Section II: A Memory Waiting To Be Born
Dear Damon,
I am happy to replace your well-worn copy of my first book and find it flattering that you enjoyed it enough to wear it out!
My friend Victor Bruckham tells me that he has greatly enjoyed working with you ever since your debut as Dracula in his Halloween production four years ago. I am pleased to say I saw your work in that production. You were indeed marvelous and I wish you all the best in your future pursuits.
Regards,
Aldon R. Quay
6 February 1996
I am happy to replace your well-worn copy of my first book and find it flattering that you enjoyed it enough to wear it out!
My friend Victor Bruckham tells me that he has greatly enjoyed working with you ever since your debut as Dracula in his Halloween production four years ago. I am pleased to say I saw your work in that production. You were indeed marvelous and I wish you all the best in your future pursuits.
Regards,
Aldon R. Quay
6 February 1996
Damon Salter sipped a cup of chamomile tea and hoped he could get back to sleep. He supposed that a horror novel, even one where he already knew all the ins and outs because he’d read it at least 5 times since initially purchasing it, was not conducive to relaxation. But Aldon Quay wrote in such a familiar “between you and me, Buddy,” manner that Damon found his dialogue, if not his subject matter, soothing.
Damon wasn’t sure why he was suddenly obsessed with the idea of getting Vic to script and direct his own version of Nightshade, but he was sure that Aldon would go for it if someone who would be true to the story was involved. However, Damon could scarcely read a book without picturing himself in one of the parts, so it didn’t really surprise him, and the part of Zsolt seemed tailor-made for him. Damon was a gaunt, pale-skinned man with very dark hair, which lent him to being cast in dark or villainous roles. In his most recent role in Vic Bruckham’s very popular play “The Day After St. Valentine’s,” he had played the part of Azrael, the Angel of Death.
Damon’s wife Tula Ekjvater was a former Olympic gymnast from Hungary. She and Damon had been together since 2003 and had finally married last year. Tula, who was only 4’9” tall and weighed a mere 88 pounds normally, was ready to give birth at any time. Damon teased that the baby probably weighed half as much as she did, as much as her belly protruded from her small body. In truth, he was somewhat worried about her ability to give birth to their child. Though at 5’8” tall and 135 pounds Damon was far from a giant among men, he felt positively burly next to his tiny wife and was possessed of a strong desire to protect her. He often forgot that Tula was a fourth degree black belt in kung fu. Her petite stature and an unfortunate assault at age 16 had prompted her to learn self defense upon immigrating to the United States in 2001. Damon was now learning martial arts as well, in part due to Tula’s prompting, but also, he was loathe to admit, in part due to a macho need to be at least as powerful as his woman when it came to fighting.
Damon took a homeopathic sleep lozenge and let it dissolve in his mouth, savoring the salty-sweet orangey flavor. He began dreamily contemplating the impending birth of his son, who would be named Linsey Tzvi after beloved male relatives. Linsey Ethan Salter was Damon’s father’s name. Dad had died too young at age 54, from kidney failure. He had been gone for 3 years now, and Damon missed him terribly. Tula’s paternal grandfather Tzvi Ekjvater had been a resistance fighter during the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. Damon had the good fortune of meeting him shortly before his death in 2004. He came across as stilted at first, but after talking to him for a time, Damon became aware that he was a gentle man forced into a position of great responsibility at a young age. His stern manner was simply the result of having to command the respect of his 8 younger siblings after the death of his parents. Sadly, he lost all but his youngest brother and sister in the Belsen-Bergen concentration camp during World War II. When Damon met Tzvi, he was 84 years old and suffering from a rare condition known as Zenker’s necrosis. Tzvi had nearly died from typhoid following his own confinement in Bergen-Belsen. His physician felt that this might have contributed to his developing Zenker’s, although the events occurred many years apart. Damon thought Tzvi a remarkable man and was pleased to have his child carry on his great-grandfather’s name.
Damon planned on going back to bed but he was suddenly so sleepy that he couldn’t move. He thought that perhaps he could just shut his eyes for a minute or two and then get up and take himself back to bed and sleep the rest of the night beside his wife. It wasn’t, after all, very polite to leave her alone when she could go into labor at any time. So he’d rest for just a moment and then go to her.
Damon’s head slumped against the throw pillow he’d been resting his head on and the book he was reading slid from his hand.
Damon wasn’t sure why he was suddenly obsessed with the idea of getting Vic to script and direct his own version of Nightshade, but he was sure that Aldon would go for it if someone who would be true to the story was involved. However, Damon could scarcely read a book without picturing himself in one of the parts, so it didn’t really surprise him, and the part of Zsolt seemed tailor-made for him. Damon was a gaunt, pale-skinned man with very dark hair, which lent him to being cast in dark or villainous roles. In his most recent role in Vic Bruckham’s very popular play “The Day After St. Valentine’s,” he had played the part of Azrael, the Angel of Death.
Damon’s wife Tula Ekjvater was a former Olympic gymnast from Hungary. She and Damon had been together since 2003 and had finally married last year. Tula, who was only 4’9” tall and weighed a mere 88 pounds normally, was ready to give birth at any time. Damon teased that the baby probably weighed half as much as she did, as much as her belly protruded from her small body. In truth, he was somewhat worried about her ability to give birth to their child. Though at 5’8” tall and 135 pounds Damon was far from a giant among men, he felt positively burly next to his tiny wife and was possessed of a strong desire to protect her. He often forgot that Tula was a fourth degree black belt in kung fu. Her petite stature and an unfortunate assault at age 16 had prompted her to learn self defense upon immigrating to the United States in 2001. Damon was now learning martial arts as well, in part due to Tula’s prompting, but also, he was loathe to admit, in part due to a macho need to be at least as powerful as his woman when it came to fighting.
Damon took a homeopathic sleep lozenge and let it dissolve in his mouth, savoring the salty-sweet orangey flavor. He began dreamily contemplating the impending birth of his son, who would be named Linsey Tzvi after beloved male relatives. Linsey Ethan Salter was Damon’s father’s name. Dad had died too young at age 54, from kidney failure. He had been gone for 3 years now, and Damon missed him terribly. Tula’s paternal grandfather Tzvi Ekjvater had been a resistance fighter during the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. Damon had the good fortune of meeting him shortly before his death in 2004. He came across as stilted at first, but after talking to him for a time, Damon became aware that he was a gentle man forced into a position of great responsibility at a young age. His stern manner was simply the result of having to command the respect of his 8 younger siblings after the death of his parents. Sadly, he lost all but his youngest brother and sister in the Belsen-Bergen concentration camp during World War II. When Damon met Tzvi, he was 84 years old and suffering from a rare condition known as Zenker’s necrosis. Tzvi had nearly died from typhoid following his own confinement in Bergen-Belsen. His physician felt that this might have contributed to his developing Zenker’s, although the events occurred many years apart. Damon thought Tzvi a remarkable man and was pleased to have his child carry on his great-grandfather’s name.
Damon planned on going back to bed but he was suddenly so sleepy that he couldn’t move. He thought that perhaps he could just shut his eyes for a minute or two and then get up and take himself back to bed and sleep the rest of the night beside his wife. It wasn’t, after all, very polite to leave her alone when she could go into labor at any time. So he’d rest for just a moment and then go to her.
Damon’s head slumped against the throw pillow he’d been resting his head on and the book he was reading slid from his hand.
1 comment:
highly entertaining...
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