I Have a Friend Part 4 ... Rebel Without a Cause

in #writing6 years ago



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What is a rebel? A man who says no, but he is also a man
who says yes, from the moment he makes his first gesture of rebellion.

—Albert Camus



I’m being pursued by the Hound of Heaven but I’ll be damned if I’m going down without a fight.

I’m tired of the celibate life and I’m going home with Rita tonight—the very girl the Lord grows silent about.

He may not like it, but I’m tired of lonely nights.

Hell, I’m entitled, aren’t I? I’m a free agent in the universe.



Ten minutes later, we’re walking under Maple-lined streets through a quiet residential neighborhood toward Rita’s flat.

“I’ve gotta roomie—she’s kinda like Jack—a real nerd. Hey, maybe we should set them up? —They might hit it off. Who knows?”

I’m listening—kinda. I’m wondering about the voice I keep hearing inside me and I’m beginning to doubt this was such a great idea.



We arrive outside Rita’s house and she turns to me and says. “You wait here, Stephen. I’ll go and convince Irene that she needs to study a few more hours in the campus library. When the coast is clear, I’ll wave you up.”

She points to an attic window. “Just watch up there and when you see me wave, come on up to the third level.”

She may as well have said the seventh heaven.

Are there levels in hell, I wonder?



I watch her lovely sylph-like figure as she melts through the doorway and I wonder what I did to deserve this gift.

Hey there, big spender.

I whirl around in the direction of the voice and there’s the girl of my dreams, standing there, her white dress shimmering in the moonlight.



“You’re real,” I stammer.

She smiles and every nuance of expression melts my heart. I dreamt of being in the moonlight with her and now, here we are.

“Well, here we are,” she whispers and gives me a trembling smile.



I feel an aching so deep inside me. I want to ask her forgiveness for being so blind and stupid and insensitive.

“I’ve wanted you my whole life,” I tell her and I mean it with my whole heart. Above us, a widow sash raises and Rita rasps in a hoarse whisper, “Hurry up!”

“I’ve go to go,” I tell my girl.

“No, you don’t—you’re better than this, Stephen.”



Every word out of her mouth is a caress.

Have you ever met someone who is so genuinely nice they make you want to cry? She made me want to cry.

“You’re right,” I tell her, “I can’t do this.”

I turn and look up at Rita’s lighted window, but she’s gone. If I walk up those stairs, I’ll make it worse. I turn back to my girl, but she’s gone.

I am a free agent in the universe.

I go home.



When I get back to the dorm, Jack’s sleeping in his Nashville Predator’s hockey shirt, snoring.

The window’s open and white curtains billow on the breeze.

I sit and stare up at the dome of the Moon.



I don’t understand what just happened. I don’t understand where my life is headed.

One thing I do know for sure and I can feel it deep within me—

In the depths of the sleeping night, my love is waiting.

She’s sheltered from storms of feverish flesh and waiting for me in her shimmering white dress.



© 2018, John J Geddes. All rights reserved



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“Nunca resisto la tentación, porque he descubierto que lo que es malo para mí no me tienta.” decía GEORGE BERNARD SHAW. Su conciencia lo salvó de hacer algo que en el fondo no quería hacer. Creo que Dios lo puso a prueba!! Y él dijo no, porque decir que no también es ser rebelde, como dice el epígrafe, la cita de Albert Camus. No caer en la tentación también requiere todo el ímpetu, la fuerza y hasta la hombría que se tiene para decir que sí. Hay cosas que deben hacerse en su debido momento y con las personas indicadas. Esta parte me gustó, @johnjegeddes. Bonito día.

Sí, Nancy, bien dicho. Supongo que cada pecado es un acto de rebelión que en última instancia va en contra de nuestros mejores intereses a la larga, pero la mayoría de las personas no piensa en las consecuencias a largo plazo cuando pecan; parece ser un tema conmigo últimamente, siguiendo la historia anterior con este - cuentos que tienen una fuerte enseñanza moral adjunta :)

really beautiful... always follow you and you made my day like always ^_^

such kind words - thank you, michael

you are welcome

Dream girls are cheap dates. ;-)

That sounds like the voice of experience talking, HP :)

Not me, I only date rich women! ;-)

This post has received a 8.78 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @johnjgeddes.

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