Category: Trains/Railroad

My “Grocer and Writer” stories are an attempt to portray life in post-modern or very near future American society. None of the characters have names, I cannot fully understand what made me choose that route when I began the stories, but I find it works, at least for now. The two main characters are named in another ever so slightly related story that I am concurrently working on.

The stories center around the lives of a twenty-two/twenty-three-year-old, mildly Autistic grocery clerk by day and writer by night and his seventeen/eighteen-year-old girlfriend with an under-active thyroid gland.

Though it is not officially stated in any of the stories, the setting takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana and the surrounding areas of.

Yes, my characters have flaws that would make them undesirable to most, but they fully accept and love each other immensely. This was designed to teach that there is a someone for everyone. Unfortunately, most people are offended by this for whatever reason be it legit or not. Okay, there are other controversial themes such as their age difference. They are indeed five years apart, but it’s NOT like he is 17/18 and she is only 12/13, which would indeed be highly inappropriate and unacceptable, not only in my opinion but also in the courts’ and most of the general public’s opinion as well. When they meet she is 17 going on 18 and he is 22 going on 23. They eventually have the girl’s parents’ approval and they do intend to marry, so please let’s put this age difference thing to bed once and for all. The other controversies, I cannot explain away so easily. There are some racial/ethnic and religious tensions. There is a world war looming on the horizon, but also violent crime and terrorism are also briefly mentioned. If that isn’t enough there is also prescription drug abuse and marital troubles. Finally, there is class struggle. Sounds like a lot of fun, right? Well, it is indeed a portrayal of post-modern or very near future American society. Oscar Wilde said it best, when he said, “Art imitates life and life imitates art.” I was writing what I observe and perceive in everyday life in people around me, but also in my own life experiences. That is truly what inspired this, just daily observations etched into my at least barely creative mind.

…Anyway…

Here is a full synopsis of the plot, and you, the reader, please decide for yourself, whether or not this offends you. Feel free to quit reading this at any time:

In the prequel, which I wrote in September of 2018, my male character is swamped with a lot of groceries that he must get on the shelf. He instead is thinking of all the wonderful stories he wants to write. He also mentions the fact that he is on the Spectrum but says how if he had someone who loved him in spite of it, he would treat her like a queen. He mentions how tomorrow is Thanksgiving and he will be off, so he could be able to write then. Likewise, the young lady who will become his girlfriend is at home dealing with her alcoholic and pill addict mother and how her parents are always fighting. She also mentions her glandular problem and ho it makes her obese. She wishes someone would love her for her. Her parents fight into the night and there is little food in the house because her mother binge eats. She states that she is looking forward to tomorrow because there will be a lot of food, but she also thinks of ending her life. A voice tells her not to give up…

At the beginning of the plot, which this piece was written in July of 2014, my male character is sitting in a public park (one could assume City Park) on Thanksgiving writing love stories in a composition book. At the same time, my female character’s parents are bickering and she leaves her house in Old Metairie on foot, crosses the Parish Line and walks to City Park. She sees him sitting down and writing and is instantly attracted. Eventually, he notices her and they hit it off immediately, though he is shy and cautious at first because of their age difference. He reads his love stories to her, to which she becomes more attracted to him. They exchange contact information and snuggle together on the park bench until it gets dark and cold. The first chronological piece ends with them entering a loving relationship, then my male character driving her back home to Old Metairie…

The next day, Black Friday, which I wrote in May of 2015, my male character is getting off of work and pulling up to his home in Mid City. My female character calls him, but he explains how he doesn’t have unlimited voice minutes (it was 2014-2015 when I thought of this and some prepaid plans did not offer unlimited minutes at the time.) He tells her that he has unlimited texting and would love to have a conversation with her that way. She agrees. They converse through SMS messages and he finds out that she is a virgin (he is too, but doesn’t announce it to her at that time.) He reveres her even more so than previously after finding that out. They get to know each other better and their relationship strengthens. The piece concludes with my female character’s pill-addict mother waking up from a deep sleep, ending their conversation…

I wrote this piece initially in June of 2015, but a week later, my male character has the day off and also was paid, so he calls his girlfriend and tells her he would like to take her on a date (let’s assume to The River Walk, though geographic locations aren’t officially mentioned in the stories themselves.) As they are talking on the phone, my female character states that she loves him, but the signal fades just as she says it. He tells her he didn’t hear what she said, so she repeats herself. He tells her how his feelings are indeed mutual and that he would have told her sooner, but was afraid of scaring her off. She says he doesn’t scare her at all and that she trusts him. They then hang up and get ready for the date. He takes her to his job, The Downtown Grocer, which is a completely fictitious full service, but very corrupt and shady grocery store located in either the Central Business District or The French Quarter. They walk in holding hands but, the boss commands them to stop. He then picks up his check, cashes it then they leave and head to a place based on The River Walk. The eating and shopping venues on what is an allegory to The River Walk are completely fictitious and unnamed, but he takes her to a coffee and doughnut shop for breakfast, then a fish and chip shop for lunch. She confesses that she shouldn’t eat so much rich food, because of her weight problem, but he tells her that he would love her no matter what size she is. At one point he buys her a Casio Baby G Wristwatch from a gift shop and then they take a selfie together with a cruise ship in the background. They walk up and down the River Walk until the sun sets, then he takes her home…

The following Sunday, which I wrote in May of 2015 and rewrote in October of 2017 My main character gets a text from his girlfriend and she asks to come over to his house. He agrees, goes to Old Metairie then takes her to his home in Mid City. Originally, I thought of the area between Metairie and Old Jefferson, but I find Mid City fits better. He tells her that it isn’t the best, but she doesn’t seem to mind. He reads to her for a little while, then hears her stomach growling. He asks her if she is hungry, to which she replies “Yes.” She then confesses to him that her mom binge ate all the food in her parents’ house. So, he looks in his cabinet and finds a can of Always Save Pork ‘N’ Beans. He warms them up and she scarfs them down. He also brews a coffee/chicory blend for her and they eat rice pudding for dessert. They then turn on the television and catch Breaking Dawn Parts 1 and 2 on a local [fictitious] station’s sub-channel. They wrap up in a blanket and watch the two movies, then afterward he takes her home…

On The Winter Solstice, and I initially wrote this in July of 2014 we find my male character sitting on break at work and having a miserable day. While on break, my male character is telling the store’s janitor about his girlfriend when a female coworker, the deli cook picks a fight with my male character, calls his girlfriend a slut and eventually threatens physical harm to him. Things go from bad to worse when my male character waits on a gentleman, who is trying to locate some remoulade sauce, but then gets written up for talking too much with him. The gentleman later has a much more prominent role in the series. The piece concludes with the janitor offering to do my male character’s fronting and blocking so he can make extra money. My male character goes spend time with his girlfriend at the end of the night…

Later that evening my male character picks up his girlfriend from Old Metairie and drives her to his house. He prepares a dinner of instant oatmeal for them and they converse about what went on earlier in the day. My male character tells of the deli cook threatening him and his boss wrongfully disciplining him. My female character tells how her pill addict mother almost became physically violent with her. Both then have synchronous thoughts of living together as soon as my female character turns eighteen. The piece concludes with them going to sleep in separate bedrooms and dreaming synchronous dreams…

The Christmas Eve pieces was initially written in August of 2014 and we find my male character clocking out of his job and heading to Old Metairie to pick up his girlfriend. They then go to his home and he turns the late local news on. He learns about the whole world preparing for global conflict. My female character tells him to turn off the television, to which he does. He then asks her what would she like to do. She says there is something she definitely wants to do but thinks it’s illegal, be intimate with him. He tells her he will as soon as she turns eighteen. She reminds him that it’s not for another six weeks and a lot could happen, up to and including him being drafted off to war and killed. He confesses to her that he too is a virgin, to which she wants him more. Eventually she convinces him to seal their relationship forever. The piece concludes with them going to bed together, making love and then in the morning he prepares her breakfast…

On Christmas Day, and written initially in June of 2015, my female character is browsing the Internet on her smartphone while her boyfriend is preparing her breakfast. They eat together, then get ready and leave so he can meet her parents. While riding there, she announces to him that she is legal in their state, because the age of consent is seventeen. She is then worried that he’ll leave her now, but he reassures her that nothing in creation could make him want to leave her. She asks “what if you got me pregnant?” He tells her that he would do the honorable thing-marry her. Then her dad calls, wanting to know her whereabouts. She explains that she is on her way and that she is with someone special. They drive to Old Metairie in the freezing rain. Finally they arrive and her dad greets them. It turns out that her dad was the gentleman that was looking for remoulade sauce days before. He offers my male character a better job on the condition that he will be committed to my female character and her only. He tells of his love for her and learns that her weight is due to an under active thyroid gland. My female character’s dad states that my male character better not break his daughter’s heart or he knows people who can tar and feather him. Then he offers them Christmas Dinner, Asian takeout.  I promise you, the girl’s family is not Jewish but they definitely are secular…

The pilot piece was written on June 30, 2014 and takes place on January 11, entails my male character clocking out of his job feeling depressed because he always dreamed that he would have done much more with his life at age 22. He states how life would be much better if only he could get his foot in the door as a writer, but there is someone special who enjoys his work. He then drives to Old Metairie and picks up his girlfriend. He takes her to his home in Mid City. He reads his stories to her and soon they go to bed and become intimate. She asks to stay the night to which he says if it were up to him, she’d stay every night. She answers that she will when she turns eighteen. The piece concludes with my male character stating his life isn’t as depressing as he sometimes believes…

On the evening of February 3, and this was written in the Autumn of 2014, my male character is leaving his job and headed to Old Metairie to pick up his girlfriend to move in with him as she’ll be turning eighteen on the following day. They arrive at his house and settle in. He briefly turns on the news and learns that there is a nationwide high level threat of a terrorist attack. My female character makes him turn the television off. They then order Asian takeout for her birthday dinner, then go to sleep together from the sedating effects of the food. They are woken up to the whistle of a freight train. My female character sees that it is a minute after midnight and exclaims that she is legal now. Then they hear the train derailing. There are several explosions and then the power goes out. A little while later, the cops knock on their door and order them to evacuate…

In the early morning hours of February 4, and this piece was written some time early in 2015, they get in the car with just a few things and decide to head to the countryside (which is actually based on the Deltas of Northeast Louisiana.) They stop at a diner in the middle of nowhere (situated either along US 71 southeast of Alexandria, Louisiana or along US 165 northeast of Alexandria where they are generously given free coffee and food, because the owners sympathize with them and their situation. Afterwards they continue on until arriving at my male character’s parent’s soybean farm, the locations is based on somewhere between Monroe and Ferriday, Louisiana.They are greeted by my male character’s mother who insists that they sleep separately, this was initially written in November of 2015, by the way. They both protest and my male character’s dad wakes up and comes into the kitchen. They explain the whole situation to them and he tells his wife not to be so hard on him and that he though he would be forever lonely because of his condition. My female character wants to know what condition and the dad explains to her that her boyfriend is mildly autistic, but very high functioning. My male character says he didn’t want to tell before her because he was afraid she would leave him. She hugs him and says she would never leave him especially for something like that. She then reminds him of her weight and he says how he loves to hold her at night. The mother gets even angrier. The dad convinces her to let them share the bed, to which which takes two shots of whiskey, then reluctantly agrees…

The next piece was written in late 2015 or early 2016 and involves my couple waking up in my male character’s childhood bedroom. It is biting cold, so he checks the thermostat to realize that the furnace is out of oil. The bulb in his rechargeable flashlight burns out so, he goes back to bed and keeps warm with his girlfriend, until the hunger pangs kick in. They walk to the kitchen where breakfast is being served. The mother tells him to go to the hardware store and buy more oil. Immediately they leave for the hardware store. Upon arrival they wait in line for a few minutes, then they are served by a classmate of my male character. He sells them oil which he charges to his parents’ account. He then pays cash for five new rechargeable flashlight bulbs. His classmate attempts to sell him a high powered LED Mini Maglite penlight, but my main character doesn’t have enough cash. The former classmate suggest to charge it to his parents’ revolving account, but my main character states how they’d be livid if he did that. My female character then uses her debit card and purchases the penlight for him. She then tells him how she’s been keeping track of his debt to her and how she still expects him to pay her back all night long. Several people point and whisper. After all items are purchased, my two characters leave the store and head back to the farm. While driving there, my main character’s mother calls him and demands to know why he and his girlfriend were acting lewd in the store. He asks ‘what do you mean?’ His mother goes on to say that several people called and stated how the girlfriend bought him a flashlight and expects to be paid back all night long. She then rants and raves about how the terrorist attack was God’s punishment to all the wicked city dwellers, then to come home with the oil, because it is freezing in the house. The piece concludes with my male character telling my female character, that he isn’t angry with her, but she needs to watch how she acts while in public areas of a small town because of the busybody type nature of rural people…

They walk into the farmhouse and hand the mother her heating oil, then go to the bedroom. My main character installs a new bulb in his rechargeable flashlight, then opens up the packaging to the Mini Maglite LED his girlfriend bought him. After installing the batteries and turning it on, they are both amazed by the brightness. My male character thanks his girlfriend and says that he still plans to pay her back. At that point the mother walks in and demands to know how long have they been screwing out of wedlock. She forces them to answer her or find another place to stay until the evacuation order is lifted. His girlfriend breaks down and answers, ‘Since this past Christmas Eve. I had fallen so much in love with him and I’m still in love with him, but we had just learned on the news that a world war was about to break out. I was so afraid that he would be drafted and killed in combat without us fully knowing each other. I just wanted to seal my love for him.’ My male character says, ‘You don’t have to explain to her or feel guilty about it.’ The mother goes on to tell him that he is going to have a lot to answer for because of the way he charmed her.

The girlfriend then says, ‘He didn’t charm me at all. Yes, he does write those love stories and I find it very attractive, but I wanted him before I knew he wrote such beautiful things. I just thought he was so cute, so I started talking to him. At first, he was hesitant because of our age difference, but eventually, he fully accepted me. No one else wanted me because of my glandular problem but he loves me in spite of it, just like I love him in spite of his Autism. Any other time I tried to talk to someone of the opposite sex, they would make cow and pig noises, because of my weight. I’ve been dealing with that ever since I was eleven or twelve. When I told your son he was cute, I then asked him if he thought I was cute also or was I too fat and his response was that I was beautiful and not to let anyone else tell me otherwise. If he would have rejected me, I very well might have ended my life. He didn’t reject me though. In fact, he treats me better than I ever dared to dream. No one else was ever so kind to me, so I couldn’t help falling in love with him.’ My male character further explains, ‘Remember how at one point I had written some stories and all the girls were impressed but their boyfriends were jealous, so they began to spread false rumors about me? I was just reminded of that today in the hardware store. It ruined my reputation hence another reason why I got out of this one horse town as soon as I was able. I’m immensely glad I moved to the city too because I met her and she brings so much joy to my life. All of the suffering I endured prior to meeting her was worth it.’ The mother then interjects, ‘You’re lucky those boys didn’t beat you up. Maybe they should have because then you would have learned not to write such sinful literature. All those stories do is cause their readers to have unrealistic expectations of their partners.’ The girlfriend backs him up saying, ‘He reads those stories to me all the time and I don’t have any unrealistic expectations of him, in fact, they usually make me want to love him more. My dad is going to help him get published hopefully soon and he will never have to work at his grocery job again. He is so miserable there, but he keeps the job so he can take care of me.’ The mother goes on to say that work is meant to be miserable because we are sinners in a fallen world. She then says that they will both do chores to burn off all of that sinful energy and if they are going to live like a married couple then they will have the responsibilities of one. She tells my main character to help his daddy in the fields and that the girlfriend will help her cook and clean. my male character assists his dad with changing the fluids in the tractor, then he organizes the whole barn. His dad says how he had been praying that my main character find someone to love him. My main character soberly tells his dad that everyone in town is going to tell him about the fornication going on. The dad says that they need to get married, then and that she is a keeper. They continue talking and my main character says to his dad how he noticed that the Autism never bothered him. His dad replied he produced him late in life but always wanted children and that he appreciated the encyclopedic knowledge and organizational skills his son has. They continue working together until the barn is tidy, then walk to the farmhouse where supper is on the table. As they are sitting down to eat, they get a text saying the evacuation order is lifted. Then the assistant store director calls and orders my male character to get back to the store PDQ. He explains that he is out of town. His boss tells him that he has twenty-four hours to get back or he will be terminated. The piece concludes with them leaving…

I wrote the transition piece at some point in 2020 and it takes place in Mid May and entails my main character and his girlfriend waking up to lightning and thunder in addition to his G-Shock. A line of severe thunderstorms is passing through their city. My main character’s girlfriend prepares him breakfast then they share a highly affectionate good bye as he drives to work. He is then assigned the aisle with boxed gelatin. The storms get worse and the power is knocked out. My main character now has the job of escorting customers throughout the store. He uses the flashlight that his girlfriend bought him at the hardware store. On a few occasions, he exchanges text messages with his girlfriend while in the bathroom and she tells him that she has some very good news for him, but wants to see the look on his face when she delivers it to him. The cook demands to use his flashlight to repair some appliances in the deli, but he refuses to let her. An argument ensues and they are both written up, this being the second strike against him. The assistant store director tells the cook to just charge a flashlight from the housewares section to the deli’s account. The day drags on but finally my main character is finished. He drives home, then is greeted by his girlfriend. She tells him of how several of her dad’s co executives are impressed by his writing and that they want to make him a published author. My main character is overjoyed. She asked him what he wants to do, to which how replies that he’s tired. So they go to sleep in each others’ arms…

The final piece begins with my main character explaining how he is no longer a grocer, but now a writer. He further explains how with the surplus money he fixed up his house, bought a new vehicle, a Dodge Ram and bought an engagement ring for his girlfriend. He says how he is on his way to her parents house to pick her up and propose to her. He rings the doorbell and and she answers. He tells her that he has a surprise for her and it is in the park. Her dad gives him a wink and a thumbs up. He’s the one who had him successfully published and in return he asked for commitment to his daughter only. He helps her into the truck and then they ride to the park, conversing, The girlfriend says, ‘I hope all this money and success won’t corrupt you.’ ‘Well, to make sure it doesn’t I’ll need you by my side forever, to keep me in check.’ ‘A lot of girls and women are going to want you.’ ‘But I don’t want any of them; I just want you. You wanted me, even at my lowest, so now you’ll have me at my highest. You’re the only one who ever put up with my condition and no amount of money or success will make it go away.’ ‘And you’re the only one who loved me despite my weight, which is basically impossible to lose.’ ‘Baby, I love to put my arms around you and hold on to you. I think your weight makes you sexy. However, I want you to have the body you want and know that I am in love with your soul and I’ll want you no matter how thin or heavy you become.’ ‘Oh, I love you so much!’ ‘I love you too, baby!’ They continue to ride in a blissful silence. Upon arriving at the park, they go to the bench where they first met, my male character’s idea. They snuggle on the bench for just a bit, but then he pulls out a ring and tells her “This is for you.” ‘What is this?’ She asks with a bright smile. ‘It’s an engagement ring. Marry me, baby! I’ve been wanting to give you one of these for a long time, but could never afford one until now. Please, be my one and only, both now and forever!’ The girlfriend replies with ecstasy, ‘Yes. Of course, I’ll marry you! I’m so fat, I cannot even drive, but you still want me. You’ve treated me better than in my wildest dreams and you’ve always shown me love and affection when every other guy I was interested in so cruelly rejected me.’ ‘You’ve just made me the happiest man on the planet!’ He tells her with a kiss. Suddenly the deli cook from his God awful grocer’s job shows up in the park, buying snacks for all of her children. My main character stands up on my the bench and shouts at the top of his lungs, ‘I just proposed to the girl of my dreams and she said YES!’ Everyone in the park starts clapping and cheering with the exception of the cook and her children. The cook begins to shout, ‘But he’s retarded and she’s fat. He quit his job and is on disability now, so they are going to have a bunch of fat, retarded children and all of you are going to have to pay taxes to support them.’ My male character replies, ‘Actually, I just got a job as a romantic novelist. That probably means nothing to you though, because somehow you seem like someone who hates reading.’ ‘Shut your mouth little boy!’ The cook says angrily. My male character is now fed up and says, ‘I don’t have to and furthermore if you don’t leave us alone and go back to feeding all of your illegitimate children, I’m going to call the police.’ The cook then pulls a revolver from her purse. She shoots my main character then aims for the girlfriend but several bystanders wrestle the gun from her. My male character bleeds out and the girlfriend suffers a massive heart attack, concluding the series…

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