Victrola: A Song In Two Voices Frank Lee & Cum Girl Author’s Note: “Victrola” is a poetic rendition of an exchange of Online Messages between Frank Lee and me inspired by a picture featuring a record turntable (the Victrola of the title). The exchange was instant and spontaneous, a call and response, each building on the other’s contribution ... improvised freeform jazz through the language of words rather than music. The...

Game five back in Washington was even more tightly-contested than game four in Montréal. Brody saw the puck sliding to the corner and charged after it. He caught a flash of white out of the corner of his eye, knew he had a step on the defenseman, and sped up as he focused on the puck. A few feet out from the boards he felt something slam into his back and then he crashed into the boards. He dropped face down to the ice. "...

Ryan downed the soda she'd ordered at the bar. They were in Hartford, Connecticut. She felt the stage fright creeping up but ignored it. Once they'd gotten through the first couple of shows, her anxiety had eased a lot, even if it hadn't faded entirely. Word was getting around about the tour as well. Old fans and new were posting to the band's Facebook page which was like free publicity as people reviewed past shows and n...

Brody hung by the blue line, waiting for his defensemen to get to the puck out of the corner. Time slowed as players jabbed at the puck, trying to free it from under skates and sticks. After what seemed like forever, the puck dribbled free and Bax snagged it and started up the ice. Brody followed him and saw Tolya joining the rush. They crossed the red line and Bax dumped the puck down the ice. Brody put on a burst of spe...

Alice McQuire was glad she had finally taken the initiative and called a realtor. The business of house hunting had been driving her batty, and Gerald, loving though he was, had been absolutely no help at all. She knew he wasn’t happy that his boss had become so demanding, but he had been coming home so exhausted, she felt guilty dragging him around to visit houses she had found online during the day. So she laid her head...

The room is full of smoke and warm bodies. You come to stand behind me as I sit at the bar all pale pink silk and pearls. I drink my chilled wine as you order a scotch and take that first sip. Your body is so close I can feel your heat and hear that slight rasp as you breathe in my roses and southern jasmine. Our eyes meet in the mirror for less than a moment. My heart begins racing as I understand your thoughts. My skin...

You tell me, "Come close," and I cannot resist. The music and my desire are all for you. My hands touch your waist and slide under your shirt...... your skin like fire under my seeking hands. Mouth kissing.... tongue tasting the corner of your mouth, your chin, your neck. My clothes have fallen away except for the black stilettos that drive you crazy and the lacy pink thong that I wear just for you.... Always. My breasts...

Brody opened the door and laughed when Ryan threw her arms around him. "I missed you, too." He hugged her with one arm while closing the door with the other. Ryan looked up at him. "I can't believe we live in the same building and haven't seen each other in almost a week." "Yeah, I know. Crazy." He put his other arm around her and leaned down to kiss her. She laughed against his lips when he straightened up, lifting her s...

Ryan ignored her cell phone and focused her attention on sorting through clothes to pack for the tour and clothes to store. "Hey, you going to answer that?" Lara stood in the doorway. "Nope. It's my mom. I know why she's calling and I'm done with being yelled at." "Ah, I see." Lara surveyed Ryan's room for a few minutes before observing, "This place is a mess." Clothes, papers and general stuff littered the bed and floor....

"Remember this place?" Rick clapped Brody on the shoulder as they entered the bar. "I don't know—wait." Brody looked around. "Is this the place you took me when I turned twenty-one?" Rick grinned. "The very same. Although I remember it as the place where you barfed in the parking lot when we left." "Thanks for bringing that up." "You're not going to do that again, are you?" "No. Jesus." Brody aimed a punch at Rick's shoul...

Ryan had just saved her work log when her phone rang. She answered, hoping it wasn't a last-minute request for anything. She was anxious to finish up and get out; Brody was going to pick her up and they were going to get one last, quiet celebration in before the tour and the playoffs started up. It was her supervisor, but luck was with her—the work was already done. Relieved, she sent the files and copied them to the shar...

“Sing me a song,” she said. I so wanted to please; To be worthy of this strong, frail person Whom I held in such high regard. So I opened my mouth to sing And made myself vulnerable to her. There came forth a horrid, cacophonous sound As of a hundred violins out of tune (The screaming strings of Mantovani, gone berserk) With bassoons belching, Trumpets blaring, And Tubas blatting. To say nothing of the occasional odd clar...

Lying naked in the leaves outside the garden wall I hear strings and horns in the sound of the limbs blowing, the meandering creek and wind in hollow trees. Your voice sings the melody in a minor key speaking feelings and thoughts and I long to sing that song back to you. But my voice joins in counterpoint and I smile at myself, laid bare, singing sweetly, unknown in my hidden world. I will not be seen or heard here in my...

your hands move on the instrument and I lean forward unable to look away or relax with the others. my hand moves to my lower lips and I gather the drops there unable to stop myself or maintain my composure. your mouth applies pressure to the reed and I watch every subtle nuance unable to divert my thoughts from your tongue caressing. my mouth sheaths my fingertips and I want your heart to taste me unable to resist my dang...

Your voice vibrates somewhere deep inside me like the sound of wild surf on a beach or a standing bass being played by a master. When you speak to me I hear drums and chanting. A need grows in my heart to strip off my clothes and run into battle in nothing but my painted skin. Just the deep sound of your moan as you wildly kiss me and slide your erection into my wet and pulsing sheath makes my heart swell with songs of di...