Crouching Pansy, Hidden Spider by Chipka
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Description
Shana Kellogue's voice drove from the jukebox like a crystalline knife...like something gorgeous, spooky, and horribly prehensile. That was always what you got when you listened to Shana. Pop wasn't within the boundaries of her talent, and if she sang a ballad, it raised goose-bumps on your skin and made you think of God's own Angel of Death in black leather and fine, lenticular vinyl.
But for all of Shana's predatory and lupine grace, Philby's was stuck in a dead groove.
Oleg ducked out for a smoke.
The day had gone easily enough, but something (some doodle of existential imbalance) left his nerves in the convoluted mass of an acute nicotine crave. He'd smoked a dozen crisp, white rolls of tabak today, and by tomorrow, a dozen more filters would lie browned and crumpled in gutters, in ashtrays, or in cans emptied of beer
He lit up.
He inhaled.
Upon his exhale, smoke billowed into the night air, like a dream...fading.
It was good to be alone here: to fall into studied consideration of the planter-box bolted to the concrete sill of Philby's window. In the hepatic light of the city's restless, thunderous night, he found life in the flowerbox--a whole forest of pansies and gene-tweaked ferns, their roots carpeted in soil and whatever else grew in Philby's stab at urban beauty.
Oleg smoked, counting the legs of a half-hidden spider. He didn't know the breed, but he suspected it was something local, far from the Ukrainian varieties he knew. From home. From back there. In another life.
Inside the bar, Shana Kellogue's voice meandered through the climax of Little Amanda Rose.
Things were as different here as the spiders, as the flowers in windowboxes, but his only concern was on the smoke filling his lungs, and the calming unguent diffused through the sponge-mass of his lungs...
***As always, thank you for reading and viewing and commenting, and hopefully everyone's having a great weekend.
Comments (23)
elfin14doaks
Awesome title, Awesome photo, awesome story. This is just totally awesome dude. LOL sorry had to. All kidding aside. I love the title, the picture is incredible, and the story is great.
bimm3d
gorgeous photo and wonderful colours!!
Roxam
You're a miracle, Chipka!
tamburro
Fantastic colors...excellent photo!!! Hugs...Orlando
elfin12u
Really cool shot, but damn can you write!!!!
MrsRatbag
Yes, that nearly-hidden spider is quite a storyline; Chip works his magic once again!
mbz2662
Super ~ :)
lunchlady
Cool title and shot!
beachzz
As always--your words, your title, your foto--they ROCK!!
auntietk
I can hear the click of a lighter, feel the smoke fill my lungs, the calmness that follows ... (Will I ever forget that feeling? It's still with me, even after all these years of doing without.) Your writing transports me, sometimes to other worlds, and sometimes to another place or another time ... keep it coming, my friend.
durleybeachbum
Outstanding genius!
glix70
Great blue flower and spider too!!! Great idea!!! :)
ladyraven23452
You really shoud spelled wrong i know but you could wright for a liveing your good.
rainbows
Beautiful capture and story, Chip. Glad you have you back. Hugs. Diane. xx
anaber
Gorgeous image,MY!!! You hide but you show!!!I love this!!Thank you!fav.
photostar
A great narrative to go with this photo, Chip.
Mousson
wonderful !!!
bpclarke
Very cool capture and story. ;o)
hipps13
wonderful work warm hugs, Linda
KatesFriend
Very engrossing story. Your writing is as excellent as ever with so many details and sub plots to examine. The tangent with Oleg observing the alien universe in the planter-box is very thoughtful indeed. Within the supposedly lifeless expanse of a concrete, cold and often caustic city there is a tiny and unlikely oasis where nature and all its vibrancy has found a refuge. A bit like the Earth itself.
romanceworks
Fun (and funny title). You brought us into that bar, and into Oleg's thoughts so well. I could almost feel the smoke filling my lungs and I quit years ago. As always, very fine writing. CC
lior
So wonderful macro!
CoreyBlack
I thought I commented earlier on this, then looked back and realize that I didn't. I must have just told you...but now I'm going to type it out. Very slowly. I like this a lot! I particularly like the title, the lushness of the flower, the way it looks like you can reach out and touch it, and then the nice surprise that almost makes my metaphorical hand almost recoil when I see the spider. Lovely work.