Amigo: Small Stories and Tall Tales of Hope

By J. Stephen Jorge

A vibrant world of microfiction from J. Stephen Jorge with cover art by Nate Silva.

For fans of Amy Hempel, B.J. Novak, Nick Hornby and Paul Thomas Anderson.

EPUB eBook Edition

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312414181

Book preview

Amigo: Small Stories and Tall Tales of Hope

AMIGO

J. Stephen Jorge

JSJORGE.ORG

EPUB Edition

Copyright © 2014 YellowHouseFiction

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-312-41418-1

YHF12

Gracias to Madi, love of my life, always.

Gracias to Nate Silva for contributing his stunning cover artwork.

Gracias to Wendy Sepulveda (PandaBrand.com) for her editorial insight.

Gracias to Shaunda Wickham for her editorial enthusiasm.

Gracias to Monica Postlethwait for her sharp editorial pen.

AMIGO

Small Stories and Tall Tales of Hope

(JSJ)

Also available from this author and his gang:

FOUR BUCKS A NAME

a play for voices

DOWNTOWN SWANS and Other Black Sheep

An Oblong Year

C.S. Lewis’ SPIRITS IN BONDAGE on Roosevelt Island

spoken word / performance art

SONS & DAUGHTERS

An Ambient Fiction Album

WE WOULD HAVE CHANGED IT

Play Scripts from When We Were Young

Dedicated to the memory of Larsen Hunt

(1985 - 2010)

When Jeremy told me he’d like to dedicate this book to Larsen Hunt, he asked if I would provide a tribute to her. Larsen was a dear and close friend to me. She was my beautiful maid of honor and we had a friendship like no other. She was hilarious, artistic, beautiful and strong. She was a mother, a daughter, sister and friend to many. She was, and still is, deeply loved. In 2010, she was taken away from us in a brutal act of domestic violence leaving behind her autistic son, Aidric. Her parents are now the dedicated caregivers for him and work endlessly for his development and growth. To assist this family with Aidric’s development, a fund was opened to help aid Aidric’s therapy and growth. Jeremy has graciously dedicated this book to her memory and the royalties from each sale will be directed to Aidric’s fund. Thank you for helping this family in hopes of the best possible future for Larsen’s precious boy.

Lisa Dunkin

artist & songwriter

FIORISI

YHF12

I wrote these little things for my friends, before time stepped between us.

Jeremy Stephen Jorge

CANONIZING THE MEME OF YOU

My earliest memory is of my sister screaming for that little brat to stop. Stop banging the pots. Stop trying to whistle. Stop slamming the doors. Please, Denny. You must learn to shut the music from your soul. It’s just soooo annoying. Please, just die already.

At first I would cry.

Then I would bite.

I pushed, shoved and kicked until I learned how to flip her off.

Sis told me the world’s problems revolved around my personality. She said that if I wasn’t so wrapped up in the sound of the wind blowing through a reed then maybe I could be trusted with mom and dad’s things one day. Everything will fall apart. Leave it to me. I can take care of what needs taking care of, said my sister.

This was an either/or. Here I am, seventeen and my elders are either sick in a home or with my selfish sister…who has no sense of style or taste, let me just point that out right now. Either/Or. It was time I ran away.

I packed my sack with the top five albums personally tracked down by yours truly while I was supposed to be in gym class and I headed for the door. On the kitchen table, at the edge just beyond the pizza boxes and left-over Chinese, there was a ratty shoebox wrapped with thick blue ribbon. I picked up the heavy box and carefully opened my going-away present. Inside, I found an index card and a couple dozen cassette tapes. Some were in cases, none the originals. Most were hand labeled. The handwriting was clearly my Mother’s. I flipped over the index card and stared for a moment at my sister’s scratch, I told Dad of your plans. He said you would need these. Then he passed out again. Hope you find what is not here.  I dumped the tapes into my sack and hit the bricks. 

WANTED: OLD FRIEND W/ GOOD TASTE, INITIALS K.M.R.

Contact The Dirk Jenny Show c/o Biltmore Media Waves

The Fat House had the perfect view. For years, I could imagine I was independent and flying solo; yet, I never had to give up the Hallows Eve pleasure of trashing my sister’s place – my parent’s place, whatever. I was three blocks away and on another continent at the same time. There were eight of us sharing two rooms and a bath. Over the course of my stint, I watched 26 roommates come and go. But, there were always eight in residence at any given time. It never really mattered who or what moved in, because the sounds stayed the same. I controlled the music and the music controlled the mood. I was a benevolent DJ and, as the girls came in and out; my soundtracks set everything in motion. So, my portion of the rent was adjusted accordingly for other services rendered. 

But all good things breed their nemesis and mine showed up while I was away on The Big Interview. Marty the Head came in loaded and he started lighting bills on fire, then tossing them into the pool. Here I am, out of town, at an actual, viable interview for an actual, viable job which I would be actually, viably perfect for and Fat Head’s burning up everything not stapled to the walls. The pyro came to my equipment and my collection and stopped short of taking the vinyl – not out of any reverence for the Human League or the Boss, but rather ‘cuz he realized they would just melt and "What’s the fun in