Just a man
Nothing more
Nothing less
But I tell you dear love
I will try to provide in all I do
Take care and tell you I love you
On the warm summer days
To the cold dark nights
I will lay next to you
And hold on tight
The day will never come
That I will no longer care
I will always live you
And long to hold you near.
by Antonio Grasso
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Hayfield Manor - Chapter One
ONE
Outside the wind was howling, roaring past her bedroom window. There had been a wind advisory issued for the town of Hayfield by the national weather service of winds reaching an excess of 45 to 50 miles per hour. And it sure did seem to come out of nowhere. The bright sunny day that Daphne had enjoyed earlier, laying out on her lawn, texting her friends now seemed to be a distant memory as she stared out her window at the darkening clouds and the leaves being ripped from their stations.
Daphne could hear the howl and it made her skin crawl. Now being eight in the evening her mind drifted back to how the sudden temperature drop from the mid-80's to 50 degrees made her skin prickle and shudder. She wrapped a blanket about herself trying to warm up. She had never heard of such a temperature drop. She wasn't even sure it was possible. But then again things haven't been quite normal lately.
Her dad, Jeff had recently lost his job at the mill and had now spent his days pulling out his hair trying to figure out how he was going to put food in the table for his family. He had his 401k that he could cash in on but considered that as his last resort. Right now his savings account and the life insurance policy from his parents death last year was carrying them afloat. From his estimation he had about three months left before the 401k option became a reality.
As he sat in his study going over his financials on his laptop suddenly the lights flickered signaling time for a change. Shortly following the flicker the screen on his laptop sunddenly went on the fritz. Window after window popped up as it was infected with a virus. He clicked and clicked out of boxes hoping to end the madness but then everything went off at once and the shutters flew open followed by a howling wind.
Jeff stood in the dark heading towards the windows frantically trying to shut them but failing miserably. Pushing back against the wind, Jeff was pelted by flying twigs through the opened window. Finally gaining control by settling his feet like the football player he used to be Jeff finally gained enough strength to latch the windows shut.
As he turned back to his study in the dark everything came back on at full blast. Booming out of his stereo came the newest Adele song, "In The Deep" piercing his ears so forcibly he had to put his hands to his ears to muffle the sound. As he walked to his stereo to turn it down he noticed the damage done to his study and quickly thought, "shit, there goes what savings we had left," and wondered if he had paid the home owners insurance last month.
Letting his mind wander was the last thing he remembered as a shape of a woman with her hair in a bun took shape in front of him. She was wearing an apron and flickered in black and white, like a transmission from a 50's television show. Although not like any show he remembered. This wasn't Mrs. Cleaver from Leave It To Beaver. This woman had sores on her face oozing with a black pus that smelled like rotten meat. The woman flickered again and her head jerked no looking at Jeff who had frozen in his step. Her hands came to her waist and her fingers broke backwards with just her palms now showing. Jeff could hear the cracking of bones and a chill went through him. Bugs of all kinds came crawling out of her ears and her decaying teeth started to fall out followed by oozing drips of blood which landed on the front of her apron and then to the hardwood floor. Jeff could hear the splash of each drop and let his eyes fall to see them forming a puddle.
Only his eyes seemed to be allowed to move as he went back to the face that held his body frozen. A cackle came forth now as her strapped heels scrapped across the floor to him flickering with each step and head cocking from angle to angle. Jeff franticly tried to scream but was only allowed a whisper. His voice was held in a vice grip as she reached him. He stared into her eyes as they went hot white then blood red. So focused on the eyes Jeff failed to see her fingers regain form or the axe that ended his wonder. It came quickly severing his head from his body allowing blood to spurt from his neck and join the puddle of blood she had already begun to make.
His body took take a few steps forward to its intended destination of the radio but then fell to the ground helpless and unable to worry again how he would put food on his table.
by Antonio Grasso, author of The Valley of Candles
Outside the wind was howling, roaring past her bedroom window. There had been a wind advisory issued for the town of Hayfield by the national weather service of winds reaching an excess of 45 to 50 miles per hour. And it sure did seem to come out of nowhere. The bright sunny day that Daphne had enjoyed earlier, laying out on her lawn, texting her friends now seemed to be a distant memory as she stared out her window at the darkening clouds and the leaves being ripped from their stations.
Daphne could hear the howl and it made her skin crawl. Now being eight in the evening her mind drifted back to how the sudden temperature drop from the mid-80's to 50 degrees made her skin prickle and shudder. She wrapped a blanket about herself trying to warm up. She had never heard of such a temperature drop. She wasn't even sure it was possible. But then again things haven't been quite normal lately.
Her dad, Jeff had recently lost his job at the mill and had now spent his days pulling out his hair trying to figure out how he was going to put food in the table for his family. He had his 401k that he could cash in on but considered that as his last resort. Right now his savings account and the life insurance policy from his parents death last year was carrying them afloat. From his estimation he had about three months left before the 401k option became a reality.
As he sat in his study going over his financials on his laptop suddenly the lights flickered signaling time for a change. Shortly following the flicker the screen on his laptop sunddenly went on the fritz. Window after window popped up as it was infected with a virus. He clicked and clicked out of boxes hoping to end the madness but then everything went off at once and the shutters flew open followed by a howling wind.
Jeff stood in the dark heading towards the windows frantically trying to shut them but failing miserably. Pushing back against the wind, Jeff was pelted by flying twigs through the opened window. Finally gaining control by settling his feet like the football player he used to be Jeff finally gained enough strength to latch the windows shut.
As he turned back to his study in the dark everything came back on at full blast. Booming out of his stereo came the newest Adele song, "In The Deep" piercing his ears so forcibly he had to put his hands to his ears to muffle the sound. As he walked to his stereo to turn it down he noticed the damage done to his study and quickly thought, "shit, there goes what savings we had left," and wondered if he had paid the home owners insurance last month.
Letting his mind wander was the last thing he remembered as a shape of a woman with her hair in a bun took shape in front of him. She was wearing an apron and flickered in black and white, like a transmission from a 50's television show. Although not like any show he remembered. This wasn't Mrs. Cleaver from Leave It To Beaver. This woman had sores on her face oozing with a black pus that smelled like rotten meat. The woman flickered again and her head jerked no looking at Jeff who had frozen in his step. Her hands came to her waist and her fingers broke backwards with just her palms now showing. Jeff could hear the cracking of bones and a chill went through him. Bugs of all kinds came crawling out of her ears and her decaying teeth started to fall out followed by oozing drips of blood which landed on the front of her apron and then to the hardwood floor. Jeff could hear the splash of each drop and let his eyes fall to see them forming a puddle.
Only his eyes seemed to be allowed to move as he went back to the face that held his body frozen. A cackle came forth now as her strapped heels scrapped across the floor to him flickering with each step and head cocking from angle to angle. Jeff franticly tried to scream but was only allowed a whisper. His voice was held in a vice grip as she reached him. He stared into her eyes as they went hot white then blood red. So focused on the eyes Jeff failed to see her fingers regain form or the axe that ended his wonder. It came quickly severing his head from his body allowing blood to spurt from his neck and join the puddle of blood she had already begun to make.
His body took take a few steps forward to its intended destination of the radio but then fell to the ground helpless and unable to worry again how he would put food on his table.
by Antonio Grasso, author of The Valley of Candles
Monday, February 27, 2012
Chapter 3 The Valley of Candles
CHAPTER 3
It was 11:30 p.m. and I was driving my bomb of an '88 Buick Century, which I proudly purchased for the grand sum from a neighbor for fifty bucks the summer before. Anne sat next to me on the bench seat fixing her bra strap, while rearranging her breasts all the while attempting to put on lipstick. The radio was playing but I wasn't paying any attention to it. My mind was in her pants and on her beautiful ample breasts, gazing sometimes at the road while hers was probably on her favorite lip gloss.
"So where's it gonna be?" I asked excitedly while placing my hand on her knee, gently caressing her leg moving my way up to the edge of her knit skirt.
Anne pushed it away snapping, "I don't care, you decide."
Forcing me to assume the role of desicion maker, which I often accepted it was like she was the teacher and I was the student taking the final exam. Looking back now I sometimes honestly wonder if Anne even had a brain to think for herself, or if she was just spoiled and never made a decision but the night in question I was determined that it was going to be her turn to decide where the sacred act would take place.
"It's your turn to pick, can't you decide for once?"
Her eyes flared with contempt as she looked at me. "Fine," she said followed by a short piercing pause. "What about the Dairy Queen parking lot," she replied.
The roads were empty except for the occasional cars we passed. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to do it, I just didn't want to always be in charge and we had to find a place where we wouldn't be spotted by a bored lonely cop looking for something to do.
"What the one on Hickory?"
"What other DQ did you think I meant? Because I sure as hell don't feel like driving all the way to Austin tonight." she said as she pulled out a cigarette and lit it. She offered me one which I gladly accepted to calm my increasing annoyance which was only coming about because I didn't know where the hell to go anymore and I wanted to keep things fresh for her. Rolling down my window I spit out my gum and turned to her for a light. After a hurried flick I inhaled the calming smoke.
"No, the one here is too risky," I said. "Matt and I used to hang there around by Josie Turners house. The cops hover there a lot since the projects are a block away. It was a lie, but I wanted to be alone and not in a car without any desire to get a ticket or the hell my dad would raise.
"Too risky? Fine, what about the golf course again?" She suggested with a smirk.
"Are you kidding me? Are you that absent minded? Doesn't your Dad work night security there?" I stuttered out. The golf course was the last place I wanted to go, and it wasn't because I was terrible at golf if you catch my meaning.
I took another drag from my cigarette. I inhaled deeply and drove with one hand while the other I used to flick ashes out the lowered window. There is an unspoken closeness to Anne I felt even during this time, I couldn't really be mad at her as she leaned over to me, smiling.
She looked at me with renewed excitement, "No, he quit last week, and I hear the new guy has a tendency of falling asleep on the job." I didn't question how she knew this information, and suddenly in the back of my mind the locker room talk came to the forefront but I pushed it away. Truthfully, I didn't want to know how she knew this valuable piece of teenage information.
All I said was, "No, I don't feel like going there, not tonight."
"Why?" she asked pushing the envelope for a detailed answer to my refusal.
Anne looked at me blankly for a second and burst into laughter as the memory of the golf course came rushing back to her memory. That night was just one of the many nights in recent memory I would like to forget. Forever.
After she calmed down she said, "Yes, but maybe it was just a fluke accident. You've been able to get it up plenty of times before."
I was growing short now. "No, not tonight." I tried to not think of the past experiences but it was beginning to haunt me. I toss the cigarette out the window and tried changing the station, trying not to think about the past. A very unpleasant silence passed between us.
"Fine, then you decide. But make it quick I have to be home by 12:30." Anne said looking at her watch. By this time already I was getting pissed at the situation and I couldn't get mad cause then I wouldn't get laid. I hadn't planned for all this drama, all I wanted was to have a nice roll in the hay with my beauty queen but my mouth seemed to have a mind of its own the same way my dick did when I pulled it out.
"Do you see me as nothing more than a sex toy?" I blurted quickly afraid of how she might answer. Anne didn't like questions and I was sabotaging the moment.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Anne replied guarded.
"Well, I've been thinking about it lately and I wonder why we never really stay in."
"I don't understand."
Communication wasn't one of our strengths. All we ever did was have sex, and deep down I was worried it was getting stale for her and within the last week Anne seemed to become distant. When we first got together I couldn't keep her off me, and now she was acting like she was doing me a favor. Kids at school talked about us but I never paid attention to what was being said, and a lot of people told me to be careful. The only thing I felt like I needed to be careful about was not getting her pregnant. Besides, if I could handle living with my father, I felt I could handle anything.
"Why don't we ever just hang out, you like go to the movies or go to your place or something?" I continued hesitantly knowing full well what her response might bring or not bring for that matter.
"McCoy, you know my parents don't even know we're dating," she said.
I was flabbergasted. I'd seen Anne with her boyfriends in the past and her parents always knew and seemed okay with it.
"And why is that? I mean why don't your parents know we are together?" I asked. Throughout all this, I was still thinking about where we could go. Now I wasn't sure if we could get past this. We were driving through Franklin, the next town over, a little bigger than ours but not by much.
"I'm not even supposed to date. Every time we go out my parents think I'm going out with Megan," piped Anne.
"Whatever," I said under my breath trying to focus on finding a place, my original question taking the back burner for now. No one was on the streets, it felt deserted. I could tell Anne was uncomfortable and maybe somewhat annoyed. People didn't ask her questions, they just told her things. I looked at her and decided to drop the topic and change it to the one thing we did know, sex. "I think I have a place." I said with a happier tone in my voice, hoping to get back on track.
She lit up, talk about sex always made her happy. It was like a drug she couldn't get enough of. "Really, where?" she asked.
"The Harper Community Church," I replied with excitement as her face suddenly changed to one of both horror and intrigue. I picked the church for several reasons but the biggest one was, I believe, to defy my dad.
A grin appeared on my face as she declared, "Church? Are you nuts?"
"No, actually I am quite serious, it’s the perfect place," I stated still smiling beginning to imagine what it would be like.
"McCoy, seriously who has sex in a church? Isn't that like against the law or God or something?" I could only laugh at her response.
"It sure beats the golf course, where the balls could be my own if your dad caught us."
Then she surprised me by saying, "I don't know McCoy, if we have sex in a church don't you think that will earn us a one-way ticket to Hell?" I just shrugged. My disapproval for the church and the need to get out and do something was beginning to eat away at me with each passing second it seemed.
"Look, we gonna do this or not?" my tone quickly changed as I for the first time in our relationship, made her wonder if she'd get laid. "The church is perfect. I mean, who is even going to be there this time of night and we're running out of time. It's already 11:44; we are five minutes from the church tops, two if I speed a little." I stated becoming more anxious.
"Would it even be open?" she asked, appearing to begin to being more open to the idea.
Knowing that it might require a bit more convincing but enjoying the fact that it appeared Anne seemed to like me taking a bit more control, I answered, "Of course, why wouldn't it be?"
Confused Anne answered, "Well considering it’s almost midnight and it’s not Sunday, don't you think the doors would be locked?"
A little worried about time and the prospect of having to meet my friend Mr. Lefty in bed later and obviously anxious to be with Anne, I pulled my beater to the side of the road and decided if I had any chance left to get any a desicion must be made. I gave it one last try.
"Doubtful, my dad goes to this church like every day. He invites me to go too, but at all costs I try to avoid it. You know that. But I went once last week cause I said I would and the Pastor asked people to come and pray on weeknights, even said during service that the doors are open twenty-four hours a day. Most people never go because let's face it most people are not religious fanatics like my dad. So, what do you say, you game?"
"But what if someone comes?" she quietly responded still sounding somewhat unsure.
"Isn't that the idea?" I asked sarcastically, unable to resist. Wanting another smoke, I reached into Anne's purse and grabbed one. She lit it for me then smiled at my comment.
My brain said, "It's a go!" but my hopes were diminished by another question. "I'm serious, what if someone walks in on us?"
Losing it I exclaimed, "No one is going to be there or come, I'm positive. But since you are so concerned I will make a deal with you. If someone comes or if we even think we hear someone coming, we will leave." I looked at her with the most sincere face I could muster.
"All right," she answered with her fears melting away. She continued, "The church it is, but in case someone does come in let me give you a head start." Anne proceeded to lower her head into my lap as I started up the car and pulled away from the curb onto the deserted street. Anne told me to lean back and enjoy. I reached for the seat lever and released the seat back some to give Anne room to perform. I drove slowly down the deserted back road to the church, not thinking about the time. Time always seemed to stop when engaged and I wasn't concerned about speeding, I knew where the church was and it wasn't far. I hadn't seen a car for at least a mile as I let the car do the driving as Anne drove me. I was becoming more excited, not because Anne was doing this for me like so many times before, because I was taking her to the church. I tried not to picture what it would be like but it was impossible not to. I saw myself leaning against the pulpit and Anne on her knees in front of me, slowly moving her head forward and back. It excited me instantly, but I didn't care this time. My orgasm stronger than usual surprised me but Anne didn't seem to mind. She sat up and smiled wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"It looks like we don't need to go to the church now," she said.
I'm not sure why but I felt a wave of anger and said “We decided on the church and we are almost there. It's just at the top of this hill and we're going." I sounded rough even to myself and Anne's eyes got big and she was about to speak but before she could I said "I'm sorry babe, it's just that I love being with you and I can't wait to be inside you where it’s warm." She smiled as I turned into the lot.
To see what happens next get your copy today of THE VALLEY OF CANDLES at Amazon!
by Antonio Grasso, author of The Valley of Candles
It was 11:30 p.m. and I was driving my bomb of an '88 Buick Century, which I proudly purchased for the grand sum from a neighbor for fifty bucks the summer before. Anne sat next to me on the bench seat fixing her bra strap, while rearranging her breasts all the while attempting to put on lipstick. The radio was playing but I wasn't paying any attention to it. My mind was in her pants and on her beautiful ample breasts, gazing sometimes at the road while hers was probably on her favorite lip gloss.
"So where's it gonna be?" I asked excitedly while placing my hand on her knee, gently caressing her leg moving my way up to the edge of her knit skirt.
Anne pushed it away snapping, "I don't care, you decide."
Forcing me to assume the role of desicion maker, which I often accepted it was like she was the teacher and I was the student taking the final exam. Looking back now I sometimes honestly wonder if Anne even had a brain to think for herself, or if she was just spoiled and never made a decision but the night in question I was determined that it was going to be her turn to decide where the sacred act would take place.
"It's your turn to pick, can't you decide for once?"
Her eyes flared with contempt as she looked at me. "Fine," she said followed by a short piercing pause. "What about the Dairy Queen parking lot," she replied.
The roads were empty except for the occasional cars we passed. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to do it, I just didn't want to always be in charge and we had to find a place where we wouldn't be spotted by a bored lonely cop looking for something to do.
"What the one on Hickory?"
"What other DQ did you think I meant? Because I sure as hell don't feel like driving all the way to Austin tonight." she said as she pulled out a cigarette and lit it. She offered me one which I gladly accepted to calm my increasing annoyance which was only coming about because I didn't know where the hell to go anymore and I wanted to keep things fresh for her. Rolling down my window I spit out my gum and turned to her for a light. After a hurried flick I inhaled the calming smoke.
"No, the one here is too risky," I said. "Matt and I used to hang there around by Josie Turners house. The cops hover there a lot since the projects are a block away. It was a lie, but I wanted to be alone and not in a car without any desire to get a ticket or the hell my dad would raise.
"Too risky? Fine, what about the golf course again?" She suggested with a smirk.
"Are you kidding me? Are you that absent minded? Doesn't your Dad work night security there?" I stuttered out. The golf course was the last place I wanted to go, and it wasn't because I was terrible at golf if you catch my meaning.
I took another drag from my cigarette. I inhaled deeply and drove with one hand while the other I used to flick ashes out the lowered window. There is an unspoken closeness to Anne I felt even during this time, I couldn't really be mad at her as she leaned over to me, smiling.
She looked at me with renewed excitement, "No, he quit last week, and I hear the new guy has a tendency of falling asleep on the job." I didn't question how she knew this information, and suddenly in the back of my mind the locker room talk came to the forefront but I pushed it away. Truthfully, I didn't want to know how she knew this valuable piece of teenage information.
All I said was, "No, I don't feel like going there, not tonight."
"Why?" she asked pushing the envelope for a detailed answer to my refusal.
Anne looked at me blankly for a second and burst into laughter as the memory of the golf course came rushing back to her memory. That night was just one of the many nights in recent memory I would like to forget. Forever.
After she calmed down she said, "Yes, but maybe it was just a fluke accident. You've been able to get it up plenty of times before."
I was growing short now. "No, not tonight." I tried to not think of the past experiences but it was beginning to haunt me. I toss the cigarette out the window and tried changing the station, trying not to think about the past. A very unpleasant silence passed between us.
"Fine, then you decide. But make it quick I have to be home by 12:30." Anne said looking at her watch. By this time already I was getting pissed at the situation and I couldn't get mad cause then I wouldn't get laid. I hadn't planned for all this drama, all I wanted was to have a nice roll in the hay with my beauty queen but my mouth seemed to have a mind of its own the same way my dick did when I pulled it out.
"Do you see me as nothing more than a sex toy?" I blurted quickly afraid of how she might answer. Anne didn't like questions and I was sabotaging the moment.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Anne replied guarded.
"Well, I've been thinking about it lately and I wonder why we never really stay in."
"I don't understand."
Communication wasn't one of our strengths. All we ever did was have sex, and deep down I was worried it was getting stale for her and within the last week Anne seemed to become distant. When we first got together I couldn't keep her off me, and now she was acting like she was doing me a favor. Kids at school talked about us but I never paid attention to what was being said, and a lot of people told me to be careful. The only thing I felt like I needed to be careful about was not getting her pregnant. Besides, if I could handle living with my father, I felt I could handle anything.
"Why don't we ever just hang out, you like go to the movies or go to your place or something?" I continued hesitantly knowing full well what her response might bring or not bring for that matter.
"McCoy, you know my parents don't even know we're dating," she said.
I was flabbergasted. I'd seen Anne with her boyfriends in the past and her parents always knew and seemed okay with it.
"And why is that? I mean why don't your parents know we are together?" I asked. Throughout all this, I was still thinking about where we could go. Now I wasn't sure if we could get past this. We were driving through Franklin, the next town over, a little bigger than ours but not by much.
"I'm not even supposed to date. Every time we go out my parents think I'm going out with Megan," piped Anne.
"Whatever," I said under my breath trying to focus on finding a place, my original question taking the back burner for now. No one was on the streets, it felt deserted. I could tell Anne was uncomfortable and maybe somewhat annoyed. People didn't ask her questions, they just told her things. I looked at her and decided to drop the topic and change it to the one thing we did know, sex. "I think I have a place." I said with a happier tone in my voice, hoping to get back on track.
She lit up, talk about sex always made her happy. It was like a drug she couldn't get enough of. "Really, where?" she asked.
"The Harper Community Church," I replied with excitement as her face suddenly changed to one of both horror and intrigue. I picked the church for several reasons but the biggest one was, I believe, to defy my dad.
A grin appeared on my face as she declared, "Church? Are you nuts?"
"No, actually I am quite serious, it’s the perfect place," I stated still smiling beginning to imagine what it would be like.
"McCoy, seriously who has sex in a church? Isn't that like against the law or God or something?" I could only laugh at her response.
"It sure beats the golf course, where the balls could be my own if your dad caught us."
Then she surprised me by saying, "I don't know McCoy, if we have sex in a church don't you think that will earn us a one-way ticket to Hell?" I just shrugged. My disapproval for the church and the need to get out and do something was beginning to eat away at me with each passing second it seemed.
"Look, we gonna do this or not?" my tone quickly changed as I for the first time in our relationship, made her wonder if she'd get laid. "The church is perfect. I mean, who is even going to be there this time of night and we're running out of time. It's already 11:44; we are five minutes from the church tops, two if I speed a little." I stated becoming more anxious.
"Would it even be open?" she asked, appearing to begin to being more open to the idea.
Knowing that it might require a bit more convincing but enjoying the fact that it appeared Anne seemed to like me taking a bit more control, I answered, "Of course, why wouldn't it be?"
Confused Anne answered, "Well considering it’s almost midnight and it’s not Sunday, don't you think the doors would be locked?"
A little worried about time and the prospect of having to meet my friend Mr. Lefty in bed later and obviously anxious to be with Anne, I pulled my beater to the side of the road and decided if I had any chance left to get any a desicion must be made. I gave it one last try.
"Doubtful, my dad goes to this church like every day. He invites me to go too, but at all costs I try to avoid it. You know that. But I went once last week cause I said I would and the Pastor asked people to come and pray on weeknights, even said during service that the doors are open twenty-four hours a day. Most people never go because let's face it most people are not religious fanatics like my dad. So, what do you say, you game?"
"But what if someone comes?" she quietly responded still sounding somewhat unsure.
"Isn't that the idea?" I asked sarcastically, unable to resist. Wanting another smoke, I reached into Anne's purse and grabbed one. She lit it for me then smiled at my comment.
My brain said, "It's a go!" but my hopes were diminished by another question. "I'm serious, what if someone walks in on us?"
Losing it I exclaimed, "No one is going to be there or come, I'm positive. But since you are so concerned I will make a deal with you. If someone comes or if we even think we hear someone coming, we will leave." I looked at her with the most sincere face I could muster.
"All right," she answered with her fears melting away. She continued, "The church it is, but in case someone does come in let me give you a head start." Anne proceeded to lower her head into my lap as I started up the car and pulled away from the curb onto the deserted street. Anne told me to lean back and enjoy. I reached for the seat lever and released the seat back some to give Anne room to perform. I drove slowly down the deserted back road to the church, not thinking about the time. Time always seemed to stop when engaged and I wasn't concerned about speeding, I knew where the church was and it wasn't far. I hadn't seen a car for at least a mile as I let the car do the driving as Anne drove me. I was becoming more excited, not because Anne was doing this for me like so many times before, because I was taking her to the church. I tried not to picture what it would be like but it was impossible not to. I saw myself leaning against the pulpit and Anne on her knees in front of me, slowly moving her head forward and back. It excited me instantly, but I didn't care this time. My orgasm stronger than usual surprised me but Anne didn't seem to mind. She sat up and smiled wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"It looks like we don't need to go to the church now," she said.
I'm not sure why but I felt a wave of anger and said “We decided on the church and we are almost there. It's just at the top of this hill and we're going." I sounded rough even to myself and Anne's eyes got big and she was about to speak but before she could I said "I'm sorry babe, it's just that I love being with you and I can't wait to be inside you where it’s warm." She smiled as I turned into the lot.
To see what happens next get your copy today of THE VALLEY OF CANDLES at Amazon!
by Antonio Grasso, author of The Valley of Candles
Readers cannot put The Valley of Candles down!
from http://amzn.to/xlj1OW
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, February 26, 2012
By Heather - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Valley of Candles (Kindle Edition)
The Valley of Candles is a great book. The author pulls you in and you cannot put it down. It also makes you think about your own beliefs in a way that you probably have not before. I am looking forward to the next novel the author has in the works!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, February 25, 2012
By Monica - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Valley of Candles (Kindle Edition)
Very good book! It was very well written and had a great ending. I could not put it down. Can't wait to read the next one.
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5.0 out of 5 stars amazing, February 23, 2012
By Jesica - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Valley of Candles (Kindle Edition)
I really enjoyed reading the book. It was hard to put down, I wanted to know what happend next. I look forward to your next book. Keep up the good work, your a great writer Antonio Grasso
Get your copy for only .99 cents today at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062WFNT8?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1
-Antonio Grasso, author of The Valley of Candles
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, February 26, 2012
By Heather - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Valley of Candles (Kindle Edition)
The Valley of Candles is a great book. The author pulls you in and you cannot put it down. It also makes you think about your own beliefs in a way that you probably have not before. I am looking forward to the next novel the author has in the works!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, February 25, 2012
By Monica - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Valley of Candles (Kindle Edition)
Very good book! It was very well written and had a great ending. I could not put it down. Can't wait to read the next one.
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5.0 out of 5 stars amazing, February 23, 2012
By Jesica - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Valley of Candles (Kindle Edition)
I really enjoyed reading the book. It was hard to put down, I wanted to know what happend next. I look forward to your next book. Keep up the good work, your a great writer Antonio Grasso
Get your copy for only .99 cents today at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062WFNT8?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1
-Antonio Grasso, author of The Valley of Candles
The Valley of Candles now at Amazon!
Already with 3 Five-Star Reviews!
Synopsis
McCoy O'Neal's world is torn apart. After believing he is at fault for his mothers' death during child birth, McCoy's overbearing religious father pushes him away from God by constant questions and nagging. The only option for him is to turn to his best friend who leads him down a path they might not survive.
How would you react to losing everything? How much are we influnced by those around us? Do their beliefs become ours? Do we think for ourselves?
Wrought with terror, rituals and a suspenseful storyline, this tale leaves the reader wanting more. What ensuses is a tale that makes us question our beliefs on why God allows things to happen and a search to answer questions we face everyday.
Buy now at Amazon for only .99 cents for your Kindle, Kindle Touch or Kindle Fire
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062WFNT8?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1
Synopsis
McCoy O'Neal's world is torn apart. After believing he is at fault for his mothers' death during child birth, McCoy's overbearing religious father pushes him away from God by constant questions and nagging. The only option for him is to turn to his best friend who leads him down a path they might not survive.
How would you react to losing everything? How much are we influnced by those around us? Do their beliefs become ours? Do we think for ourselves?
Wrought with terror, rituals and a suspenseful storyline, this tale leaves the reader wanting more. What ensuses is a tale that makes us question our beliefs on why God allows things to happen and a search to answer questions we face everyday.
Buy now at Amazon for only .99 cents for your Kindle, Kindle Touch or Kindle Fire
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062WFNT8?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1
The journey of the publication of The Valley of Candles
When I first wrote The Valley Of Candles, I never thought I would honestly finish it. It was ten years of holding onto "my baby" and not wanting to let go. Finally it began to grow on me to self-publish as I began to see the boom in ereaders and the ebook technology. More then anything I wanted to share my story with others. I wanted to entertain as I have been entertained by countless hours of reading.
I came to the conclusion that it was time to publish this past summer but was clueless on how to go about taking on such an project. Once I published on Barnes and Noble and Amazon I announced it on my Facebook page and was able to sell a total of five copies. This was in November. And then all I heard was crickets. Nothing, no sales, no feedback, nada.
I gave up at that point and just set the novel aside saying to myself at least I tried. We had a baby coming at the end of the year and I had a new job so my plate was filling up fast. But in my mind I wanted my book to get out there more, to get into the readers hands, to really give the book a shot.
Well the baby came, job was fine and then I decided to give the book another try. I hadn't done any marketing on it besides post to Facebook. I went to Amazon earlier this month and dropped the price to free for a five day promotion and woo-hoo! I woke up the next day and saw 17 people had downloaded The Valley of Candles.
I was so ecstatic it was beyond comprehension for me. I don't think I will ever be able to truly describe that first rush of awe and excitement. I decides then to take to Twitter to market my novel.
That was an amazing experience as more and more fellow authors, people I didn't even know started to help by retweeting my tweets. It was the beginning of building a marketing department for my novel, that suddenly saw over 100 downloads. It was then that I knew I had not given by book a chance to be successful before.
I wrote the novel by taking time and focusing on it, I have to do the same with marketing it. If I want it to be successful. Since the posting of The Valley of Candles on Amazon there has been over 250 downloads and it has received 3 five-star reviews.
I look forward to the future of writing, more then I ever have before. If there is one thing I have learned from this experience is the same lesson as in my novel. If you have no faith in what you are doing or believe in the slightest wind of doubt can blow out your candle as if your in a valley, but if your faith is strong your candle will stay lit and shine bright for all to see. Keep the faith in yourselves and what you believe in cause you are doing it for a reason. Even if that reason isn't quite clear yet, it will be. Funny how that works.
I just wanted to add a quick thank you to all my fellow writers on twitter. Thank you for helping me market and reach an audience and I look forward to helping you a well in any way I can.
I came to the conclusion that it was time to publish this past summer but was clueless on how to go about taking on such an project. Once I published on Barnes and Noble and Amazon I announced it on my Facebook page and was able to sell a total of five copies. This was in November. And then all I heard was crickets. Nothing, no sales, no feedback, nada.
I gave up at that point and just set the novel aside saying to myself at least I tried. We had a baby coming at the end of the year and I had a new job so my plate was filling up fast. But in my mind I wanted my book to get out there more, to get into the readers hands, to really give the book a shot.
Well the baby came, job was fine and then I decided to give the book another try. I hadn't done any marketing on it besides post to Facebook. I went to Amazon earlier this month and dropped the price to free for a five day promotion and woo-hoo! I woke up the next day and saw 17 people had downloaded The Valley of Candles.
I was so ecstatic it was beyond comprehension for me. I don't think I will ever be able to truly describe that first rush of awe and excitement. I decides then to take to Twitter to market my novel.
That was an amazing experience as more and more fellow authors, people I didn't even know started to help by retweeting my tweets. It was the beginning of building a marketing department for my novel, that suddenly saw over 100 downloads. It was then that I knew I had not given by book a chance to be successful before.
I wrote the novel by taking time and focusing on it, I have to do the same with marketing it. If I want it to be successful. Since the posting of The Valley of Candles on Amazon there has been over 250 downloads and it has received 3 five-star reviews.
I look forward to the future of writing, more then I ever have before. If there is one thing I have learned from this experience is the same lesson as in my novel. If you have no faith in what you are doing or believe in the slightest wind of doubt can blow out your candle as if your in a valley, but if your faith is strong your candle will stay lit and shine bright for all to see. Keep the faith in yourselves and what you believe in cause you are doing it for a reason. Even if that reason isn't quite clear yet, it will be. Funny how that works.
I just wanted to add a quick thank you to all my fellow writers on twitter. Thank you for helping me market and reach an audience and I look forward to helping you a well in any way I can.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sanctuary a short story
Sanctuary
Antonio Grasso
The room invited him to death. It was ruled by shadows and overtaken by the darkness of all that hated.
He walked into the room with his eyes wide open. The light shined and blinded him him striking him with a devilish idea.
The room beneath the house was what he came to know as the loneliest place on earth. It was also his paradise. The path to Hell was entered down those stairs, it was the one place he felt he belonged.
He lived with no one and for good reason. The coal heated furnance burned day and night without question. It didn't matter the season, coal was always burning and the chimney was always puffing out white smoke, which should have cautioned his neighbors, but seldom did anyone ever take an interest to anything but themselves anymore.
When he did venture out the world would cast stare upon him that would label him an outcast. No matter how hard he tried in his life to make friends or meet new people, he always failed. He would call day and night his so-called friends, trying to fit in. But soon after calling and speaking with them suddenly their numbers would change and he would never hear from them again. He could never figure out why and always thought maybe he had misdials. After awhile he grew weary of calling and decided it just wasn't meant to be. So he would just go back to the room under the stairs.
His basement was his sanctuary, his cave away from the hell he lived in above ground. Many times early in life, he would have an opportunity to go somewhere or do things with other people that could be his friend. He would look inside himself and would wonder why this person would want to sit across from him, what could he possibly have to offer. Was it out of pity? Were they getting paid for it? When he looked in the mirror, he saw a man that had no future and no past.
"The world is a cruel place that has no time for people like me." He often said to himself. He tried to be funny, entertaining company, often practicing in the empty house in the living room. He would play other personalities trying to get over his anxiety but always felt the same in the end. That he didn't belong.
He only found this need fulfilled down the stairs, the one place he was always welcomed. At night around eight o'clock, he would give up trying to meet new people and be "normal" and go down to his sanctuary and speak with his mother. She was the only person that ever cared about him. She let herself become the coal that warmed his home every day.
He would call to her in chant to replenish this supply, to revive herself from the ashes in the furnance. Within minutes a green mist crawled along the damp concrete floor flowing to a small gathering of ash. There he would magically stare with a blank expression as one by one her bones were replenished. When all of her was revived he heard a voice come forth. This voice often told him to take another inch off or continue the work on his thigh or hands that he had begun long ago. In a trance he blindly followed the orders he was given. The green mist lingered in the sanctuary gently flowing around the darkened room which suddenly ignited candles as it flowed past.
His mother loved him, he killed his mother. He walked over to the furnance and shuffled in a few bones. The mist grew heavier.
The self mutilation brought more voices of his true friends. And this night friends were found everywhere. He felt no pain for the first time that day. Despite the efforts of his mother his world had long since crumbled. She treated him with the untmost care. Everyday there would be a gift awaiting for him when he came home from the nightmare he lived. A new toy car, the latest video game or in his younger years a teddy bear.
He would take these gifts with a false happiness. He would give a smile that held no meaning and this led to more unhappiness. He put all gifts given to him in the basement where they would stay for all time. Nothing could help him, he was doomed from the very first pity present, he would le no one buy his love.
At the age of twenty-two, still living at the home his mother perished in. The table of knives still lay sticking up out of the concrete ground, where her final fall brought about her demise. The body decayed for years until the mice ate the last of the flesh away. When the mice began she was alive, he sat and watched playing with his toys for the final hours of her life.
The green mist lingered over to the closet door in the corner of the basement. Behind this door contained his key to the past. He never knew his father had died and never asked where he was.
His mother had been all he ever needed, or at least she tried to be. Unfortunately the path she took failed. The voices were there to sooth his pain, they would always be there. The only voices he considered his friends he was never able to a face to. He listene to the voice with undaunting loyalty. He gave all he had as he looked over the bones where he thought of his long dead mother.
He heard the voice directing him to the table in the ground. The green mist hovered around him with candles blazing. With a sudden roar the closet door flew open just as the green mist wrapped around his legs and them out from underneath him, and just like his mother he fell upon hell.
As he lay bleeding and in pain, out came a man stumbling towards the furnance. A scurry of mice could be heard on the concrete. The green mist hovered about his body for a few minutes and then lingered over to the bones where it met up with the man. The bones started to arrange itself being wrapped up in the mist which became a fog.
As mother and father stood over the body as the mice continued their feast into the night.
Antonio Grasso
The room invited him to death. It was ruled by shadows and overtaken by the darkness of all that hated.
He walked into the room with his eyes wide open. The light shined and blinded him him striking him with a devilish idea.
The room beneath the house was what he came to know as the loneliest place on earth. It was also his paradise. The path to Hell was entered down those stairs, it was the one place he felt he belonged.
He lived with no one and for good reason. The coal heated furnance burned day and night without question. It didn't matter the season, coal was always burning and the chimney was always puffing out white smoke, which should have cautioned his neighbors, but seldom did anyone ever take an interest to anything but themselves anymore.
When he did venture out the world would cast stare upon him that would label him an outcast. No matter how hard he tried in his life to make friends or meet new people, he always failed. He would call day and night his so-called friends, trying to fit in. But soon after calling and speaking with them suddenly their numbers would change and he would never hear from them again. He could never figure out why and always thought maybe he had misdials. After awhile he grew weary of calling and decided it just wasn't meant to be. So he would just go back to the room under the stairs.
His basement was his sanctuary, his cave away from the hell he lived in above ground. Many times early in life, he would have an opportunity to go somewhere or do things with other people that could be his friend. He would look inside himself and would wonder why this person would want to sit across from him, what could he possibly have to offer. Was it out of pity? Were they getting paid for it? When he looked in the mirror, he saw a man that had no future and no past.
"The world is a cruel place that has no time for people like me." He often said to himself. He tried to be funny, entertaining company, often practicing in the empty house in the living room. He would play other personalities trying to get over his anxiety but always felt the same in the end. That he didn't belong.
He only found this need fulfilled down the stairs, the one place he was always welcomed. At night around eight o'clock, he would give up trying to meet new people and be "normal" and go down to his sanctuary and speak with his mother. She was the only person that ever cared about him. She let herself become the coal that warmed his home every day.
He would call to her in chant to replenish this supply, to revive herself from the ashes in the furnance. Within minutes a green mist crawled along the damp concrete floor flowing to a small gathering of ash. There he would magically stare with a blank expression as one by one her bones were replenished. When all of her was revived he heard a voice come forth. This voice often told him to take another inch off or continue the work on his thigh or hands that he had begun long ago. In a trance he blindly followed the orders he was given. The green mist lingered in the sanctuary gently flowing around the darkened room which suddenly ignited candles as it flowed past.
His mother loved him, he killed his mother. He walked over to the furnance and shuffled in a few bones. The mist grew heavier.
The self mutilation brought more voices of his true friends. And this night friends were found everywhere. He felt no pain for the first time that day. Despite the efforts of his mother his world had long since crumbled. She treated him with the untmost care. Everyday there would be a gift awaiting for him when he came home from the nightmare he lived. A new toy car, the latest video game or in his younger years a teddy bear.
He would take these gifts with a false happiness. He would give a smile that held no meaning and this led to more unhappiness. He put all gifts given to him in the basement where they would stay for all time. Nothing could help him, he was doomed from the very first pity present, he would le no one buy his love.
At the age of twenty-two, still living at the home his mother perished in. The table of knives still lay sticking up out of the concrete ground, where her final fall brought about her demise. The body decayed for years until the mice ate the last of the flesh away. When the mice began she was alive, he sat and watched playing with his toys for the final hours of her life.
The green mist lingered over to the closet door in the corner of the basement. Behind this door contained his key to the past. He never knew his father had died and never asked where he was.
His mother had been all he ever needed, or at least she tried to be. Unfortunately the path she took failed. The voices were there to sooth his pain, they would always be there. The only voices he considered his friends he was never able to a face to. He listene to the voice with undaunting loyalty. He gave all he had as he looked over the bones where he thought of his long dead mother.
He heard the voice directing him to the table in the ground. The green mist hovered around him with candles blazing. With a sudden roar the closet door flew open just as the green mist wrapped around his legs and them out from underneath him, and just like his mother he fell upon hell.
As he lay bleeding and in pain, out came a man stumbling towards the furnance. A scurry of mice could be heard on the concrete. The green mist hovered about his body for a few minutes and then lingered over to the bones where it met up with the man. The bones started to arrange itself being wrapped up in the mist which became a fog.
As mother and father stood over the body as the mice continued their feast into the night.
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