My thanks to the folks who bought books in Park Slope today.
Here’s an excerpt from one of my six unpublished novels, American Ulysses, a day inside my head at the age of 39, 25 years ago, 1989. It was inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses, of which I understood about ten percent, or less. I think most readers would understand 99% of AU, which was written by a more pedestrian mind than the author of the classic. In this instance, Vito has just left his apartment in Brooklyn, on his way to work. It should be about a three-minute read:
The sun stood a bit above the tracks of the elevated train, a glowing orange ember fighting to burn through what remained of the mist. It had gained considerable height since the end of Day light Savings Time. The sight was breathtaking, transcending the bleakness of the area about the station. Vito experienced a brief, exhilarating flash of the joy of being, one so powerful he felt as if he were about to ascend to the heavens, a moment where the psy che was unfocused, unconcerned with its pains and anxieties, with the anticipation of new ills. Tears of joy welled in his eyes.
Easy, come back down.
He chuckled inwardly, puzzled, as he crossed, a two-lane
street.
Why "easy"? Why not let it take you? Why such fear of happiness, of losin’ focus? More painful to fall from a greater height. Got ta fall, come down eventually. Inevitable. And if it was more than a brief flash you might get bored with it. Then what? That what it feels like after death, soul unburdened of the body? Afraid, then, ‘cause it's not time to go yet? Don’t wanna go prematurely. Watch the grating.
He stepped around it.
Not too conscious of your mortality, are you? Where’s that lead to, anyway? Hades? No subway ‘round here. Must be gas line. Why was that flash so scary? Strange how you can deny happiness when you hardly have any in your life. Mistrust it, when you should jump at it. Too satisfied with just bein’ alive. Enough for now, least ‘til you get things goin’. When’s that gonna be? If you’re not happy at thirty-nine, chances are you’re not ever gonna be happy. Can't let yourself be negative, though, spoil things for other people. Keep sorrows and prejudices to yourself. Still fascinating, no matter what your outlook is. Think of all the great things you might see today, thoughts that might come to you. Gotta be more positive, even though it’s not your nature. Not exactly negative, either. In between. Balanced, prepared for any eventuality What’d you tell “Miss Piggy” it was –- “realistic”?.... Actually happy Daylight Saving Time ended, a first. Lot easier to get up in the daylight, face the day, ev en if it costs some light at night. Home before dark, anyway. Re lief not to pine for it any more. Actually used to lose sleep worryin’ ‘bout rain-outs. Still get pissed when the Mets’re rained-out. Getting’ tied up in a pro team like that shows how empty your life really is. They don’t even know you’re alive.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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