-Discover the World of-
C. J. Santoro
THE STORIES
B L O C K E D
"Dialogues with strangers can have a lasting, thought-provoking impression on your soul. They have the potential to change you as a person."
From a paragraph cited in a brochure in our story
"Relationships on Facebook don't naturally expire as they do in the real world. To unfriend is drastic, used only in the direst of circumstances—
like a bad breakup."
Liz Gannes, All Things D-An Internet blog
You may well learn some lessons from the characters in this
tale set in the virtual environment of this "laugh out loud" online playground.
Ever have a friend suddenly cut off the relationship?
Consider the year 2011. Think Facebook.
Video Teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qNxglBL1JKs
Discover within what could happen when a nine month Facebook correspondence between a 58 year old man and a 39 year old woman completely complicates their once peaceful lives.
De-friending or "blocking" as it is called on FB, accounts for 2,400 victims a day. Don't believe me? Well you shouldn't. I made that up. However, how many times have you heard about, performed yourself, or been the subject of a blocking? Right? Countless stories are out there. This is one of them. A little tale about the real-life psychological ramifications and impact of such an act.
BLOCKED was inspired by my desire to write about imaginary characters using a contemporary setting and topic that readers could relate to. As I began exploring the many opportunities this combination world of reality and virtual reality offered, I experimented with stretching and sometimes merging the unexpected bizarre fine line I could not ignore that existed between fantasy and fiction. It is my hope to challenge the reader to make their own decisions about the many controversial subjects I've included.
The concept of a Facebook "blocking" became merely a launchpad, or vehicle of sorts, to allow me to expose various other desires in life that can become blocked.
And besides...this tale CONTAINS NUTRIENTS THAT HELP NOURISH THE BRAIN! Enjoy!
Tabitha is Coming!
THE STRANGE AND IMPOSSIBLE JOIN TO ENCHANT THE READER
DURING A DREAMLIKE, ABSURDIST ROMP ON AN ISLAND OF MAGICAL WONDER.
A Long Island Fairytale
MATTITUCK 1971
LIKE YOU NEVER KNEW IT
READ ABOUT COMPASSION, BRAVERY, SILLINESS,
A GIRAFFE , A MERMAID, PUKWUDJIES, A TREASURE CHEST
& MORE
Pure "magic-realism"
EXCERPT
Emily shielded her eyes from the smoke as she ran up to the Jeep. A new cold wind was becoming stronger and almost knocked her over. She felt the whole situation both strange and eerie. She hurriedly pushed aside the sliding door and entered. Her eyes met with Mrs. Goodewich and they both laughed, not knowing why - perhaps from nervousness. Mrs. Goodewich threw the floor shift into first gear.Emily had to shout to overcome the sounds of the grinding of six-cylinders engaging the transmission and the loud howling of the fierce winds. She thought the pounding, pushing winds felt like a swift herd of buffaloes.
"Where are you taking us?" she yelled.
Busy with all the machinations of driving a stick shift, Mrs. G squealed out, gravel spitting form all the wheels. They didn't realize how silly-with-fear they were until a loud smack from a wind-driven tree branch startled them. They gasped in unison as though they were coming up for air out of a deep pool. Mrs. G slammed on the brakes. There, on the windshield, was a lone, old, dry, medium-sized branch shattered before their eyes and disassembled into tiny bits, trickling down like new raindrops. After the initial shock, they looked at each other - and again laughed
. A huge downpour of rain began plopping heavily on the roof of the Jeep.
Waiting to Disappear
by Carl Santoro
I'm waiting to disappear.
It is 4:03 a.m.
I'm waiting to disappear...still.
It is 4:04 a.m.
Hold it. What's this?
I'm driving a bus!
I can't stop it. I can't make a turn.
Phew! That was close.
It is 5:01 a.m.
I'm still on my back
waiting again to disappear.
What now? I'm wearing
the wrong Air Force stripes on my shirt?
Where are they sending me?
I thought I was waiting
to disappear.
They are aiming a blue light at my eyes.
Oh, it is the 6:15 a.m. L.E.D. clock face.
I'm again wanting to disappear.
There is no work today.
I can sleep late.
The 4 a.m. melatonin has long
since quick-dissolved.
I'm reaching for another 10mg.
I'm waiting to disappear for
maybe 3 hours.
She turns and pulls the cover sheet with her.
It slides over and across my chest
like a wave of peeling sunburned skin.
I vanish.