to indict a close friend or risk being seen as ineffective. With both eyes on the large gate and a sense of what might happen if he looked away, Christopher began questioning who could be fingered without causing much harm.
Ms. Atkins, an acquaintance of his uncle's had become very comfortable offering her opinions.
"A full out interrogation wouldn't really get you much. She'd fold up like a cheap suitcase and refuse to answer any questions no matter how much you threatened her."
"When do you suggest is a good time of day? What have you heard?"
Christopher was impatient.
Christopher listened very closely and decided a five minute visit to the Stewart household would allow him to speak with Mrs. Stewart and discuss Julian which could easily become a conversation about Uncle Allen.
"I've heard that they keep the adults in one place and the young people in another. "
Maybe the casket crawler had more (knowledge) to share than he originally thought. Sixty days into a new job is no time to challenge the government's ties to Reality. I know what happens when you question the use of Reality. Young children and uncles disappear. All citizens and especially government officials are constantly monitored. What if I'm going to have to defend my small talk with a known psycho?
Christopher excused himself and went to the rest room. He secured a stall and locked the door, he opened a letter that his uncle had left and read it.
Dear Nephew,
If you're reading this it means that I'm already dead or at this point with that I was. For several years, I tried my best to coach, mentor,guide and most importantly love you. We now live in a world that had even less concern for our emotional well being than it did when I was your age. The world kept getting scarier so I chose to keep getting braver. Bravery and courage has a price. Remember me saying you choose the action and not the consequences? I should have listened to my own advice and maybe you would never have to read this letter. I chose bravery and clarity. The folks who believe it's their birthright to run the world wanted me to choose delusion. When they came to get me I still refuse to accept their bullshit and am now paying the price. Lifetime imprisonment disguised as isolation and the reality that I will never see you or my family again. Was it worth it? I'm not sure. How much change can I do under house arrest and the understanding that my life stopped being my own the minute they got ahold of that recording and asked your moma if she knew anything about it. She claimed that she didn't and that her brother was always going on about something. That was all the information they needed. One hour later, I was being told that I could pack one bag and would need to come into the office to clear up a few things. This letter is the last thing I can give to you. Remember be smart and live to fight another day. Ask yourself everyday is this worth it and what is this gonna cost me. If I had known what might happen maybe I would have kept my mouth shut. We'll never know.
Much Love,
Uncle "B"
Two days later Christopher and Joyman 1 were officially assigned the Stewart household as a place to visit.
Isabella Atkins
Nobody should be given the name Isabella. It's a Queen's name and people expect you to do great things. Command armies. Crush enemies.
On my last day of first grade, we had a celebration. I brought in a huge box of vanilla cupcakes with pink buttercream frosting and enough cupcakes that if each kid wanted to eat four of these treats there would still be leftovers. After we ate all we could hold, there was a dance off. I came in third and won a pencil sharpener shaped like an old red schoolhouse. After setting aside my sharpener, it was time for the foot race. I was excited because I could beat all the girls and most of the boys. Today, I was set up to race against the fastest boy. We lined up to start our race and the other kids went crazy.
"You can do it Isabella!"
"You're just a girl! You can't beat a boy!"
"Don't listen to them Isabella, keep your eyes straight ahead!"
The girl who told me to keep my eyes straight ahead was my only friend. Lisa had told me the first day we met that my name meant something and that she was gonna help me take over the world. I glanced over to see her arms reaching toward me and two tiny fists clenched. Those fists meant the world to me. It meant we were gonna win this together.
"Go!!!!" The teacher told us to tear out, so we did.
I won the race that day and all the kids went berserk. It is easy to think all your troubles are over when you get at bit of success. But every success brings other challenges. I got caught up in finally having a reason to have the name Isabella and forgot about all of the lemonade I drank and wet my pants. The boy I'd flat outrun (Nelson Fitzpatrick) was the worst.
"Need a towel? Hey, Issy want a diaper for your bottom. You're a big dumb baby."
When that wasn't enough he started a chant: "Smelly Belly belly Smelly.
All the kids joined in: "Smelly Belly Belly Smelly".
Lisa jumped into the crowd and said: "Stop it. That's enough".
Nelson was having too good a time and told Lisa," I 'll say when it's enough, and what are you gonna.."
He never finished that sentence or saw Lisa's dusty fist meet his jaw before he hit the ground.
"I said that's enough. "
Lisa grabbed my arm and lead me away from the crowd and to a small chair. We became best buddies that day.
As I sat with Lisa, I silently wished I'd had the guts to slug Nelson one good time. Even if he had beaten the cream cheese out of me, I would know I could take on things, lose with dignity, and come back with another approach later.
I was both excited and embarrassed because of what had happened a few minutes earlier. I could either break down here or go share all my hurt with the one person who would listen, my grandfather.
My grandfather , Paw Paw, didn't give a crap about the sucka who got knocked out for shooting off his big fat mouth. Paw Paw's main most concern was that I got to be somebody.
"Sista Baby.. your parents are kind but very ignorant people. Don't pay 'em a bit of attention. You and me are different. I waited through four of your mommas pregnancies to get to you. And I'm glad I did. Them damn doctors kept telling me I had six months to live and I told them shut your gravy hole. I got a special granddaughter on her way and she needs me to tell her how to run this camp.
Paw Paw often told me- "Sista Baby, "I've lived through the depressions so there ain't much that can rattle this old cage."
He told my parents, "If I even think you are saying anything unkind to Sista Baby, I'll beat you with a shovel like you owe me money and burn your house to the ground with you in it."
Whenever Paw Paw mentioned burning down a building folks got real quiet. All of my family agreed to never discuss the hospital Paw Paw destroyed when its staff refused to see a colored woman. The family also never discussed Paw Paw's propensity for shooting his shotgun from the porch (once a week) to let the white folks know they didn't run shit and that no man scared him.
In June, after my first year of college , I packed my bags and made the decision that I would return in a semester or two once I got Paw Paw on his feet. June 8th, I arrived on the porch of my parent's home. They were expecting me. My grandfather was not. I walked into my old bedroom and put down my bag. Glanced at all I'd left behind and then headed down the hall to Paw Paw's room. Slightly pushing the door open and respectfully knocking and entering the room, I gasped at what I saw.
What kind of people allow a man to dwindle down to nothing but a flesh sack wheezing and courting death?
"Paw Paw, you gone sleep the day away we go things to do" I whispered to him the way he used to wake me up on Saturdays when we'd pull out for a day of adventure.
He began to stir and blink his eyes.
"Is that you Sista Baby or is my mind playing tricks on me?"
"It's me. I'm back. I couldn't let nothing happen to you."
"These mother suckers are trying to kill me around here. They don't stand a chance."
"You should probably rest. I will be back in a bit."
At the end of Paw Paw's funeral, no one could find Isabella because she had curled up in the casket refusing to accept death.(Isabella spent twenty minutes in her grandfather's casket before anyone realized she was missing) Twenty minutes after the service when the minister was having his third helping of potato salad, Issy's mother realized that her daughter was not around. Thinking that the grief and Issy's inability to hold anything in her stomach the last four days, had caused her to wander off,her mother assumed Isabella would turn up. When the plastic spoons ran out, everyone panicked knowing that Isabella had made all the arrangements and was the only one who knew were the extra utensils were kept.
While the guests ate downstairs, Issy's mother excused herself and began looking for her daughter. Walking into the somber room where they kept Paw Paw, her mother could not believe her daughter was carrying on like this and risking the family name with these pointless and gossip inducing hijinks.
"What are you doing in here? Have you lost what's left of your mind? You could have been buried alive. Come out of there and stop all this nonsense."
Whenever Issy wanted to feel special she'd refer to herself as Sista baby. When she noticed she had left a pile of tears on that left lapel and her mother was more concerned with finding spoons than her dead father or a grief riddled daughter she consoled herself.
"Sista baby pull yourself together , leave this place now. You are on your own." she heard her PawPaw's words whisper in her ears.
She gave the corpse she loved a hug and whispered in his left ear "I'm glad you waited for me. I'm gonna make you so proud".
She scrambled out of the casket and headed towards the kitchen.
"Let me get those spoons. I don't want anybody to not get all the free food they can hold."
Issy's mother would have given her only daughter a fresh smack in the mouth if she had not worked so unrelentingly on being properly bred. Upstanding, educated, middle class black folks didn't hit their children and they certainly didn't allow sarcasm and cheekiness. In a moment of rage, she forgot these well honed social skills.
Clutching her daughter's arm, she offered her a supportive and no nonsense statement.
"Don't start with me little girl. Your grandfather wouldn't approve and neither do I."
She released Issy's arm and took a step back and with a smirk stated: Are we clear?
"Crystal". Issy shot back.
Making her way through that pack of free loading weasels, Issy was reminded of her grandfather no matter where she looked. Grabbing a fistful of spoons for the potato salad reminded her how this was one of his favorite dishes. She snatched up a pile of napkins and recalled spilling things as a child and while her parents grumbled about her lack of grace and disregard for money, Paw Paw would say why don't you grown people find a better use of your time than picking on Sista Baby.."
With her grandfather gone, she would have no one to fight her battles and no one to think she was worth fighting a battle over and for. This thought brought additional tears. She would pull herself together when she refilled the sweaty pitchers with sweet tea. Gathering three fluted pitchers she filled one and then another, but stopped when she got to the third.
Paw Paw will never have sweet tea again. This thought made her sad and then supremely angry. She filled the third pitcher then pressed the swinging kitchen door open with her right foot. She heard the laughter; she heard the imitations of her grandfather threatening people. She heard three different people tell a small crowd that they would "beat them with a shovel."
If Lisa Stewart had bothered to show up she would have been right in the middle holding court and demanding attention as always. She would probably have launched into the time she was called uppity by Paw Paw and he took it upon himself to let her know that nobody in our house liked her.
Backing into the kitchen, she hung up her apron, adjusted each pitcher so that the handles faced East at a perfect 45 degree angle, and left out the back door. She would only see most of these people when she began the career that would allow her to make good on the promise she made to her grandfather. In less than one month, she would be responsible for these people and their callous treatment of her Paw Paw's legacy.
The ad was simple: Low pay, benefits and community respect.
When the ads were placed, a handful of desperate people applied.
Each of them possessing one of the qualities needed to become a facilitator.
One applicant had the cold heartedness needed, but lacked subtlety and stealth. Another was so concerned with the welfare of others that the interview team knew that would ask too many questions and ultimately leave when he felt that the community was being ill informed. Too many of them asked questions and began discussing pay and promotions immediately.
Anyone who was that clear and morally solid would be difficult to control. What those in charge wanted was someone with an unsettled emotional debt. What they wanted was someone who needed to do something to belong.
The day they received Isabella's application they silently rejoiced. She was perfect. She had a slew of incompletes in her life, had bounced from one awful job to another and most importantly she was a loner. Her grandfather had died a while back and she had very little contact with her parents.
Like most folks with something to prove who are also insecure, Issy arrived for her initial interview a respectable twenty minutes early. She walked down the street with the address in hand, 19355 Conley, and realized this was a part of town she never came to.
Who the hell would have an interview before sunrise?
Either this involved some weird night crawler creepy cult people or it was some colossal joke.
Giving her navy blue suit a stabilizing and reassuring tug, she pressed onward thinking early a.m. homicide or a life changing career, either way she was dressed for it.
Walking an additional three blocks South, she came across a pack of homeless people warming themselves around a large tin bin. Normally, she would have tensed up, clutched her purse a little closer and began scanning the area for a quick exit. But this group of vagrants smiled, offered a thumbs up and one tipped his shabby cap in her direction.
"This Reality really was the best idea ever." Isabella silently congratulated herself on making the "cut". She felt proud of herself for getting this far in the hiring process. She knew her grandfather would be proud of her for making a decision and doing something that would alter the culture and uplift the community.
She thought these things while entering and then waiting for someone in a room cold enough to hang a side of beef in.
The receptionist entered her stark cage and began addressing Issy immediately.
"You must be Isabella. Welcome. I hope you didn't have any trouble finding us."
Isabella was slightly stunned.
The receptionist looked a lot like her. Not enough to be creepy but enough for Isabella to feel that she belonged here because someone who looked like her was already here. The receptionist wore her hair pulled back with a smart ponytail dangling over her left shoulder onto her breast. She was dressed in a dark skirt and wearing sensible nude, kitten heeled pumps. She wore a pair of simple hoop earrings.
Issy sent up a gratitude smirk to her grandfather and then immediately began planning for what she would say about herself once she began the interview.
What she had no way of knowing was that she was being watched for five minutes.
And then another five.
The people watching her wanted to see who this person really was, in particular, under pressure.
After twelve minutes of watching her they released an offensive odor into the air. She appeared to notice it but continued to self preserve for the interview she had been called in for.
The interviewers were slightly impressed but not shocked.
At exactly seven 'o' clock, they sent a crying woman into the lobby to pass through on her way to the elevator and out of the building.
Isabella noticed the obviously upset woman but remained seated. She made no attempt to comfort or inquire as to the source of this women's upset. This one act now had the interviewers attention.
Each of them typed into their hand held devices: Not swayed by emotions or hysterics.
The final test was an effort to see how long she was willing to wait and to attempt to discover if she would endure the pain of another because her goal was more important.
Isabella received a congratulations letter and new hire information three days later.
Isabella knew that if she was going to make it in her new position, she would have to make sure that the government knew who the trouble makers were.
When she was told that she would be responsible for crushing a rebellion and making sure that people knew she was in charge she made a decision.
Every Tuesday Isabella was in charge of site visits(uncomfortable time spent observing small children in classrooms).
All the children and teachers knew to expect her and no one felt comfortable until she left.
She knew that Lisa Stewart's first born was in the class and at some point would do something (like his mother) that he had no business doing.
Five minutes after her arrival, the docile children offered her a proper morning salutation then stoically walked to the creativity sessions to begin that days work. Each child was given a sketched animal and instructed in what should be done and in what color.
Julian Stewart was already not listening and silently arguing with the teacher.
He would, like his mother, do what he thought best which usually meant doing it his way. Julian was already working during the time when the other children were deliberating which color they were allowed to use.
With only three choices the decision making was simple.
They all began coloring and just at the point when it seemed this day was identical to all the other visits Julian did it.
He produced and began furiously creating with a purple crayon and making himself a perfect target.
Was he being clueless or defiant?
She circled the classroom once and then a second time before approaching Julian's table.
Issy, wanting to make Julian comfortable, spoke first
"Hey mind if I sit with you?"
Julian already in his own world was taken aback when he heard a familiar voice and looked up.
"Sure Aunt Issy, it's a free country … it used to be."
"It's not so bad a place to live is it?"
" Grown ups don't want us to have any fun. Who can draw anything awesome with these dumb colors?"
" There's a lot you can do with these crayons."
" All the good ones are taken away. There's not much fun you can have with beige and puke green. Aunt Issy I gotta get to work. My granpa is expecting a purple rabbit for his birthday".
Julian's teacher noticed that Isabella had noticed the crayon and was having a discussion with him about it.
The teacher in an effort to not lose her job or attend a closed door meeting with the principal had to make a career altering decision. Pretend she had never seen the crayon or offer the explanation that she had tried to stop him but there was nothing she could do.
An instructor two years from retirement was in no mood to screw with a fat retirement package and ongoing healthcare.
She glanced at Isabella and said: I wonder where he got that? We haven't had colors like that in this classroom for months."
Issy's plan worked. She knew where that stick of defiance had come from.
She watched young Julian draw a bit and then attempt to engage the other children at his table by offering to share his crayon.
All the children refused feeling very sated with their non disturbing and abundant tools for creativity.
Tapping her tablet and adding a second note. She checked with the anxious teacher regarding how contraband had entered her classroom without her knowledge.
"Probably a parenting thing. This is the first time this has happened, correct?"
The teacher looked away then nodded her head up and down.
High on the power that can only occur when you've made your first big power move on a new job, Isabella decided to take a stroll through the Distribution Party in hopes of topping her initial efforts. At the monthly gatherings, folks were always more relaxed and willing to share pivotal and personal information.
Dressed in her interview clothes (a navy jacket with faux pearl buttons, matching pencil skirt, handsome nude stockings and sensible kitten-heeled shoes) she prowled through the crowd, plaid notebook in hand, with hopes of catching someone being outrageous enough to make the slightest comment about the government and the good it was doing in the community.
"Girl, please tell me they're not making you wear that get up in all this heat. Lose the jacket and you might avoid heat stroke."
Lisa Stewart, still refusing to see Isabella as a contemporary, was stupidly leaping right into Isabella's conspiratory net.
She never knew when to shut the hell up.
"Nobody is making me wear anything. It is important to make an impression the first sixty days on a new job."
"The only impression you're making is somebody notice how important I am". I'm just kidding you. You really shouldn't do this. "
"You're doing it again. When will you accept that it is now my day. You've had thirty years. It's time to hand over the broomstick."
"You keep that up and I'll hand it to you across your skull".
"Oh no Ms. Stewart, I really don't think it's wise to threaten a government official."
"Official? You've been working two months. Employee".
"Have it your way."
Isabella methodically hit her tablet screen and began furiously entering data.
"So now you're what? Writing a citation? Making me stay after school for detention? What has happened to you. We used to laugh and joke and now you've got a plaid notebook and a steady paycheck..
"You still don't get it."
Isabella closed her tablet. She was planning on making a show stopping exit Lisa Stewart style (nose in the air; one hand placed on the right hip with knuckles leaning on a waistband) but chose to create a new ritual that she would be proud of. Her days of mimicking and aping the behavior of Lisa the Great were now officially over.
Lisa, now realizing that things had changed was now slightly afraid and began placating her oldest friend with light, childhood dreams.
"No, I don't get it. I thought we were gonna change the world. I thought we would make the scientific world safe and encouraging for young, bright, beautiful black girls. I thought we…
"We never asked me if that's what I wanted. We never gave my opinions any thought. Where we were we when I needed someone to discuss my grandfather's death?"
"Have a pleasant day". Issy turned on her heels and marched off.
While this heated and socially polite exchange was taking place, George, Lisa's neighbor from across the street, was becoming more uncomfortable listening and not being able to respond.
He'd never cared for Isabella Atkins and thought this was a great opportunity to help Lisa dump that high and mighty, driftwood once and for all.
George approached Lisa.
"I wouldn't eat anything she brings to the next party.
Lisa Stewart
Many scientists say that the first five year of a child's life are the most important. My initial five were full of secrets and things we couldn't talk about.
My parents wanted their neighbors to look at their own racism and privilege. If they had relegated their well concerned and righteous rhetoric to people who visited them in their homes, things would have been different.
They started going into Black churches and demanding that people move out of forgiveness and into action and community responsibility.
One church would have been ok but by the time they hit church number ten and began to speak with government officials people started having some different responses. Basically: shut the hell up and let us wait for the government to fix this.
My parents were a lot of things. Patient was not one of them.
After I was born they continued to challenge the group consensus that being silent, nursing their wounds and waiting for elected officials to do something was the only solution.
My parents gave up and decided that home schooling was the best option. Four years of homeschooling and innumerable "visits" by concerned social workers convinced them that a move to a smaller and perhaps more progressive part of the country could change things for them and give me the opportunity to grow up with people who could think.
Being a child of displaced hippies is not all bad.
My parents were always going on about the way things used to be that many years ago black folks were more radical and far less willing to go with whatever people said was the truth.
They taught me early and often you better get some friends that sit on both sides of the table. I didn't understand this until all the hullabaloo happened with the terrorists and my parents who were against terrorism had friends who were anti- American and folks who were nursing all sorts of hatred for Arabs and Muslims.
Each side threatened them and told them to get rid of their "friends". My parents refused and paid a hefty price.
Our collective fear lead us into the worst reaction you could have: silence.
Immigration was being attacked from all angles.
It wasn't that people in this country hadn't seen or didn't know any immigrants it just became illegal to be one.
Once while watching the news with my dad I saw an angry white woman telling a group of people : "go back to your country! Stop taking our jobs! We don't need any illegals here!"
I asked my dad what an illegal was. He told me it was what some people called other people who weren't born in America.
While my father thought it was great that his baby girl could sniff out lies and stupidity at an early age, my mother was less optimistic.
She often told me that people don't like smart brown girls and that I'd better figure out ways to survive.
"Survive what?"
"The world". She shot back.
In our new town,I landed at the perfect school – children could design their own curriculum; parents were encouraged to volunteer as classroom teachers to share any skills they had mastered during their lives.
My mother taught community organizing and critical thinking.
During her first month of teaching, a smart mouth kid with a flair for drama asked my mother a very personal and rude question: How much do you make?
This kid wanted to know less about what it took to be self reliant and revolutions and more about the cold hard cash my mother was pulling down every week.
Nelson always had a smart comeback for any adult who dared to offer insight or knowledge. It's why as soon as I got a clean shot at that loud mouth Nelson Fitzpatrick I took it.
One right in the chops shut him up; knocked him on his ass and got me my first true friend, Isabella Atkins.
When it came time to pick a summer reading buddy we chose each other. We've maintained our 30 plus year friendship. No one could ever ask for a better ally.
My mother thought Issy was common and no way fit to be in the company of Stewarts. I could always count on her for the big and little things. She brought over my homework when I was sick. She lied to my parents when I met with college recruiters from institutions they disproved of.
She offered me half her sandwich when I demanded that political prisoners be freed and refused to eat until it happened. At some point, I got the notion to start a newspaper. It was important that I share my ideas with a larger audience and gain greater exposure. Ol' Issy was right there-editing, sending email blasts, updating our web page.
Even when her grades suffered and her mother threatened to pull her out of that stupid school she continued to help me.
My mother always said if a person is blessed with one true friend that they have truly hit the jackpot.
Isabella Atkins was my jackpot until we completed high school.
Once we finished high school everything changed.
It wouldn't be long before she betrayed me for the first time. Our senior year, I came up one vote short and lost class president. Although it was never officially proven , I know she refused to vote and it cost me the election.
It almost cost me my Harvard entrance.
Anybody who knows me knows that it would take more than that to stop me. After med school and some traveling and living overseas, I returned to a different America.
Reality was supposed to make everything better and keep us all safe from the "crazies". Initially, it was a suggestion for calming our children.
I resisted and almost lost my only son Julian. When the government stepped in and removed him, I knew that this Reality was nothing but bad news.
Reality was my new Nelson Fitzpatrick.
My husband Michael and I made several difficult decisions during the course of our marriage: I stayed home with Julian until he attended school. I also refused to put Julian on Reality which meant I was directly challenging the government.
To directly take on the government, you need two things: a plan and good friends.
The first part of our plan involved testing our friendship with Bern and George. Having known Bern and George for Twenty years, it seemed natural to assume they would be fierce and passionate allies.
Michael helped George get his first job in the public sector before things got ugly and George shot off his big fat mouth one time too many about bathroom breaks and logging in when he used the copier.
Things had changed in such a scary and unpredictable manner that it was stupid to assume anyone would risk anything for anyone they knew no matter the relationship or years building it.
Together, Mike and I made the decision that a dinner party would not only allow pivotal information to be shared, we could also find out how committed our friends were too social change.
Lisa called George, the braver of the two, to begin a friendly interrogation. In one phone call she would have to find out if her friend was committed to rebellion, and if he would rebel with them.
George and his husband Bern had decided to not have children but were quickly recruited to be "awesome" godparents as soon as Lisa found out she was pregnant and would bring a child into a world that was becoming stranger every day.
When it came time for George and Burn to add children, neither of them would check the box requiring their children to take Reality.
The government was not amused and they were then added to the "list".
She began the conversation with small talk: what time hors'doevers would appear; how soon dinner would be served; the time they would each say they left. Before stealthily launching into the real reason for the call and the dinner party.
Lisa shared her longing for more social contact with George.
"I sure miss getting together daily. We had a great time just popping by unannounced for no reason."
George echoed her sentiments.
"We had our best talks when you would just dart across the street to try out a recipe".
"We loved babysitting with Julian. George would love seeing us all together between the monthly distributions."
"Don't get me started on the distributions. At the last one, you caused quite a stir".
"Don't put that on me, Miss Lisa. I simply said what any sane person would say about kids: they're kids and are supposed to be emotional."
When Lisa heard that her dear friend cared about her child has much as she did, she knew she had an ally.
"Well I know that and you know that.
But letting anyone within earshot know what you truly think is always asking to be lead to the slaughter. You saw that husband of mine make one 'under his breath comment' about not knowing the long term effects of Reality and it damn near cost him his job and a good chunk of our livelihood."
"Oh, I saw that interview. That camera work when he winced, sighed, turned his head and mumbled about the effects was pure genius. I have it looped and can't stop watching it. Don't ever let it be said that Ol' Mike don't have a pair on him when it matters."
They both laughed.
Lisa surmised that her friend was as committed to protecting her child and taking on the good fight.
Lisa now had one household committed to keeping her son drug free. She immediately felt sad that she was unsure of whether another long term friendship would also provide support . Right before the previous month's distribution, Isabella had accused Lisa of being selfish and wanting to cause trouble. Still, it might be a wise move to invite Isabella to find out what she knew or more importantly what she did with what she knew.
Before Lisa could even suggest an additional dinner companion, George ripped into her other friend like she owed him money.
"Oh yeah and don't even think about that Isabella woman. What nerve. Telling you how to handle your affairs.
"Who does she think she is?"
I mean she gets one job being a rat for the government and now she is an expert on children, husbands and the goodness of the government. I swear if she shows up I'll put my head and hers in the oven."
Lisa politely ended the conversation confident that she had at least one ally that lived outside her home.
Two days later, a dinner party would be the site of the small initial rebellion.
For a successful dinner party you need a few basic essentials: great food, great friends, interesting topics of conversation, and most importantly, no unexpected guests.
The Joyman promised Lisa they'd only stay five minutes. Lisa silently prayed : Please don't let our guests arrive early. The problem was that guests would start arriving in twenty minutes.
Lisa would have five minutes to get through the questioning by the Joyman. Five minutes to determine why the Joyman had chosen this night to visit.
Had someone made a phone call?
Five minutes to determine what she could and couldn't say, and to find what these ominous beings had heard about her and her "plans".
She knew to keep her lies simple and easy to remember.
She knew gatherings of people beyond their monthly, overly publicized distribution party was illegal and could cost you family member and friends.
Lisa hated lying, but knew that this must be done if she wanted to protect Julian.
"Mrs. Stewart, we're not here to cause you stress. We have a few questions."
"No problem. I have all the time in the world to answer questions."
Lisa Stewart knew that showing too much emotion or upset in any direction could cause suspicion and, in the worse cases, a second visit.
"It seems that there has been a bit of radical action and ways of being here lately.
Is that true?"
The one on the left started in with the questions first.
Lisa repeated this term in a thoughtful and deliberate fashion.
Lisa was wise enough to not repeat the word in a manner that suggested she was unaware of its definition or that she was confused and upset that her home was under suspicion.
"We follow the rules just like everyone else.
Gatherings for distribution.
Children in bed at Seven and adults at Eight. Nothing radical about that."
Joyman number two, dead center, cleared his throat and spoke .
"You seem to have forgotten the most important rule: Making sure prepubescent children take a daily dose of Reality. I would say that not doing this would definitely qualify as .."
The first Joyman on the right was now deliciously engaged in this ongoing game of cat and butterfly.
How could I have forgotten that mandate? Lisa chastised herself before moving into defense mode.
"Yes," said Joyman number 1. "Needlessly and deliberately defying the opportunity to keep you child and the community safe would be an act of Radicalism."
"No one cares more about children and this community than I do."
Lisa knew sharing an obsessive fixation on the correctness of government actions would convince her tormentors and buy her a bit of breathing space until her next great idea presented itself.
What she had not planned on was the way the questioning would continue for six additional brutal and dismissive minutes.
While the questions initially began left to right in an organized and civilized fashion, the Joyman, used to subtlety and manipulation to reduce and then remove individuals from jobs and their own homes, relied on a more random and drawn out procedure for discovering inconsistencies.
While Lisa Stewart silently congratulated herself for providing an effective and emotionally dead response to their barrage of questions, the attack continued.
"Do you get along with your neighbors ? How often do you see them? Do you see them beyond the monthly scheduled gatherings?"
Lisa knew where this was headed.
They were either gathering information to convict a neighbor or someone had sent them to her house to start conviction procedures.
Quickly she realized that she needed to throw them off her trail and find out whether they suspected her or a neighbor and what their next step would be.
"My neighbors are some of the finest people I know. We are democratically social offering a brief greeting when we see one another and under no circumstances socializing beyond the distribution parties. "
"Do you recognize this artwork ?" Joyman one held up a hand drawn animal and Lisa instantly recognized it as her son's work done in his favorite color (purple) a hue that was not on the approved list and most importantly, a color that would force someone to make a call and the Joyman to make a visit.
Earth tones were the ones on the approved list.
Purple was only allowed at the distribution parties after permission had been sought and approved. There was no way that her son could have saved a crayon for a month.
"It appears that Julian enjoys things other than the color beige. Wouldn't you agree, Mrs. Stewart ? Perhaps there are selections in his home that he practices with and prefers. Would you care to show us his sleeping room and what exactly he's encouraged to do when in your care?"
Who knew what they would find or plant.
It was too risky to have a pack of vile strangers plowing through your home.
"My home is a wreck. I had no idea that I would have guests. Perhaps some other time."
"So you'd like us to return at some time ? That can be arranged? It's not everyday we're extended an offer for additional visits."
She couldn't uninvite them or pretend that what she was doing was normal.
Perhaps she could suggest they visit another neighbor.
Why would anyone suggest an additional visit from the Joyman for any reason?
There could be one more attempt to find out what they knew and who would have gained anything by suggesting that she get a "visit".
Lisa was feeling proud of herself until she realized that only Joyman 2 was looking in her direction.
Joyman 1, deeming her chatter irrelevant, was taking notes in a grey plaid notebook. What was he writing in that book? Written secrets (thoughts and opinions) hidden away in books were for private eyes. A way to share constantly and without input from those who disagree.
Lisa began. "Nobody is more concerned with keeping our children and community safe than I am. I was talking to Isabella about how our government always keeps its promises. Lisa added a youthful smile of a young woman who still believes in what older, wiser grown-ups tell her.
Lisa noticed that Joyman 2 shifted his weight when she mentioned Isabella's name.
She had to find out if it was Isabella who'd caused this much angst riddled interrogation. She would mention the name again. If Joyman 2 so much as blinked she'd have her answer.
She created the next question and answer before her visitors could speak.
"Isabella and I agreed that at the next distribution we'd inquire as to whether we could increase the dosage of Reality and whether it would cost extra."
Joyman 2 offered a slight wince.
Christopher Mitchell was no good at being a tough guy. With his big heart and love of justice, this job would break him if Lisa Stewart didn't do it first.
Lisa was satisfied and knew two things- she could break Joyman 2, and it was Isabella who had suggested that the Stewarts be investigated.
Joyman 2 knew that he'd blown it and was angry that he could be read and manipulated so easily.
He whipped out his book and immediately wrote: VISIT WEEKLY-SUSPICIOUS ! He may have been the last Joyman selected but was by no means the least intelligent or cunning.
"When is the best time to return so that we can speak with you and your husband ?" He saw his chance and took it.
"It would be nice to speak with him again." He lied.
Lisa winced.
"He's usually home by 6 so anytime after that would be great."
"I think we have all we need for now. We'll be in touch."
They began putting pens back into note pads ; straightening their jackets and adjusting their ties.
She saw the neighbors across the street step onto the porch.
She let out a small gasp.
The Joyman noticed. "Is there a problem?"
"Not at all. "May I offer you some coffee?"
"You have enough for the three of us?" The Joyman smirked to one another.
Lisa had forgotten about the rationings and the impracticality of sharing.
" You will hear from us soon. I still have a few questions. About the coffee."
The Joyman scared you when they visited. They scared you even more if they promised to return.
The Joyman formed their exiting ritual (shoulder to shoulder). Opened the door and walked eastward. The proper procedure was to stand there and watch them leave.
As they turned the corner Lisa looked across the street and her neighbors looked back, shake their heads and go back into their home.
Disturbed and feeling slightly triumphant, Lisa left her porch, entered her home and closed the front door. Mike closed the basement door behind him and went to comfort and congratulate his brilliant wife.
Mike, the first to speak and the more fearful spoke first: Are we ready for this?
Lisa shot back: "Do we have a choice?"
F*** You HIV and The Fear You Continue Bringing Our Community
Some years back, I wrote a piece to the infectious and still omnipresent HIV disease.
There is no logical reason for anyone to become infected.
We are not dealing with logic. We are dealing with people.
We are dealing with human beings whose only concern is : who will love me? Am I worthy of love ?
If what we're confronted with is either unprotected sex and possibly being alone or literally diving in and hoping for the best, we often take the leap and hope for the best.
Anybody who has ever been sexually active has had interactions wherein the strategy was one of hoping for the best.
Hoping that you are both monogamous or at least if you aren't you are the only one that this person is having unprotected sex with.
I blame the shame and our collective refusal to address our sexual concerns and what it is we really require.
I am sex positive.
I understand many people choose abstinence which is avoidance at its most extreme.
People who only have this one option are limited when situations present themselves that require more than saying "no".
Another option us old timers (myself and anybody who was around during the first and most devastating round of fear mongering and stupidity that was 1983)like to indoctrinate younger folks into is the condom/protected sex for every encounter with someone unless you know their sexual history.
We must create a new set of tools to deal with the concept of staying uninfected and strategies to cope with new infections should they occur.
I am shocked and pissed off when the only strategy is one that is mired in drama and upset instead of real world solutions to real world problems.
The most devastating thing that HIV/AIDS has done is not death, sickness or even suffering and prolonged misery among those infected.
HIV's most riveting and far reaching devastation has to deal with the amount of fear and shame it created and the stigmatization of those infected.
Those of us who have who have remained uninfected feel vindicated.
As an out black gay man who has lost boyfriends, professors etc to this disease, it was my ignorant assumption that at a certain point (middle age) I would no longer have to think about or navigate HIV and its presence in my life.
Some of my friends have taken drugs(for two decades) that vary in their effectiveness regarding the ability to manage their illness .
In Long Beach, California , a large portion of our community has been infected and everyone continues to scratch their heads in lieu of having real conversations and coming up with real action to make some serious changes.
What prevents us from reinventing the real type of sex we are having and not the kind we are taught to like and or the type we are telling our friends we are engaging in?
Many of us live in and interact from a place of shame when we have to admit our love for the dick, getting fucked, our sexual partners nuttage or the joy and pleasure that comes from distributing a good pounding to a willing ass.
If I can't admit and own my desire how in the hell can I adjust and rethink my personal type of pleasure?
My own personal way to give the finger to HIV is to date and fuck and love those who have been infected.
I have not always felt this way nor interacted in the most humanistic and loving way when someone has shared a positive status with me.
Part of my willingness to participate in making the infected "the others" was an awful experience I had more than two decades ago with a few select assholes who made their sexual appetites more important than being honest.
I willingly chose to stigmatize others and feign shock when I met folks who were determined to remain sexually active.
I assumed that HIV infected people should give up sex.
When people shared with me that they were not only being sexually active but were also not apologetic about it, I got pissed off.
My assumption was that they were lying to someone somewhere and that they were undoubtedly putting all of us "good, follow the rules" people at risk.
This thinking was challenged at age 40.
Meeting and talking with so many infected individuals changed my heart and my mind.
HIV and AIDS is not the problem.
Lies, a refusal to be honest and an overriding commitment to being right and stupid at all costs, these are the real issues and barriers to ripping HIV Stigmatization from our collective conscience.
What are you willing to let go of to claim more of your humanity ?
Get Rid of Unsatisfying Relationships Once and For All
A family member suggested that my Nephew could not stay with me and my white partner because he liked to "stick with his own".
I was mortified.
Putting racist,nonthinking aside, it was clear to me that people get hurt and miss out when interactions are either not made or are not deepened.
Most of us like to construct our relationships with people who look and think like us.
For many people, this is an easy existence and one that requires little to no effort.
In world that is rife with two minute meals and the need to be connected to everyone all the time, it is little wonder that we are uninterested in building relationships.
We are encouraged to consume and rely on stereotypes to develop and then discard our friendships.
Men who want to do things differently are often confused about how this will look and most definitely how it should begin and continue in ways that rely on true heart to heart connections.
Using my "secret" attraction" to you or the belief that I will save you via my infinite pool of wisdom and insight means I have already dehumanized you and in the process myself.
Men should enter relationships with a collaborative aim.
What can we do together to care and nurture one another?
I often struggle with explaining to men that I love the depth of love and concern I have for them even though we are not sexually intimate.
Homophobia knows no bounds and touches all of our lives.
While I can be extremely thoughtful, kind and considerate with other gay males regardless of the extent of our relationship, my straight male allies are often met with harsher tones.
My fears of being bullied or made fun of often keep me in defense mode which often leads to name calling and ribbing as our initial interaction.
Building healthy, non exploitative relationships and interaction takes a great deal of time and commitment.
When men decide they want a better world for everyone, there are few things more productive than building alliances across differences.
I am often amused by folks who say they are not racist yet have no black or brown friends or they have interaction with dark folks that is based in servitude and entertainment.
When white males are pressed about their lack of friends of color much silence and bumbling explanations occur.
The same thing takes place when black folks are put in the same position.
In the great movie Lorenzo's Oil, community is formed based on improving and saving the lives of children.
Several people band together (despite race, class and socioeconomic differences) to ensure that children are not suffering.
While it was a typical Hollywood movie in most parts, the idea of people bonding and building using only their internal resources struck me as radical and innovative.
My very good friend Carlos and I struck up an interesting friendship almost ten years ago.
As my immediate supervisor, it was his job to keep all of us on task and deliver results for the corporation that employed us both.
We developed a rapport that quickly became a solid friendship with us advising one another on everything from relationship problems to ways to eat healthier and invest money.
When there was a misunderstanding that caused us to not speak for weeks, we restructured our relationship when he told me that I was one of few people he trusted with taking care of his new, then unborn first child.
This statement meant the world to me and changed the nature of our interaction in ways that still provide close connection even though he lives in Brooklyn and I live in Los Angeles.
On a daily basis, we are all provided with tons of opportunities to change our minds and the ways we interact.
Men who are interested in transforming the world don't deny their fear nor allow it to paralyze them.
Men who want to change the world change themselves first.
Men who are secure and choose to fight for the inclusion of all ensure that they find, create and nurture connections in ways and places that may not be obvious.
Men who are secure understand that attraction, homogeneous alliances and safety are not reasons to connect or dismiss another.
I know several people who have decades long interaction with people they don't like or respect and then wonder why they feel so unfulfilled in their personal lives.
Gay men it is time that we recreate our relationships with other gay men and let go of this ridiculous, teenage way of building relationships based on another's "hotness".
Gay men it is time we let go of the straight male seduction fantasy.
Straight men it is time to let go of the idea of being so irresistible that all queens can't wait to drop to their knees and will risk all manner of good sense and self respect to bed you.
Our Fears Make Stories Real
A guest post by C. Hope Clark
I've recently become familiar with Anthony Carter, his voice, his refreshing outlook. So when he asked me to guest post for him, I found myself in a quandary. Here I am trying to blog about my latest mystery release, on a blog that digs deep into how to live a better life. So I read several of Anthony's posts. Took me a while to connect his blog and my mysteries . . . then it hit me.
Mysteries are wrought with fear. Sensing it, fighting it, deciding whether to succumb to it. Not only in terms of fighting the bad guy, but in terms of fighting self, because nobody can brush against death and emerge unscathed.
That's what I want my readers to feel in a character navigating a treacherous journey. The good guy, the antagonist, even the sensitive side-kick or the humorous secondary should not be in the book unless their lives change from the fear they experience in the pages. Change for the better? Maybe. Change for the worse? Depends. Change from what they were in the beginning of the book? Absolutely.
I write two series, the second being The Edisto Island Mysteries. Callie Jean Morgan, a homicide detective in Boston, once rode high and mighty, considered excellent in her field . . . until her excellence gets her husband killed when she takes down a long-pursued criminal element. Fanatically, she taps her skills to snare the killer, only to lose her job in the process. She's left with a son to raise, her gold-plated career turned to rust, and goes home to her South Carolina Lowcountry family, and a mother she clashed with for as long as she could remember. She drinks, weathers panic attacks, and has completely lost her way. Her father hands her the keys to the family's cottage on Edisto Beach, telling her to take the summer to get her head on straight, yet the first day she arrives, a murderer kills her childhood mentor next door. And the inexperienced six-man police force has never handled a murder before.
Now we have real fear. Callie's fear of her inabilities, fear of disappointing her mentor, fear for her son's safety, and fear that crime has followed her to Edisto, a place where she was supposed to hide away and figure out her screwed up self.
And the reader craves to learn how she's supposed to carry so much fear and not fall apart.
In Anthony's piece "Why None of Us Have Earned the Right to Let Fear Rule Our Lives," he states when fear rears its head, it is clearly a time for self-examination. But in a quality mystery, we don't want the main character to stop, analyze, and self-correct. In reality, we don't always self-correct properly when our minds are frantic with worry. Instead, we knee-jerk react, discounting the right choices that our emotions aren't willing to accept. Or we make decisions with half the facts. Or we wish for all our obstacles to vanish as we stick our heads in sand, pretending things aren't as bad as they seem.
Those frail, human responses to fear are what make for the best storytelling.
Anthony goes on to state, If the worst has happened, and we've collectively survived it what else is there?
In the real world, this simple question can help us re-center. In fiction, this is the time where the author lets the character think this . . . then rains havoc for them letting down their guard. There's always something worse, which makes for the best plots.
Why? Because as human beings, we want to see the worst of the worst on the screen or in a book's pages. We want to see the best of people fail. We want to sense that others have it worse than we do. We want to see what it's like to watch somebody else give up.
But then this seed sprouts inside us. Surely the bad guy can lose and the good guy can pull out all the unthinkable stops and wins.
We want to know there is hope beyond all odds. We just want to watch some other person struggle with it instead of us . . . while we secretly put ourselves in their place.
I heaped one misery after another on Callie Morgan. Death, misunderstanding, loss of family, loss of friends. Enough self-doubt for ten people. Readers felt her pain, stomachs roiling from the fear around every corner. But by the end of the book, they wanted her to seize her compass and point it in the right direction, empowered by her losses, educated by poor decisions, and guided by a need to make life right. (Key in the orchestra swell.)
The latest book in the series is Echoes of Edisto, book three, and it releases August 5. Our heroine has returned to law enforcement, regained her footing, hopeful in the choices she's made for her future. Yet tragedy happens on her watch, costing her an officer . . . two weeks into her role as Edisto police chief. She suspects premeditation. She allows a split-second of second-guessing allowing naysayers to propel her mentally back to a darker period. But in the meantime, a criminal element eats away at her beloved Edisto Beach. She slowly loses trust in those around her as everyone's closeted past floats to the surface, and all she knows is not as it seems.
Some people love mysteries for their challenge in tackling conundrums and fear. Others hate them for the same reason. I deem them healthy, allowing readers to dip into their fear, safely experience the scare, and close the book energized from the voyage. And in some small way, I like to think I offer people hope that fear can be overcome, both in fiction and in life.
C. Hope Clark is author of The Carolina Slade Mysteries and The Edisto Island Mysteries, with her latest release being Echoes of Edisto August 5, 2016. Hope is also a national speaker, teaching writers how to embrace their careers and earn a living at that which they love. She lives in her beloved South Carolina on the banks of Lake Murray, when she isn't walking the sands of Edisto Beach. www.chopeclark.com / www.fundsforwriters.com
The Shocking Truth About Black Male Health
Lies hurt.
When we speak of improving our health very little attention is paid to the lies we ingest. We are told lies about the importance of our health.
Black Men do not take care of their health and we pay the price via high blood pressure, diabetes, stress and a host of other maladies.
Brothers please take care of your health.
We are all very valuable.
Nobody is at their best when they are primarily responding to pain and physical discomfort.
Our pain and discomfort are often places we are encouraged to deny, overlook and allow to go unattended. I have often put myself in physical danger believing there was something to be proven to those who said they "cared". This nonsense carried over into adulthood and sexual relationships with men wherein I neglected to speak up and chose a lie over what made the most sense.
Culturally sanctioned by the larger community and supported by the smaller and highly oppressed subcultures of which I am a member, the message is clear: our health is not important.
Recently, I had major infections in two of my organs and Jaundice in my eyes.
Several individuals weighed in with their arm-chair-mother-wit diagnosis(it's work related stress) others dismissed my symptoms as cultural in an effort to lessen my concerns regarding my pure exhaustion, night sweats and chills.
Until I made the decision to address what ailed me nothing changed.
When I saw the Doctor, he freaked and immediately ordered me to an urgent care unit.
The larger question still looms: Why did I wait so long?
Why did I believe that it was ok to be sick as I told friends and family (off and on) for two weeks?
How many men do the same stupid shit and end up sicker than I was or worse yet, dead?
What can be done about it?
I will take an almost psychotic approach to maintaining my health.
I will also listen to the world's best and 24 hour available doctor, my body.
I will not allow folk to write off my thoughts and symptoms because they need me to be "ok".
My health and well being is not a burden or something to be gotten around to.
Oh My God! He's Wearing a G-String?! Introducing My Parents to Prince
At the beginning of the eighties, a new force of nature entered my home at a party for my dad, his friends and his soon to be second wife.
Prince Rogers Nelson was in my home dancing in thigh high boots, an open and freely flapping trench coat and yes, horror of horrors, a g-string.
My parents and their libertine friends were horrified.
Was this a man? A transvestite? Was he black? Mixed? On drugs?
God forbid was this creature (lean in for the whisper) gay?
All I knew was that he seemed to be enjoying himself: he let other people wrestle with labeling him and he upset my parents.
As a 13 year old, I was hooked.
I rarely saw my parents get riled up about anything.
Prince got them riled up.
Prince gave me a new definition of black male artistry and masculinity.
If a black man could be this flamboyant and talented then anything was possible.
As a young black kid struggling with identity,oppression and ongoing homophobic assaults, seeing a black male take up space and offer the world the "finger" was needed and welcomed.
Prince let me know that it was ok to be talented and different.
I would need this assurance.
Just around the corner was disease and stigma that would wipe out difference, creativity, passion and talent.
Prince let the world know that through a great hook any subject could be spoken of and to: sex, nuclear war, AIDS, love, obsession, joy.
It is not often that someone this gifted is granted the opportunity to influence the world and pop culture for thirty years.
I can vividly recall where I was and what I was going through when I listen to his catalogue.
Dirty Mind- an eight grader curious and frightened by the world and determined to seek it out anyway.
Purple Rain- I remember my best friend singing "Darling Nikki" during one of our Summer outings and I thought "wow". "Somebody is talking about masturbation on a record ?"
I also remember running to my record player and turning it down when he got to that line.
Purple Rain, the movie, caused major pandemonium when it was released.
Many of my friends bragged about having seen it 10,15 and in some truly bizarre cases, 25 times.
My parents constantly griped about why we needed to see the movie so many times and play his records repeatedly.
That is until they heard a couple of B-sides, namely "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore" and "She's Always in My Hair".
Once they got a load of those ditties, they quit asking why we were so unremittingly under his spell.
In my obsessiveness, nothing the purple one did seemed wrong or a misstep.
What I believed scared and enthralled so many people(regarding his genius) was the ability to not "give a fuck".
Black male musicians were limited to certain forms of expression.
R&B male singers were expected to be smooth, calm, sexy and not too intimidating.
They were expected to be boring and in most cases, predictable.
As an artist who wrote, produced and recorded his own music, Prince provided no predictability.
Having mastered some 40+ instruments, Prince could easily genre hop in ways that no artist has done before or since.
Whether jamming with Chaka Khan until the wee hours of the morning; performing with Miles Davis and Q-Tip from Tribe Called Quest or simply sitting on a stool with a guitar playing an acoustic medley of his and other artists' hits, here was a man that owned his life and determined what it would look like.
As a black male living in this country, musically roaming was another large "no-no" that he ripped through with abandon.
Whether discussing drug addiction, government apathy or violence among our inner city youth, Prince shared with us where we were heading if we didn't make changes.
I urge all artists to step up and be 1/10 the artist he was.
Can you imagine a conversation between Prince and James Baldwin?
While he wasn't for my parents generation, he maintained a relevance and level of productivity that younger generations should wisely adopt.
My parents generation were a group of folks overly concerned with what people thought and most importantly what they said.
My parents were always frightened of any person who brought too much attention to themselves.
Prince teased us with world straddling and caused the older generations much grief.
In my eyes, he was a hero.
Black men were not allowed to rock high heels, be uber talented and not give a shit about what people thought or said about them.
We need black males secure in their manhood who give themselves over to their gifts then self create a sustaining vision of themselves and also rock high heels.
Where are artists and men like Prince Rogers Nelson?
Where are the gutsy, ballsy not giving a fuck artists?
If I see one more nitwit talking about being an artist and then crank out the same shit as everybody else, I will lose it.
As a young closeted queen, I had no black male role models who were as fearless as the Purple One.
I've known black males who either got crushed by White Supremacy (my grandfather) or never got a handle on their genius(my uncle) which means he never fully realized it.
Prince became a symbol of black male genius in its glory- unapologetic, relentless and unrestrained.
Thank god I was introduced to this wonderful bellwether.
I would have never survived high school without his talent and music.
I want the genius with me and I want to believe that this human was more Christ like than any of us will ever know.
When he started rocking the brutally honest and historically troubling word SLAVE across his cheek, I was not yet committed to a life of creativity and the mind.
My naivete allowed me to think that since he was rich and famous and putting out his own music that there weren't people attempting to control him.
As I began producing work and releasing it to the world, his insistence on being free made sense.
Since we now live in a world that encourages us to not take a stand about anything, a man who stood for something was a welcome and invigorating entity.
7 Reasons Prince will Always Rock and Rule
In the two months since his death, Prince has become more popular than ever. I have loved and admired this man and his talent for 30 years.
While people worldwide mourn his passing and scramble to find a suitable replacement(impossible), my focus is on honoring the legacy of his music and the bravery and courage he possessed.
In a world that requires your soul in exchange for any bit of recognition or attention, Prince showed us how to get and maintain attention based solely on talent and a dedication to craft.
No artist could combine sexuality, redemption, social commentary and religion like this man.
Here are seven reasons Prince will always Rock and Rule.
1. In "Controversy", he forces us to play with identity and the fluidity of how one can change, straddle worlds and do it with no self-consciousness and to a good beat. Am I black or white; am I straight or gay? Do I believe in God, do I believe in me? Some people want to die so they can be free; People call me rude; I wish we all were nude; I wish there were no black and white; I wish there were no rules.
2. "Ronnie, Talk to Russia" is an eighties plea to eliminate Nuclear weapons before we destroy the planet and one another. Ronnie, Talk to Russia- Don't you blow up my world.
3. Purple Rain- the movie, song and album confronts us with an artist struggling with both self actualization and offering a paramour care with the lyrics- I never wanted to see you cry; I only want to see you dancing in the Purple Rain.
4. On the brilliant and way ahead of its time, Around the World in a Day, Prince serves us Middle Eastern influences while urging us in the title track : Open your heart, open your mind a train is leaving all day. A wonderful trip through our time and laughter is all you pay. The entire album is wonderful romp through, sex, forgiveness, redemption and social uplift. "Pop Life" quickly and disturbingly reminds us that "everybody wants a thrill ". In "America", he states: Little sister making minimum wage living in a one-room jungle-monkey cage. Can't get over; she's almost dead. She may not be in the black but she's happy she ain't in the red.
5. "Parade" returned Prince to our movie theaters with two very different and equally sensual songs. "Kiss" brought us funk and longing with a determination to give in to a full relationship complete with surrender and a nod to building relationships beyond superficiality- "you don't have to be rich to rule my world you don't have to be cool to be my girl." "Sometimes it Snows in April" (my personal favorite) is so haunting that it breaks my heart no matter how many times I hear it. A simple arrangement with absolutely stunning vocals, this track reminds us that things in life don't always go our way and the mystery and joy of life is found in places that leave us raw, vulnerable and transformed.
6. "Sign of the Times" is his absolute best. Perfection. Each track on this double slice of heaven was pure magic. Did I mention that like Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" was a double album. There is no way you can listen to this double disc and not hear the prophetic call that would be the 80's and beyond. Released in 1987 with an accompanying concert video, it begins with the title track- In France a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name. As if this was not enough in the same song he points out that our government can send people to the moon but we can't figure out how to have enough for everyone to eat. He adds a wink to lust and the chance at monogamy when he tells a paramour in "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"- that he may be qualified for a one night affair but he could never take the place of her man. What about his usual blend of sensuality, sexuality and religion- "Adore": If God struck me blind your beauty I'd still see.
7. "He believed young people could change the world." This statement was given by Van Jones the co-founder of the YesWeCode initiative (an organization dedicated to ensuring that 100,000 low income youth learn to write code). Prince began supporting this initiative in an effort to create a generation of self sufficient youth ready to lead and create in the 21st century.
Three Secrets to a Successful Relationship Part 3 (Learning)
Yesterday, my man beat me...Again. In Scrabble.
The final portion of creating a successful relationship is the ability to learn from each other daily.
Many couples meet and silently agree that neither will change no matter the amount of time spent together or the circumstances that would invite and encourage change.
If you want the relationship to breathe and have life then it is imperative that you each learn and teach one another daily.
The lessons needn't be huge, life changing or mind boggling. Small bits of learning can have the same effect over long periods of time as gigantic paradigm shifting insights.
Whenever there is a showdown in my house via the Scrabble board, I learn a better more strategic way of playing and at least two new words.
Many times I have had conversations with friends that resulted in learning something about myself and also gave me a fresh perspective on how I think.
This comes in handy when taken back to the primary love relationship and utilized as a means to bring a richer more insightful you into the fold.
Being mentally and intellectually challenged is a great aphrodisiac and often leads to greater intimacy both sexually and otherwise.
When the brain is stimulated because it is taking in new information and processing it, the body generally follows.
When I incorporate something new, I often get an electric spine-tingling surge of energy.
When I am presented with something new, I often get a psychological gut punch which lets me know something new is happening.
As a young queer, I often longed for the teaching of an older, wiser paramour.
In my 40's, I often stated : no man has anything to teach me; older doesn't mean wiser and I hope when I'm in my 40's and beyond that I have utilized my mind and years well and have something to share.
While arrogance and pure idiocy kept me alive, it didn't do much for my learning curve (books and great films took care of that).
Part of the arrogance was based in the reality that I didn't know to look for this attribute in men and didn't know how to make it a part of my "must have" list.
At 31, a surge leading to a case of happy pants was enough to get the party started.
At 40, it came to me: you love conversation and learning. Find someone who is a sparkling conversationalist and brilliant.
Not a buffoon full of hot air who likes to hear himself speak.
I used this self knowledge to seek an individual interested in both an exchange of ideas and what someone else's viewpoint might entail.
How do you find this very elusive and tantalizing attribute ?
Look for a man who is committed to growth.
If you have the same conversation more than once does he provide a slightly evolved point of view ?
Is he willing to try something that may or may not work ?
Does he welcome ideas and innovative ideas that are not his ?
Does he invite you to disagree ?
Three Secrets to a Successful Relationship Part 2 (Laughter)
Does he still make you laugh ? I haven't seen him naked lately... Dorothy Zbornak, The Golden Girls
More than a year ago, I wrote about my insane need for comedy and laughter and even wrote a formal invitation for the brilliant Margaret Cho to marry me (Cho you missed out; I'm hitched).
After writing this post and continuing with my insane obsession with what makes love work, I stumbled upon a great insight.
I looked at my most fulfilling and uplifting relationships and realized this is one area that consistently presented itself.
Much like the primary secret of successful relationships (shared values), comedy and the ability to find humor in things as a couple is what is needed. Like values, comedy is individual and personal. What I am referring to here is the ability as a couple to create shared joy via comedic interaction with the environment.
Couples often design their own comedy "bits" based on what they find mutually amusing and downright hysterical.
For years, I stated that my closest allies made me laugh and learn something in every conversation.
With humor as my guide, I began searching for different types of love.
My man needs to be funny as hell. Period.
Living in this country and in this world can be scary, frustrating and at times downright fucked (up). You better have a "ride or die" soldier at your side who can point out things that are ridiculous and comical.
My man does incredible characters and voices (Brooklyn hood rat, British society maven, Irish brogue, Maine and everything in between) there is never a shortage of character driven humor and insight in my home.
By constructing the ability to delight one another, we have made a place to retreat when things occur that leave us frustrated.
Having been in relationships that had no humor taught me that this is not the type of interaction that I either require nor can accept.
As a black man who dates white men and has to deal with classism, racism both internal and external, community upset and social interaction on a daily basis, it is wise to have something that will allow for safe and ongoing navigation.
A shared sense of humor is one thing that will allow for continual victory when facing the aforementioned destructive variables.
So what do you and your man joke about ? Find hysterical and ridiculous ?


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We are happy to introduce a new healthy environmental breakthrough in bedding and linens - fiber from Eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus trees come from forests as opposed to cotton that comes from farms. Farms require certain levels of pesticides as opposed to a natural forest which requires nothing but sunlight and rain to survive. Eucalyptus trees are known for their quick growth and properly trained foresters who cut Eucalyptus trees above the root bulb so the trees grow back to size within just 5 - 8 years.
Once a tree has been initially harvested, new trees regenerate. One hundred percent non-toxic solvents are used when converting Eucalyptus pulp to fiber, and 99.6% of this solvent is recovered and re-used, over and over again, creating a truly sustainable model of production.
The ability to produce eucalyptus fiber while having almost complete recovery of the solvent is an astounding reality and is unique to Tencel+Plus™ Lyocell brand eucalyptus.
The choice to blend cotton, which is the most desirable fiber for luxury bedding applications, with eucalyptus fiber is an innovative choice that has had astounding results. We researched the manufacturing processes of numerous natural fibers before committing product development funds towards fiber from eucalyptus for the LIVING FRESH® bedding line. As a result, Valley Forge chose to partner with Lenzing AG from Austria and developed our exclusive eucalyptus fiber, Tencel+Plus™ Lyocell, which is the only fiber from eucalyptus engineered for hospitality.
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This is a win for the bottom line of the hotel laundry bill, as well as not having any extra chemicals from softeners filter into our water systems. In addition, the LIVING FRESH® products' unique combination of Tencel+Plus™ Lyocell eucalyptus and cotton, require less pressing during maintenance than more traditional natural fibers, such as 100% cotton or any combinations involving hemp or bamboo.
Read more about our sustainability efforts., "label": "Products", "url": "", "tabContentBlocks": "content_block_type" : "products" "products": [
LIVING FRESH® is an exotic blend of cotton or polyester, mixed with Tencel+Plus™Lyocell fiber from Eucalyptus. LIVING FRESH® with Tencel+Plus™Lyocell is the only fiber from Eucalyptus engineered for hospitality.Product Spec Read More
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Finally, mattress and pillow protectors made from a natural fiber that both promotes human health and well-being, while considering environmental sustainability.Product Spec Read More
Create a more comfortable sleeping environment by adding one of our plush, super luxurious mattress pads, which transform your present mattress into a fluffy cloud nine layer of luxury.Product Spec Read More
Finally, mattress, box spring and pillow encasements made from a natural eucalyptus fiber that both promote human health and well-being, while considering environmental sustainability.Product Spec Read More
For non-Hospitality Orders, please visit livingfresh.com.xx ,"button": {"url": "/contact-us","label": "Contact Us","style": "transparent-black"} Server Agent = CCBot/2.0 (http://commoncrawl.org/faq/)

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Look at other dictionaries:
overdate — I. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun Etymology: over (III) + date 1. : a changed date on a coin that has traces of the original date still showing 2. : a coin having an overdate II. transitive verb Etymology … Useful english dictionary
overdate — /oh veuhr dayt /, n. Numis. a coin stamped from a die altered to show a year subsequent to that for which it was cut. [OVER + DATE1] * * * … Universalium
overdate — noun A coin in which one date is superimposed over traces of another (due to reuse of a die) … Wiktionary
Mint-made errors — are errors in a coin made by the mint during the minting process. Mint error coins can be the result of deterioration of the minting equipment, accidents or malfunctions during the minting process, or intentional interventions by mint… … Wikipedia
Nickel (United States coin) — This article is about the U.S. coin; for its Canadian counterpart made intermittently of 99.9% nickel between 1922 1981, and also called the nickel, see Nickel (Canadian coin). This article is specifically about the U.S. five cent coin; for its… … Wikipedia
overdated — ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective Etymology: in sense 1, from over (I) + dated (past participle of date, v.); in sense 2, from past participle of overdate (II) 1 … Useful english dictionary
Dime (United States coin) — Dime United States Value 0.10 U.S. dollar Mass 2.268 g (0.0729 troy oz) Diameter 17.91 mm (0.705 in) Thickness … Wikipedia
Indian Head cent — The Indian Head one cent coin, also known as an Indian Penny , was produced by the United States Mint from 1859 to 1909 at the Philadelphia Mint and in 1908 and 1909 at the San Francisco Mint. It was designed by James Barton Longacre, the… … Wikipedia
Numismatic terminology — This article is a collection of concise Numismatic and coin collecting terms for the beginner or professional. Numismatics (ancient Greek: polytonic|νομισματική) is the scientific study of money and its history in all its varied forms. While… … Wikipedia
Common coin errors — An error coin is a coin that is minted abnormally. Many different types of errors can occur during the minting process. The following are some of the most common error types. Numismatic value of error coinsMost error coins demand a premium when… … Wikipedia


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What do you think of the name Drew Barrymore picked for her girl?
Drew Barrymore gave birth to her second daughter. They named her Frankie. I have always liked Drew Barrymore and I am happy for her and her husband.
What do you think of the name Frankie for a girl?
My name was going to be Frankie.. But my mom said that my dad hated it and refused.. I would have been named after my Aunt.. I was appalled when I was younger that that name could have been mine, but now.. as a mom and older, I love the gender neutral names like Charley and sam and alex..
I love it! I saw the name and was like awwwwww. It's not something I would have picked but I think it's cute.
I don't think I would like it as a first name. But I do know girls who's nick names are Frankie and their real name is Francesca
I think it's cute. I've heard it in some shows before, and it never bothered me. I know sometimes it's short for like...franchesca and stuff, but Frankie by itself is still cute. I dont know anyone who names their boys "fred" anymore, either, so it doesn't feel like a pure male name to me.
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Birth: November 24
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***Community Manager of Moms.com*** Mom to four amazing children. I am passionate about helping and supporting new moms as they enter into motherhood. I am a certified doula, certified childbirth educator and an accredited breastfeeding counselor.


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Click here to see the special 16 ft. driftboat package. This package includes - oars, anchor system, under passenger seat storage, one color paint, epoxy (coat it) painted bottom, gunnel guards, tackle tray, and a galvanized Baker trailer! Just hitch it to your rig and go fishing!
Welcome to "Drift Boats For Sale." This website is the home of Diamond Back Boats built by Doug Camenzind in Veneta, Oregon.
Here's Martin Thurber of Willakenzie Guide Service in his Diamond Back drift boat
Here is the standard 16 ft. driftboat package with free one color paint, bench storage, coat it bottom, gunnel guards, and a Baker galvanized trailer
for the lowest price in any driftboat package at $6,500.00! This boat is ready to tow and fish. It is complete! Click here
Lots of people at the 2013 boat show at the Lane County Fairgrounds. These folks are looking at the 17ft. Driftboat Special which comes with all the bells and whistles for $8500.00. Click here to see more of this boat.
November 23, 2016


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The Service Employees International Union meets in an International Convention every four years, and has invited 350 strategic community partners to join with them in strategizing a vision for union-community partnerships for a more just society. I am pleased to be in Denver as one of a dozen Maryland partners engaged for change.
A boistrous rally of 2,000 or more took to the streets today, walking several routes throughout downtown Denver and converging at the steps of the Wells-Fargo bank. Speakers shared their outrage that Wells-Fargo–and dozens of other US corporations–have gotten away with paying little or no income taxes in recent years, while working people have seen their incomes, but not their taxes, drop. The crowd was determined, vocal, passionate and proud.
After I completed registeration this morning, I spent a few minutes looking at a labor history exhibit that had been arranged in the lobby–the story of the burning of the tent colony in Ludlow, Colorado. Back in the day, the Rockefeller family ran a powerful mining operation where all workers were paid in company scrip, so they lived in compnay housing, bought at the company store, even pledged at the company church. When the miners in Colorado went on strike (1913-14), they were evicted from their (company) homes, and pitched a tent colony to make it through the winter. As the strike went on, the vitriol between owners and workers increased. A fight broke out between the workers and the Colorado National Guard on April 19. The fight lasted all day, and on April 20, the National Guard burned the tent colony to the ground. Accounts vary of between 19 and 25 deaths, but one set of numbers is agreed upon by all eports. Eleven children and two women were asphyxiated and burned to death in a single tent.
"Back in the day" when I helped to lead Little Flags Theater, we told the stories of people in the struggle for social change. One of our plays had Mother Jones recounting the story of Ludlow, evidence for her that the system that put the protection of capital over the protection of people was in its every fiber an unjust system. The voices of Ludlow, and the voices of all those killed in the name of American progress, still spoke to Mother Jones.
Today we live in a time when corporations have been given the status of people, given legal protections as persons which allow them to have an enormous influence in the direction of all our lives. SEIU joins the Occupy Wall Street movement in saying that there must be a better way, a way where the interests of everyday people are at least as important as the interests of the super-rich. This better way will only be found with far greater cooperation among "the 99%" to place demands on all of us that guarantee the dream of progress and prosperity for all willing to work will not be lost.


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The cats and kittens of Furry Friends need you! We depend solely on the time, dedication, and passion of our volunteers to fulfill our mission of helping homeless, neglected, and abused cats. Would you like to be a part of that mission? There are many ways you can help to make a difference in the life of the cats we rescue.
Ready for one-on-one interaction with our cats?
Typical duties include feeding, watering, cleaning, and keeping records. Shifts usually last two to three hours and are once or twice a week.
Interested? Complete the online application or download the PDF and fax the completed form to 1-800-353-1686.
Here are other ways to volunteer:
- Transport cats for veterinary visits and events
- Pet showings
- Annual Dinner/Auction Fundraiser
- Senior visit/Pet therapy
- Park events
- Phone and email support