| Chapter 09
Early morning visit
A white sanitation truck slowed to a whining halt along an adjacent street, creating an
ominous sound, so distinctly pitched, it instilled fear in small unsuspecting animals,
animals that were usually confined to their own private quarters. As the garbage truck
rolled down the block and stopped, Mr. Begaul, having decided to take his new puppy
for a leisurely stroll, could be seen walking alongside it.
Without a moment’s notice, the truck released what sounded like a quick burst of compressed
air, and the high-strung Chihuahua darted from it in inexplicable terror. Taking Pixie on the
street rather than through the woods was now obviously a mistake, for in the instant of a
heartbeat, it must have sounded like a dragon hissing fire at the small creature. Scrambling
for a way out, he took off like a bullet and almost snapped its own neck in the process.
If you take into account that its brain couldn't have been larger than that of a quarter,
maybe then one could understand what kind of torment it must have been suffering.
From where I stood in my room, it looked like he had a gigantic spider on that leash,
and upon thinking that, I immediately shuttered. I do believe that, in all honesty, if it
ever got off that leash, it would simply run until it dropped dead somewhere. “That's
one feisty little bastard,” I said aloud, to my surprise, before pulling the outside screen
up with much difficulty and sticking my head out. I could see it was going to be a
beautiful day. Pete arrived early for a change and slipped in through the back door.
I always kept a spare key in the vacant lot beside our house. A rather large area of
land that did not belong to us, but considering that it was already there, the least
we could do was keep the lawn well-trimmed from the previous owner and the
cylindrical garden within the center of it all maintained. The mirrored gazing ball
that delicately sat inside its aging concrete pedestal was a joy to look at. It was
under one of the pink stones that surrounded the globe where the key was hidden.
The time read 8:07 when I heard him surreptitiously ascending the staircase.
“Do my eyes deceive me?
Has the afternoon man arrived before twelve o'clock?”
“Ha-ha, you're a barrel of laughs,” said Peter wryly.
Where we came from, calling someone an afternoon man was sarcasm in its
purest form. It meant a person who didn't work. Someone who stayed up all
night long and didn't go to bed until the sun peaked. A person who didn't arise
until after the stroke of twelve and usually wasn't seen until around three.
“I don't think I've ever seen you before twelve o'clock.”
“You're a pisser man,” he said in an almost jovial tone.
“Take a look at what I have here.”
He then proceeded to remove a record from a folded brown paper bag. It was the
new Jethro Tull album. “Here, check it out; I picked it up Wednesday in my travels.
I went milling around the city and ended up at Venus Records. That place is incredible!”
“I know, whenever I'm in the city, I make it a priority to go there and see what's new.
So how is it, compared to the other Tull albums we have in the grand collection?”
“I like it better than Stormwatch, but not Songs from the Wood.”
“Is it really that good?”
“It is, once you get used to it.”
“The Broadsword and the Beast. . . What's this, a satanic album?
Because if it is, it's going out the freakin' window.”
“Don't be an asshole, man; it's not a sa-tanic album.”
Shaking his head in disgust.
“I think we need more air in this room,” I said as I nonchalantly pulled up on
the lightweight aluminum window screen that always appeared to get stuck for
some reason. After further examination, I came to the conclusion that it had to go.
“Okay, this record is certainly of evil origin and will be undoubtedly destroyed.
Now say goodnight, Irene.” As I pulled the curtain aside, and held the record
like was a Frisbee, Peter contested by screaming.
“Don't be stupid; it's the last one in the store!”
I then started laughing, “Did you really think I was gonna wing it?”
“I wouldn't put it past you if that's what you mean.”
He then paused to run his hand through his hair like a comb, and it appeared
to me as though he had gotten so flustered that he forgot where he was in the
conversation. Carefully, he picked up my lava lamp from atop the wooden
radiator cabinet and, with his back turned toward me, began speaking to
the inanimate object as if it were a gentle thing that could understand.
“Anyway, it's not one of those albums that's gonna make you jump up
and down. It takes a couple of listens before it starts to grow on you.”
“In other words, it sucks.”
(He spins around quickly)
“Nah, man, it doesn't fucking suck.”
Slamming his fist down upon my dresser like the Hulk in a heated rage.
“Now you're just being a prick.”
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“Hey Pete, do you remember when I went to summer school at Farrell?
I was just a sophomore back then, but I can vividly remember a group
of delinquents on the train playing this really cool album. Guys who I
remember seeing at Tottenville High School. I asked them who it was,
and they told me it was The Cars. What a strange name for a band,
I thought. I then said to myself, I have to get that album.
It was only after I bought it that I started to hear every song from that
record being played on the radio. To be brutally honest, I would put it
right up there on the shelf with The Dark Side of The Moon, Wake of
the Flood, and my Rocket to Russia album. The more I think about it,
the happier I am; I went. Even though I rued the thought of it with
all my heart and soul.”
“At least you never got left back, right?”
“No.”
“Did the summer school program help you in any of your studies?”
“I don't know if it helped me, but I started smoking pot that year.
The pot helped me, I guess.”
“How so?”
“It made me less pragmatic.”
I'm not sure I knew at the time what the word pragmatic meant,
but I had a pretty good idea, so I figured I'd run with it.
Magic - Keep on movin' on
“Pussy willow,” I said, referring to song seven on the album.
“What is he singing about here? A tree?”
Pete looked at me with an expression of mild disdain.
“You're joking, right?”
“I'm messing with your head, man,” I said, laughing loudly.
“By the way, where were you yesterday?”
“Yesterday, I was floundering around. I rode my bike to Tottenville and
went by the Conference House for a while. Then I came back and looked
for you, but you weren't around, so I hung out with Paul at his house.
We split a six-pack of Kronenbourg and talked for a bit.”
“I bought Kronenbourg yesterday too. . .
No, that was Löwenbräu, sorry.”
I then removed from my box a wonderfully rolled pfleuba
(as we called it that year) and proceeded to light it.
“How on earth did you roll it that perfectly?”
“Well, for starters, the weed was slightly moist, so I snipped off what remained
of the stems, and then after scrapping next to nothing, I rolled up the buds rather
than crumble them. Then I kept it in my drawer for a month. For some odd reason
that no one's been able to explain to me, sinsemilla does not have any seeds. Not
even in the buds; how is that even possible?”
(I would later come to learn that it is a highly potent strain of marijuana
from female plants that are specially cultivated and kept seedless by
preventing pollination in order to induce a high resin content; hence
the name, sin semilla that in Spanish simply means seedless.)
“This is excellent,” said Peter as he toked away. We passed it around until
there was nothing left but a charcoal stem and two burned fingertips.
The time was now 8:20.
Peter turned the white plastic knob on my television set and went past each station
until he reached channel 13. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was on, and Fred was
talking in television land. Everything seemed to be ‘A-OK’ from that side of the
table. Where no one ever gets hurt, and pain is a topic that is never discussed.
Without warning, Pete jumps up and does an imitation of Fred Rogers while
holding his breath. “Speedy delivery, Mr. McFeeley, Speeee-dy delivery.”
“I-cannot-believe-I-am-watching-this,”
I said in the mechanical voice of R2-D2, who was beginning to short circuit.
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“I really find it hard to believe a fully-grown man can act like that,” I uttered.
“Hello, kiddies; today, we are going to talk about getting high and
the dangers of marijuana usage. You really don't want to do any of
this stuff because it isn't good for you. I would suggest you all buy
a packet of Marlboro cigarettes and enjoy them after school.”
“You sound like the president of a tobacco company, Pete!
You sound like Morton Wexler!!!”
“Who the hell is Morton Wexler?” Peter snapped back while
trying desperately to regain his composure from all that laughter.
“I have no idea.”
Suddenly Fred Rogers began singing that silly song, “It's Such a Good
Feeling…,” and neither of us could contain ourselves. Pete now had his
hands covering both eyes and could in no way stop laughing. “What's
wrong with you, Fred,” was all he could muster in a glassy-eyed stupor
so pronounced it seemed he could not catch his breath.
After that, Fred waved goodbye to Trolley, and before long, the children's show ended.
It was fun being a jerk, and who really cared about the things people think about or
the things people do anyway? Life was meant to be enjoyed, and I was doing my
damnedest to not let things go awry.
Pete turned the dial that made a loud snapping sound as it went around until he
found something of interest. The Addams Family had come on, and Morticia was
grooming her hair. “Isn't it just lovely, darling,” she thought to herself.
“I don't know why,” said Peter, “but I just can't get into this show.
No matter how many times I see it.”
“Yeah, I'm with you on that, and I think I know why. It's because Lurch is too despondent,
and Cousin It just flutters around without any meaning, uttering complete nonsense that
no one of a sound mind could ever process. Everyone in the show understands her except
the people viewing. Wednesday's too whiny and Pugsley. . . Where did they find that kid,
in a supermarket aisle looking at the cereal?”
“He belongs on a farm somewhere in Idaho. He's always blowing things up. What's
with that? Here's a new train set, Pugsley; now be a good boy and blow it up for me.”
“Hey Pete, imagine your dad got you this state-of-the-art robot, and
you blew its head off with an M-80 in the middle of your bedroom.
What should the rational response for doing something like that be?
Do you think your dad would have been cool like Gomez?”
“I think he'd-a-bludgeoned me to death.
And look at Fester. He's always got that friggin'
light bulb in his God damn mouth.
Need a light, Gomez?
Let me just unscrew one from gran-mama's lamp.”
Peter then began doing his pantomime routine.
First, he impersonated his character by unscrewing the imaginary light bulb
from an imaginary light source. He then pretended to put the bulb in his mouth
as would a jubilant Fester Addams. Then with his eyes rolled up and his mouth
in an "O" position, he looked like the confused alien that appeared to be having
a nervous breakdown in Edvard Munch's painting of 1893 titled the scream.
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Soon it was 9:00, and the show had ended.
After a seemingly long commercial break, another show was about to air.
On 1313 Mockingbird Lane, we came to find the Munster's
shuffling about in a timely fashion and distilling mirth.
All the cobwebs and antiquated furniture nestled away in the arcane
dwelling were now a sanctuary of peace for me to reflect upon. A grand
escape, so to speak. I soon found their homestead to be reminiscent of
my grandmother's house and began to think of both houses as though
there was a direct correlation between them. As my being dissolved
into lethargy, my mind was transported to that old black and white
Victorian mansion. Pete then staggered to his feet to do an imitation
of Herman lumbering in after a hard day's work. In a dry but pleasant
voice, he uttered the following phrase, “Le-Lee, I'm home.”
I don't know how, but he had the science of it down pat, and with that sullen
face of his ever-changing, he could impersonate almost anyone to a tee. The
wind was blowing outside that house like a giant twister was coming, while
I felt as calm as a zeppelin floating unhindered in an immeasurable sky; in
an anomalous way, it was almost breathtaking.
Then the daydreams overshadowed my mind, and I allowed myself to be led by them. . .
As I transcended deeper into the picture, the story unfolded wonderfully. The pictures in
my head were more along the line of daydream patterns summoning me to participate with
them. As I began to dwell on this, my mind whisked me away. I drifted into the house on a
cool breeze rustling through the curtains and settled down amongst the dusty furniture.
The only currency I took with me had already been smoked. I was now but a vapor in the
midst of time. While the episode continued to air, my mind manufactured dreams, creating
new roles for me to partake in. Most of the time, I didn't have any say in the matter.
Static soon interrupted the picture, and a brief adjustment would have to be made to the
UHF antenna, which was now drooping to one side. After some rearranging of the rabbit
ears, and positioning of the wire, the picture was back and it was clearer than ever.
As I wandered past several strange rooms like a midsummer breeze, I became skeptical
as to why I was there in the first place. Finding myself atop the old staircase, I was not
surprised to find that under this staircase, no dragon was hiding.
That was all a great hoax, but apart from that, everything had been masterfully reproduced
right down to the finest detail. How charming everything looked in a peaceful and dreamlike
atmosphere. As I moved about under the spidery stairs, I now felt as though I were being
watched by over a billion eyes. Creeping ever so gently, I made my way down the ancient
withered steps to the lowest region of the house. Here I discovered a multitude of carefully
stored wine bottles preserved in a dank-dark corner of the stone-walled cellar.
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Using my hand, I wiped away years of dust from two of the bottles. One I can see is from 1896,
but the other is obscured. Wait, I am beginning to see something. No, that's only my reflection.
Hold on, there it is, 1902. Many of the bottles had paper labels that were either peeling or flaking
from the aging process of time, but still, there were some with glass embossing. In the earlier part
of the nineteenth century, the concept of paper labels wasn't even a fathomed thought in the mind
of inventors, so bottles were either embossed with text, or they were clear. I then carefully placed
the bottle back down on its side, where I found it.
Scurrying about like a mouse through cold torch-lit passageways and into an
eerie laboratory, I found everything to be in rather neat and precise order.
Beakers filled with red and green liquid were contained in their holders. Several distillation
apparatuses, alongside other marvels of ages past, were working in the same manner as things
of the present day. There were apothecary beakers emitting a curious white smoke while the
spherical conical retorts dripped slowly into a simmering glass pan. The long slender vessels
with downward-pointing necks, which appeared to be the most delicately fragile of all laboratory
glassware, were now operational and in full swing. Beside an amber-colored graduated flask and
a rather interesting looking round-bottom flask, smoke was building inside a thin pear-shaped
separatory funnel. Everything seemed to be awaiting grandpa's return.
A plume of smoke suddenly appears before me.
Poof!
“What is it, you ask?” spoke the old vampire excitedly. “Why, it's Grandpa
Munster's super growth formula, of course. It'll make anybody ten times taller,
enabling them to conquer any foe at all. No one will ever bother you again.
But if I find out you're trying to swindle me, I'll make you ten times smaller
and watch you get eaten by a hungry aphid. Here, let me show you,” exclaims
grandpa enthusiastically as he carefully pours the two liquids together.
“Now, all you have to do is drink it.”
Traveling to the upstairs portion of the house, I could now see an extensive library of voluminous
books covered in layers of undisturbed dust. All first editions — protected from the elements of time
and sun. They are here for your reading pleasure or simply for you to gloat upon at your leisure.
Each room tells a story where the past and present meet. Trees sway and bend as the impending
storm approaches. Leaves that have pulled away from their branches fly aimlessly in the gusty
wind. Suddenly, the air explodes, fulminating in a barrage of pandemonium as the sky crackles
and the thunder booms. Follow the orchestral arrangement of tumultuous sounds as it brings
forth a torrent of darkness in its heavy pitter-patter. Outside you may hear the rain falling to the
sound of a thousand horses. Where tears of victory come streaming down the fragile panes in
stride, unabated. Carefully, they tell their own tale of woe. The years are heavily ladened with
sorrow, but not for you. You hear only hollow echoes within the sanctity of the abode. . .
Am I even watching the show?
Am I really here?
Vintage decor that has long since vanished in a time
frame not our own is perhaps the most beguiling;
to capture the very essence of it for all to see.
“Can it be done?” I thought.
Is it possible to create another ‘realm of living’ within
the current realm we are all subject to participate in?
I suppose if one has the resources and the time.
Pg 44
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Time, what a cursed thing... It moves by invisible numbers that can always be traced back but
can never be traced forward. I then realized that time itself doesn't really change at all. Every
season is more or less the same. It is we that have been changing as new ideas come forth. As
I got higher, I began to think more and more of that house. I couldn't fathom being endowed
with such a magnificent dwelling. One with grand arches atop its roof and high ceilings.
A house like that is the equivalent of a town whose population is 1, and you are the sheriff.
The pleasures of getting high, I thought, and why is it illegal?
It gives the hopeless hope while enabling the blind to see.
But for a fleeting moment, we're a Terrytoon in time. . .
During the commercials, we joked around, doing silly impressions and imitating various
actors before breaking the seal on a bottle of Jeremiah Weed bourbon liquor to welcome in
“I Dream of Jeannie.” The time read 9:30, and everything was as calm as could be outside.
I wasn't into the color scene as much as I was for the black & white shows, so my attention
span was limited to about twelve seconds, give or take a few. Together, we threw down a
shot in unison, and Peter gave his opinion while pointing up toward Christ in Heaven. . .
“Nectar of the Gods,” Pete proclaimed, like Caligula Caesar before the fall of Rome.
He then held the glistening shot glass at eye level while conveying an emotion I am still trying
to define. Similar to when a person is overcome with joy, the words which have almost escaped
from the lips suddenly diminish. The occupant, baffled at his loss for words, realizes there is
nothing he can say, and so he continues to admire the jigger of honey-like liquid as though
it were a shimmering glass of absinthe, cleverly designed to open his mind.
“One more, and that's it,” I said, like an overpaid actor.
“Don't be a killjoy.”
“Listen, this is a hundred proof, and I don't want you getting sick in the house.”
“There is no way this is one hundred proof.”
“Yes-way, see for yourself; it's right here on the bottle.
Keep thinking like that, and we're both gonna be throwing up.”
“Ain't that somethin'. I thought it was sixty, maybe seventy proof tops.”
After partaking in this splendid drink, I began to feel
somewhat propelled into storytelling and laughter.
It was time I revealed to Peter the story of how I acquired the bottle.
A little anecdote to raise our spirits, so to speak.
“Three weeks ago, I felt like taking a stroll, so I left the car in the driveway
and began walking, not knowing where I would end up. As fate would have it,
I ended up in Greenwich shopping plaza. I entered the liquor store and asked
them if they had any weed. They all looked at me dumbfounded. I then said
Jeremiah Weed, and they all laughed behind the counter. Why, of course,
straight down, you'll see it on your right.”
Pete appreciated the story and laughed. . . “Only you would do that.”
“What did you think of that Honeymooner's episode last night, Pete?”
“I love that episode. I love it when Ralph gets stuck between the pipes.”
“Do somethin' Norton, you gotta help me. Nortin? NORTIN!!!”
“They're playing your song, Ralph.”
“I don't care whose song they're playin, I'm not answerin!
Sometimes I almost forget that 328 Chauncey Street is a prop.”
“I know, right?” replied Peter ecstatically.
It suddenly seemed as though everything was going right today,
and I had not a care in the world.
Dial j for janitor
After some time, “I dream of Jeannie” ended, and by 10:00, I had fallen into
a starry haze and became lethargic. Before I could even realize what had
happened, another show ended, and the time was approaching ten-thirty.
After more time had elapsed, I thought I heard the telephone ring in the kitchen,
so I went downstairs to answer it.
My mother is on the other end of the line and has called to say she will be coming
home early today. She said, “No one better be here when I get home, especially Pete.”
I told her no one will be here and not to spend the rest of the day thinking about it.
The time on the kitchen clock reads 10:57.
My parents never liked Peter due to a condition he acquired called opsablepsia.
I believe it stemmed from smoking too much pot, but Pete will deny this. For
this minor infraction, my parents would accuse him of either being on drugs
or being a thief. In those moments when he succeeded in making direct eye
contact, then, as fate would have it, he was way too pauciloquent in his speech.
Pg 45
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After the inevitable phone call, I went back upstairs with two glazed-long cookies
and gave one to Peter. “Aren't Pop-tarts supposed to be heated?” He asks with
a seemingly blank expression. “That was yesterday, today, it's a cookie so eat it.”
“Can't I at least have a glass of milk with it?”
“What are you a cat or somethin - just eat it.”
I surprised myself as I willingly became Ralph Kramden
and hastily blurted the words out. Peter laughed at the
way it sounded and gobbled up the cookie. After that
little treat, we listened to some music on my turntable.
It was then I asked Peter a question. . .
“Question, what is the best song on the Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll album?”
“I'm gonna have to go with the title cut on that one; what do you think?”
“I think the best song on that album is ‘Strip Cartoon’, and it wasn't even put on the record.”
That's almost like asking someone which member of Pink Floyd sang, ‘Have a Cigar’?”
The answer is no one, of course.
We each took a few more hits off the ornate bong as we laughed and talked about
nonsense. Soon the mooring line slowly loosened itself from around its massive
bollard. I then realized there was no longer anything securing me to my sanity, so
I began to drift away. This time abased and dejected, for the gloom had set in.
Why should I even care about today if tomorrow I may be uprooted?
Soon the years will become days, and all whom I know and love will vanish
from this earthly place, leaving only me to face the terror. When at last, my
casket is lowered into the ground, will anyone even remember my name?
I wasn't a Beatle, a Picasso, or a famous actor. Whenever I started things,
I usually never finished them. And when I did finish them, it seemed they
were never done the right way. I just needed to make my existence matter,
though I had no idea what I would one day be attempting to achieve.
The smoke had blown into the dark corners of my mind, and I became morose.
Eventually, I managed to sweep aside the wretched thoughts that manifested
despair and concentrate on a day that beckoned me to join it.
“It's almost eleven thirty,” I balked. “Wanna go down and raid the fridge?”
“Don't you remember what happened the last time you did that?”
“Yeah, I remember the scolding and the twenty-minute-lecture; now, let's eat.”
The more we stuffed our faces, the hungrier I became,
and the hungrier I became, the more I found myself eating.
This continued until the pound of ham and the pound of turkey breast were gone.
It's safe to say that when Ramon comes home from work and looks for his cold cuts,
he's going to find nothing but head cheese.
Soon it was nearing twelve, so I went back upstairs.
There was a certain book I needed to thumb through before we began our excursion.
And not even the shadows of fate could keep the hands of time from turning.
The Lines End - Miss Illusion
Pg 46
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Reviews for chapter 9
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This review was posted on May/17/22
Lameez' review
Beta-Read Report for 'The Embryo Man and Other Tales of Woe - Chapter 9'
Beta Reader: Lameez Rushin (Lameezisreal)
Overall Impression
A beautiful display of friendship while exploring individuality too.
Chapter Notes
The dialogue and scenes were intricately woven together.
When the scene changed from the exterior to a mindscape,
it was clear and the transition was flawless.
Character Notes
I loved the banter between the two characters. At first, I thought they were friends
based on their mutual appreciation of music but the MC (Main Character) knew
aboutPeter’s illness and even touched on his parents' treatment of Peter because of
it. This tidbit shows that their friendship is much deeper than just mutual interests.
Thoughts After Finishing The Chapter
As mentioned, the banter between the two characters was pleasant, none of it felt
forced or rushed. It flowed as quickly and as easily as the scenes did. All in all, this
was a good chapter and I enjoyed it.
Thank you so much and I’m excited to see your next chapter!
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This review was posted on Jun/6/22
nehanegi1905 's review
The Embryo Man and Other Tales of Woe: Chapter 9 - Early morning visit
Reader's Report by nehanegi1905
Hello Chas! I just finished reading the ninth chapter
in one go and all I have to say is Wow!!!!!!!!!!!
This chapter definitely has to be one of my favorite chapters till now.
I had fun while reading it maybe because it captured the essence of the
conversations between teenage friends. I loved Peter and it was actually very
nice to get to know his character a little more (all the imitations he can perform).
And as someone in her 20s, I have recently started developing an interest in songs
from the 60s and 70s, and let me tell me what a delight it was to read this chapter.
It felt like I was sitting in that room talking to my friends about all the amazing music
from that era. I definitely took some recommendations from this chapter.
I hope I’ll now have a better taste in music as well as better knowledge of making the
perfect joint (just kidding). The chapter felt tied up from head to toe. Literally, nothing
felt out of place which made me crave more of this piece of perfection that you put out.
I hope to receive the tenth chapter soon. I’m dying to know whether Peter
gets caught before his mom gets back. Thank you for this lovely delight.
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This review was posted on Jun/27/22
krithika2001 's review
The Embryo Man and Other Tales of Woe: Chapter 9 - Early morning visit
Reader's Report by Krithika Ravi
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The Embryo Man and Other Tales of Woe: Chapter 9 - Early morning visit
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The Embryo Man and Other Tales of Woe: Chapter 9 - Early morning visit
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The Embryo Man and Other Tales of Woe: Chapter 9 - Early morning visit
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The Embryo Man and Other Tales of Woe: Chapter 9 - Early morning visit
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The Embryo Man and Other Tales of Woe: Chapter 9 - Early morning visit
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This review was posted on Jul/7/23
Reviewed by rupalrao
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Saleha Zainab - July 25 - Chapter 9
SZ
Chapter Summary:
This chapter from a novel provides a glimpse into the life of the protagonist and
his close friend, Peter. The narrative revolves around the events of a single day,
filled with mundane activities and humorous interactions. The protagonist spends
time with Peter, discussing music, watching classic TV shows, and enjoying bourbon
liquor. As they indulge in reminiscences and laughter, the chapter delves into their
dynamic, including moments of nostalgia, playful banter, and philosophical contemplation
about life and time. The chapter closes with a hint of introspection as the protagonist
grapples with the meaning of existence and the desire for lasting impact.
Analysis:
1. Narration Style: The narrative style of the chapter is casual and conversational,
creating an atmosphere of friendship and familiarity. The use of present tense and
first-person perspective allows readers to experience the events as they unfold,
making it feel like a genuine conversation with the protagonist.
2. Themes: The chapter touches on several themes, such as the passage of time,
nostalgia, friendship, the significance of individual existence, and the transient nature
of life. The juxtaposition of classic TV shows and vintage décor with contemporary
elements highlights the theme of timelessness and the way the past can continue
to resonate with the present.
3. Setting and Symbolism: The description of the vintage house with its Victorian
mansion-like features and antique items creates a sense of nostalgia and romanticism.
The house becomes a symbolic representation of a bygone era, juxtaposed with the
modern world. The characters' exploration of the past, as well as the characters themselves,
symbolize their longing for meaning and permanence in an ever-changing world.
4. Humor and Playfulness: The chapter is peppered with humor and playful banter
between the protagonist and Peter. This humor serves as a coping mechanism,
allowing the characters to escape from life's challenges and momentarily forget
their troubles. It also reinforces the strong bond between the two friends.
5. Philosophical Undertones: Amidst the lighthearted moments, the chapter incorporates
philosophical reflections on existence and mortality. The protagonist's musings on time, the
desire to be remembered, and the impact one leaves behind evoke a sense of introspection.
The discussion of getting high and the subsequent pondering on the effects of marijuana
usage hint at the characters' search for meaning and escape from reality.
6. Characterization: The characters of the protagonist and Peter are presented in a genuine
and relatable manner. Their shared interests in music, classic TV shows, and the appreciation
of vintage items help portray a strong camaraderie and a sense of shared identity. Their
affectionate teasing and familiarity showcase a deep bond between the two friends.
Conclusion:
This chapter in the novel offers a brief, intimate, and contemplative glimpse into the lives
of the protagonist and his friend, Peter. The playful banter and shared interests create a
sense of camaraderie, while the underlying philosophical undertones add depth and
meaning to the narrative. Through their interactions and musings, the chapter explores
themes of time, nostalgia, friendship, and the desire for a lasting impact. The juxtaposition
of the vintage house and classic TV shows with the contemporary elements serves to
underscore the timeless aspects of human experiences and emotions. Overall, this chapter
provides a charming and thought-provoking interlude in the novel's narrative, inviting readers
to reflect on the transience of life and the significance of cherished connections.
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This review was posted on Aug/9/23
Reviewed by sampriktaada813
SP
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PG 40) Venus Records business card (circa 1982) - http://flamingpablum.com
PG 40) Lava Lamp by Doug Fraser - http://tinyurl.com/l8vby7t
PG 41) Rocket to Russia by The Ramones - http://tinyurl.com/lp9rhsy
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PG 41) Mr. McFeeley - (David Newell) - http://tinyurl.com/27ejsj
PG 42) Won't you be my neighbor - Mister Rogers - http://tinyurl.com/mkpgvjr
PG 42) The Addams Family - (Title card) - http://tinyurl.com/kvf92wj
PG 42) M-80 brand firecrackers - Made in China - http://tinyurl.com/3athz
PG 42) The Scream by Edvard Munch - http://www.edvard-munch.com/
PG 43) The Munsters - (TV series) - http://tinyurl.com/8yasy3e
PG 43) Two tickets to Dublin by Andrej Mashkovtsev - http://tinyurl.com/mdx7bxb
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PG 45) The Honeymooners - Dial "J" for Janitor - http://tinyurl.com/6b236y
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PG 46) Physician liability by Jon Krause - http://tinyurl.com/oxr4wq
PG 46) Burger deluxe by Todd Schorr - http://www.toddschorr.com/
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