Foggy Mornings

I think of you on foggy mornings
since you said how much you liked them.
To you, fog added mystery to the world,
and you would venture out into it,
savoring the anticipation of discovery
as hidden things would appear around you.
What excited you about fog still frightens me.
I’ve never liked mystery or surprises,
and I dread the thought of getting lost.
To me, standing out in the midst of a fog
is like being trapped on a tiny island
in some uncharted corner of the sea.
Your presence there could ease some of my fears,
but even then dangers could still creep up unnoticed
until the very last, inescapable moment.
I’ve never trusted things that I can’t see,
but you were always willing to face such things.
Sometimes I think you weren’t unafraid
so much as indifferent to what might happen to you.
I never saw just what you found in the fog,
but you thought it was worth following
even if that meant leaving me behind.
When I wake up and see fog outside my windows,
I wonder where in that strange haze you might be.


Copyright (C) 2012 by Eric Landuyt

This Still Needs a Title

Along with any other comments you have, I’d like a title suggestion for this: Possibilities I’ve been rolling around include:

ladyfriend and her

 To be fair, He Warned Him a Little Beforehand

 It Fell Apart Two Days Later

 Two Losers Discuss

 I’m sorry I Don’t Have Her Stories

 or whatever you think works best.

(3:11) Let me say my peace.

            Let me talk first

(6:57) SHE SAID YES ONCE SUMMER ROLLS AROUND!!!!!!!!

(7:09) Lucky. I’m happy for you.

            I knew that would happen.

            No hard feelings though. I will find another.

(7:42) Of couse you will! You’re you! Besides, I asked her, and it has to do more with your breakup than you as a person. Fret not!

(7:45) Yeah

            I thought so. I learned another lesson fully learned. Never tell those who you want to date about your troubles. At all. Not needed. 5 rejections in a month from people who knew I go the hint. Too late to salvage anything.

            Just sucks a bit. Idk it’s probably just me. Hopefully it won’t be to awkward for me to be around you guys when summer rolls around

            I’m too connected to the past. With former friends and trying to get in contact with people. It’s failed, but hey. It’s okay. I guess. Don’t know how to readjust my life now that other friends don’t want to talk my pool of people in dwindling…

(7:53) She might be cool, you can hang, and 5!?!?!?!?

(7:56) Yes, sadly

            My life is flowing through my hands like sand

            I’m near hopeless yes this month I was sadder not just because of ladyfriend

            They each got boyfriends I knew personally. Very personally

            It’s fine. I’m guessing God is saying this isn’t the time. Or at least I assume it’s Him. Damn emotions is all I gotta say. Sorry for unloading. Haha I just try to salvage and tell people but get rejected like before I met her

(8:00) Back to reality. Ladyfriend was one of like 30+ girls I’ve asked in high school Alone. She said yesRejection is a bit rough even now. I get so emotionally attached

(8:03) I shouldn’t have told her anything Her reaction is another I won’t soon forget Hit me like a bat to my back. Thanks for listening don’t take this the wrong way.

(8:05) Understandably… I never did it on a whim either. I don’t mind your unloading at all, man! I care about what happens to you. She didn’t mind the unloading, she just knew about the breakup and thought you got over it way too soon. I asked.

(8:06) Yeah. Well it really ended months ago. I just kept it going for too long. But whatever the case may be. How long had you been wanting to ask her?

(8:06) Since December

(8:06) That’s one thing I never figured out your taste in girls. Let me in on your view of things

            I see. Since last year and this year for sure. My focus was on ladyfriend but I still liked other girls.

            I wish I knew more examples of being in a relationship. Than harsh rejection. Not having people to even say this to is what made me come out so strong because I had enough.

(8:11) The one that turns my insides out, who bring me to maniac dances for her, the one whose smile drives me wild and whose laughter I live by… THAT’s the one I go for

(8:11) I saw it on Friday between you and her. I saw it in your eyes when you looked at her. That’s why I was hoping nothing would happen emotionally to me this weekend

(8:14) …that she probably didn’t like…

(8:14) So I could tell her this week. I was planning it for a while and I rushed it in the end. Well I see. Inside out eh? Who else?

            What didn’t she like

(8:15) Oh ladyfriend. I kept that to myself because it’s just me. I wanted to not get to over my head but in the end I did.

(8:17) The whole other girls thing. She might have been scared by the speed, since it implies that you thought of her while dating ladyfriend. In her mind, what’s to stop you from doing the same when you two date?

(8:19) That I understand. Well I wouldn’t. It’s not my nature. I focus only on that person. I would take ladyfriends pictures off my comp. Immediately. I’m archiving them.

            Frightening. Yes. But when we ended it we said we could Date. We weren’t together. That’s my defense though it kinda seemed like we were

(8:20) I know it’s not! That’s just what I think she thought.

(8:20) Right

(8:24) Yeah I don’t need to tell other my Business with people I date unless it’s close guy friends

            Or a few girls who I have no chance of being with.

(8:26) What do you men no chance?

(8:26) I’m prob. Scaring dorothy with all this bc I’m unloading nearly the same stuff on her.

(8:27) Who else besides dorothy?

(8:35) As in the hopes of being with them are no longer an option like Dorothy she has a BF

            This month. Ava Lyn. Dorothy. Maggie Scordato from EPHAS. Ladyfrined. And Gwen

(8:37) There’s got to be somebody…

(8:37) Really don’t know. Haha see my hopelessness? If for prom got denied by ten girls. And HC 5

            ladyfriend was a saint. Seriously. You understand now why I held on so much.

            I have to improve my grades and we have to work on that car.

(8:39) Woah… Hey, I got an idea. Would you mind if I tried to hook you up at a dance this friday?

(8:39) I’d appreaciate it but. My situation is dire with grades. Need to improve that AP English grade.

(8:40) Darn… Ah well…

(8:40) In the summer, please try id enjoy it.

(8:40) Need any help?

(8:40) I’m not sure yet. Probably just studying for the final. So maybe then.

            Yes please help with physics

(8:41) Sure thing, but I’m not sure if it’ll work as well the longer I waite.

(8:41) Longer you wait?

(8:44) Saw it on FB. Congrats.

(8:46) Thanks. Not sure how she’ll react, so keep identity secret for now ;-)

(8:46) How who will react?

            Her?

(8:47) Yeah. It’s still a teensy bit up in the air. Don’t want to come out too strong…

(8:47) Sneaky you haha. She will see it ya know.

            DON’T DO A ME!

(8:50) Yeah, but she’ll talk to me in person if she wants it down for now… No harm done then…

(8:50) Uhm I thinks It’s already strong. I wouldn’t have done that of she said yes. Lol wait till summer like she said. Do that at the same time. Makes It easier.

            To avoid coming out strong and it’s awesome if both do it at the same time. Now she may feel forced to. And I didn’t help by commenting on it.

(8:52)  Right. Uhm yeah.

(8:55) We’ll see how it goes…;-)

(8:57) Yeah. Good luck even though it’s the summer it should be fun for you to

(9:00) It will! Off to bed now… Ap! See ya!

(9:00) Night cya!

            Good luck

            I’ll be praying

The Greatest Villains: Act I, Scene 8

Scene VIII

Lights up at full as the party emerges back onstage (in front of the closed curtains), with Solomon looking glum.

GOLIATH: Do not take his crude construction of syllables too deeply into your cerebral cortex.

SOLOMON looks up at him, still glum and now slightly confused. GOLIATH smiles.

MARTHA: He means stop moping.

GOLIATH: Hey!

SOLOMON: Ah! Well, this doesn’t help my self-esteem. I have trouble deciphering Goliath of all people…

GOLIATH: Hey!

SOLOMON: Sorry... I just feel like less of a king today. You know that guilt that you get when you break a promise unintentionally?

JC: Yeah?

SOLOMON: And how you get the feeling inside of you, the urge to do great again, to conquer the demons you summoned?

JC: Yeah?

SOLOMON: I don’t have that. I just have the down part.

GOLIATH: If it helps, you’re still a hero to me.

SOLOMON: Great. The person here with the best vocabulary uses the worst possible word.

Cheering can be heard behind the curtain.

JC: What’s that noise…

SOLOMON: (in horror)…Oh My Tom Cruise.

MARTHA: What now?

SOLOMON: Well, in case you haven’t heard, I’m facing the world’s toughest re-election as king this year. And I forgot that my opponent is holding a rally in town.

MARTHA: Isn’t he…

The curtain opens to reveal a huge crowd (at least 30 people) gathered around a stage with a podium on it. In the background, there’s a huge poster of a tall man with slicked black hair, and the name PONTIUS PILATE written on it. Displayed all over the stage, hanging from every possible surface, is a symbol with the campaign slogan “Pontius! Pontius! We want Pontius!” written on it.  The crowd keeps chanting “Pilate! Pilate! Pilate!” until PONTIUS PILATE enters the stage to rapturous applause. He starts pantomiming a speech to an enraptured audience as the focus shifts back to the party.

MARTHA: Oh. Time to scram then.

Everyone begins to leave except for JC, who clears his throat to make them stop and look at him.

JC: I’d love ta help ya out, but I remember who tha last person on tha list was.

SOLOMON: … you’ve got to be kidding me.

JC: ‘Fraid not. Condemning tha Lord ‘n savior of tha world ta a horrible death don’t look good on most resumes, but my boss ain’t an ordinary boss.

SOLOMON starts pacing and looks distraught.

GOLIATH: You have it within you, Solomon. You can talk him into it with me at your side.

SOLOMON: I wouldn’t last a minute! It’s hopeless! Didn’t you see the beggar rip me apart? And she’s a commoner, for crying out loud! I’ve seen enough attack ads to know asking for a private conversation won’t help. And the moment I step on stage, I die!

MARTHA: What kind of talk is that? (Pulls SOLOMON aside) Look, I’ve been in your shoes. I’ve had to deal with ungrateful customers- and sisters- before. But guess what throws them off every time? Just smile and ask them what they’d like. You don’t even have to mean it sometimes.

SOLOMON: But…

MARTHA: Ok, that didn’t work with my last customers, but it’s not that hard, wise-guy.

SOLOMON: But…

MARTHA: Where was I? Right! Look, I haven’t found redemption from others yet. It’s hard. But I still believe it’s out there. You just need to grab it.

SOLOMON: But…

MARTHA: Oh, just get off your lazy butt already!

She pushes a protesting SOLOMON onto the stage. There’s complete silence as everyone stares at him.

SOLOMON: Ummm… hello Judah?

After two beats, the crowd goes into a bloodthirsty chorus of shouts and curses. Some try to climb on the stage, but are stopped by bodyguards. PILATE calms them down with a few gestures.

PILATE: Good people of Judah: please… calm yourselves. It’s only the man who taxed you so heavily that you rebelled against him and began a bloody civil conflict…

The crowd starts acting up again, but PILATE once again calms them down.

PILATE: However… as he is my opponent this election, I hope to beat him fair and square, just for you. So let’s not have any trouble. I’m sure Solomon has something very important to say.

He hands the microphone he was using to SOLOMON.

SOLOMON: Hello. Umm… so… what do you want?

The crowd is dumbfounded for a while.

BYSTANDER: Stop picking on us!

Affirmations spring up throughout the crowd.

SOLOMON: I haven’t been picking on you. Stop complaining.

The crowd goes berserk again.

SOLOMON: (to his friends) Was that too harsh?

JC, GOLIATH, and MARTHA facepalm simultaneously. Eventually, an annoyed PILATE gets the crowd to simmer down.

SOLOMON: I’ll try again. What do you want?

BYSTANDER 2: Give up the crown!

There’s a silence as SOLOMON searches for something to say.

MARTHA: (under her breath) C’mon, just say it…

SOLOMON: (As if an entirely new person) I met someone today who once believed in me and had woken up. Woken up to the war and poverty I have brought upon you with my selfish ways. I am no longer fit to rule, and will pass on the crown to one of my sons for the remainder of my term.

Silence. Then, rapturous applause and cheering from the crowd. SOLOMON is amazed and stunned. MARTHA, GOLIATH, and JC help escort him off of the stage. PILATE and the rest of the crowd slowly leave.

JC: Solomon, that was fantastic!

GOLIATH: Indeed, that was most brave of you!

MARTHA: Took you long enough! …Solomon? Are you awake?

SOLOMON is still in a daze. In a little bit, he snaps out of it.

SOLOMON: … sorry, you were talking?

MARTHA: Do you remember anything that just happened?

SOLOMON: Let’s see… got onstage, got booed, got nervous… don’t remember anything after that.

GOLIATH: (uncertain) You surrendered your throne, I believe.

There’s a pause as SOLOMON begins to realize what he’s done.

SOLOMON: WHAAAATTT!?!?!?

He begins running around the stage shouting at the remaining stragglers from the crowd (who seem to be ignoring him).

SOLOMON: No! Please! Come back, it was all a joke, just a stupid joke… I’m still your king, I’m still your king…!

Everyone remaining from the crowd eventually leaves except for ONE PERSON, who SOLOMON grabs by the SHOULDERS.

SOLOMON: You! You have to tell them that I was joking! Tell them there’s an imposter! Get a message back to my palace so I can declare today opposite day! I’ll do anything for you, just help me!

ONE PERSON: … ¿Qué?

SOLOMON: What? Tell them… oh, never mind.

ONE PERSON: Oooooooo-qué.

ONE PERSON leaves as SOLOMON, dejected, returns to the rest of the group.

SOLOMON: Sigh… Well, we’ll have the gold we’ll get from the devil. At least I was of sound mind when I made that decision.

MARTHA: …that was the stupidest thing I’ve heard you say yet.

SOLOMON: What did you say?

MARTHA: That was your greatest moment! You saw the real problem at hand and took care of it! It was just like old times!

SOLOMON: I don’t even know what I was saying!

JC: Probably means ya spoke from tha heart instead of tha stomach then.

SOLOMON: But… I don’t know, maybe God put those words in my mouth! I could have been possessed for all I know!

JC: That ain’t his style. He always gives ya a way out, sure, but ya always decidin’ if ya gonna walk the walk.

SOLOMON: So, devil-henchman, how do you know so much about God?

JC: (shrugs) I read a lot.

SOLOMON: Goliath, you’re with me, right?

GOLIATH: Of course!

MARTHA: Goliath, we talked about this beforehand. I thought you agreed with us.

GOLIATH: I do.

SOLOMON: But… then… ahhhh, never mind!

MARTHA: Listen. I didn’t believe it when I first saw you. But, after that, I know why you’re called Solomon the Wise.

PILATE storms up to the group with his bodyguards beside him.

PILATE: Solomon! That crowd was putty in my hands until you showed up! Why would you do that?

SOLOMON looks to his group, who nod approvingly to him.

SOLOMON: (to PILATE) I’d like to say that it was a ploy, but there’s no point hiding from it. Somewhere, apparently very deep down, it was what I knew was right to do.

PILATE: That makes no sense though. Don’t you know that seventy-five percent of voters won’t vote for someone who can’t be voted for?

GOLIATH: … that makes my head hurt.

PILATE: Well, I guess I should thank you for making my road to the kingdom that much easier. This still doesn’t change the fact that you’re a tyrant who should be exiled for your crimes against the people.

MARTHA: You shouldn’t talk. Look what you did to my teacher.

PILATE: (referring to SOLOMON) Look what he did to mine! You were impressive once, Solomon. There was a lot of pressure on you to not help the common good, but you were strong enough to cave into our demands.

SOLOMON: Let’s end this here. None of us want to have the other one dig up our past.

PILATE: I won’t mind! I did the right thing, condemning Jesus to die! Well, not everyone agreed afterwards. But they agreed with me then!

SOLOMON: That’s exactly it! We need to move on. This is how. (Pulls out the letter, gives it to PILATE) I’ll leave it up to your freewill.

“Freewill,” plays again, this time starting at 3:59. Lights dim as PILATE and the group pantomime reading the letter and discussing it. Spot on emerging SOLOIST 3, with SOLOISTS 1 AND 2 at each side.

SOLOIST 3: EACH OF US:

         A CELL OF AWARENESS,

         IMPERFECT AND INCOMPLETE…

         GENETIC BLENDS

         WITH UNCERTAIN ENDS

         ON A FORTUNE HUNT THAT’S FAR TOO FLEET.

SOLOISTS 1, 2, & 3: YOU CAN CHOOSE A READY GUIDE

         IN SOME CELESTIAL VOICE.

         IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO DECIDE

         YOU STILL HAVE MADE A CHOICE!

         YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM PHANTOM FEARS

         AND KINDNESS THAT CAN KILL.

         I WILL CHOOSE A PATH THAT’S CLEAR…

Spot off, lights up.

PILATE: I will choose free will.

PILATE shakes hands with SOLOMON and starts socializing with the group as the curtain closes and the music plays till the end of the song. End scene.

The Greatest Villains: Act I, Scene 7

Scene VII

Full lights. The party (SOLOMON, JC, GOLIATH, MARTHA) emerges onto a dirty and poor street filled with beggars. GOLIATH stops to look at the map.

GOLIATH: According to the map, we should be close to our next target…

“Mission Impossible Theme (Danny Elfman)” plays as a MYSTERIOUS MAN dressed in all black enters. He throws a gold coin over the party that lands in the middle of the street.

SOLOMON: Gold!

As the music kicks into gear, SOLOMON runs over to pick it up, yet the other beggars form a dog pile and begin to fight him over it. MARTHA and JC move in to try and pull SOLOMON out of the crowd. GOLIATH steps back in order to avoid the confrontation, and the MYSTERIOUS MAN taps GOLIATH on the shoulder. When GOLIATH turns to look, the MM pokes his eyes out in a Three-Stooges-Like way. With GOLIATH distracted and in pain, he grabs the map and runs off. The music fades out as MARTHA and JC pull SOLOMON out of the mob and the lucky beggar who got the coin skips offstage happily (the remaining beggars slump back into their miserable, previous state.)

SOLOMON: Well, that’s just great. I could have really used that gold too!

BEGGAR: Oh, how you suffer.

The party turns to see one BEGGAR, sitting alone with a raggedly cloak and a tin plate with three coins in it, addressing them.

BEGGAR: Pardon me. How you suffer, your majesty.

GOLIATH: Oh… I knew we should have kept the goat costume…

MARTHA gives GOLIATH a weird look.

GOLIATH: … I don’t want to explain it now.

SOLOMON: I don’t need this. (To GOLIATH) Where are we headed next?

GOLIATH: …about that…

It takes a little bit for SOLOMON to realize the truth.

SOLOMON: You lost it!?

GOLIATH: I’m sorry! It was stolen! He appeared to be a nice man until he poked me in the eyes!

SOLOMON sighs and walks over to the BEGGER.

SOLOMON: Could you actually be of use and tell us where to find Ramses the Second?

BEGGAR: Why should I tell you?

SOLOMON: Because I am your king!

BEGGAR: You’re no king I’ve ever heard of. Kings use tax money to protect us and improve our lives. You spent it all on women and fast cars. Kings let us get closer to God. You abandoned Him for several other idols, trying to fill you bottomless cup. I just provide for a family, and I’m already a greater king than you.

SOLOMON: Don’t you remember the good I’ve done for this land?

BEGGAR: I liked those times. You were a good king four years ago, wise and God-fearing. Remember when you saved that child from the two women who claimed to each be the mother?

SOLOMON: How could I forget? My finest hour…

BEGGAR: Well you did forget. Look around… would a wise king let this once beautiful land go to waste? You got fat and lazy while the people who loved you (“The World We Knew,” by Frank Sinatra, begins to play) could only lie down and watch. I was one of them. (Spot on BEGGAR).

         OVER AND OVER I KEEP GOING OVER THE WORLD WE KNEW…

         ONCE WHEN YOU WALKED BESIDE ME.

         THAT INCONCEIVABLE, THAT UNBELIEVABLE WORLD WE KNEW…

         WHEN WE TWO WERE IN LOVE…

         AND EVERY BRIGHT NEON SIGN TURNED INTO STARS,

         AND THE SUN AND THE MOON SEEMED TO BE OURS…

         EACH ROAD THAT WE TOOK TURNED INTO GOLD

         BUT THE DREAM WAS TOO MUCH FOR YOU TO HOLD.

         NOW OVER AND OVER I KEEP GOING OVER THE WORLD WE KNEW…

         DAYS WHEN YOU USED TO LOVE ME.

Lights up, spot off

SOLOMON: (to his group) We should leave quickly.

The party exits. The other watching beggars stand up, slowing approaching the edge of the stage as they sing along with the BEGGAR.

CHORUS: AND EVERY BRIGHT NEON SIGN TURNED INTO STARS,

         AND THE SUN AND THE MOON SEEMED TO BE OURS…

         EACH ROAD THAT WE TOOK TURNED INTO GOLD

         BUT THE DREAM WAS TOO MUCH FOR YOU TO HOLD.

         NOW OVER AND OVER I KEEP GOING OVER THE WORLD WE KNEW…

         DAYS WHEN YOU USED TO LOVE ME.

         OVER AND OVER I KEEP GOING OVER THE WORLD WE KNEW…

Lights fade out for scene change. End scene.