More naps these days
Just playing around with words, seeing where they lead me, that sort of randomness. Maybe this guy will show up in a novel one of these days . . . or not!
Those who understood him best were knee-deep in the life themselves. Grifters, hookers, money washers, brunos, fakeloo artists, street dips, shylocks, old-time petemen, hypes, all respected him. Alkies and needle embracers had no beef with him. Strong-arm robbers, those who would impose their wills on others through violence, the child abusers, wife-beaters, button men, all feared him. When his anger was unleashed he transformed into a Greek god, anvils for fists, arms swelling, splitting the stitching in his clothes, fire spewing from his mouth, havoc the only path he traveled when the River Styx was in view.
He dropped a San Diego pimp from the top of a high rise. He grabbed a corrupt Teamster official by the ears and tossed him into the tar pits at La Brea. A bag man with a penchant for beating women was drowned in a toilet bowl, and he took out a sex-trafficker in Miami with a fire hose switched on full. There was the time in Portland when he filled a corrupt politician’s car with cement, and the time in Dodge City when outlaw bikers were rushed to the E.R. with pool cues rammed up their asses.
He protected the weak and innocent, tossed scat at the strong and guilty, and somehow came through it all unscathed. His appetites were enormous, for booze, for drugs, for sex and rock n roll. He loved Van Gogh, for obvious reasons, but hated Shakespeare for reasons forever locked in his child-man’s mind. To some he was simple-minded, but I knew him to be one of the most intelligent men I had ever known. Saving others was his purpose on earth, as was his penchant for self-destruction.
And he was, and is my best friend!
I love to play around with words, with phrasing, and with images. I never know where I’m going with any of it, but the journey is a blast!
Thanks for hanging out with me. Have a great week!
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
What a fun experiment and truly enjoyed reading your character write-up here. Thanks so much for sharing and Happy Tuesday now, my friend!! 🙂
Thank you Janine! Just a quick spark I had to put down on paper before I forgot it. 🙂
You write like a swinging pendulum, Bro. Reminds me of the ‘devil’ in all of us. A superb piece!
Thank you my friend! I like that…a swinging pendulum..I can live with that praise.
This guy sounds like the lead character in a DC comic. You know, the type who can do all of those things and never get arrested for violence. But I like him and would definitely want him on my team – if he were the team-playing type.
You do have a dynamic way with words.
Thank you Marlene! For sure we would want this guy fighting for us and not against us. 🙂
Bill, it never ceases to amaze me how dark your mind can go. Thankfully, you let it loose in your writing and not your actions.
This ditty tells me you’re starting a new series starring Striker, who has been a key character, albeit in the background, of your Shadows series.
Am I off the mark?
Sha, you are close. No series for Striker, but he’s going to get a prominent part in the next Shadows book. I will be developing his character in great detail…..so nice call on your part.
Well that was fun! Haha. What an interesting, three dimensional character – in just a few paragraphs. I admire this talent, Big Bro. You’re really good at it. Frankly, I’m surprised you’re not on the NYT bestseller list, yet. I know, I know, you don’t do it for that. And I don’t do what I do week after week, year after year, for the A-list, either. But it sure would be fun, wouldn’t it? Hehe.
Keep up the good work. This dude captured my attention. He had me before Van Gogh, but as soon as you mentioned that in the narrative, my heart melted. Ha!
I hope you have a great week! Sending hugs from ol’ Cackalck.
It would be fun, Lil Sis! Of course, I’d probably end up giving almost all of my riches to the poor, but even that would be loads of fun. 🙂
Hugs coming atcha, and thank you!
It happened only once. Man is the Russian Orthodox! What if he would cross the border illegally… Oops, we are not allowed to mix reality with politics. Forgive me my friend, please. You see my reaction is of the one whose English isn’t the first language. Thanks, and have a nice, very nice week, weekend.
Oh, Michael my friend, I think it is loads of fun, mixing reality with politics. Please continue 🙂 and blessings always
This sounds like the New Age Robin Hood.
Would be crazy to see your words: “A bag man drowned in a toilet bowl, and he took out another with a fire hose switched on full.”
You love to play around with words, with phrasing, and with images …that is why you are a writer. Happy for you that you are doing what your heart loves.
Good writers have readers use their six senses not five, just like this piece.
Thanks for sharing and keep blessed and inspired!
Thank you Maria! You are too kind, but thank you! Blessings to you always, my friend!
Wow.
What a fantastic character. You simply cannot leave it at that. I want to know everything about this character. I want to know about his childhood, his friends, his enemies, his loves, his losses. I want to know makes someone like this…well…someone like this. You truly are a student of human behaviour, a chronicler of the human psyche.
His story simply must be told. (hint, hint)
All I can say is…Wow.
Talk to you later.
Thank you Zulma! You keep coming up with more work for me, but you never explain where I’m going to find the time. 🙂 I do appreciate your kind words, my friend.
I can’t think of everything, Bill. Besides, we both know you love it. lol
Hope your having a good one. 🙂
It’s a cloudy Friday here. Somehow summer is a no-show so far, but the temps are mild and I’m not complaining since I despise hot weather. Have a superb weekend!
I think I need to do more of this! You have some very rich imagery going on in those paragraphs!
Thanks Donna! It’s fun to play around from time to time.
A man like that, is best to be kept as a friend LOL… LOVED your play with words Bill.. and you have a gift for them my friend..
Would make for a good first chapter! 🙂 🙂
Thank you very much, Sue! This was a fun one to write for sure.
It’s great when you go off on those word journeys and they work! He sounds like an intriguing and complicated character.
Thanks so much, Andrea! I don’t know what it accomplishes, but I enjoy it greatly.
That was thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much, Lori! I’m glad you enjoyed it.