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**CURRENT PRINT: FRIENDS FROM CINCINNATI: Installment 24 features this part coming-of-age short by Chicago's Patrick Somerville, author of the Trouble collection of shorts out in 2006.
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THE BEAUTIFUL ONES
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Emerson Dameron
Based on: "The Beautiful Ones"/Prince. Emerson read the story as the first installment in an ongoing feature on Vocalo WBEW 89.5FM. Listen to it here.
Close your eyes. Breathe in. All the way in, down to your stomach. Hold it there for five seconds. Then exhale, slowly, counting to five as you release your breath. As you breathe out, you release tension, anxiety and fear. Now breathe in again, filling your lungs with calm. As you hold your breath, you feel the calm seep into your body. As the tranquility slowly percolates, you become more and more relaxed, from the crown of your head, through your neck and your chest, through your trunk, down through your thighs and your calves, all the way to your toes.
As you relax more and more deeply, you may find yourself moving into a safe, lucid state. Your subconscious mind grows more deeply receptive. Your conscious mind can relax completely.
You are now fully relaxed.
As you release all tension, apprehension and worry, you take a great strength into your body. You are now prepared to hear my love for you, and to believe in my passion.
Since the first time we shared an order of pot stickers, you've been the only one I wanted to see. As I heard that cheap fountain gurgle in the back of that diner, I wanted to take you everywhere you've never been. As you licked the splash of soy sauce off your fingertips, I made my plans to float you to the heights of ecstasy, to run my tongue across your skin until you moan arpeggios. As you described your volunteer work, I felt your gusto in my spine, and I thought of all the power we can have when we pool our zest for excellence. And as the rain began to patter, I could feel my arms holding you in bed on a Sunday morning as we share a hangover.
As you grow more and more relaxed, you find the strength within you to make the adventurous choice. You find your way into our new life together. We could get our own place. We could paint big red and purple spheres on the walls. We could have an indoor swimming pool and fill it with gin and ginger ale.
I know you've got another thing going. I know you're afraid to take this all the way. When you stay the night, you always add on some extra reason for it, like "that place around the corner has those muffins I like." All the while, you know I've got something so much better than that, they might as well stop making those muffins.
I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to let me down. I don't want you to baby sit some chump who wears Velcro. You've always been a mystery. You're never as close as I would hope. But hope is for suckers, baby. We're going to do better than that. I will do whatever it takes. But I need to know. You need to decide.
You say your mom thinks I'm clever. I say she couldn't handle a quarter of what I've got, even with her old figure. You say you want someone to take care of you, to help you realize your vision. I'll corrupt you beautifully, and you'll see with new eyes. You say you want to make your dreams come true. I'm going to give you fresh, sexy dreams. See that can of sliced peaches? Take a good look at it, 'cause you won't be looking at it the same way again.
If you are sick, I will heal you. If you are threatened, I will protect you. If you are thirsty, I will make waterfalls change their direction, so that you may drink your fill. If you go down, I go down. As you are mine, I am yours. I will lick soy sauce from between in your fingers, in the presence of your enemies. What's it gonna be, baby?
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