tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45906812794540818322018-08-31T06:18:06.019-07:00Tales from the basement. Tales from the sea.As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-13825592413620410782016-01-24T13:28:00.000-08:002016-01-24T13:28:01.615-08:00

     I had acted out my own death on at least 100 different occasions by the time that I hit seventeen.      There were boxes upon boxes of 8mm film rotting away in the damp attic as proof. Silent movies that Nils and I had shot with our late grandfather's Brownie Turret camera.      I was chased by Nils in a bed sheet acting as a ghost or cornered by him as he wore a black circle skirt tied

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-33697276975507454592015-03-25T09:25:00.001-07:002015-03-25T09:25:45.480-07:00

DEAD HAWAIIAN FATHER by GUTTER WITCH

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-81161874564225869022015-03-12T13:39:00.001-07:002015-03-12T13:39:06.419-07:00

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-58968017252928011342014-10-07T19:39:00.000-07:002014-10-07T19:39:01.751-07:00

     I spent a great deal of my time as a mermaid.    People would ask me what I did for a living-- or you know, the kind of thing that I would put on resumes once every six months when I had the fleeting idea of bettering myself-- and I would always answer "model", living off of the delusion that was what I was doing with my life but that was a lie.    Six days a week-- I was a mermaid.

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-50116158573498653992014-10-04T07:19:00.000-07:002014-10-04T08:12:09.063-07:00

a ship ( a "dredge boat") that was out to sea in the middle of the night (the Pacific Ocean) near the coast under a dark sky and a blanket of stars. The ship was lit up brightly as though it were a stadium. It sent one 12oz. silver can of Diet Coke out on a current-- delivering it to us upon the shore followed by one fully cooked lobster, a stick of butter (store brand; still wrapped in wax

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-81552051588786749632014-10-03T18:00:00.000-07:002014-10-03T18:00:16.641-07:00

     "What do you want to do when you get done with school, Jennie?"    Rory and I were laying on a blanket spread out on the hood of his car and staring at the stars. We were bundled to the teeth in our coats, scarves, gloves and knit wool caps. It was the first clear night the city had had all fall and the only reason it was clear was because of the very unusual occurrence of there being

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-76866621080171181302014-09-29T10:59:00.001-07:002014-09-29T10:59:07.625-07:00

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-46962669241078665722014-09-28T13:04:00.001-07:002014-09-29T11:00:45.447-07:00

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-81888602140647440162014-08-25T15:03:00.000-07:002014-08-25T15:03:25.913-07:00

    "Mom started using--again," My sister murmured up into the darkness.     We were on our backs, sharing the bed in my grandparent's guest room, the same as we had done as little girls. Well, when I was a little girl and she was my guardian at a time when I had none other but her and Eugene... Eugene.    There had been so many early mornings when the sun cast a light that made everything look

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-45038621462864573822014-04-08T23:45:00.000-07:002014-04-08T23:45:19.799-07:00

    Jane and I sat on a bench outside staring at the Puget Sound rushing underneath the ferry. The air was cold, it stung my cheeks and my ears. Adrian was inside getting coffee and tea from the cafe on board.    My sister attempted to explain everything.     My mother had overdosed while in the bathtub. Jane had come over that night to return a crockpot and let herself into the house.    "I'm

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-8689987711506966832014-04-07T22:43:00.001-07:002014-04-07T22:43:39.424-07:00

    "No," I told her, calmly, as though I were trying to level with her. It was a mistake. It was something else, someone else or any number of things.    "No," I repeated but I knew that it wasn't a mistake.     Secretly, I had been expecting this call since Eugene died. It wasn't only because of my mother's drug addiction, I was waiting for this call in regards to anyone that I cared about.

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-7308941528856548772014-04-07T01:01:00.001-07:002014-04-07T01:01:40.668-07:00

I had a dream about Eugene the night before Noah's film wrapped.    Eugene and I were walking around town. We ended up at a shopping mall and I kept telling him that I had to go. I was going to be late. We went to the circus and I kept telling him that I had to go. I was going to be late. We went into a photobooth and took our pictures together, he was smiling and laughing. I was so worried about

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-4041332184544979252014-04-05T22:31:00.002-07:002014-04-05T22:31:37.766-07:00

I knew that no good would find me on this particular evening when I walked into the restaurant and saw Adrian and Spencer seated at the bar having drinks.    Adrian noticed me almost immediately. His face lighted with pleasant surprise He offered a smile and began to rise up from his bar stool until he spotted Christian come up behind me. He recoiled as Christian put an arm about my waist. At

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-28950281035815005162014-04-04T22:00:00.002-07:002014-04-04T22:00:50.198-07:00

I made the mistake of wearing that 1960s cream-colored sweater dress to the party for Adam's 35th birthday.        I was feeling like old Nick Carraway again.    I had broken into Hollywood by accident-- I hadn't even tried. I was the unlikeliest of candidate.    There were girls younger than myself who took acting classes, had gym memberships and eating disorders and personal trainers. They had

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-19892333913978609722014-04-03T19:57:00.002-07:002014-04-03T19:57:51.493-07:00

Words speak like music a melody a divine thing a bitter coating on the tongue like a pill that was chewed instead of swallowed a vial of gunpowder a headache the constants on repeat... I paid ninety-nine cents for this song and I will listen to it until I tire of it (or singing along to it) ...or some great crash that forces me to either give up or buy it again... Again. Why? Because I am

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-24273189338339995132014-04-01T23:57:00.002-07:002014-04-01T23:57:46.048-07:00

 Private planes. Oscar winners. Las Vegas.        I had stolen food from the catering tables and green rooms of some of the most popular bands in history (once, I even managed to swipe a bottle of Moet from The Buzzcocks)-- but it wasn't until this particular night that I truly knew what it was like to feel... like a celebrity...    ...and it had my skin crawling out from beneath my hair.    

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-50566240570799130612014-04-01T22:39:00.001-07:002014-04-01T22:39:24.254-07:00

     There was blood in the middle of the road. A lot of it. So much blood that it could be considered 'pooled'--within the cracks of the asphalt. It filled potholes with dark liquid that, it being night, made it appear as though the old mountain road had been recently repaired.      There was so much blood that I begged Benjamin not to turn the car around to look at it-- only I forgot to use

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-31609505296201060552014-03-31T23:58:00.001-07:002014-03-31T23:58:36.921-07:00

     I would probably be more productive as a human being if I actually acted like the seventeen-year-old girl that I so often feel like I am.              I've been thinking about this a lot. Not just today. Not just since I made the bet with the kid. The stakes are high. We each have to keep a blog every day until the end of his spring break and the first one of us who fails to update on the

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-40484769836232575522014-03-16T12:00:00.001-07:002014-03-16T12:33:42.862-07:00

    (This story was written for my friend, Danny Bland. The only honest sentiments I've made have you in them.)              Allow these words to serve as evidence that I no longer care who it is that I take down with me.          Sleep.    oralackthereof.    "...but only three hours of sleep," the funny little doctor in the white coat said as he scribbled on his prescription pad, "that will

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-48487587152180008842014-01-14T15:01:00.000-08:002014-01-14T15:01:07.822-08:00

(For Courtney and Scotty B)        February 18th happened just as it had every year for the past six years.     I spent what seemed to be days in Christian's bed with covers pulled up over my head and blinds drawn. Mr. Mittens curled outside of the blankets against my lower back as I took long slow sips from a bottle of whisky hugged to my chest.    I called Noah on Sunday to tell him that I

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-58609963370258088792013-12-20T20:23:00.002-08:002013-12-20T20:23:54.266-08:00

    I awoke to find Adrian laying beside me on the floor. He was looking up at the ceiling. It was morning.    "How far did I make it into my epic life story?"    "Your brother took you fishing when you were seven... then you were out."    "Boring, huh?"    Adrian looked to be deep in thought. He took in a breath then shook his head.    "No. When was the last time that you talked about any of

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-21804492370189496792013-12-18T17:39:00.003-08:002013-12-18T17:39:45.070-08:00

   The best thing to do was to ignore the call from Holly. She only would've asked when Adrian had left and if I had told her the time, I would've opened myself up to questioning and the conclusions she would inevitably jump to.    I took the call from Christian to absolve myself of guilt but I couldn't understand why I felt guilt. Yes, Adrian had spent the night but nothing physical had happened

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-7502733149979214722013-12-17T16:22:00.001-08:002013-12-17T16:23:22.910-08:00

I spent the rest of the evening sitting on the couch with Sophie in my lap.    I wanted to focus on my friends but couldn't stop thinking about what Christian had said and how I didn't have a response for it.      Aside from the obvious defects, Christian seemed like the kind of person that I should have been in love with. He was brilliant, charming, humorous, attractive, eloquent, interesting

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-82667960652391634402013-12-16T13:40:00.000-08:002015-03-25T12:18:55.664-07:00

     I was staring up at the ceiling of my trailer as Noah was trying to figure out how to work around the rain.        "Knock-knock," Holly said as she opened the door to my trailer, "Where have you been?"    "Home," I lied, "Noah shut us down for a couple of days."    "I tried calling."    "I needed some time alone."    "Christian..."    I cringed to hear her say his name,    "I don't want to

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590681279454081832.post-89445310732988098672013-12-15T22:07:00.000-08:002013-12-15T22:07:04.471-08:00

    I didn't hear my cell phone shuttering in my pocketbook on the floor. The light coming through the curtains was pale blue. I had been in a semi-conscious state between sleep for what could have been  hours and it was the closest thing that I'd had to rest in a week. My body felt, surprisingly, well.         I leaned over the edge of the bed, fumbling for my phone to get a look at the time.

As Ever, Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13040900654749622958noreply@blogger.com1