THE PARTY'S OVER

As I projected when I began this project, this Blog would have a finite life. It was a project originally designed to be a dialogue between two writers about the craft of the writer Jacob M. Appel. My partner referred to himself as the FIRE MAN. He did manage to collaborate through the first three stories of EINSTEIN'S BEACH HOUSE, a collection that, as you know by now, has eight stories.

The objective was to obtain some ideas about the craft of writing and story telling through discussion of our observations about the text, and examining techniques for narrating action and using dialogue to develop characters and plot, if there is a plot.

As in most things, what hasn't been noted in entries, are observations that exist, at deep levels, from the reading that don't get articulated, but still inform our perception perhaps at a subliminal level. Those kinds of observations usually don't surface in projects like this. But sometime later, maybe even years, they may surface in our own work. We may or may not connect such occurrences with past research.

Writing/Reading can be a circular process that generates its own energy. It can ripple across the imagination when you least expect it.

I regret that FIRE MAN chose not to participate. If for some reason, he comes to the party belatedly, I would so happy to interact with his observations.

If you are reading this entry, which is the most recent effort, it represents a culmination of the blog. If you want to follow the history of the entries, you need to go back in time to February 9th, and move forward (or up) the entry dates. This will align the blogs with the order of the stories in EINSTEIN'S BEACH HOUSE. 

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PARACOSMOS: A PARABLE OUT OF THIS WORLD

Eve is the daughter of Medical Researcher Hugh Malansky and naturally skeptical wife, Leslie. Evie, as she is called by the Malanskys, has a best friend, a classmate and redhead named Kim. Kim's explains that carrying an umbrella increases the chances of rain. Hugh snips this fuzzy thinking in the bud with a lecture on cause and effect, and using an example of of the scrotum of chimney sweeps grew tumors because of their contact with soot.

This explanation prompted Kim's Mother calling the Malansky's for an explanation and apology, which ultimately ostracizes Evie from her school friends by excluding her from Kim's birthday party, and all other events.

Evie comes home sobbing that no one loves her anymore. The only thing that will compensate her loss is to have a talking pet parakeet. "Not in a million years," is Hugh's response, citing parrot fever, ornithsosis, pneumonia and meningitis as probable outcomes of parakeet possession.

But when her parents enter her room to explain why a parakeet is out of the question, Evie explains that it is okay. Her friend Lauren had brought her macaw along with her for a sleepover. When they inquire about Lauren, Evie replies that she;s her new best friend, and she asks Lauren have her makaw say something. Evie listen's to the silence intently and then bursts out laughing. 

"Isn't she great?" Evie laughingly observes.

Leslie is terrified saying to Hugh that she's too old for imaginary friends, while Hugh assures her it is just a phase and jokes that he hopes Lauren's mother is not a bitch like Kim's mother.

Leslie remembered that she had a childhood imaginary friend named Sally Whiskers, part human, part cat. She had always wanted a cat. When her twin brother claimed Sally was also his best friend, she countered that she couldn't be because she didn't exist, promptly terminating her fantasy.

Lauren Dowdy consumed Evie's imagination and time. Lauren required a toothbrush and an extra seat for amusement rides or admissions to events. Leslie would question about details of Lauren's life and Evie would fill in details that Lauren's parents were divorced and she had brother that drowned.

As the fantasy grows, partially abetted by Leslie's tacit acceptance of Lauren as Evie's friend, Hugh put's his foot down and declares that Lauren doesn't exist. When he eats a portion of Salmon from Lauren's plate a dinner, Evie demands he put it back because it belongs to Lauren, he replies that Lauren doesn't exist. Evie retreats sobbing. But after that day, Evie did not mention Lauren again, and she gradually returned to a world of real friends.

After a few days, an intriguing, handsome man parks in front of their house, and inquires "Mrs. Malansky? He explains he is Lauren's father and that he came to inquire if Lauren had done anything wrong. He explains that Lauren means everything to him, and if she has done anything wrong, he wants to make things right.

Steve Dowdy is magnetic and compelling. Leslie explains that the episode with Lauren was the fault of her husband. Steve remarks that Lauren was right about Leslie, You are more beautiful than I thought possible. They kiss and begin an affair, Steve visiting her every afternoon. As things develop, Leslie asks so see Lauren, but Steve continually makes excuses as to why that would be difficult.

Finally Leslie makes Steve commit to a date to see Lauren. She never meets Lauren, and Steve disappears from her life.

Paracosmos is that universe of the imagination that can be vivid and persuasive, intersecting with our lives with rich compelling narratives that can be more powerful than our daily pursuit of activities. 

What Appel demonstrates is how fluid and disarming the use of narrative story-telling can be in shifting our sensibilities from the "real" to an imaginary world, where anything is possible even if it conflicts with reality. He further illustrates how this imaginary life enriches experience and can rupture the membrane of our more or less tidy reality.

This is Appel at his best. The narrative is rich, and the characters are well delineated. What a way to end this collection of short stories. Paracosmos is "out of this world."