651 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 76 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing Summarizing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
Life Arts   

Panflick -- The Addiction Wars (short fiction)

By       (Page 3 of 4 pages) Become a premium member to see this article and all articles as one long page.   No comments

Stephen C. Rose
Message Stephen C. Rose
"He takes his clothes off," Chester said. "How many non-addicts take their clothes off?"

"Moi," Adam thought.

"He means acting out," the woman responded impatiently. "Get the clothes, Chester, now."

"What is your name, how 'bout it?" Adam asked the woman.

"Beverly," she answered.

Adam saw for the first time that, despite her summary manner, Beverly possessed an almost exotic beauty, not unlike that of the unlamented but hardly undesireable half-wife Ganya.

"I used to think I was addicted to sex," he said calmly. "But it turned out to be just a stage."

"Look," Beverly said. "Chester and I work for the County. We are social workers. We don't claim to understand everything. What did you say your name was?"

"Adam Panflick. I live here now. I was sitting over there when this gentleman walked in. He asked me to join him."

"I see. Ah, here's Chester. Warren, get up. Go with Chester to the men's room. Hurry.”

Chester and Warren did as they were told.. But they did not hurry. Adam had time to establishe a rather more intimate relationship with Beverly than either had dreamed of minutes before.

It turned out that she was in the process of extricating herself from an abusive relationship. She was more than amenable to Adam's suggestion that she try out an $85 a week room in the annex of the Vale Motel in beautiful Boulder City. There was a vacancy next to his Annex room.

She’d have to commute into Vegas to continue working at the Addict Unit of the Clark County Health Department. But that idea appealed to her.

She was likewise amenable when Adam explained he liked nothing better than to spend the night in the company of wise women he could talk to, and take or leave whatever else might happen.

”Sounds better than getting knocked around night and day by a bozo back on Paradise,” she said.

Adam felt some serious twinges generated by his sense of her body.

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3  |  4

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

Stephen C. Rose Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Born in NYC, attended Oberlin & Trinity Schools, then Exeter and Williams (Phi Beta Kappa 1958). Worked with the Reverend James Robinson, finished Union Theological Seminary in NYC (1961). Joined Student Interracial Ministry in Nashville. Founded (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter

Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

My May 1963 Interview with Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mining the Clinton Giustra Connection

Preamble to A Critique of James Cone

Rush Limbaugh's Mouth Has Many Sides

Growing Up -- Two Sonnets

Steven Grossman's Departure from Democracy

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend