text:
Defense forces turnovers when needed most
for given definition of "forces," anyway
for given definition of "forces," anyway
September 13th, 2011 at 2:56 PM ^
Chapter One: Beware the Big Bad Wolf
(and other crappy beginnings.)
The sky swirled in an angry temptress portraying Violet Blacke's morbidly sarcastic personality and present anger and frustration. The Gothic church's stone pillars jutted stabbing the sky in petulant disobedience. Violet sat in the church pew listening as the priest rattled on about the light that followed death and the peace that followed the end of this chapter, and the adventure of the chapter to follow.
Violet repressed a derisive snort with trouble. Not being a religious person, she found it extremely difficult to refrain from getting up and leaving. That however would not end well considering this lengthy sermon was lectured in honor of her grandmother.
"Let her family and friends be comforted in the knowledge that our dear Edith Canton will have departed her everlasting life where she will be one with God."
Violet eyed the short balding priest cynically with a stony expression and tapped her knee impatiently with her fingers. The closed black mahogany casket lay in the middle of the aisle near her elbow. She simply wanted to leave; it almost felt as if she were locked in that dreaded dreary casket with the cold, quite dead, corpse.
The congregation stood simultaneously as the priest ended the mass.
"May the Lord be with you. Mass has ended; you may go in peace." The organ began to wail some sorrowful haunting tune as the priest led the procession with his thick book emblazoned with curly loops of gold across the cover; the altar servers followed obediently, the heavy bedazzled golden cross carried somewhat fawningly down the aisle. Next, the four casket bearers stepped forward and lifted up the casket, each wearing a matching pin stripe suit. A sob rose from somewhere in the back of the church as the four men marched in time, heaving the encased cadaver down the center aisle.
Violet reluctantly stood, her arms folded petulantly. She was supposed to lead everyone out of the looming Gothic church, being her grandmother's only living relative. Her grandfather had passed away at the young age of thirty-two and neither him, her grandmother, nor her mother had had any siblings what so ever. Her father had only one crazy sister who died a while ago; she hadn't been fit to take care of anyone, even if she were alive. Both her parents having died in a freak catastrophic car accident, she had no relatives left to speak of or take her role as the main mourner.
She fixed her simple black dress with a V-neck and lacy bottom skirt and ensured that her green and black checkered pea-coat was buttoned up against the tremulous winter winds. She wore her black striped tights and clunky black lace up boots. She followed the casket as the chattering crowd trailed after her.
Once everyone was outside, she watched morosely as they loaded the casket on to the long black hearse.
"You are coming for the ride, right little lady?" the hearse driver asked with a tip of his cap revealing his white hair that was almost as blinding as the surrounding dusting of snow.
"Yes," she answered curtly.
"Well we should get going," he answered, his coal black eyes quite deadened of any spark of liveliness. Violet wondered if endless jobs at funerals resulted in this monotonous exposure and bitter exterior. He opened the passenger door, bowing slightly in an annoyed gesture that she was to sit. She slipped into the car, smoothing her dress so that it did not bunch up on the leather seats. Through her sheer black stripped tights, she could see her legs were red and chilled from the frigid temperature. The 'chauffeur' closed the door once she was reluctantly seated and made his way around the front of the car. He sat himself quickly, attempting to avoid the cold weather himself that seemed to snap with a deep chill, each wind was a bitter slap in the face. He turned the heat on, blasting what warmth he could throughout the vehicle. The four casket bearers squished their way in the back seat joking amiably amongst themselves and bantering jovially about some football game.
The ride to the Nashua Cemetery was a quick one. Few cars followed the hearse onto the burial site, the rest hurriedly driving away as though their leave would escape her notice. The black death bed twisted its way through the endless sea of marble and slate grey gravestones. The car rolled to a stop once it reached the off-white pavilion that was erected in the back of the cemetery, closer to the woods than the actual stones, as though attempting to avoid whatever disease or sorrow had placed the unfortunates about five and a half feet under. The four men jumped out, eager to get the job done, and lugged the casket into the front center of the pavilion, stumbling through random snow drifts. They opened the lid, the hinges shrieking their protest at the unwelcomed movement. God did Violet know how they feel. She had no desire whatsoever to see the stony expression her grandmother would give in death; even as limp and lifeless as she now lay.
This was all according to the instructions left in her grandmother's will. It stated there was to be a mass for her followed by an open casket wake in the cemetery's pavilion. The day would then end with a private 'family' burial, meaning only Violet was to be present.
Violet stood at the opposite end of the pavilion as the bossy old ladies and their wistful husbands piled out of their cars. They filed into a line, the woman taking the front and the husbands standing reluctantly behind and to the side of them. Each took turns praying; kneeling in pretend humbleness before the lifeless corpse. She watched on in disgust as they leaned over the empty shell of her grandmother's body, weeping and holding her cold stiff hands. She lay like some morbid angel. Her wrinkles seemed to lessen considerably and her face was made up heavily with rose lips and soft blue lids. Her pearl rosary beads were clutched, almost desperately, in the fold of her arms. Her flowy lilac dress lilted like a dead flower and her grey curls piled on top of her head.
The flabby old women with their fidgety pensive husbands stepped up to offer their condolences to Violet. She shook the men's hands reluctantly and was attacked with brusque hugs by the wives. This was an issue for her. Not only was Violet orphaned by her whole family, but she also had a problem... a mutation she liked to think of it as. She was naturally a very perceptive person, but became even more so upon the slightest touch of skin. Whenever someone's bare skin met her own, she suffered from a strange sort of 'out of body experience'. She would embody the person; their thoughts were hers... their worries, problems, opinions, self-inflicted horrors, petulance, ignorance... you can see how this peeved her. Because of this 'dark gift', as her grandmother often had called it, Violet had a deep understanding of all people, and hated them for it. She had no need to know their terrible desires; no want for the knowledge of the secret sins they had stored in the deep dark crevices of their hollow, self-indulged abyss they called minds. People were bothersome; complex emotions and sinful indulgences that lead to their own heartfelt demise, it all gave her a migraine that failed to ever truly leave...as long as there were people. Animals were simple. They relied on instincts alone and for that reason she adored them. They didn't leave her mind in shambles. Their only needs: food, sleep, home, and love; they relied solely on the essentials. They did not judge or hurt for evil. This was Violet's curse, her living horror, the true reason she kept her distance from people. Let's just say, for the sake of argument (which just so happens to be her favorite pass time), the person who said relationships are built on honesty, lied. Lies shape the world, keep it spinning, keep people happy; because when you get down to the whole ugly truth, only then do hearts get broken and dreams shattered.
A particular plump and wrinkled squat woman waltzed up, squeezing her in a bear hug as she simpered, "You poor dear! I am so greatly sorry for your loss. I understand your grandmother took care of you? It must be awful!" Translation: Haha! You are an orphan! How does it feel to know you are the soul heir of your family's blood? What a waste your family has been degraded too... And you all alone. Pity rolled off in great waves from the surrounding women, and general indifference from the men.
Violet almost screamed with indignation. She barreled past the robust women, nearly knocking her on her butt as she sprinted into the cover of the dense woods. She slowed upon entering a vacant clearing, her breath ragged and harsh from the sprinting. She began to dry heave as her stomach clenched sickly. She leaned over a boulder, concentrating on deep breathing and not hurling.
A twig snapped, echoing throughout the small clearing sharply as though a threat was hidden behind the obtrusive sound. She twisted around, eyes narrowed searchingly and ears strained, senses suspiciously alert for a sign of the perpetrator. A man in his thirty's appeared from the shadows of the trees. His coal black eyes danced malevolently, nose flared as though he could drink in her scent. His lanky dirty blond hair hung unframingly, barely brushing his broad shoulders. He wore a leather bomber over a plain grey tee-shirt with some dark, rugged, and ripped jeans and black construction boots. He smirked a pointed grin, revealing two large fang like teeth as he advanced a few menacing steps. She took a couple involuntary steps back, eyeing the intruder wearily through narrowed eyes.
"Now, what is a beautiful young lady such as yourself doing all on your lonesome in the middle of the woods?" he asked in knowing concern and mocking wonder.
"None of your business," she snapped vehemently. She bristled as he stepped closer, his eyes stalking with the intensity of predator like surveillance.
"Feisty," he teased smirking still," you need to learn when to bite your tongue." She glared with angst sincerely wishing that she could wipe that Goddamn smirk off his scruffed face.
"Maybe you should learn when you are unwanted dumb-ass!" she retorted, her eyes darted nervously, wishing she had a can of mace with her. Before he could comment, a voice called out, hailing from the direction of the funeral. Cursing, the man raced off, melting into the shadows; the only evidence of his visit, the foot prints imprinted in the snow marking his path.
"Violet!" the voice called out again, slightly more desperate. One of the casket bearers appeared having gone to search for her. His brown hair flopped over his big brown eyes.
"Hey! We have been looking all over for you... the wake is over, it's time for the buria- are you okay?" he asked worriedly, noticing her trembling fingers and wide fearful eyes.
She shook her head to clear her mind, "Yeah I'm fine, just ummm... let's go." She began to walk briskly from clearing in an attempt to put as much distance between her and the man, scrambling her way through the trees and brush, looking back over her shoulder constantly. The bearer struggled to keep pace.
"Why do you keep looking over your shoulder?" he huffed, tripping as he became entangled in the low but dense brush.
Well," she confided with a furtive glance in the general direction of the clearing, "there was some strange man and..."
"Did he hurt you!" the man interrupted with incredulity. He grabbed her elbow to keep her from walking and spun her around to look her up and down.
"No, I just... I'm really fine. Let's just go," she tugged away persistently, but he was having none of it. Grasping her elbow in an iron grip, he began to drag her even faster than she had been walking, nearly dragging her to the ground in his haste.
He let go of her arm tentatively upon reaching the safety of the cemetery grounds. Together, they weaved their way around the endless mass of graves. Names like Elizabeth and John popped out as she raced past the grey and black stones. Is this the fate of all mankind? - A piece of marble slat with meaningless etched names and dates.
A group of people stood solemnly around the newly dug hole, all waiting expectantly.
Two grave diggers stood side by side with dirtied faces, leaning heavily on their shovels. All this was according to her grandmother's wishes. "'the grave is to be dug by hand; no backhoes or such... bury me with some dignity.'" Those were the words a clever and amused lawyer read to her, a smile playing at the corner of his thin lips.
By the looks of the dirtied grave diggers, they did not find her grandmother's words amusing. Violet was relieved that the casket was now closed for good; there were to be no more peeks at the decaying body. She did not like the stony expression that was molded on her face in death; it was too similar to the expressions the people in wax museums have, except without the sheen.
Her grandmother's grave resided next to her mother's. Her mother's, next to her father's. There they were almost all of her family (her grandfather's on the back of the grandmother's and her father's crazy sister doesn't have a grave. She died in a fire, her will burned with her. Her ashes are floating somewhere in the blue green sea).
Violet blinked back tears that had sprung into her eyes threatening to cascade. She had not cried through out this whole three day ordeal; not when the body was found, nor when the telephone rang, neither the numerorous explanations or the power hungry lawyers. She didn't even release a shred of emotion when she learned that she would have to go to the orphanage, the state having deemed she was too immature to live by herself being only 16.
Their was a severe sense of finality however in the burial and it made her heart thump and her breathing become rugged. She supposed it was mostly because of seeing her so close with her parents and all the dirt and snow that would eventually blanket her, cutting off all chances of her coming back... well, unless she became a mindless zombie.
Her grandmother's shrewd lawyer, with sharply defined features, grabbed her hand with a comforting squeeze. She watched as the box landed with a thud into her new resting area. The white snow that was left around the hole was dirtied by the mud from the thawing ground and the rocks scooped. Time suspended, one of those strange moments where you worry that the sky is going to break falling in glittering bits and pieces. The priest read from the bible, some line of how we were born from dust and dust we will become again.
In a moment, the spell was broken, everything snapping back to reality and time. He stopped and cleared his throat, snapping the small, black, leather bible shut and tucking it inside his coat pocket. Nodding curtly to Violet, he departed the depressing scene hastily. The grave diggers began to throw the pile of dirt back into the hole, shoveling rhythmically so that the clump made a solid beat... coyotes, at least that's what she assumed them to be, howled mournfully from deep in the woods.
Violet sauntered up to the stones that were her family. She read her fathers grave:
Ian T. Blacke
"It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees."
~Emiliano Zappa
She turned reluctantly to her mother's grave that resided close to her father's:
Salia L. Blacke-Canton
"The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages."
~Virginia Woolf
With a sigh, she turned scrutinize the newest addition to the collection of slabs. She knew these quotes better than the back of her own hand, having come to that very spot to contemplate life, the only place she could achieve a pensive state well enough to write, draw, (which she was rather suckish at) and sing/play guitar (which was what she considered the better of her failures). Etched into the smooth face, she read:
Edith Stanton
"To the well-organized mind; death is but the next great adventure."
~Albus Dumbledore
Violet smirked, the corners of her usually pouting lips twitching playfully at the corner.
"So," the lawyer began, dropping his hand where they swung restlessly and a bit nervously at his side. He returned to formality with a sad reluctant smile.
"Their are business matters to discuss. Firstly, your grandmother sold her house to the bank giving you $20,837.57... that is when you turn 18."
Violet nodded wiping her moist eyes on the back of her hand leaving a smear of black in it's wake. Damn, she thought bitterly, that'll be the eyeliner.
"Secondly," he continued, "she had $2,341.82 saved up in cash to give you the day she was buried." He pulled a Manila envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Here ye be," he said with a tight, some what forced grin, "I'll take you back to the house. The orphanage is picking you up in an hour." He looked at his watch.
She nodded her understanding with a sniff and followed him to his fancy silver Porsche. She sat down stiffly. He started the car and pulled out of the cemetery. The lawyer said nothing on the short drive back to what used to be her house. The radio was off and the only sound to be heard was the gentle hum of the engine.
Once the car rolled to a gentle stop, it's destination having been reached, the lawyer departed with a simple, "Good bye."
Violet exited the car and nodded her head curtly and gave a lazy wave. He sped off allowing himself only one backwards glance.
Shuffling her feet up the brick path, she opened the red front door tentatively. Looking around, she recalled where all her old furniture in the now barren and mostly emptied rooms had belonged. That was when reality came crashing down; she would never see this place again.
Storming wildly into her bedroom and slamming the door behind her so that the walls shook, she glared menacingly at herself in her full length mirror that hung idly on her closet door. Critically scrutinizing, she narrowed her eyes.
Her hair was raven black and had a natural purple sheen when in the sun. It was shaggy and unkempt because of its numerous edgy cut layers giving her the roughness of a rocker; not to mention the hoop looped through her nose, the star labret through her lip for a Monroe piercing, and the over zealously pierced ears. Her eyes, great round orbs of stormy grey against her pale complexion, shone like thunderous dark storm clouds. At the moment, she appeared bleak and lifeless, but she normally had rosy cheeks giving what would be dead features some life. A thin white scar zigzagged its way down her cheek from the corner of her left eye. She never knew where it came from but she enjoyed making up tales whenever people asked. Her small lips naturally settled in a definitive pout or a devilish smirk. It seemed she had no true grin. She was tall and slender, not supermodel scary thin... but thin enough where it seemed none of the normal clothes ever fit her right. She was pretty. Not amazingly drop dead gorgeous like her mother had been,p90x workout schedule, but she possessed enough spunk for people to find her attractive. Her surly attitude and sarcastic humor was what kept most people at bay. For her, this was a helpful attribute... just the way she liked it.
She sighed breaking eye contact from the mirror and became even more furious. She ran into the kitchen, searched the nearly empty cupboards, seized the best china that was left, and smashed it against the tile floor. The porcelain shattered spraying shards in every direction. One flew back and hit her on the lip, making it bleed; yet the effect was satisfying.
At that precise moment, she had made her decision. She would not let people order what to do and when to do it. She was her own person and could make her own decisions whether they were mistakes or life altering; it would be all her fault, no one else.
She raced back into her room, nearly falling headfirst around the corner of the hall, and began a violent frenzy of action. Stripping off her clothes, she changed into her favorite pair of black skinny jeans, a long sleeved black undershirt, and her maroon Panic! At the Disco shirt on top. She double checked to make sure she was wearing her black gemmed poison ring, and her swirly silver thumb ring. She put on her simple black choker, checked that she was still wearing her silver pentacle, and simple black locket.
Finding all in check, she grabbed her grey military style messenger bag, stuffing it with a pair of jean shorts, her black Bellatrix Lestrange shirt, and a pair of black and white checkered pajama pants. She shoved the manila envelope into a zipper pocket of the bag to ensure that it would not fall out. Slipping into her clunky, grey, lace up boots with the buckle; she swung her bag on her shoulder and scanned the room at the doorway.
"Oh Reg! Can't forget you!" She stumbled over to her big glass tank that stood at the foot of her small dais bed. Lifting up Reggie, her small black pet snake with narrow red eyes and a pointed flitting tongue, he entwined himself through her fingers and up her sleeve only to coil snugly around her neck, falling asleep.
She stood underneath the doorway once again, scanning her purple and black striped bedroom for the last time. She checked the cuckoo clock that hung on the wall in the hallway just outside her door.
"Better hurry," she muttered to Reg.
She quickly stopped into the 'library' of the house. Each wall was lined with shelves where stacks and stacks of books were sorted alphabetically. It pained her to have to leave them all. She scanned the bookshelves hastily.
"Eureka!" she cried out triumphantly, startling Reggie so that he raised his head in annoyance and gave a little hiss of defiance. Clutching the thick blue paperback book she had been searching for, she leafed through the comforting pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix before putting it too into her bag.
Reaching into her back pocket, Violet pulled out her small black cellphone that was covered in black skulls and roses. She dialed one of her co-workers at Shorty's, Nashua's best Mexican Restaurant.
"Hey Lynn!" she greeted, "I was wondering... you still going to Florida? With Jose?"
"Yeah..." came her curious response over the phone.
"Do you think I can tag along? And would it be too much to ask if we left in say... 10 minutes?" she asked double checking with the clock hanging on the wall.
"Gosh! Sure! Jose is here now and the bags are all packed in the trunk; we were just waiting for a good time to leave... Now works!" she gushed happily over the phone.
"Good," Violet said, flooded with relief, "I will meet you there in about 5-10 minutes."
"'Kay! See you then!" she replied cheerily.
Violet ran her fingers through her hair. She grabbed her green military style jacket off the coat rack by the door and put it on, careful not to hurt Reggie who was still asleep on her neck. He wriggled a bit as the coat went on but settled down quickly enough with a few comforting words. She slipped on her turquoise and black, checkered and striped hobo gloves.
Hitching up her bag and buttoning her coat, she locked the doors. Turning on her heel, she whipped the only key as far as she could into the neighbors' bushes. She grinned mischievously at the thought of the social workers trying to get in with her and the key missing.
She made her way down the street, refusing to look back even once at what she was leaving behind. Once on the main road however, she had a hard time not glancing backwards. To someone driving by, it almost appeared as though her head were on a swivel. She was nervous that the police or the social workers were going to swoop down at any moment, condemning her to a dreary existence at the orphanage.
"Well," she muttered bitterly to Reg, "if they do, they're going to have to bloody drag me, damn it!"
After about 5 minutes of suspenseful brisk walking, Violet made it to Shorty's without any inconvenience. It was quite uneventful besides her jumping at every sound.
She pushed open the door and entered the brightly painted restaurant with the southern decorated theme. Lynn jumped up and down excitedly, her bright Irish blue eyes twinkling with the glee seen when someone knows they are being rebellious.
"Jose' just went to go and bring the station wagon up front. We handed in our aprons already, you going to do the same?"
"No, the less they know about me leaving the better." Violet checked her cellphone.
"About this time now the stupid social workers from the orphanage will be pounding their meaty fists on my front door right now..." she noted worriedly to herself.
Together, Lynn and she exited the restaurant as Jose pulled the old Station wagon up. Violet crawled into the back seat. Half of the seat was taken already by leafy green bags of pot and white powders of cocaine. She shoved them aside in disgust and sat down.
"Hey!" Jose hollered from the front, twisting frantically in his seat, "Watch the stash!" She rolled her eyes as Lynn sat in the front seat, near fit to burst with excitement.
"Okay Jose', let's go... quickly," Violet ordered eyeing the time apprehensively, they had to know she was gone by now. Jose glared at her through the rear-view mirror but did as she ordered with a sigh of exasperation, understanding the ride would not be an easy one.
The car sped off past where she had just come from. As she passed the street that led to her house, she ducked wearily from view. She watched as they passed the church, the condos, and the suburban houses. Her heart thumping wildly, she began to relax once they passed some of the Hollis Farms. That was when she remembered... taking her phone out of her coat pocket, she glanced at it longingly before rolling down her window and chucking it as far as she could into the snow of the annual strawberry patch.
She rolled her window back up.
When Lynn turned and gave her a quizzical look, she answered her unasked question with a muttered, "couldn't have them trailing me."
"I'm going to bed," Violet announced, "wake me up when we stop to eat." With that generally random announcement, she fell into a deep troubling sleep. Scenes ran through her mind of her being chased by a wolf through a peach grove. When it went behind a bush, it was a wolf, but emerging from behind the shadows, he was suddenly that smirking sinister man...
Violet's nose twitched as the car lurched repeatedly. She awoke with a big stretch and a wide tremulous yawn. Reggie too stirred around her neck. He hissed gently in her ear before coiling up again to sleep in a more comfortable position.
She noted the bumper to bumper traffic and the obnoxious honking of horns. The sky darkened and the billboards around the city began to light up with dazzling neon signs and displays.
"New York City?" she guessed. Jose jumped a little, startled.
"Yeah," he answered, "didn't know you woke." He rubbed his face as if he could scrub off the sleep that threatened to engulf him. His dark hair stuck out at odd angles and his chocolate brown eyes were partially covered by his drooping eyelids. His skin was a deep caramel tan.
Lynn stretched and yawned, waking also.
"Where are we?" she asked, failing to hide a tremendous yawn.
"New York City," he grumbled,Scarpe Gucci Italia, moving the car forward a couple inches before having to stop again. Lights flared and horns blared; people swore and kids whined.
"THAT'S IT!" Jose hollered in frustration. With some difficulty, he pulled the car out of the line of traffic to the side of the road and parked.
"I'm going to eat and sleep. We will leave here at 7. Maybe then the traffic will have lightened up. Go do whatever and meet me here." The clock on the dashboard read 6:15.
"'Kay," Lynn and Violet agreed simultaneously. They both got out of the car stiff-legged and cramped from being encased in such a small place. The two limped down the crowded street.
"What do you want to do?" Lynn asked, as they continued to meander down the street. Violet's stomach growled loudly in demand for it's fulfillment. Lynn chuckled and tossed her wavy brown hair over her shoulder.
"Come on."
She led the way entering a little cafe. Waiting in line, they bantered nonchalantly about what they would do once they reached Florida.
"Pffft. It's simple. I'm going to Disney and Wizarding World!" Violet said, only just deciding the plan while they talked. Lynn chuckled her cute giggle.
"I'm going to get an apartment and live with Jose. He's going to lie and say he's Puerto Rican...Though you know he's really an illegal alien... and then we'll live happily ever after." Violet rolled her eyes, her lips pursed in a sorry attempt to withhold her ever-present opinion.
"What?" Lynn demanded, hands on her hips, "Don't you believe in happy endings?"
"No. I don't," Violet answered quietly, "that's why I'm going to Disney. I can pretend they do. Truth to the matter is we all end up in a box where people forget who or even where you are and walk all over you. Your bones turn to dust and all that remains, if you're lucky, is a stone with your name engraved on it. That too will eventually crumble."
Lynn sobered instantly from this fact. Violet wanted to kick herself for putting a damper on her dreams and innocence. She was one of those few people whose mind wasn't tainted or desecrated by the filth and lies of the average human. She was pure, despite being on the run with an illegal drug dealing Mexican, which, on its own, was quite remarkable.
"How may I help you?" the cashier asked.
"Errrrr... I would like your chicken noodle soup." Violet turned expectantly, waiting for Lynn to order.
"I'll have the Caesar salad and lemon meringue," she ordered.
"Okay," the cashier said ringing up the total,Gucci Stivali, "that'll be $9.32."
Violet dug into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled twenty she had had in there for a while. He handed her the receipt and the meal they ordered. The two found an empty table and sat down. Violet stuffed the change in her pocket along with Reg, who until this moment was curled fast asleep around her neck.
"Sorry Reg..." she mumbled apologetically when he gave a little hiss of discontent.
"Who are you talking to?" Lynn asked curiously, spraying crumbs across the small table, having just taken the bite of her meringue.
"Oh errr... Just my little friend here, Reggie," she said, pulling him out of her pocket for closer inspection. He flicked his little, red, forked tongue in greeting. Lynn squealed and backed her chair up as far as she could go without hitting the people behind her.
"That is disgusting!" she exclaimed. She eyed the snake tentatively with trepidation. Reg hissed displaying his little white fangs; puffing up with indignation. Violet returned him back into her pocket with a shrug, she had met many people who possessed these feelings. It was either that reaction or the people coddled him, much to Reg's dismay.
The two conversed, a palpable awkwardness in the air, about the busyness of New York City and the long ride to come.
Lynn looked longingly at the little bit of lemon meringue and Caesar salad that was left over.
"I should bring some to Jose," she decided wearily. Gazing at the food intently, she stood reluctantly and began to pack up the food onto one plate.
"Here, I'll come with you," Violet offered, "I'm done with my soup." She sauntered over to the trashcan and discarded her empty Styrofoam soup bowl. She followed Lynn out of the cafe as they meandered down the busy sidewalk.
"Hello there," a scratchy voice muttered from a dark and dank alleyway. Violet and Lynn twisted around simultaneously to see a small, bone thin woman with ragged, unkempt, loose curls that hung listlessly down her back. Her hair was either a natural dirty blonde or she was simply so dirty that her locks appeared so. Her pale blue eyes were ringed heavily with thick, smudgy, black eyeliner giving her the wild manic look of a rabid raccoon.
She leaned against the side of the brick building in her too large mossy green trench coat. She wore ragged and ripped jeans with unlaced hiking boots.
"Listen," she began, "I'm in a bit of a sticky situation. I'm going to be beaten to a pulp if I don't get money for some necessary... errrr... medicines that I have snatched... The point is I am willing to perform a service...like tattooing or something." The troubled druggie shrugged her shoulders suggestively, obviously hoping one of the two dumb-founded girls would agree.
"No, I don't think so," Lynn snapped venomously, disgusted and offended by the offer. She began to stalk off, expecting Violet to follow her lead. Violet stood thoughtfully however in between the pissed off and impatient Lynn and the hopeful yet questionable druggie.
"You can't seriously be contemplating this!" Lynn asked in utter disbelief. Violet gave a petulant shrug and looked away deciding it best not to answer.
Lynn threw her hands up in exasperation and frustration.
"Whatever!" she cried out angrily, "I'm not your mother...do what you like. I'll be at the car." Violet's face hardened at the maddeningly bossy rant; her eyes narrowed at the receding form of the fuming Lynn.
"'Kay!" she called over her shoulder as she followed the druggie down the dark dreary alleyway filled with stinking dumpsters and other trash items that people threw, too lazy to try and make it in the trash. She stumbled to a sudden stop when the 'tattooist' came to a halt without warning, pulling out a moldy, tattered, black briefcase that was closed shut with rusted hinges and clasps from behind the putrid green dumpster.
"Here we are," she rasped. Violet watched as her bony arms seemed to nearly snap from the heavy lugging of the case.
"So what's your name?" Violet asked conversationally, cringing when she got a glimpse of the rusted needles that were being filled with ink.
"Acacia," she answered distractedly, concentrating more on the readying of the needles. She had a dangerous manic glint in her wide dilated eyes as she placed the black ink into the designated capsule of the needle. Eyeing this procedure with interest, she noted with utmost amusement that the women had an extra finger on her left hand that dangle limp and useless.
"Okay!" Acacia cheered with a sadistic dimpled grin, "what do you want and where?"
"I... er... want the deathly hallows symbol on my wrist," she directed. She sighed at the blank glazed response from Acacia.
"Like this," she informed, drawing a triangle with a circle in the middle and a line through all of it on the green and black grime found on the wall they were crouched next to.
"Simple enough..." Acacia shrugged. Taking the needle she began to pierce the ink into her skin, drawing the symbol. Violet winced, drew a sharp intake of breath, and bit the inside of her cheek from the pain. This process lasted for about 10 minutes before Acacia cheered an exuberant, "Done!" She knelt with an outstretched and eager palm. Violet reached into her pocket, moving Reggie to the side, to retrieve the change she had gained at the cafe from her purchase of the delicious meals.
"Thanks!" Acacia cackled, skipping off to pay the drug-dealers she had stolen from. Violet eyed her new tattoo skeptically. It was puffy and red, definitely irritated from the lack of practical equipment and sterilization. She walked out of the alleyway clutching her pained wrist protectively as it throbbed. So intent was she on getting back to the car that she didn't notice a young man in his twenty's come barreling into her, colliding heavily.
The man, who had dirty blonde hair and a cocky grin, jumped to his feet uninjured and unharmed. Violet, on the other hand, lay flat on her back. She groaned holding her hand to her head as she slowly sat up. Her hand flew instantly to her side to pet Reggie, making sure he was safe and unharmed. He hissed to prove his health was in order, even if his ego wasn't.
"I am so sorry!" the biker apologized profusely, holding out his hand helpfully, "are you all right!" She stood up avoiding his outstretched his hand. He eyed her up and down taking inventory of all the injuries: bloody lip, black eye, black and blue chin, and minor abrasions on her arms, hands, and knees. She slumped over to the stone steps of a tattoo parlor and sat down, a bit dazed. Dragging his bike over, he grabbed the little white box with a red cross from underneath his seat in a little zipper compartment. He began to clean some of her cuts with the antiseptic, accidentally brushing her arm lightly with his pinky fingertip. Violet squinted her eyes as if pained as she suddenly was the man. The stupid prick, he thought angrily, God damn; hope she doesn't sue...
She came to a shuddering stop as she was jolted back, seemingly herself. She shook her head,Tory Burch Heels, furious but still slightly dazed. Rummaging through the battered box, the smarmy man pulled out some bandages. He began to stick them on her hands and arms when he noticed her wrist.
"What the hell!" he said in wide eyed shock. He took a wipe and began to dab gently at the irritated tattoo.
"Is it broken?" he asked in worried confusion, holding her wrist gingerly, closely examining the puffy red area. He was nervous now about the legal issues that could be troubling him in the close future.
"No... errrrr... I recently got a tattoo." Violet lowered her head slightly abashed, quite embarrassed by her compulsive and rebellious decision. It reminded her greatly of the time she had been admonished for letting a friend pierce her nose and lip because of her grandmother's strict rules on ears only piercings. The man looked up at the brightly lit and extravagantly decorated sign that hung over their heads.
"From here?"
"Umm, not exactly," she replied shiftily, averting her eyes, trying to avoid the discussion, "It was actually in that alley next to the tattoo place." She tilted her head in the direction of where she had gotten the simple tattoo. She scowled as she said it, the confession sounding even more stupid and immature out loud. The man eyed her skeptically with a look that suggested he felt he was superior to her, only she knew that was exactly his opinion. Violet bristled.
"Aren't you only seventeen-eighteen?" he asked, his eyebrow arched in question.
"That's none of your business," Violet replied waspishly. Her face became stony as her eyes blazed fiercely and she jutted her chin out stubborn and indignant. This defensive act confirmed the man's question that she was not old enough to have a tattoo... she may not have been old enough to even be by herself.
"Your point?" she challenged testily, contempt dripping heavily from every fiber of her being.
"My point! You are ridiculously stupid!" the man laughed heartily and obnoxiously. He shook jovially from his raucous laughter.
"To each his own," she answered coldly, "besides, it doesn't affect you in anyway what so ever. So you carry on your damn way to the grave and I will do the same with mine."
"By the way," she tacked on with a smirk of the devilish kind, "do everyone a favor, take your damn tight spandex, shove it up your ass, and take some of your pretty boy money that we all know you have and buy some frecan clothes. By the way I believe your fianc��e Anne Smith won't be happy that you have been spending some nights slutting it up with her sister... Lisa."
Violet grinned with her victorious burn as he plucked dubiously at his skin tight black spandex and an ugly red slowly creeped up his face, acknowledging what she said was true. She waved her hand dismissing the annoying prick of a biker as he stood dumb struck and sputtering.
He stammered, groping for a reasonable retort, "next time, watch where you are going you whore." He peddled off quickly, looking relieved he had managed to get away from the "secret-spilling, maniacal, whorish witch".
Violet stood holding the antiseptic wipe and continued to gingerly swab her wrist. She stormed back to the station wagon, ready to leave rapidly before anything else ludicrous or stupid occurred.
She came to a sudden halt at the scene that unfolded a mere 10 feet before her. Lynn was being handcuffed as tears streamed down her freckled face,true religion jeans günstig, while Jose was chased down by three cops. He was having a hard time running away due to the fact his pants were hanging half way down his ass.
Violet chuckled humorlessly to herself, now considerably all alone, she was not fazed. Though people often said her grandmother took care of her, the truth to the matter is she was often away at bingo or some sophisticated society, there for she was never truly around to care. Violet had often made her own way 'cooking' microwave meals and doing laundry, or simply crumpled in a ball; face inches away from a spell binding book.
Now, she was down a ride and stranded in a cruelly busy city where no one gives a damn about anyone. To top it off, her money and the bag were in the car that was now being searched for more drugs. Jose was squished into the back of the cruiser next to the hysterically sobbing Lynn.
Violet began to panic, she needed some sort of distraction, and now; that is if she was going to escape notice when retrieving her bag. She turned frantically scanning the crowd when she noticed a little whining boy relentlessly tugging on his mother's pant leg.
"I want a pop!" he wailed miserably; the mother continued to gawk nosily at the scene that was taking place. Violet hurriedly checked her pockets, making a pissed Reggie hiss menacingly as she groped around him.
Pretending to drop something, Violet whispered, "Hey, hey kid." He stopped wailing and glared daggers at her.
"My name. is Zac," he growled bitterly.
"Errr...okay. Zac. I need you to do something for me..." she began conspiringly.
"I ain't doing nothing for you," he interrupted, crossing his little chubby arms.
"Oh you will if you want this pop," she threatened, holding a blue raspberry pop tantalizingly out of reach. She always carried some candies and chocolate in her pocket due to her ravenous sugar addiction. Luckily, she had a good lollipop flavor in her pocket, not one of the suckish kinds such as watermelon.
The kid eyed the lollipop with wide longing eyes.
"So do we have an understanding?" She smirked as he nodded with a slightly dazed and awestruck gaze.
"Alright," she grinned victoriously, "you need to run right in front of the car right there and distract them however you can. Do whatever it takes to make sure that police officer doesn't notice me. I will come to you signaling when the 'act' is over. "
"Okay," the little kid nodded enthusiastically. He ran into the middle of the crowd of onlookers, shoving a few people brusquely out of the way and began to pretend to choke. The cruiser pulled out to bring Lynn and Jose to the station, while the other two cops eyed the small 'choking' child with a panicky uncertainty, neither knew how to perform CPR.
"Can't breathe!" the kid sputtered, inhaling deeply with great rattling breaths. Everyone gathered around as the mother shrieked. Violet crept over to the station wagon and opened the back door quietly, everyone's attention being on the little devious child. She reached her hand searchingly under the front seat from the back where she had stowed the bag for the journey. She grabbed the bag and quickly but silently shut the door. Her mission accomplished, she scurried up to the boy who lay on the cold cement, holding his breath so his face went blue.
Violet knelt over his little body and whispered into his ear to get up, thankful that her shaggy hair covered any conspicuous glances or actions. He sat up, a wide grin spread across his face from cheek to cheek, as his hysterical mother attacked him with hugs and kisses a plenty. The little kid was now clutching his blue raspberry lollipop in his small tight fist.
"Oh my poor baby!" the mother sobbed, "What were you choking on!"
"Air momma," he answered innocently. The mother blushed an instant beet red as Violet hooted with laughter. The police officers stalked over; furious they had been showed up as fools. They began to reprimand her on her awful parenting skills. Voila! An instant argument was aroused.
Violet walked off, a slight bounce in her steps, bag slung across her shoulder, and a small smirk accenting her strange and unusual luck. After a few blocks of walking, her bounce began to fade gradually but surely until she gave up all together and sat with her head in her hands on a nearby bench. She had no idea how she was going to get to Florida now. What to do... What to do?
A black mustang came to a creeping stop in front of the bench Violet sat at. She looked up wearily.
"Do you need a ride?" The driver rolled down the passenger window and peered through. He had blonde hair streaked blue and spiked with gel. He had a hoop through his nose and one through the corner of his lip.
"Err... actually yeah," she answered uncertainly. A strange vibe emitted from him, filling her with unease and worry... it was one she could not recognize or truly understand.
"Where you headin'?" he asked, reaching across the passenger street to open the door for her to enter.
"Well," she answered, "as far south as you would be obliged to take me."
"I'm driving to Washington... is that far enough?" he asked hopefully.
"Yeah, I can hitch another ride from there," she nodded thankfully. She seated herself down and tucked her bag beneath her feet. As soon as she was settled in the luxurious seats of his car, he pulled out from the sidewalk to be sandwiched in the midst of the bumper to bumper traffic.
"So," the young man began conversationally, "are you from around here?" Violet peered sideways carefully. His dark brown eyes were full of question and genuine interest. She wished to avoid this interrogation but was too charmed by his carefree smile that seemed to never leave his face.
"No," she answered cautiously, "I'm from Nashua, New Hampshire."
"I see," the young man said, with a curious tinkle in his big soft eyes, "You strayed far... So why did you leave?-wait that's too personal... forget I asked that."
"No," she answered, heaving a deep sigh, "It's a fair enough question and seeing you are giving me a ride I might as well divulge..." By the time she finished explaining and reasoning for her escapade, the two were speeding down the highway. She pulled Reggie out of her pocket and analyzed him closely.
"He's cute," he said with a small smile, looking over to see the snake, "So... your grandmother's death kind of set all this in motion?..."
"Well yeah," Violet stated as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, "I wasn't going to live in that stupid orphanage. Besides, I like to travel, and it's my life. I have the right to pursue my happiness." She rested her head back on the leather seats. The lull of the speeding car was beginning to make her sleepy. She stared bleary eyed and unfocused outside of the window as the scenery seamlessly blended into acre large farms with fields dotted here and there with black and white patched cows. He turned the radio on to fill the silence. Violet perked at the song that filled the car.
"Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste, I've been around a long, long year, and stole many a man's soul and faith..."
"I love this song," she cheered sleepily, "Sympathy for the Devil; Rolling Stones." She nodded her head dreamily to the beat of the tune that sounded from the speakers.
"Pleased to meet you... hope you guess my name, ah, what's puzzling you is the nature of my game..." Violet hummed quietly and began to doze off at the comforting and familiar song.
Her dream began with the usual swaying palm trees and sanded beaches. The ocean waves lapped peacefully against the seashore. The beautiful and hunky Jack Sparrow sat next to her, simply talking and absent mindlessly twisting her fingers... The dream began to dissolve around her and was filled with shadowed faces. Some leered while others stared open mouthed in fright. Two female faces shown out clearly, but when she woke she would not be able to describe them anyway. All the faces melted, only to reform itself into a figure she would not soon forget; it was the man who haunted her at the funeral and now haunted her in her dreams. His dirty blonde, lanky, shoulder-length hair lay limp and unframing around his smirking sinister face. His deep set black eyes leered with the attentiveness of a treacherous predator. He mouthed one sentence, "it will be you."
Violet woke with a start, struggling and gasping for air. She glanced around wildly, being rather disoriented. A hand grabbed her shoulder making her jump, frantic.
"Calm down," a voice murmured comfortingly. The man was sitting next to her watching worriedly. The events of the day flitted through her mind as she reminisced, allowing her breathing to regulate into slow even breaths.
"Jeesh, you okay?" he asked quizzically, eyebrows furrowed. Violet nodded not trusting herself to speak. Her reflection on the car window revealed her hideous condition. She had a sheen of sweat covering her unusually pale and lifeless face. Her grey eyes were wide and dilated with terror as her hair stuck out at odd angles even more so than usual. Her rosy cheeks and plum plump lips had drained of color, making her appear as she thought she would look like when she died.
"I'm sorry... errrr... I had a nightmare." she croaked, rubbing her neck in an attempt to get her tense muscles to loosen.
"I'll say," he confirmed," you tossed and turned moaning over and over for him to leave you alone?... who's him?"
"Oh just some creepy guy who showed up at the funeral..." Violet leaned back and rubbed her eyes with the palm of her hands. If possible, she was even more tired now than she was before she fell asleep. She blinked her eyes rapidly in a desperate attempt to keep them open. They were parked next to a gas pump at a small gas station just outside of D.C. She reached down into her bag and pulled out a crisp twenty dollar bill.
"Here," she ordered, shoving the bill into his hand. He stared at it unwilling and refusing to take the money.
She shook her head vigorously, "take it... you deserve it for putting up with such an unprofessional hitch hiker." She smiled a small smirk. He reluctantly stuffed the twenty into his pocket.
"Listen, there is something I need to ask you," he began awkwardly," See I run this, want of a better word 'business'. I wondered if you would want to join?" Violet raised her eyebrows understanding he was about to put his foot in his mouth and ruin the respect she had for him.
"What the hell are you raving about?" she asked in frustration, itching to touch his hand so she could find out already, but he was too far from reach for an inconspicuous poke. It would be to awkward to reach across and touch him to get some glean of insight.
"Well ummm... I am most commonly misconstrued as a pimp..." he sighed, slightly abashed and avoiding eye contact. He became quite interested in his left hand's nails.
"Are you kidding me!" Violet laughed hysterically without humor, "you want me to be a whore?" Her face was set in a hardened expression of incredulity.
"I'm only suggesting it to protect you from dangerous guys out there that take advantage of pretty girls like you..."
"No," Violet interrupted venomously, "you are the guy who hands 'pretty girls' like me on a silver platter ensuring the sickos have a knife, fork, spoon, napkins, and a belly full of wine. You will get them anything to ensure their happiness and that your pocket is lined with cash." She jabbed her finger accusingly, poking him hard in the chest with each angry syllable. She shook her head furiously and grabbed her bag. She stormed out, slamming the car door for emphasis of her fury. She marched angrily down the highway muttering under her breath.
"I'm not a whore."
His black car trailed her; the bright luminous lights lit her path better than the clouded moon that hid up in the dark starless sky.
He rolled down his window.
"Come on," he wheedled, "at least let me take you the rest of the way into D.C."
"No." She continued on her way quickening her steps.
"It's dark out, not a good time for sweet desperate girls..."
"You would know," she retorted, "now leave me the bloody hell alone!"
"Fine," he said with an angry and frustrated sigh. He raced off into the night, tires squealing, as the dark forms of trees swayed in a chilling breeze, branches reaching out threateningly.
Violet inhaled deeply and nervously as she was left in a mostly empty highway that was quite dark. She began her trek slowly with trepidation and chills. Having trudged for about 5 minutes, she came to a sudden halt. A big looming figure of a wolf with dark and shaggy locks stood tall and fiercely, blocking her way.
His white teeth were sharp and jagged, glistening in the surrounding darkness; his dark eyes shining, strangely familiar. Violet took a sharp gasp of breath. Headlights fell on the beast revealing black fur and a black nose. He flinched back into the shadowy protection of the trees with a low rumbling growl.
"You need a ride you hooligan?" a wrinkly old woman squawked sticking her heads out of the window.
"Yeah," Violet answered with a tremulous nod.
"Well then get in!" she barked.
Violet turned scanning the surrounding area. She backed up carefully until she bumped into the car. She quickly turned wrenching open the door and jumping in.
"You're a weirdy," the old lady snickered. Her many wrinkles were etched in a permanent sullen frown, her Avon red lips pursed as though they constantly tasted lemon.
The rosary beads swayed violently as the old lady sped off, down the highway beginning a constant string of nosy interrogations.
"What the hell are you doing on a highway at night? Why do you wear so much eyeliner?... you look like a raccoon. What's with the piercings?... it's disgusting. Why are you traveling? Where are you from? Why do you keep looking nervously over your shoulder?"
"First of all," Violet began, "none of these questions pertain to you so I don't see why you should know. I am on the highway at night because some dumb ass left me here at this time. Second, I like black eyeliner, deal. Third, I get piercing because I like the adrenaline rush and rebellion of old hags like you...it's basically the same reason you go to bingo, it makes you feel bad ass. The rest is personal and none of your business."
The woman scoffed but otherwise seemed unperturbed by Violet's long winded rant. Violet sighed and rolled her eyes, lying on her arm where it rested on the window as a sort of pillow. She knew this self-centered egotistical type...they never listened.
The woman rattled on about the importance of conformity and its attributes. Violet closed her eyes in a sorry attempt to get some sleep. Her thoughts were to befuddled by large wolfish beasts, pedophilic men at funerals, pimps searching for whores, and the meaningless chatter of the lady beside her.
The old lady's voice continued to grate on her ears for another 15 minutes as she stared dejectedly out the window. They had finally made it to the crowded city of D.C. Lawyers ran about in high stilettos, briefcases swinging wildly into photogenic tourists. Bums lazed about holding out plastic cups as they begged for change despite the terribly late hour of the night...
"Did you hear me!" the old lady hollered, startling Violet so that she jumped, hitting her elbow painfully on the window.
"What?" she asked testily, rubbing her now bruised elbow.
"I asked," the Old Lady grumbled, "What do you think Jesus did the day he was resurrected? I think he killed the bastards that tortured him."
"Well, I'm not the person to be asking such questions. I am not even sure that I believe what is written in the bible... I gave up on church a while ago."
"What?" the woman shrieked horrified, she slammed on the car brakes causing many cars to honk and drivers curse angrily. She didn't care.
"OUT!" she ordered shrilly, "don't darken my doorsteps with your blasphemous ideas you devil!" She shoved Violet bodily out of the car onto the dirty sidewalk. Violet clumsily stood and caught her bag as the mad lady whipped it at her. The old woman shook a fist angrily and sped off down the road much to the backed up traffic's pleasure.
The woman's bumper sticker read:
Believe Now or Burn in Hell
Violet stood slightly dazed on the sidewalk and blinked, able to rid herself of confusion. The strange one way conversation they had had in the car began to make sense, like dominoes falling into place.
She would get picked up by an over religious psycho, all the people possible in picking her up: axe murderers, serial killers, strange business men, anyone; she gets the one who hates those who aren't of the same narrow-mind as herself.
"I'll give you blasphemy," she threatened under her breath. Turning to a hobo that lounged on a park bench, she asked, "Which way to the nearest train station?"
"Why there's one 'bout 5 minutes' walk from here," he said and began explaining the directions. She was sick of the hectic crazy hitch hiking and decided she could risk splurging some of her money.
"Thanks," Violet nodded, handing him a crisp $10 bill from her messenger bag. The smelly hobo thanked her profusely and skipped down the street gleefully, certain that it was to fill up on more booze. Once the hobo had left, Violet took poor bedraggled Reggie out of her pocket. He was limp and tired, probably hungry too. She would have to find some place soon that he can go catch a meal. She looked into his dull red eyes and petted his head sorrowfully. She put him on her shoulder where he slithered to his usual resting spot, curled snugly around her neck.
Violet meandered her way through the twisted and crowded sidewalks until arriving shortly at the train station.
"May I help you?" the ticket woman droned in a monotonous tone from behind her Plexiglas booth. Translation: Will you hurry the hell up so I can go on my damn lunch break you imbecilic.
"Yes," Violet said waspishly, she did not like to be called stupid...whether out loud or in that person's head. "I need a one way ticket to Florida."
The woman snorted malevolently, "There is no train for Florida... go to North Carolina and then you can switch trains there to go to Florida." The lady snorted her contempt, now being pretty blatant about her feeling of superiority.
"Fine, give me one way ticket to North Carolina then," she snapped, frustrated with the lack of helpfulness this woman was being.
"That'll be $62.50," she droned, and popped the bright pink bubblegum. Violet muttered madly about the disregard for others and the blatant robbery going on in the traveling industry. She reluctantly took out the cash and paid the rude ticket seller. The woman dropped the change and ticket bitterly on the counter, for Violet to scramble to pick up.
Before Violet walked away she called over her shoulder, "It must suck to be trapped at a train station where people are constantly traveling, living their dream. Oh the irony." She loved the face that she left the amazed and heartbroken ticket seller, understanding that travel was her goal in life. The ticket read that the train would depart in 10 minutes. Violet went and sat on the bench that faced the silvery steel railroad track. Head back and gazing at the plain marble ceiling she contemplated the events that had occurred. It was late; the fluorescent lights illuminated everyone with a nasty alien like glow. Everyone around her was tired, each having had dilemmas and problems of their own. Suddenly, a loud train came rumbling and barreling down the track. It came to a screeching halt with a shudder and a low sigh of steam. Grabbing her bag that lay next to her on the bench, Violet scrambled to the second to last caboose, finding a solitary seat and glaring menacingly at anyone who had the thought or intention of sitting in any of the seats surrounding her. She leaned her head against the cool pane of glass and listened to the quiet murmured chatter of the people that stalked up and down the aisle.
"Here's a complementary pillow, miss," a young helper of the conductor offered. He handed her a flat fluff-less pillow to sleep on.
"Thanks," she muttered, crotchety and peeved. He walked away; too happy and awake for her liking. Crumpling her pillow into a lumpy ball she attempted to find a comfy spot. Reggie hissed, disgusted at her tossing. She sighed and rolled her eyes.
Violet closed her eyes the entire journey of the rattling train. She didn't see the light powder of snow that had fallen in D.C. disappear as the train moved on further south. Bleak whites and browns made way to spring greens and bright earthy browns, not those dreary tones of death and decay. The morning sun rose shining its rays on the spunky girl whose snake lay coiled up around her throat having left from her pocket as she half slept to find some mice to eat. He had gotten to scare two old women, giving them angina, and startled a now severely shaken mother and daughter. He hissed his content. The girl on the other hand slept fitfully, a little string of drool making a tiny puddle on the terribly flat complementary pillows. She woke with a stretch and an awful crick in her neck. She sat for a few minutes to get her bearings. She looked at the window at the green stretch of grass that lay before. Violet smiled a small smile. She had at least made it south...in a few more hours' time she would finally be in Florida.
The train hissed to a stop at the final station.
"All personnel must leave the train being the final stop. Take all your things with you for we aren't liable. Have a good day." the intercom ordered in a false, cheery, robotic voice. Everyone exited the train in varying degrees of excitement. People pulled overstuffed luggage cases, every one of them seeming to be red because the owners thought they would be different and be able to spot theirs better. Violet shouldered her bag and left, double checking on her way out that Reggie still snoozed around her neck. She went up to this stations ticket booth where a cheerful old man greeted her.
"Good Morning" he greeted perkily, a wide smile across his face.
"Mornin'," Violet mumbled, she was not a morning person, "I need a ticket to Florida. The soonest one you've got." She held back a yawn bringing tears to her eyes.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry," he apologized, his face falling slightly upon hearing the request," that train broke down. There won't be one until two days from now."
"Damn it!' Violet swore, making him frown disapprovingly, not that she could care. She stalked off, now in a pissy mood. She couldn't afford to say in a hotel for even a night, never mind two days! She stalked out of the train station. It seemed that she was back to hitch hiking.
Violet shrugged out of her coat and hung it over her bag so it wouldn't be in her way. It was warm and the air was slightly thicker with the humidity. It was lovely. Birds sang with their melodious chirps and she was in a smaller town, not a busy city. She was still in a surly mood, though it was hard to be with all the light springy air. Wandering around aimlessly, she finally made it on a southbound highway. She trudged down it knowing she looked like a mess and realizing she really had to pee. She hummed Mona Lisa, by Panic! At the Disco thoughtlessly as she gazed at the scenery around her and the passing cars.
Violet twisted suddenly on her heel, she eyed a small olive green Yaris roll to a gentle stop behind her. She eyed the parked car with great trepidation and narrowed eyes, weary of who would be behind that tinted window...
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Sometimes life is just better when you're naked. Or at least it's better when you're looking at a naked girl like Veroni.
When Veroni showed up to pose for Petter Hegre she was a complete virgin to the world of nude modeling. Twenty minutes into the photo shoot and Petter couldn't convince her to put her clothes back on! So what's a photographer to do in a situation like this? Why, make a film of course.
Sit back and relax as we take you on a trip through a normal day in the life of one very special woman. Of course, when she is completely nude, Veroni's life is far beyond average.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Style # 172330
Racerback Tank is rated out of 5 by 45.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Singaporegirl from So comfy I have 4 of these racerback tank. I wish they would bring back the bluish purple color. They are so comfy. I will probably buy more if they come out with more colors.
Date published: 2014-10-22
Rated 5 out of 5 by Jillian from Love this tank This is my new favorite tank. I read all the great reviews, and I had to order it. I got it in five colors. The colors are vibrant. The material feels thick and soft. It looks really well made. The longer length is perfect. I ordered my usual M/L. I am 115lbs and a 32DD.
Date published: 2014-08-07
Rated 5 out of 5 by ComfortIsKey from SO comfortable and cute I have bought this tank top in FIVE (5) different colors because I love it so much- Black, Pink, Blue, and Peach (Dubarry). It is tight enough that I do not have to wear a bra =) ha yay! It also is so cute with anything. I wear them on casual days with yoga pants, or downtown nightsvwith high wasted shorts such as the bebe Cage Trouser Shorts. This tank is PERFECT in every way.
Date published: 2014-07-13
Rated 5 out of 5 by PennsylvaniaGirl from Love this tank! I am amazed at how comfortable this tank top is and the price is great! The twist racerback makes it a little more sporty/dressy. I wear mine with a strapless bra without any slipping or feeling uncomfortable. My fiance loves how soft they are as well. So that's a bonus. I definitely will be buying more of these for the summer.
Date published: 2014-06-20
Rated 3 out of 5 by Grayy19 from Cute but tight These tanks are really cute and soft, but they are super form fitting and not forgiving. I am comfortable with my body and fairly athletic, but I don't feel comfortable wearing this tank by itself, because it shows off every curve/roll, no matter how small. I got them in red and black and I'm going to keep them for layering, but kinda disappointed I won't be able to show off the twist back. Despite the tight factor I would still recommend them, just know that you might be layering it under something else.
Date published: 2014-05-28
Rated 5 out of 5 by LMSA from Stylish Tank I have this tank in many colors. Very comfortable and very stylish. I've received many compliments. A definite closet staple.
Date published: 2014-02-08
Rated 4 out of 5 by FlawlessJEC from Great tank! You can wear this with anything! It's also slimming which is just am added bonus! The sides scoop down a little lower than o would like, but I will probably be wearing under a blazer. Great purchase! Will definitely buy more colors!
Date published: 2013-08-31
Rated 5 out of 5 by customer from You can wear it with anything I absolutely love those shirts. I have it in every available color. You can wear it to run with sports clothes or match an elegant skirt with it and be ready to go to a meeting
Date published: 2013-08-23


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Young and local tennis sensation Korey Lovett withdrew from public school at Brevard High right at a year ago, and it just might have been one of the best decisions he's made for his career.
Last Saturday the almost-17-year-old verbally committed to a full athletic scholarship to South Carolina where he will continue his tennis career at the collegiate level in 2014.
"Their coaches are the best and the team is awesome. The facilities are really nice. It just felt right; it's a really nice campus and a fun town to be in," Lovett said.
He chose South Carolina over other Division I schools that include Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and LSU.
The decision pleasantly surprised his dad and primary coach, Kenny Lovett, who was certain that Korey would choose Alabama.
"I think South Carolina's coach is the best in the country, but I thought (Korey) was going to Alabama so I was shocked when he told me he had decided on South Carolina," Kenny Lovett said. "It was so hard because he had about 20 offers. He looked at me when we were in the car last weekend and said, 'This is the coach I want to play for.' So I told him to call and tell them."
Since he has been homeschooling, Korey Lovett has been able to focus on a stricter training schedule that includes playing tennis twice a day every day.
When he turned 16 last April he was declared the No. 1 junior player for 16s in the South. It's a title he will hold until his birthday on April 27, but for the past year Korey has been competing in the 18s division, where he is currently ranked 11th with a 2013 record of 60-22.
As a 16-year-old, Korey has defeated the 18s No. 1 junior in the country, Paul Oosterbaan, at Spring Nationals, who is a Georgia commit. Korey also beat Wake Forest's No. 1 singles player, senior David Hopkins, at the 50,000 Challenger Qualifier in Savannah, Ga., among other collegiate players.
He still considers Brevard as his residence because he "didn't want to leave" to train elsewhere like other up-and-coming tennis greats often do.
"This past year has been a lot of good experiences, just being able to travel a lot more, meet more people and focus on tennis," Korey Lovett said.
Although Brevard is home, he travels almost every weekend to tournaments across the country.
"He absolutely loves tennis. We train about three hours a day. He works really hard on the court, and off the court he's in the weight room and works hard on his fitness without me or anybody pushing him," Kenny Lovett said. "He's motivated and he loves the game. You can't make a kid play; they've got to do it for themselves."
The heightened level of competition has paid off, as Lovett was recently named the U.S. Tennis Association's Male Junior Player of the Year for North Carolina. Only one junior player in the entire state receives the award each year.
Korey's goal is to finish high school in December and be able to start at South Carolina in January.
"It'll be tough for me when he leaves but he'll only be two hours away. I won't miss a home match. This is great for the community, too, to have him close by because I think he'll have 30-40 people from Brevard come to his home matches.
"As a dad and a coach I'm proud of him getting Player of the Year, but I was more proud when he got the Sportsmanship award two years ago," Kenny Lovett said of Korey. "I'm proud of how humble he is. He's a much better kid than he is a tennis player."
Local tennis sensation Lovett gets full ride to South Carolina
Young and local tennis sensation Korey Lovett withdrew from public school at Brevard High right at a year ago, and it just might have been one of the best decisions he's made for his career.


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ART and MUSEUMS
Revealing the Early Renaissance: Stories and Secrets in Florentine Art Art Gallery of Ontario, 416-979-6648 or ago.net.
Are You Alright? New Art From Britain To March 24. Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, 416-395-0067 or mocca.ca.
Peter Harris To March 30. Mira Godard Gallery, 416-964-8197 or godardgallery.com.
Transformation by Fire To April 28. Gardiner Museum 416-586-8080 or gardinermuseum.on.ca.
Human Rights Human Wrongs To April 14. Ryerson Image Centre, 416-979-5164 or ryerson.ca/ric/.
Beat Nation: Art, Hip Hop and Aboriginal Culture To May 5. Power Plant, 416-973-4949 or thepowerplant.org.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds March 23. Massey Hall, 416-872-4255 or masseyhall.com.
Amadeus Choir and Elmer Iseler Singers: Bach's Mass in B Minor March 23, Metropolitan United Church, 416-217-0537.
TSO: From Mozart to Sibelius March 23 and 24. Roy Thomson Hall, 416-872-4255 or tso.ca.
Rain (Beatles Tribute) March 22 and 23. Rose Theatre, 905-874-2800.
Thais March 24. Jane Mallett Theatre, 416-366-7723 or operainconcert.com.
Tafelmusik: A Night in Madrid To March 24. Trinity-St. Paul's Centre, 416-964-6337 or tafelmusik.org.
Gryphon Trio and Penderecki String Quartet: Music of Christos Hatzis March 25. Walter Hall, 416-408-0208.
Tippett Quartet March 28. March 25. Walter Hall, 416-923-7052 or wmct.on.ca.
Canadian Music Week To March 24. Various venues, cmw.net.
Kelly Jefferson Quartet March 22 and 23. Rex Hotel, 416-598-2475 or therex.ca.
Patricia O'Callaghan: Tribute to Leonard Cohen March 24. Hugh's Room, 416-531-6604.
Alex Pangman March 26. Jazz Bistro, 416-363-5299.
Alt-J March 27. Sound Academy, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Shotgun Jimmie March 29. Monarch Tavern, www.ticketfly.com.
Hannah Moscovitch Double Bill To March 24. Tarragon Theatre Extraspace, 416-531-1827 or tarragontheatre.com.
Iceland To March 24. Factory Theatre, 416-504-9971 or factorytheatre.ca.
Dancing With Rage To March 24. $25 to $99. Panasonic Theatre, 416-872-1212 or mirvish.com.
As I Lay Dying To March 31. Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, 416-504-7529 or artsboxoffice.ca.
Arigato, Tokyo To April 14. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 416-975-8555 or buddiesinbadtimes.com.
True West March 25 to May 4. Young Centre, 416-866-8666 or soulpepper.ca.
La Ronde March 26 to May 4. Young Centre, 416-866-8666 or soulpepper.ca.
The Wizard of Oz Ed Mirvish Theatre, 416-872-1212 or mirvish.com.
U of T Festival of Dance March 22 and 23. Hart House, harthouse.ca/festivalofdance.
Dave Foley March 22 and 23. Yuk Yuk's Mississauga. yukyuks.com.
ALTdot Comedy Lounge March 25. Rivoli, 416-596-1908 or altdotcomedylounge.com.
The Meme-ing of Life Indefinite run. Second City, 416-343-0011 or secondcity.com.
Water Docs International Film Festival To March 24. AGO's Jackman Hall, waterdocs.ca.
Banff Mountain Film Festival World To March 24. Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 416-637-3123.
The Catch: Japanese Cinema of the Eighties To April 6. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 416-899-8433 or tiff.net.
Corin Raymond: Bookworm March 23. Cameron House, corinraymond.com.
Toronto Storytelling Festival To March 24. Various venues, 416-656-2445 or torontostorytellingfestival.ca.
Globe and Mail/Ben McNally Books Authors' Brunch March 24. King Edward Hotel, 416-361-0032.
Yoga Conference & Show To March 24. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, theyogaconference.com/toronto.
Monster AMA Supercross March 23. Rogers Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Toronto Roller Derby League May 23 and 24. The Bunker, torontorollerderby.com.
Canada Blooms To March 24. Direct Energy Centre, 416-447-8655 or canadablooms.com.
One of a Kind Show March 27 to 31. Direct Energy Centre, oneofakindshow.com.
Game On 2.0: An Exhibition To Sept. 2. Ontario Science Centre, 416-696-1000 or ontariosciencecentre.ca.
Comic Arts for Kids Expo March 23. Lillian Smith Library, smallprinttoronto.org.
Laura Repo March 23. Gladstone Melody Bar, gladstonehotel.com.
Bowmanville Antiques & Folk Art Show March 29 and 30. G.B. Rickard Recreation Complex, bowmanvilleantiquesshow.com
Alicia Keys April 2. Air Canada Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Blue Planet April 8 to May 2. Young People's Theatre, 416-862-2222 or youngpeoplestheatre.ca.
Leonard Cohen April 9. Copps Coliseum, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
David Sedaris April 12. Sony Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Flying Lotus May 15. Sound Academy, ticketweb.ca.
Vampire Weekend May 16. Sony Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
CBCMUSIC.CA Festival May 25. Echo Beach, livenation.com or cbcmusic.ca.


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|Click to return to
Baseball-Cards.com Vintage baseball cards with checklist and price guides
1958 Topps #333 Andy Carey (Yankees) Baseball cardPrice = $ 12.95
Select a different Sport or Vintage Baseball Cards set Enter words,partial words,partial words with wildcards (*) or a phrase in quotes.
1959 Topps Yankees displays vintage 1959 Topps Yankees cards.
Bowman Mantle displays all Bowman Mickey Mantle cards, old and recent.
Lowest prices on baseball card escort supplies! Las Vegas.
New York City,Miami,Los Angeles weekly baseball card auctions.
Below are some tidbits on baseball and sportscard collecting.
Visit our web site for more info on vintage and current
baseball, football, basketball, hockey, sports and
non-sport cards and card collecting.
(part 1)
Common - any card which is not short-printed, an insert, a bonus card, or has an insertion ratio. In short, the cards that comprise the manufacturer's basic set.
Condition - the physical appearance of a card/collectible. Centering, corner wear, photo clarity, edges, the presence of foreign material, signs of misuse are the critical components. Along with rarity/scarcity, it is a major factor in determining the value of a card or collectible.
Crease - an obvious paper wrinkle defect usually caused by bending the card [i.e.- the result of being tortured on a rear-wheel bicycle spoke during the early '50s and '60s].
Die-Cut - an insert/parallel card that differs from the basic card by a process of the manufacturer "cutting" portions of the card revealing a special design. Recent issues may also be individually and serially-numbered.
HARTLAND STATUESHartland produced it's first baseball statues back in the early 60's. Sports Collectibles Digest stated that the 1960's Mickey Mantle Hartland is the single most popular plastic sports statue ever produced ! In 1988 Hartland created their 25th Anniversary Editions which, except for some very minor details, were identical to the original.
Hartland partnered with America's leading hobby-periodical publisher, Krause Publications, to create the SCD Authentic series offering the original 18 as you've never seen them with each statue dramatically different from prior releases. They are amazingly beautiful and exquisitely detailed in their road uniforms with painted pinstripes and wood grained bats making them a unique collectible opportunity for both veteran collectors and Hartland newcomers alike.
Limited to only 2,500 pieces each, these statues are BRAND NEW, MINT and in THEIR ORIGINAL BOXES !!!
Click for complete
Hartland Baseball Statues & Figurines checklist and prices
1969 Topps StampsThis was Topps 3rd stamp issue in the last eight years and it was a good one !!! The stamps were not inserts but a totally separate issue . For a nickel you got a strip of twelve stamps plus a mini album. The 1969 Topps Stamps complete set contains 240 stamps. The 1 x 1-7/16 inch stamps were unnumbered and featured a color photo with the player's name, team and position inside a colored banner at the bottom of the stamp. The stamps were released in both vertical and horizontal strips of 12 stamps. The 1969 Topps Stamps are often confused with Topps' 1974 issue. The 1974 Topps Stamps have ovals rather than banners at the bottom and were released only in 12-stamp horizontal panels.
Along with the stamps, Topps also issued a set of 24 albums, one per team, to store them in. The 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" orange albums were the same size as a baseball card and held a complete 10-stamp team set. To add even more collecting fun, the album's back cover had facsimile autographs of the ten players shown in the album.
The 1969 Topps Stamps set is packed with stars like Pete Rose along with tons of Hall-of-Famers including MICKEY MANTLE, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente & many, many more !!!
Click for complete
1969 Topps Baseball Stamps checklist and prices
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Choose units & press on green "UPDATE" button to save.
Looking at the weather in Pomezia, Italy over the next 7 days, the maximum temperature will be 17℃ (or 63℉) on Friday 21st December at around 1 pm. In the same week the minimum temperature will be 7℃ (or 44℉) on Wednesday 19th December at around 10 pm.
The national weather service for Pomezia, Italy is reporting Saturday 22nd December to be the wettest day in the coming week with around 0.60mm (or 0.0 inches) of rainfall. Make sure to carry an umbrella if you are out and about in Pomezia, Italy.
The windiest of all days will be Tuesday 18th December as wind will reach 21mph (or 34kmph) at around 1 am.
Temperature chart displays the maximum and minimum temperature over next 15 days.
Precipitation chart displays the total precipitation amount in a day over next 15 days.
Pressure chart displays the change in pressure over next 15 days.
Wind speed chart displays the changes in wind speed and gust over next 15 days.
Please also visit Pomezia Historical Weather, Text Weather and Weather Charts pages. Historical or past weather forecast page provides historical weather forecast from 1st July, 2008 till now in 3 hourly interval. Text weather page will allow you to get a weather text summary for next 14 days and weather chart page displays weather pattern like temperature, wind speed, gust, pressure, etc. in graphical mode for next 14 days. We hope you like it.
If anything is not correct on our website or you have any feedbacks or queries then please do get in touch. We are waiting for your valuable feedbacks.


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Removing the lid of the back of someone's toilet and shitting in the clean water. Results in shit running into the boil with every flush
That bitch pissed me off, so I upperdecked her shitter
by Dan April 05, 2004
giving John Barrowman a blowjob on a transatlantic flight
"In the middle of the night ... on a 747 on the upper deck" (hence the term "upper decking")
by qwapos September 07, 2012
The process of taking a shit in the tank of a toilet instead of the bowl so when the next person flushes, all the shit goes into the bowl
Taking a shit in the tank instead of the toliet is upper decking.
by Jay December 26, 2003
Deficating in the tank of someone's toilet, rather than the bowl. Often employed in malicious context.
Suzy could not figure out why her toiled would flush only brown water. Little did she know that Johnny had upper decked that bitch the previous night.
by Korthos July 27, 2004
This one takes practice. This maneuver requires a toilet with a tank above it, like the ones in most homes. Instead of crapping in the bowl, you shit in the tank. Now don't flush. When the following victim flushes, the rancid waste fills the bowl. If you play your cards right, it may ferment. Great prank for those lame partys.
"I gave that toilet a nice upperdecking, Just wait till she comes outta there"
by CharlesVA August 05, 2006
The malicious act of making doodie in the water tank of a toilet, thus contaminating the toilet's clean water supply.
by ee March 03, 2005
Using the restroom, going number one or two in the water tank of a fellow man's toilet. when he flushes the pee or shit flows out.
The other night we were upperdecking, it was funny as shit.
by douchebagness May 02, 2007


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Airport Cities Opens in Kuala Lumpur Progressive discussion into latest Airport Cities developments expected at annual conference and exhibition
01 April 2014
Kuala Lumpur, 1 April 2014 - Progressive discussion into latest Airport Cities developments expected at annual conference and exhibition
The 13th Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition, the global event for the creation and development of airport cities, will formally open today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event is the global platform providing thought leadership, best practice, innovation and high-level debate and discussion around the creation and development of airport cities.
Hosted by Malaysia Airports and supported by ACI World, UKTI, CIDB Malaysia, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Visit Malaysia, Airport Cities 2014 has attracted some high level speakers to its thought-provoking programme.
Confirmed speakers include; Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Managing Director, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), David Fei, President and CEO, Taoyuan International Airport Corporation, Atty. Arnel Casanova, President, Bases Conversion Development Authority, The Philippines, Tri S. Sunoko, President, Angkasa Pura II, S G K Kishore, Chief Executive Officer, GMR Airports - New Delhi and Hyderabad International Airports and Patrick Ong CEO, Macau International Airport amongst others.
Airport Cities Chairman, John D. Kasarda, Director for Air Commerce, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, University of North Carolina commented "Kuala Lumpur promises to be the most information packed Airport Cities conference to date. With its worldwide airport city and aerotropolis developments, opportunities, and challenges will be addressed with especially in-depth coverage by leaders from the Asia-Pacific region, I expect the event to be both engaging and productive."
Adrian Newton, Group Director - Transport and Technology, UBM Live, stated "a unique element of attending this conference is the opportunity for attendees to observe first-hand a major aerotropolis in evolution. Maximising its highly lucrative location, Malaysia Airport's KLIA Aeropolis plan strives to maximise Malaysia's unique position in the region, and turn the airport city into a destination in its own right. In addition to learning about this airport-anchored urban economic region in the making, the conference programme will provide delegates with unique insights into some of the most exciting and innovative airport city and aerotropolis models from around the globe."
Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said "Malaysia Airports is pleased for Malaysia to be the first Asian country in the Southern hemisphere, and also the first Asian country outside China to host the event. This will be a great platform for us to discuss our own Aeropolis development and will generate business and commercial development opportunities related to expansion of airport cities. We hope all delegates will have a fruitful conference and gain extensive knowledge on airport cities."
Some of the conference sessions include; Introducing the Emerging Asian Airport Cities; Understanding the Importance of Stakeholder Alignment and Governance in a successful Airport City Development; and The Role of Airport Cities in Urban Renewal and Economic Development, amongst other topical and engaging topics.
In addition to the conference and exhibition, which will form the core elements of Airport Cities 2014, delegates will also have the chance to experience some of the highlights of Kuala Lumpur firsthand with a dedicated site tour of klia2, KL International Airport's newest terminal and the world's largest purpose-built terminal for low cost carriers. The tour will subsequently include a sightseeing trip to the garden city of Putrajaya, located in the heart of the lavish Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) they will also be able to experience an F1 experience around the Sepang International Circuit.
The 2014 event will continue to unite the entire 'airport city community' with senior decision makers attending from airports, economic development agencies, financial institutions, real estate and urban development companies, industry suppliers and global and regional businesses.


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The William C. Weldon era at Johnson & Johnson will officially come to an end next month, when he will step down as chairman of its board of directors, the company said today.
In an announcement, the New Brunswick-based health care giant said Alex Gorsky, who in April succeeded Weldon as CEO, was elected the board's new chairman. Weldon will relinquish the post Dec. 28, with plans to fully retire in the first quarter of 2013, following a brief transition period.
The CEO of 10 years will retire after a 41-year career with the company.
Gorsky, a former vice chairman and head of its medical device and diagnostics units, took the reins in April during a challenging time for J&J. The company in recent years has dealt with several product recalls, mostly tied to manufacturing problems.
In today's announcement, J&J also said it would enhance the board's governance structure by expanding the duties and responsibilities of its independent presiding director. The expansion will include more involvement in stakeholder communications, board and executive performance evaluations, agenda setting, and succession planning.


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Business owners in downtown Milford were boarding windows, securing doors and raising equipment Saturday in preparation for the tidal flooding that's expected from Hurricane Sandy.
Business owners in downtown Milford were boarding windows, securing doors and raising equipment Saturday in preparation for the tidal flooding that's expected from Hurricane Sandy.
"We usually get hit pretty hard be these storms," said Carmen Kemper, the owner of the Milford Skating Center on Park Avenue, which is just a block away from the banks of the Mispillion River. "The last time I had flooding was during Hurricane Irene, so right now, I'm just trying to make sure all my doors are secure and everything is protected. Other than that, all we can do is sit tight and wait."
The hurricane is expected to combine with a second storm when it hits the Mid Atlantic, bringing more than a foot of rain and 75 mph winds to the area between Sunday and Wednesday.
The heavy rain fall combined with major coastal surges and higher-than-usual tides resulting from Sunday's full moon, means Delaware towns along tidal waterways, like Milford, could experience severe flooding.
To help protect the town's downtown commercial district, city workers handed out hundreds of free sandbags at Milford's public works facility on Vickers Drive from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
About two dozen business owners showed up to collect the pre-filled sandbags, including Nelson Gray of Gray Electronics at 215 N. Rehoboth Blvd.
"My biggest concern is the water coming in from under my commercial door," Gray said while waiting his turn in line. "We've had flooding before, so I just want to be prepared. We're boarding up our windows and then we'll take it on an as-you-go basis from there."
Scott Angelucci said he spent most of the morning getting everything off the floor at Angelucci Studios and Artists' Gallery at 7 Park Ave.
"I locked stuff up and checked all our flood grates to be sure they were clear," he said. "We've been through this before. We've never actually had water come in the studio but I have seen the parking lot get so flooded that the water comes up to the second step. Right now, I figure it's better to be safe than sorry."
Mark Dissinger, director of the Second Street Players, said he was taking every precaution to protect the Riverfront Theatre at 2 S. Walnut St.
"We're right there on the water, so we want to protect our investment," he said. "We're planning to put these sandbags right at our front door, which is our biggest concern.
David Shockely, the pastor of Jesus Love Temple at 106 S. Walnut St., said he was picking up sandbags to add one more precaution against flooding.
"We have people over at the church right now doing a walk through, checking drains and making sure we're ready," he said. "We've had to intervene to keep everything dry before, and with poor drainage and the chance of flooding, we just want to be sure we're protected."
While town workers have handed out empty sandbags to residents and business owners in the past, City Manager Richard Carmean said the anticipated severity of the coming storm prompted city officials to take an extra step this time around.
"We had crews here yesterday preparing about 30 tons worth of sandbags," he said. "Unfortunately, we don't have the manpower to deliver and install the sandbags all over town, but we decided we could at least make them available for pick up on a first come, first serve basis."
Although the sandbags were only made available to businesses and civic organizations located in the downtown area on Saturday, Carmean said any leftover bags could be distributed to area neighborhoods near known flood zones.
"The reasons we decided to make them available to the businesses was because if those businesses aren't open after this thing hits, there won't be anywhere to the residents to go to buy food and necessitates," he said. "I also don't think most of our subdivisions are going to see flooding like what we might get in the downtown area near the river."


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Ishod Wair won another Maloof am contest. He's got a round trip ticket to Maloof South Africa in the bag. He probably could've come close to winning the pro contest too, he's that good. The pros went head-to-head single elimination style. The final face-off was between veterans Andrew Reynolds and Ronnie Creager. Both were ripping all day, but The Boss put it down until the very last second icing it with a kickflip frontside lipslide on the gold rail as time ran out. He got $160,000 and a ticket to South Africa and Ronnie got $40,000. Not bad for a weekend of skating. Full results below the photos.
Photos by Blair Alley
1. Andrew Reynolds
2. Ronnie Creager
3. Bastien Salabanzi
4. Manny Santiago
5. Jack Curtin
6. Greg Lutzka
7. Bobby Worrest
8. Tom Asta
9. Figgy
10. Vincent Alvarez
11. Ryan Decenzo
12. Collin Provost


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« Back to people
Genessa KrasnowAlumni, Class of 1995
7 years at Microsoft visually the future of technology. 1 year at the Comparative Histories of Ideas program at the University of Washington experting and creating installations to teach emathy. Another 9 months with Microsoft to confirm that I really wanted to leave the first time. Several years mentoring teenage girls in media literacy and video production. 11 months in Central and South America working and wandering about.


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Marriott USPS Conference Center
2801 State HWY 9 East
Norman, OK 73071
Map It!
Years Labeled (Rating):
2004 (94)
Facility Type:
Total Floor Space:
Year Constructed:
Building Owner:
United States Postal Service (USPS)
Property Manager:
Marriott International
Please note: The building information in this profile was verified and submitted to EPA at the time of application. Building energy performance, operating
characteristics, and ownership/management may be subject to change over time.