Recently I posted on Twitter what I called “The Wisdom of the Ages updated for the 21st Century,” for Friday Phrases (#FP). These are philosophical quotations that I slightly altered to reflect contemporary thinking and culture. Immediately below are the updated quotes, and then below that you’ll find the original quotes with some discussion about … Continue reading The Wisdom of the Ages Updated
THE KING OF SOUTH PHILLY PART IV
SHERI-LYNN HUDLEY I. Walking across the airport motel parking lot, Sheri-Lynn spotted two girls. She recognized them as Chrystal and Champagne, regulars at the motel. They both seemed like nice girls, Sheri-Lynn thought, even though Champagne was black. Sheri-Lynn originally hailed from North Carolina, but she’d come up north six years ago. At the time, … Continue reading THE KING OF SOUTH PHILLY PART IV
THE KING OF SOUTH PHILLY PART III
Sister Rachel ArmageddonI.Late on a Saturday afternoon, Ralphie and Quentin sat in a back booth at Johnny’s Place in South Philly, drinking whiskey out of straight glasses. They’d had to move to the back, since more and more the boozehounds who always hung around the bar had started to bug Ralphie and ask him for … Continue reading THE KING OF SOUTH PHILLY PART III
THE KING OF SOUTH PHILLY PART II
RALPHIE KILLS HIS FATHER I. On Friday night at Johnny’s Place, the usual drunks stood at the bar, both the after work part-timers, and the career boozehounds—the used up whores begging for somebody to buy them a shot, and the old guys with the yellowed skin and the rotten livers who’d sell their kids’ toys … Continue reading THE KING OF SOUTH PHILLY PART II
THE KING OF SOUTH PHILLY PART I
RALPHIE, THE GOODS, AND THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER I. Annie walked into the saloon called Johnny’s Place, where everybody in South Philly hung out. Coming out of the bright afternoon sun, she had to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. She hated the sunlight. It hurt her eyes, gave her a headache, and made her … Continue reading THE KING OF SOUTH PHILLY PART I
A Frank Koenig Story: “The Stolen Car”
A Frank Koenig short from a few months ago. Hope you enjoy it.
Frank’s partner, Carl Gibson, had a large waistband and chubby cheeks, with his hair cut into a dirty blond flattop. He wore a cheap Sears and Roebuck suit with a white shirt and a chocolate striped tie. He always smelled of Aqua Velva.
Carl sat behind the wheel of his new De Soto, a pale green De Luxe Business Coupe, and Frank occupied the passenger’s seat, staring out the window.
He and Frank hadn’t been partners long. They worked out of the Major Case Squad and had caught a call that morning.
“Did you check out the name of the lady filing the complaint?” said Carl as he drove.
Frank shook his head.
“Didn’t you wonder why we’re handling a stolen car? Does that sound like a major case to you? Sure doesn’t to me. Should be uniforms handling it, but they’re not. They kicked it up to us.”
Frank…
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