He could smell her perfume. (1198 hits)
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Rating: 2 on 25 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Bigmike (View user info) at 2005-07-31 00:35:27 EDT
John Ramsey Kelleher sat on the bench and stared at the wall opposite him. It looked grainy to him, too grainy. Like a television that had gone on the fritz. Such was his life. He leaned back and rested his head against the cool stone behind him. He could feel the uneveness of the wall, the wall where so many before him had scratched cryptic messages that only they could understand. He could hear footsteps resounding down the hallway. The sharp click-clack of newly polished shoes, their black contrasting slightly to pressed grey slacks. The footsteps came closer, and as he looked up, he saw the uniformed man walk slowly by, being careful not to make eye contact with him for fear of seeing into his soul.
"The preacher talked to me and he smiled,
Said, "Come and walk with me, come and walk one more mile.
Now for once in your life you're alone,
but you ain't got a dime, there's no time for the phone."
John couldn't shake one thought as he watched the guard walk by. "Is there anybody that cares what is happening to me? Is there anyone at all that I could leave my legacy, my message to?" He had lived a full life, albeit most of it incarcerated in places such as this. He just couldn't remember if anybody cared. He couldn't remember if he cared.
"I've just got to get a message to you, hold on, hold on.
One more hour and my life will be through, hold on, hold on."
Two more sets of footsteps echoed in the silent hallway. As they came closer, he knew that they were coming purposely to see him. He didn't get up because there was no feeling of anticipation. These men were bringing him a special request. They all got one, last, special request. Every single man or woman that has ever set foot where he is now got to make a special request. His was being delivered promptly and efficiently by the two men that just appeared in front of his cell. The sharp footsteps stopped and as he looked up he could see the sadness and empathy on their faces. He was surprised that it was there, but it comforted him nonetheless.
"Here you go, John. Steak, medium rare with a side of fries. Brussel sprouts loaded with butter, cup of chocolate pudding and an ice cold YooHoo." The man spoke it softly as if he were talking to a sleeping child.
John could smell the food as he took the container and drink through the bars. Any other day this food would smell good, today it smelled like the rest of his life.
"I told him I'm in no hurry,
but if I broke her heart, won't you tell her I'm sorry.
And for once in my life I'm alone,
and I've got to let her know just in time before I go.
I've just go to get a message to you, hold on, hold on.
One more hour and my life will be through, hold on, hold on."
He ate his meal silently, sure that they would come for him before he was through. He had no watch and no real way to tell time. I suppose that was their way of keeping everybody here sane. No clock, no watching. No watching, no counting. No counting, no clenching. No clenching, no violence. It was a good plan and it worked for every single person who ever sat down in a cold, small, dark room, looking down at the last bit of food that would ever pass through their system. As he chewed his steak, he thought of his mother.
"Well I laughed but that didn't hurt,
and it's only her love that keeps me wearing this dirt.
Now I'm crying but deep down inside,
well I did it to him, now it's my turn to die."
He thought of the way she stroked his hair when he was a young child. He thought of the calming effect it had on him and how many of his fondest memories revolved around her. He could picture her smile in his minds eye. Beautiful and charming, she was the only safe haven he had ever known. His heart ached for the longing he had, the longing to see her one more time. The longing to hear her sweet voice, the voice he knew before it became rough with cigarettes, before it became tortured by chemotherapy and cancer.
He looked up at the bars now to see three men. He hadn't even heard the sharp click-clack of their shoes this time. He looked back at the food container to see that it was mostly empty except for a few remnants of grisle from the steak. Grisle cast to the side of the plate, uneaten, unwanted.
Like him.
The man with the white collar said to him, "It's time to go, John." John nodded and stood up. The two uniformed guards opened the cell, entered, and placed the shackles firmly around his wrists and ankles. he offered no resistance. As they started walking down the hall, he still didn't hear the noise coming from those highly polished black shoes. His thoughts were of his mother. His only comfort in a life gone bad. The man in the collar started, "John Ramsey Kelleher, have you taken Jesus Christ our lord to be your savior?"
John swore he could smell her perfume.
"I've just got to get a message to you, hold on, hold on.
One more hour and my life will be through, hold on, hold on."
User Reviews
Submitted by sinna (user info) at 2005-08-04 04:45:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
excellent
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-08-01 17:59:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I just thought this need to be seen on MRR again.
Submitted by iradney (user info) at 2005-08-01 08:40:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i love your stuff, but you piss me off - mostly coz i know i'll never be as good as you :P
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-08-01 08:23:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 as always, palpable feeling of isolation and failiure.
Bigmike has somehow managed to capture the essence of Wales in this post.
Submitted by Siren (user info) at 2005-08-01 03:56:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well, there you have it. One excellent piece of writing.
Submitted by Ainkara (user info) at 2005-08-01 03:06:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That was sad... :(
Submitted by sparkle_pink (user info) at 2005-08-01 02:08:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by DanielH (user info) at 2005-07-31 23:42:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You flat-out know how to reach inside people. Now while I can do that, too, I have to use my fingers; you do it otherwise. ++++
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-07-31 20:15:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2005-07-31 17:18:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent!
I need more free time. I miss (or nearly miss) gems like these!
Good stuff, good stuff
Submitted by Bigmike (user info) at 2005-07-31 15:44:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Randy, you're funny.
Manic, glad you enjoyed it.
I think I have to have more interest grabbing titles.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-07-31 11:35:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
So worth the time to read it. I thik I'll go back and do it again.
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2005-07-31 09:49:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by indigogecko (user info) at 2005-07-31 05:45:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well I enjoyed it. Thank you for something coherant in a run of utter turd (in some cases literally)
Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-31 03:33:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
10...
Few... I thought I was going to freak out for a sec there.
Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-31 03:33:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-31 03:32:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-31 03:32:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-31 03:32:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-31 03:32:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-31 03:31:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-31 03:31:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-31 03:31:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WTF?
A Big Mike post without ten +2's?
Let's fix this.
Submitted by stevendurel (user info) at 2005-07-31 00:47:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
For not being a "girl I'm gonna fuck" bandwaggon post.
Submitted by Bigmike (user info) at 2005-07-31 00:42:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"I've just got to get a message to you"
The Bee Gee's
1968