Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Real Life Folks’ Category

Character Sketch No. 6: Scenes One, Two & Three

Posted in Real Life Folks, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 27, 2011 | 40 Comments »

Scene 1 – The 2 a.m. Call                  

Mixed Media on paper. Copyright 2011 Totsymae

Totsy: Are you sure you’re Wayne?

Wayne: Yes, this is me.

Totsy: You don’t sound like Wayne. Why you sound thataway?

Wayne: What way? Oh, it’s just because I’ve been hollering. They’ve been driving me crazy.

Totsy: Who are they?

Wayne: Oh, I’ve been in this hospital. (He talks away from the mouthpiece to a passing nurse) But I’m running things around here now, aren’t I?

Totsy: What’s your room number?

Wayne: I’ll be out of here soon and they keep moving me. You wouldn’t be able to keep up.

(We talk more nonsense and I know it’s him. My mind rambles and sleep don’t find me when my head hits the pillow again. I think real hard about Wayne. Does hollering real hard make a man sound like a woman?)

~~ooOOO00~~

Scene 2 – At the Apartment

Wayne: You’re one nosy ass, finding me on the internet. I mean, damn!

Totsy: (I think, he’s talking shit but he’s glad I found him since he’d run his mama to the ground taking care of his stuff) Come on and let’s get this taken care of and stop running that mouth.

(Wayne looks lost once we get inside. Don’t know where to start picking up the scatterings of what was left in his apartment. I go in the kitchen.)

Totsy: Wayne, there really is such a thing as Elbow Grease?! (I hold the generic-looking jar up and smile wide, like I’m a commercial on the TV set).

Wayne: Give me that, Totsy. (He snatches the jar in a friendly kinda way, looking me dead in my smiling eyes). You’re too innocent to know anything about that.

(Wayne leaves me downstairs. I find a pink floral greeting card to Wayne and somebody signed it, Love Pedro).

~~ooOOO00~~

Scene 3: The Psychologist’s Office

(It’s a nice, clean place and I smile at the two patients I walk past ’cause they look like they could use one. We get to the office and wait for the doctor.)

Totsy: (Feeling real strange after seeing those folks. Just quiet. Real quiet and trying to erase the thoughts popping up)

(The doctor enters)

Doctor: You can sit here while I speak with Wayne now but I’ll later have to speak to him alone.

Wayne: Yes, she can stay for now. I want her here.

(I don’t know much about what they’re saying and then Doctor turns to me)

Doctor: Have you noticed anything like mouth sores? That’s usually typical with patients with HIV.

Totsy: (Folks start talking in my head. What the…How the hell was I supposed to know that? But you saw those people out there. Remember the one with the walker? Why’s he telling me about mouth sores? Look at Wayne, honey. Don’t he look a little bit like those folk in the hallway? Why you acting like you don’t know this man’s sick? Just ’cause you don’t wanna think it’s so, ain’t gonna make it not so.)

(The doctor says something, then leaves the office. I look at Wayne, crying on the inside and speechless. He’s too beautiful to die.)

Wayne: Don’t cry for me, Totsy. I’ve lived a good and full life. (He’s 36)

Epilogue: As much as I can remember, this is exactly how it went down. Not quite sure whatever happened with Wayne. He kinda entered and vanished out of my life as he saw fit. Been five years since we last spoke. He was downright smart, funny and like a big brother to me when we did hang out and about.  I wish him peace wherever he may be.

This is my submission for Create Art Every Day.



About these ads

Read Full Post »

Character Sketch No. 5: Marla’s Prayer

Posted in Real Life Folks, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 23, 2011 | 25 Comments »

This is my submission for Create Art Every Day.

Hear me, Lord.

I think I’m a good woman for Ernest. He’s not happy with his wife but You know he is with me. All we have to do is look at each other and we can feel the love wanting to jump out at each other right on that job. I’m telling you, Lord, I’ve got all the fixings to make a good wife this third time, once I cut this second one loose. He’s been grinding my nerves and I’m not trying to hear what he’s got to say. Matter of fact, I don’t even know why I don’t want him anymore. All I know is I want the one on the job I’m working and his wife’s gots to go.

Seems like she’s gotten word that something’s been cooking between us ’cause she’s always hanging around the job at odd times. Like, she’s trying to catch us mashed up against each other. I wouldn’t go out like that. Well, not unless he made the first move. He just hasn’t yet. I don’t know how I’m going to get us past joshing around and into my bed. He’s always talking about You, Lord. Always. So, I joined up with the church, so he could see You in me too. I know my light’s not shining through and through just yet but there must be a flicker that he can see.

Graphite w/Photoshop Copyright 2011 Totsymae

Yes, Lord. You say to ask and thou shall receive, so I’m asking you to separate that man from his wife so that he may cleave unto me and receive some good loving for a change. Lord, I’m down here on my knees and You know it’s rare that I’d do such a thing, so you kind of get this is a special request I’m making. Do you even realize how I’ve dropped weight and I’m down to the size of that woman he’s married to? Only differences between us is I’m a little taller, I don’t wear glasses and I’ve got this fat mole on my face that has a tendency to grow hair. I think he’ll be able to live with that once I’ve shown him all my bedroom tricks I’ve learned through the years. I’ve rekindled something in this man’s heart that his wife hasn’t been able to. I just want that man so bad with his big ole self, I can feel him as I speak, Lord.

I’ll be sure that he makes his child support, Lord. Just put that man in my bed one time and he’ll never go back to that wife who’s been sneaking up here on this job to spy on us. I pray to you in the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ name, Jehovah, Allah, Moses, Joseph and Mary. Hallelujah. Mercy, Jesus! Praise Your precious name! Glory! Shalom Il Shabazz donkya dutty dutty sanfi teif oui Shabba Ranks mon…

Footnote 1: Donkya dutty, dutty sanfi teif is Patois and translates to Don’t care dirty, dirty manipulating thief.

Footnote 2: Shabba Ranks is a popular Raggae artist, mostly during the 1980s.

Read Full Post »

Character Sketch No. 4: The Monologue

Posted in Real Life Folks, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 21, 2011 | 28 Comments »

Pen & Ink on Bristol Board w/Photoshop. Copyright 2011 Totsymae

This is my submission for Create Art Every Day.

Hello, everybody. My name’s Victor. Victor B. Hughes. (He walks slowly from one end of the stage to the other, contemplating his next words)

I’ve got the biggest dick this side of Dixie. It took me to come all the way from New York for that to happen. I don’t know who took my place up there since I left but it doesn’t matter. I’m here now, thinking I’d find the love of my life and keep a few chickees on the side.

(Shaking the shit out of his head, ’cause it’s like, totally baffling, these next thoughts that come to him) Damn, these women can’t appreciate a big dick when they get one. Give’em my good loving and I have to hear back talk. I’ve got my own business, well traveled within the U.S., I’m 6’5″ and I read. What else can a woman ask for? (siiiigh)

When I enter the house, I expect certain things. Ain’t nothing wrong with red carpet, candles burning and a good meal waiting. Problem is, no woman can burn in the kitchen like me. I’m a gourmet chef and a diamond expert. But damn if I can afford a diamond. I will cook a good meal ’cause I’m a big man and I like to eat. And don’t forget, with me swingin’ this big dick, I can’t help but be a good lover.

(A small voice gets to nagging at his ass and tells him to fess the hell up) Well, let me take that back. My dick ain’t all that big but I’m like the little engine that could. If I say it enough times, it’ll get bigger and all these women will start to believe it. Hell, I believe it when I’m not looking directly at it myself.

(Lips tighten suddenly) And that damn Totsy! Last time I’ll ever fuck around with an artist. Weird ass, living in that house and can’t cook in her own kitchen. I don’t even want to think about her flippy ass.

(Scratching his head and pauses. Confused as hell. Confused like, walking into a room and forgetting why he went in the room kinda confused). Damn, I thought I had more to say but all I’ve been doing is talking about my dick. That’s about the best friend I’ve got these days. (He holds it lovingly) Sure wish it could get a job and make me some money. Shit, there I go again. I love the hell out of my dick. I wonder if any of those chickees ever think about all they’ve been missing…And did I say, that damn Totsy?! What’s this shit she’s been doing on the computer, talking about she’s blogging? Better not be talking about my dick (Stage darkens. A sepia tone surrounds Victor as he caresses his best friend).

Read Full Post »

Character Sketch No. 3: The Phone Call

Posted in Real Life Folks, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 16, 2011 | 34 Comments »

Okay. Here’s another real-life person. What I realize in painting up these folks, I’m portraying more personality than who they are/were physically. This new person looked very young for her 35 years, so that’s what I’m remembering here.

Other than that,  I realize I’ve been messing around with this Create Art Every Day concept and as you can plainly see, I haven’t exactly kept my word on that or NaNo. I’m too deliberate. To a fault, I must say. So, the first step to recovery is admission. I really thought I could swing it ’cause about five years ago, I consciously created 60 pieces in 30 days. But I have to say, I was also teaching myself watercolor and dabbling around. I have to make this right some kinda way but —Hold on folks, I hear my phone going off…

Mixed Media on paper. Coyright 2011 Totsymae

Ringa- damn ring! Ringa-damn ring! Ringa-

Totsy: (Rolling my eyes when I see Donna’s name on the Caller ID) Hello?

Donna Damitte (silent e): Hello, Ms. Totsy (fake cough, sniff, sniff, breathing heavy through the mouth. Another cough…breathing heavy again in my ear after all that acting and shit) I’m calling to let you know I won’t be at work tomorrow. I’ve come down with something all of a sudden and I just wanted to let you know early, so somebody can work for me.

Totsy: Oh, really now… So, you gonna take your ass to a doctor or keep smoking weed, drinking and acting like you can’t afford a co-pay?

Donna Damitte: I really am sick this time, Ms. Totsy. My husband took my temperature and it’s 101. I can’t seem to (cough, sneeze, sneeze bitch sneeze and keep lying!). Can’t seem to stop coughing or keep any food down. I’ve been throwing up and my bowels are loose. I’m sitting on the toilet as I speak.

Then I hear a car racing past and some man in the background say something like, “Come on, tell that bitch you ain’t coming and that’s that.”

Donna Damitte: (Go to coughing and throwing some whooping-like sound in there and  putting her hand down her throat to throw up in my goddamn ear!).

Totsy: (Go to thinking, ‘Now, if I had the power to reach through this damn phone, I’d strangle this bitch! Don’t nobody get majorly sick every other damn week.’ I clear my throat and tame the beast.) Look, Donna. I’m trying to expand my marketability in the workplace. You know, move up the little ladder here and basically be the shit who knows the shit. Tell me, and I’m coming to you ’cause you’re so talented and all, but how do I transition into being a dumb ass? Can you help me with that? (Smiling as I wait for this new information that will change the course of my life.)

Donna Damitte: Why, what do you mean, Ms. Totsy? I really am sick. It feels like I’m gonna die right here on this toilet. (Another car zooms past.)

Totsy: Look Damitte, I ain’t referencing your sickness right now. I’m merely trying to make moves in certain circles. I feel so confident that you’re the one who could hip me on all the qualifications for being a dumb ass. I simply don’t think my current position is working for me as well as yours is for you.

Donna Damitte: (Go all quiet and shit. Stank lying ass ain’t flushed a toilet yet) Well, goddammit Ms. Totsy, you never take time off. You’d do me a favor by offering me a little advice. Looks to me you know more about being a dumb ass than you think.

Read Full Post »

Character Sketch No. 2: The Interview

Posted in Real Life Folks, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 2, 2011 | 35 Comments »

"Stacie" Size: 5x7 Oil Pastels/Photoshop Copyright 2011 Totsymae

This is somebody I used to work with folks and she knows Tessa. She got a job on account of her mother-in-law looking out for her. Nepotism at its worse but it happens every day, don’t it? I won’t get too wordy right here ’cause I want to flesh her out in the interview for you. I’m going about it this way in order to keep it a little interesting and you don’t get bored or nothing. Anyhow, I want y’all to meet Stacie Hammonds.

Totsy: (Rolling my eyes while she pumps a handful of M&Ms into her arteries) I see you ain’t lost that sweet tooth. You sure it ain’t worms eating at you on the inside?

Stacie: (Starts chewing slower and looking off in space) So, you’re not going to be nice about this, are you?

Totsy: (Now feeling guilty and shit. For a minute, anyway) How’s it been going with you? I heard some pretty bad news when I came back to the U.S. Whatchu been into?

Stacie: (Got to looking like her tongue folded up on her and couldn’t roll out to speak right away. She sits up straighter.) I hit Gerald. He was throwing things across the room again and hit Nicholas on the head. (She turns all red and shit. Probably remembering all those times  she was told about yelling and being rough with those kids who were classified as having severe special needs.) I told him to stop before and he threw the toy anyway. I know he understands when I tell him no but he does it anyway.

Totsy: Either you ain’t listening worth a damn when folk telling you how to work this here job or you got yourself some shit for brains. Now, which one is it?

Stacie: (She don’t say shit. Just twitch her ass around in the plastic seat and keep on turning red.)

Totsy: (I decide to let up and change the subject). So, how’s the baby and Paul doing?

Stacie: They’re doing fine.

Totsy: Is Paul still interested in the three of us having sex?

Stacie: (She goes to blushing and shit, as if I was interested, that she and her husband would even be my type or be able to afford me.) I think he’s given up on that.

Totsy: Did Paul ever get you another car or is he still leaving his wife broken down on the side of the road and riding all high and mighty in his little truck?

Stacie: (A wide ass grin spread all over her face) He got me a mini van.

Totsy: Why the hell you smiling? A mini van ain’t nothing to be grinning about. What the hell’s wrong with you?

Stacie: It works. (Rolling her neck and shit)

Totsy: Your ass is touched, that’s all.

Stacie: So, are we done here or do you want to keep being a smart mouth? (She pops out of the seat and from the way her pants rise up and gathers between her legs, I know she’s got a wedgey. She cocks her legs open for her pants to fall straight down and digs the wedgey out.) Are we?

Totsy: (I can’t drum up anymore questions with her standing over me that way. After all, I’d pissed her off enough to kick my ass.) No, we’re done. (I start feeling all guilty for being wicked and shit. Damn. I should’ve put more time in with one of them churches I’ve been passing for so many years. I just knew the Lord wasn’t none too happy with me, giving this woman a hard time.) Look Stacie, you take care of yourself and that baby.

Stacie: Yeah. (Her voice is quivering and I hope no tears pour out ’cause I wanna feel better about how bad I was, even though she was wrong for hitting those special kids. I mean, damn. They couldn’t talk or nothing. She was always yelling and couldn’t catch hold of her temper to save herself. Shit.)

Totsy: Why don’t we swing by Mickey D’s for lunch? You want to? I’ll treat. (I know she loves herself some MacDonald’s and I love those French Fries in all that bad ass grease.)

Stacie: That would be nice. Thank you, Totsy.

Totsy: (I just give her a little smile and we head out the door to my car.)

Disclaimer/Prologue: This interview is a figment of my imagination, folks. I have no life. None, whatsoever. Therefore, I make up shit. There are many true elements, in relation to the questions, which were answered in the way I thought Stacie would. Let’s just say, these are questions that would go through my mind to ask but my other self wouldn’t. I don’t think. Sadly, Stacie was released from her job on account of verbally and physically abusing children with special needs. Now, she told me she didn’t do that kinda shit at home with her son (he wasn’t a special needs child but around 2) but it never mixed right in my head how she would be so vastly different with other folk children. You see, the shit was swept under the rug when I was there, which gave her more opportunities to beat on those kids on account of her mother-in-law hookin’ her up with the little job. That’s about some shit, ain’t it, folks? Anyhow, I do feel bad for her ’cause she had some okay ways about her. She was messy as shit but she didn’t have nothing on Tessa.

One other note I want to mention.  Carol, over there at Scribble Flowers, is participating in Create Art Every Day too. I believe she’s gonna do some character sketching. Go on over there and hang out to see what her folks are doing. I’ll be over there myself, so I hope to see you there. Sorry I got a little windy. I’ll do better next time. :-)

Read Full Post »

Character Sketch No. 1

Posted in Real Life Folks, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 1, 2011 | 37 Comments »

Since I know there are writers that visit here with me, I want to share a blog I came across to help you along your writing journey. The One Minute Writer is a place to go to spark the creative juices. There are daily writing prompts and you’re challenged to free-write for one minute. The cool thing is there’s a timer for your use. You’ll, of course, meet other writers and share your work, if you so desire. To get anything on paper/computer, this is an excellent way to kickstart a daily writing exercise.

For the month of November, I’ve committed myself to NaNoWriMo, so I may blog a little less in the way of writing posts you typically see and try to offer something different artistically. This is my second attempt. I didn’t get off to a running start before. Come to think of it, I didn’t write a single word. I aim to change how this race will go. Only thing is, I won’t actually be working on a novel but my short story and flash fiction collection. Maybe that’s cheating, I don’t know but it’s how I’m taking on the challenge.

Because of this change-up for November, which I hope to be a good one, I’ve also signed on with Creative Every Day. This is a blog for artists to, well, create art every day. I know it may sound like a lot but looking at it being only 30 days in November, it’s not a huge sacrifice really and it’s an investment of time in two crafts that I’m passionate about. Just for fun, I’ll also be a part of Six Word Saturday. Not much to this really but fun, as I see it. So, no digging in the artchives this month. All work you see for the next 30 days will be hot off the easel. Unless I tune in to a debate or am so affected and feel compelled to share my thoughts on a topic, I’m going to be brief in my postings so you good folk can get on with your business and do something meaningful for yourselves or more importantly, for somebody else.

For right now, however, since I’m participating in NaNoWriMo and Creative Every Day, I want y’all to meet some folk that I’ve come across on this little journey of my life. This is really an exercise for me in painting from memory, which I rarely do where portraits are concerned. As far as the descriptive, naturally, I can only portray these folk according to how they presented themselves to me. I’ll be as kind as I can possibly be but I’m also gonna be honest, folks. That’s how I do it ’round here. My thought is that I could possibly use them in a story. Maybe if you’d like to learn more about one of them, I could do a flash/monologue piece and post it here. I don’t know. None of them may appeal to you at all, which has sometimes been the case with me in real life. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll borrow some points of setting up my descriptive from Writing.com’s character sketch template to help me out.

"Tessa" Collage on paper Size: 5x7 Copyright 2011 Totsymae

If any of you wanna join me, I welcome your company. Take photos, create collages or simple line drawings to develop characters you could use in a later work. Your results don’t necessarily have to be a portrait. They could be possessions of your character, whatever you decide. And yes, I’m changing the names. I don’t want no mess outta these folks. As today starts the challenges, I present to you, Tessa.

Full Name: Tessa Boone

Age: 45

Marital Status: Single and looking hard. Will drive  across country to answer to emergency booty calls to seal the deal. Will even wire money.

Place of Birth: Somewhere in Mississippi. Moved to California in high school.

Height/Weight/Body Structure: 5’4″/Around 175/Shaped like the Venus of Willendorf

Mental Health: Not all that stable really. Wants to have a baby but not willing to admit she’s not physically able to carry one, nor have the mental know-how on taking care of one.

Dreams/Life Goals: Get married, have at least one child and move out of mother’s home.

Clothing: Cleans up really nice. May wear a little lipstick from time to time.

Hobbies: Crafts and scrapbooking. Quite good at it but cannot meet deadlines when clients place orders. Will make excuses for not meeting deadlines and say the money was not enough eventhough she sets the prices.

Loves: To keep up a lot of shit, backstabbing, gossiping, sitting on ass when she should be working, eating and making booty calls.

Read Full Post »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,546 other followers