Click here to go to the next story...   OLD TUB By J. P. Kane         Why is love so hard to find? And why is it that when you finally do find that someone special that you squeeze and hold on so tight that you press loving right out of them? Like a wash cloth rung too tight.   It was summer in New York. Hottest summer on record and Virginia found herself once again soaking alone. An old tub served as focal point of her Manhattan apartment’s living room. It made for a conversation piece par resistance. Virginia was drawn to it like a baby to candy. Her dark hair cascaded over its rounded cooling end, as her firm breasts floated softly, just barely visible. She held an ice-filled tall glass, which brought relief from summer’s heat and dulled her senses with each sip of brandy. She had been crying earlier and now with drink and deep drag of her joint, her troubles slowly floated like her breasts, away far away. She was alone and she did not care to be alone ever again.   In an adjacent apartment lived Dereick Saunders, ex-baseball star, now turned sports announcer, and his friend Major Domo, whose real name was Lenord Jerome White—but he preferred being called MD or just Major. He was an ex-Navy Seal who had served in Viet Nam.   Truth be told, he and his squad were ordered to retrieve several downed pilots who were being held in a P.O.W camp. Orders read: “To extract with and at any means with minimal contact with enemy.” Major White led his team into dense jungle and extracted six navy pilots safely. He then turned around and returned with three Navy Seals, strictly volunteer operation, to retrieve other POW's left behind. There were fifty or so enlisted marines who had been left behind. That's when all hell broke loose and three Seals were K.I.A.  He was the only black Navy Seal at that time. He was awarded a medal of honor and a purple cross for his actions. Uncle Sam's GI bill afforded him a college education and later a law degree. He now worked for a prestigious Law firm in New York's financial section. He and Saunders were roommates, lovers, and friends, sworn to secrecy about their relationship.   Mona was tall at 5’10’’, big boned with a strong character and a heart of gold. She loved kids and sharing her smile with you. She was unpretentious and looked you straight in your eye. She made an impression—a strong impression—when you first met her. She was raised in a South Dakota town named Winter, where it gets 30 below on average during winter months. Her four brothers helped her grow up confident, if not somewhat tomboyish. But make no mistake, she was a real looker. Green eyes that took your breath away coupled with a figure that an Olympic skier would die for. She, like so many before her, had arrived in New York City with high hopes of fame and fortune. She had gone on countless auditions and was told, over and over again in different ways. “You’re too young; you’re too old; you’re not right type; right height, right age. Still, she wasn't a quitter; she was determined to break into show business.   Forced by financial conditions, she took to exotic dancing, but just until she got her first real role. This is what she told herself. Mona, along with being an exercise-aholic, was a vivacious reader of short plays, poems and novels. She frequented a local Strand used book store at 828 Broadway; this is where she and Virginia first met. That is, Virginia Elizabeth Puscard.   Virginia worked behind the counter. It was a summer job that she had obtained along with a most coveted Manhattan apartment. Job and apartment were only for one summer. Virginia gave up her Paris Flat for a Manhattan apartment, even trade. It is amazing what they can do with an Internet connection theses days.   Mona and Virginia, upon first meeting, were taken by each other’s appearance. Virginia's soft skin and black hair with a gentle and very ear-pleasing French accent was matched by vibrating strength and confidence that oozed from Mona. What is this special magnetism or magic that draws couples to each other over thousands of miles? They hit it off like they had known each other in another life; you could see an aura of heat and a glow of warmth. Not long after their first meeting, they moved in together. Those were really special times; they laughed and hugged and whispered secrets to each other and most of all they loved. They loved with a special love like children display, a playful love not predicated on just sex, but on truly caring about each other. They spent hours together just soaking in an old tub, talking or reading to each other. They laughed; they were happy, gloriously happy and it showed.   Virginia and Mona lived together for three weeks, three days and three hours. There laid an unopened card that Virginia found one afternoon that simply read:                  Love doesn't die it just goes away. Like summer or the day’s end.                So draw love in with deep gentle sighs, ‘cause love doesn't die, it just goes away.                   Missing you already.... Mona       Derick was safe asleep in his apartment when he heard it. He at first thought it was a baseball bat hitting a fast ball. It was Major who knew what it was and from where it had come. An apartment manager along with Major and Derick entered Virginia's apartment. There they found Virginia's naked body floating, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. Derick had never seen a dead person and lost his stomach. Major had flash backs of Nam but went into auto-reaction and checked for any pulse. Someone said something about him not knowing her as a tenant. I didn't find out about Virginia's suicide until several months later. I am so, so sorry my darling Virginia; I will never forget you and our love that we shared. You were like a sister, friend, and always will be in my prayers. I always will love you.   Mona   Derrick and Major don't live together any more. They are still friends and keep in-touch from time to time. Derrick drifted to California and Major decided to sail to Jamaica.   Mona eventually returned to South Dakota and married a son of a Rancher who owned a farm 13 miles from her home. She now has three lovely children. Two boys and a girl, who she named Virginia.   I knew them all for a short while. I am still in New York and on hot days, I still give some comfort from heat and city living. I am just an old tub but I have seen and heard a lot in my day.     Fini   © Copyright J.P. Kane   Click here to read J.P. Kane’s Brief and Bizarre Bio. 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