CLOSING DOOR I LIVED IN A LARGE MANSION WHEN YOUNG AND THERE WERE ALWAYS DOORS SLAMMING AND THE SMELL OF BOURBON REEKING ABOUT LIKE SWEET FRUIT ROTTING. I SWORE TO CHANGE AS I MATURED. I DID. I EDUCATED MYSELF, LEARNED ABOUT THE GREAT ARTISTE'. READ THE PARISIAN EXPATRIOTS. GATHERED WITH THE FIGHTERS THAT WOULD FEED THE POBRES. I LEARNED COMPASSION FORM THE SIDDARTHA, THE GREAT BUDDHA. I READ UNTIL MY EYES BLED AND MY BRAIN POUNDED FROM FILLING IT. I TRAVELED AND STUDIED THE GREAT WONDERS AND ALWAYS THE ANIMALS OF THE SEA, I COLLECTED MOLLUSKS, THOSE EMPTY HOMES OF SEAS CREATURES. THEIR HOMES MEANT SOMETHING TO ME, MORE THEN THE MANSION THAT WAS NOW MINE I CAN'T RECALL SINCE I TOOK TO THE BOURBON WHY I LOVED THEM SO MUCH, MAYBE THE SLAMMING DOORS. I MET A WOMAN ON THE BEACH SINGING AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS. SHE HADN'T SEEN ME YET AND I WATCHED AND THERE WAS NO HUMOUR TO IT OR EMBARESSMENT TO FEEL, SHE WAS IN HER GLORY. I HAD BEEN DIVING AND FOUND A NARWHAL HORN, THE NARWHAL, THE UNICORN OF THE SEA, RESMBLING A MANATEE WITH A UNICORN HORN THOUGH SPIRALED. IT WAS AS IF I HAD FOUND THE ATOCHA. GOLD DUBLOONS WERE NO GOOD TRADE FOR THIS HORN. AS SHE HIT A HIGH AND PERFECT NOTE OF AN IRISH BALLAD AND HER RED HAIR AND GREEN EYES FAIRLY SHONE LIKE THE SUN ON THE SEA. AS SHE HIT THE HIGHEST NOTE, SHE NOTICED ME. HER FACE BECAME LIKE A HORRID SUNBURN FROM THE SHYNESS. SHE EXPECTED EMPTINESS ON THE BEACH. SHE WAS CHARMING AND SO BRIGHT AND I A RICH KID ABLE TO DO MY WILL. IT WAS OBVIOUS TO HER THAT I WAS WELL HEELED AND NEEDED NOT WORK. SOFT HANDS AND STRONG MUSCLES FROM TENNIS AND SWIMMING, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE THEN THOSE OF WORKING MAN. ALTHOUGH I HAVE HAD MY SHARE OF THE HARD LICK. WE TALKED FOR A LONG WHILE AND SHE WAS AN OCEANOGRPHER AND KNEW MUCH OF THE SEA. SHE FASCINATED ME, SO DARK AND TAN AND THE ROPES OF MUSCLES SHE HAD IN HER LEGS AND HER ARMS WERE SO ENTICING, VERY STRONG THIS IRISH LASS. SHE KEPT ALLUDING TO THE NARWHAL HORN WITH ENVY. SHE FLIRTED MIGHTILY THAT DAY AND FINALLY SHE TALKED ME INTO LETTING HE TAKE THE RARE HORN TO SHOW HER OCEANOGRAPHER GROUP THE HORN WHICH ONLY A FEW OF EXISTED AT THE TIME. AS SHE WALKED, NO SKIPPED DOWN THE BEACH, MY HEART BEGAN TO SINK. TO CLEAR A MATTER UP, HANDSOME YOUNG RICH KIDS GET NO BREAK IN LOVE, THEY ARE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, LIED TO, AND LEFT TO HANG IN THE WIND AS THE WOMAN TIRES OF THE OPULENCE AND THEY MOVE ON TO SOME MORE SECURE SETTING. AS SHE BECAME A SPECK, I SAT, A FOOL AGAIN, DAMN, A FOOL AGAIN. SITTING WITH THE DUST OF THE HORN IN MY HAND AND THE THIEF OF HEARTS WITH MY NARWAHL HORM PREPARING A PRICE FOR IT. GENTLEMEN, ONE CLARIFICATION, I MIGHT HAVE KNOWN WHAT WAS TO BE, I WAS USED TO IT. EVERY TIME I HAD MY STIPEND TO TRAVEL AND LIVE, WAS STRIPPED IN SOME WAYS WORSE THEM MY HEART FOR ITS VERY BLOOD IN EVERY CASE, I THE GENTLEMAN AND SINCERE TO THE BONE WAS AN EASY MARK. AS I AGE LIKE THIS DELICIOUS AGED BOURBON BEFORE ME, MY ONLY TRUE FRIEND, I AM ABLE TO ERASE THE HORN AND ALL THE LOSSES. IT DOES TAKE A MIGHTY DRAUGHT THESE DAYS TO CREAT AMNESIA, BUT I HAVE BECOME AN EXPERT. AND THE DOORS CONTINUE TO SLAM SHUT. WRITTEN BY MICHAEL FORBUS THERE ARE NO LIVE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW IN THIS WORK, I DISAVOW THE KNOWLEDGE OF ANY ONE RESMEBLING ANY PERSONAGE PORTRAYED IN THE A STORY OF FICTION BUT MYSELF AND I HAVE GIVEN MYSELF PERMISSION TO DISCUSS MY OWN LIFE, NO ONE ELSE IS REAL. MIGUEL
15 Comments
Cathy Holford 22 May 2006
That is so very beautiful!Luther Krider 19 May 2006
Michael. Continue focusing on the wins... Never dwell on the losses except for the lessons they generate. As I am finding out each day never fear an unopened door and when opening it, always be confident of victory on the other sideLara Falcone 17 May 2006
Another riveting tale coupled with some great artwork~Christi Werner 17 May 2006
Interesting prose and lovely imageLoredana 17 May 2006
As we Journy through this life there are always new doors openning we just have to believe ..Your sory is romantic and beautifully written as only you can do Miguel ..This is a fantastic floral the color is very spiritual and suits this story well Love it ...........Everyday is a new Begining .............Chas Sinklier 17 May 2006
Ah, your kung fu is strong grasshopper :0)cynthia berridge 17 May 2006
beautiful work and loved you storyAngelina 17 May 2006
the force is strong in you Michael and it is so true that as one door shuts another opens in life always my door is open this is superb storytelling from the master of storytellers, who is so tenderNira Dabush 16 May 2006
When you close one door,another is open for you.All our life we learn,Miguel...aren't we ??...And this is a fantastic colours and artwork...Spiritual aND MYSTIC..Excellent ,Miguelthea walstra 16 May 2006
Beautiful work Miguel and a romantic and interesting story. I love them both!Anonymous Guest 16 May 2006
Beautiful orchids! They have been portrayed in their most beautiful manner! The story is so sad though....It sounds as if there were a seed of truth in it! The story is still enchanting and perfectly told.Timothy Hughes 16 May 2006
Excellent work MiguelEmily Reed 16 May 2006
Beautiful violet colors!mat lloyd 16 May 2006
beautiful work and colour!!Joseph Moran 16 May 2006
Ahh...Miguel - Here is an interesting story. When I was a mere lad of 17, I was ready for the world. So I asked my dearly departed Pop, what should I do? His words - "Son, you have college, it will always be there...military, if you have some wanderlust and adventure to spin, or you can take a chance on your uncle bob who was in the keys on another of his treasure hunts and had asked me to dive for him for housing onboard, a small stipend for incidentals and company stock which would be meaningful if they hit their intended lode. All of uncle bobs treasure hunts had come up empty at this point, except for a few recovered yachts that had been stolen on the amazon. - I opted for the military, because hey, the adventure is fun, but gets boring when broke...so I opted for the prudent thing...military , then college on G.I. Bill - had fun and loved every minute of it, traveled and the whole nine yards - BUT, well uncle bob and his friend Mel Fisher hit...and guess what they found? The Atocha. True story, my friend.