University of South Carolina Libraries
Quote of the Day “A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway.” - Fr. Jerome Cummings A New York Love Story Part II A Gamecock fiction by Ann Marie Miani, Clayton Kale, Brad Walters, Mackenzie Craven, Brandon Larrabee, Todd Money, Brock V e r g a k i s, Pete Johnson, David Cloning er , Kevin Langston, Kristin Freestate, Kenley Young, Rebecca Cronican Gamecock Staff he walked toward his car with a new sense of de srmination, something caught his eye. A tall, blond aired, blue-eyed goddess asked him what was wrong. Completely mesmerized, it took him a minute to reply. “I just got screwed over by an old friend,” he said. “There’s nothing like the pain that is caused by a woman.” Not miss ing a beat, the goddess said, “Yes, but there’s nothing like the tender healing of one, either.” “You look like you could use some healing,” she said. “Why don’t we go some place quiet and talk.” Somehow, in only a few moments, the goddess had begun to ease his pain and anger. He quickly accepted her offer and told him self he’d deal with his ex’s suitor later. Now was the time to “ease his pain.” They both went in the goddess’ car and drove for hours talking, until they realized exactly how far they had gone. They had reached the Canadian border together and real ized it was getting late and they both needed sleep. To drive back to New York would take hours, but to drive to -Montreal could be done relatively quickly. The decision was made, and they entered Quebec. Immediately, they were surrounded by French signs, and the conversation turned toward the French language, the language of love. As they arrived at a downtown Montreal hotel, there was a definite connection between the two that could not be de • 1 lilCU. Immediately their conversation turned from French words to French kisses, until there were no more words to say. This was not a time for words; this was a time for passion. This was a time to experience all the goddess had to offer. This was a time to “ease his pain.” ♦>♦>♦> James awoke to an uncomfortable, wet, sticky feeling in his pants. His face was mushed down into the back seat of his 1989 gold Pontiac 4000 LE and his feet dan gled out from the open door. He groaned as his head pound ed with the fuiy that only a long night of drinking could cause. “But she seemed so real...” he mused. He moved his head to the side to see a dried pool of vomit on the floor. “Awwww maaaaaan...” he groaned. “That’s gonna be a bitch to clean.” He gingerly pushed himself up, backed out of the car and fell onto the lawn, landing next to a kid who was still lying there passed out from the night before. What a wild night it was. James could hardly remember anything that had happened. Did Carrie show up with Laura or was that just a dream, too? He wished it were, but he knew better. Carrie did show up, and he made a fool of himself: How was he ever going to win her back now? And Ryan was another stoiy. He still felt the pain of having Miranda stolen from him those many years before and he was not about to let the same person steal anoth er. He got up and staggered through the front door, which still stood wide open from the night before. The bodies of those who were casualties of last night’s party lay strewn over couches, in corners and wherever space would ac commodate. This was starting to look like a scene straight out of “Animal House” or one of those countless cheesy ‘80s flicks where eveiyone got trashed and passed out in awkward po sitions. The house was a wreck. Empty beer cups from the night before were littered everywhere, pretzels and cheese balls were ground into the carpet from the feet of those who had passed over them, and there was Ryan All innocent looking, fast asleep on the couch, proba bly having sweeter dreams than James could ever have. Hey, was that a shiner on his right eye? Wonder how he got that. And with that thought, James hatched an idea. He made his designated pit stop in the bathroom to take a whiz and then made his way toward the kitchen. Af ter searching several cupboards, he found it. A blue ceramic bowl, about 16 inches wide at the mouth and 10 inches deep. He smirked and let out a sinister chuckle as he tested the water temperature, then filled it up about half way. With a splash, he gently dropped Ryan’s hand into the bowl and turned to leave. -L _l_l. 1_1_ _T__1_i_ " _ i_l_ * _ t_ rvii, cui, anumi ... nui ou xaoi uamco, wnai 13 lino l op^y; A Polaroid camera sat on the edge of the wooden cof fee table. James turned around, camera in hand, just in time to see a small puddle expanding on the floor be neath the couch. He almost couldn’t hold the camera straight. He was crying, laughing so hard his sides hurt, but keeping his mouth shut to contain the noise. James grabbed the still-undeveloped picture and ran outside to let out a burst of laughter that could have shat tered the windows of neighboring houses. He hopped in the driver seat, put his keys in the ignition and turned them to hear nothing at all. Pissed off and momentarily perplexed, James realized that he had passed out with the door open. The light was on all night, and now his battery was dead! Karma was catching up to him. James had been having a streak of bad luck, and now it was getting worse. *♦* V *♦* rf all the rotten luck. James had momentarily for gotten the first rule of engaging the enemy. Always make sure the escape route was up and running be fore taking the-first shot. “Dammit,” James sighed. What else could he do? It was relatively early in the morning, so James straightened him self out as best he could, tucked his wrinkled, smelly shirt back in, tied his right shoelace, (was that a chunk of meatloaf entangled in the lace?) and started homeward. “I’m a healthy guy, right?” James thought. “It could on ly be a couple of miles.” James was dying. He hadn’t felt like this since running track back in the day when he still smoked. Hair hanging in his eyes, sweat pulsing from his forehead with every heartbeat,-the sun driving into his hungover head like some kind of medieval dagger, James now knew what Charlton Heston felt like when he was crawling through the desert in “Ben-Hur.” “Where the hell am I?” wondered James as he panted and labored up yet another hill. This part of the world did n’t seem familiar, just scrub brush, trees and a desolate road cutting through it like a solitary ribbon in a head of blond hair. Of course, he could just turn back and grab a ride, but come on, that would mean having to swallow his pride and possibly face Ryan again. Despite the anger that welled inside him about the other man, the drunken, ex hausted state prevailed and James stumbled onward. As he reached the crest of another hill, James turned and looked in the direction he came from. A solitary car was rising over the hill, but he didn’t recognize it as any of the ones his friends drove. A momentary smile split James’ face as he stopped on the side of the road, raked his fingers through his hair and stuck out his thumb. The car came closer until James was sure the driver could see him. At about 65 yards away, the vehicle started slowing down and began edging over to the side of the road. “At last,” James thought. Suddenly, the car sped up, covering the remaining 25 yards between it and James with frightening speed. James had enough time to utter, “Holy...” and desper ately leapt to his left before he felt a searing pain in his right leg and was tossed into the air, falling God knows where. The last things James saw before his world turned black were the taillights of the car burning twin holes into the early morning light and the asphalt pavement rushing up to meet him. To Be Continued... Campus Notes Music and film society presents film The Creative Music and Film Soci ety will present Monty Python’s “The Meaning of Life” at 6 p.m. Sunday in the Gambrell Hall Auditorium, room 153. This is free and open to the pub lic. It will be shown on a 13-foot screen on DVD-Letterbox in stereo. For more information, call Kevin Green at 79} 7378. Asian studies center sponsors discussion The Center for Asian Studies is spon soring an Asian Election Watch Series, “Political Demography and Recent Elections in Korea,” given by Dr. Ken Shin, from the department of sociolo gy at USC, at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Gambrell Hall Room 429. For more in formation, call the Center for Asian Studies at 777-0437. Recital to feature black sacred music Students are invited to attend a recital of black sacred music entitled “Re membering Why We Sing” at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Union Baptist Church (1800 Germany Street, Columbia). The presentation consists of a combination of performance styles, musical quali ties, history and social function. For more information, call Frankie Good man at 777-2636. r.c. uenter win noia stress blowout The semiannual USC Stress Blowout “Late Night at the Blatt” will be from 6 p.m. to midnight Wednesday at the P.E. Center. There will be games, food, door prizes and more. The event is sponsored by Gamecocks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol, the Office of Alcohol & Drug Pro grams, Carolina Productions and USC Campus Recreation. Briefs for Campus Notes can be sub mitted to Russell House Room 333 or e-mailed togckfeatures@yahoo.com. We can't promise to print everything, but we can promise to try. • CORRECTIONS The caption for the Earth Week pho to on the front page Wednesday mis spelled the name of Sgt. 1st Class Wenk. The Gamecock strives to report the facts correctly and responsibly. If you come across any inaccuracies in our reportage, please let us know. Propecia I (finasteride) Ask your doctor about this pill } from T :rck. For more inform* tion, call 5 1-888-MERCK-74. I § o www.piopecia.com f*’ f r Throwing your money tlCutlQVK away on rent or dorm fees? csourccs Well Don’t Real Estate stnce 1983 Specializing in the sales of: Condos & Townhomes in the USC and Downtown Areas 799-0859 (Toll Free: 1-888-799-0859) 1516 Richland Street E-mail: landmark@logicsouth.com Establish yourself by investing in your future. Properties available in: Park Circle * Plaza Centre Senate Plaza * The Edisto Place on the Greene Single family homes also available I | M Sera Tec can help you earn some fast cash! New donors can earn... $25 First Donation $40 Second Donation Regular donors can earn $40 per calendar week! Bring I.D. w/ Date of Birth & Social Security Number | Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri - 7:30-4:00 • Tues & Thurs - 7:30-5:00 I_Now Open Saturdays ■ 9:00 -1:00_ j w I » j ra rlwiI m fe; PI r t 3L' m.3v 11*; EGG DONATION PROGRAM Women Helping Women Healthy, young women (21-32 years of age) are needed to donate eggs anonymously to help infertile couples achieve pregnancy. This procedure does not involve surrogacy and requires only a month of your time. Accepted donors are compensated $1,500 - $2,000. For more information call: 803.779.4668