Sexy Revenge

Sexy Revenge
By Lee Gerstmann
Copyright ©2007 Lee Gerstmann

Part One: The Situation

They are preparing to say goodbye. Their date lasted all day. She suggested they hold hands as long as possible. Everything was fine but tomorrow will be another day. He says, “Thank you for the companionship. I hope we can do this again, later.” She says, “I don’t see any reason to stop.” He laughs. “Wouldn’t it be great if we never had to let go?” “We aren’t going to let go.” “That’s funny but, seriously, I do need to do some things.” “I’ll do those things with you.” “You’re great but, really, I need to leave.” “It’s not going to happen.”






She says, “There’s nothing to worry about. My hand will take care of you.” He says, “This is a bit too surreal.” He notices they are still joined but now he is afraid of what might happen. She seemed nice enough when they met last week at the Laundromat but he was judging mostly by her style of dressing and how she wore her shirt tucked in. He was happy when he saw her wearing a tucked-in shirt this morning but now he wonders if her preference for tightness includes handholding rituals, also. He says, “Maybe we won’t go out again.” She says, “I’m not listening to a word you’re saying. I won’t let you get away.”






He tries to let go of her hand but encounters a problem. Her grip is firm. He continues wiggling his hand but she sticks like a piece of tape. She says, “Stop resisting. You’ll only make a fool of yourself in front of the neighbors.” He says, “Just give me time. I’ll escape.” She says, “You make it sound like something bad, like we’re enemies or something. You’re being mean and I don’t like it.” “I wouldn’t act this way if you weren’t so crazy.” “You’re getting exactly what you deserve. You were checking me out at the Laundromat, looking at me as if I was just an image and not a real person. Now you know I’m real because I’m holding on to you and I’m never going to stop holding on to you.” “It sounds like you’re teaching me a lesson.” “I guess so.”






She continues walking down various streets, dragging him along. She sings to herself, happy with her catch. This is a moment of pure rebellion where rules of logic do not apply. He is her trinket that she obtained during her travels to the land of folly. There is nothing like the feeling of complete control when all one has to do is lead another just by the mere physical essence of restraint. As far as she is concerned, he can moan and groan and twist and turn or whatever else he wants to try but he has no choice other than keep moving. The air is fresh and the breeze is blowing so the day is perfect for making two people into one entity. He ought to enjoy this.






Part Two: Thirty Minutes Later

They walk in the bar. He says, “I need a drink to get me through this.” She cries. “You think there’s something wrong with me.” “I don’t like feeling trapped.” “You’re hurting my feelings. Here I am, making your time with me a special and continuous thing of beauty and you act like I’m low class.” “Just be quiet for a while. After I have a beer, I’ll be feeling a little better. Then, I’ll probably think I’m imagining this and it will all go away.” “You don’t understand how upset I am. I cling to you but you don’t want me.” He shakes his head. “Whatever.” She says, “I’m better than that. I won’t let you put me down. I’m a quality person and you’re lucky to have me, so there.”






He says, “I’ll be right back. I just have to go to the bathroom.” She says, “You’re not going anywhere.” “Come on, be reasonable, for Pete’s sake. You can wait for me outside if you’re worried about my running off.” “You really think I’m stupid, don’t you? Once we break contact, it’s over. I told you I will not let go of your hand. Now, deal with it!” “What am I supposed to do?” He tugs his hand. She secures her grip. “You’re making lame excuses to break free from me. You said you wanted something to drink so get a beer or don’t get a beer but quit complaining. We’re here to have a good time.”






She says, “Let’s discuss this. We shouldn’t be angry. Come and sit down with me.” He says, “Okay but wait a second. I’ll be right back. I’m going to get us some beers.” He takes a few steps but she keeps a hold of him. “You don’t need anything. I just want us to talk and work this out. Please be reasonable.” He says, “There’s nothing to talk about. You’re under some weird spell and beer will do you good. Don’t worry about letting go. We’ll still be mentally holding on.” “Please just sit down. We need to be serious about this. We need to plan our life together. I want us to be happy.” “If I sit with you, can we discuss possible options?” “We can’t discuss separation but we can discuss other things.” “Then there’s no point.” “Please just sit with me for a few minutes. I’ll let you talk about whatever you want.”






She says, “Okay, now it’s time for the bonding process.” He asks, “What do you mean?” She says, “As we keep holding on, our energies will flow together. We will become more and more alike. We both have long hair and we both wear our shirts tucked in. Later, we will think the same thoughts and will forget we used to be two separate people.” “Are you on something?” “Yes. I’m getting a high from your energy. Let’s just sit here until closing time and stare at each other. It will be the ultimate trip.” “But…” “Sssh. Look at me. This is perfection.” He feels caught in a sexy web of insanity. He thinks to himself that, if this is perfection, trouble cannot be all that bad.

Continuous

Continuous

A fable by Lee Gerstmann

One:

In one neighborhood, there is not much to do. One can imagine attending a large party or meeting up with others to dance in a parking lot but the reality is altogether different. A man wanders down the street on any given day, looking at the sidewalk and the walls of apartment complexes, reminding himself today’s journey is nothing more than a way to make time pass as he takes each step. A woman walks towards him, a coincidence of geographic placement. They will pass each other and go their separate ways. However, she figures a quick hello will not hurt. She extends her hand, hoping he will shake it, making just enough of a difference on an otherwise typical morning.





Two:
They shake. Something new is happening. The air seems to be fresher, even if just a little bit. A connection is forming between them as they understand what they have in common regarding monotony. He is experiencing a moment more entertaining than counting how many blocks he has walked. He says, “I’m Lee.” She says, “I’m Jenni.” They look at each other, not saying any more for now. The day is still early and quiet and they feel satisfied with what has happened so far, without needing extras. There is always tomorrow to add another chapter. This has been a big step in itself, like getting out of bed before fully awake. As soon as they part company, they will have all day to think about what might happen next.





Three:
She keeps shaking his hand and he is not sure how he feels about the situation. She says, “I’m so glad you’re my friend.” He responds, “We just met each other but I guess you’re my friend.” He realizes there is not much to do in this town so maybe a handshake is a big deal but something seems strange about the way she continues going at it. However, he does not want to judge her so quickly. She could be momentarily euphoric and will come down from her high soon. She says, “This is wonderful. I’m now really happy.” He says, “I guess I can understand how you feel.” She says, “Of course you can. You’re my good friend. We know a lot about each other.” He senses she is getting carried away in a situation getting too awkward for his comfort.





Four:
She is still shaking his hand and apparently will not stop. He is getting caught in a situation becoming as continuous as his ordinary routine. Perhaps this town is about consistency and each action, regardless of what it is, goes on and on. However, he is afraid they will stay like this all day unless he chances appearing rude and yanks his hand away. He tries but she keeps holding on. Up and down their hands go as if the moment is frozen and nothing can interrupt. He asks, “Can we stop now?” She says, “But I’m your good friend. I want you to shake my hand.” He says, “You can’t hold on forever.” She says, “I like your hand. I want to keep it.”




Five:
Everything is getting complicated. He should have disregarded her initial greeting and kept on his safe course, continuing his day with no surprises. He says, “If I have given any wrong impressions, I apologize. I did not mean to make you think I had unlimited time to stay with you. I need to leave and I need you to let go of me.” She says, “No. That can’t happen. There’s no turning back. I like your hand. I need it.” He pleads, “I beg you to listen to reason. We can’t go on like this. We lead separate lives.” She says, “You’re the one who needs to listen. This is not temporary. This is continuous. I’m not going back to the way things were.”





Six:
He is tired of playing her game. If she needs a security blanket, he will not volunteer to be one. He attempts to escape but she is nervous and secures his hand with both of hers. She asks, “What are you doing? You’re making this difficult for me. Please stop.” He says, “As soon as we break contact, you’ll see how silly this has been.” She says, “Uh oh. I think you’re really trying to put an end to this. I can’t let you do it. I have nothing going on in this boring town. I finally have something and you’re not going to take it away from me.” He says, “You’re dealing with something imaginary.” She says, “I’m not imagining anything. As you can see, I’ve got you.”





Seven:
Their entanglement seems more purposeful the longer she holds on but he is reluctant to incorporate this experience in his regular environment. They have different lives and different addresses. His walking through town with her attached to him will cause problems. Purchasing items at stores and eating food at restaurants will be difficult. He asks, “Don’t you realize how crazy this whole plan is?” She says, “I’m not worried. You’re my good friend. We’ll get through this together.” He asks, “Why can’t you stick to one of your other friends?” She says, “You’re perfect. You should be happy.”




Eight:
He says, “I’ll be happy when I get loose from your trap.” He feels like he is a bee and she is a flower and this whole thing is meant to be a hard lesson. He should have been happy with the way things were instead of thinking he needed more. She is delighted with their union but this makes him more determined to break it off. As soon as he pries her other hand away, he will work on the hand holding his, like peeling layers of a predicament. As he struggles, she giggles and says, “This is fun. I am so glad we are working together as a team.”






Nine:
He cannot take this anymore. He says, “You’re driving me crazy! This is like being handcuffed! Release me now or I’ll scream!” She says, “We can go to the park. There’s always a breeze and the pigeons are nice to watch.” He yells, “Don’t talk about any damn pigeons! Someone is bound to walk by and see I’m in trouble and come to my rescue! You won’t be so quick to smile, then!” She says, “There’s a movie theater with cheap prices where we can watch something. I like comedies but I’m cool with adventures movies, too.” He screams, “Damn it! We’re not a couple!” She asks, “Do you like to ride the bus?”





Ten:
Somehow, and he is not sure why, her question strikes a chord. He purposefully avoids riding the bus unless in the case of emergency and he has occasionally voiced his opinion on public transportation to others. He says, “Well, in all honesty, I prefer to walk. Bus fares have gone up and there’s less time on the transfers so I don’t like to support being ripped off. Plus, there’s really nowhere to go in this town. The best thing to do is just walk around the neighborhoods.” She says, “I agree. There’s not much to do.” He is about to feel more at ease until she says, “I like your hand.”





Eleven:
He can now see what she is doing. Her plan is to shake him out of his rut and focus on her as opposed to inanimate objects that pose no challenges. However, he has strong feelings of independence and he chooses to put up a bit of resistance to show he can present a challenge, as well. He yanks his arm away and mentions, “You should know I can be a rebel and I’m not easily tamed. I’m still trying to go.” She says, “I like that about you. I’m a rebel, too. That’s why we have to break the rules of convention. We can’t allow time to tell us to stop. We have to keep this continuous.” He says, “Maybe you’re right.”





Twelve:
A new level of awareness has come over him. She has been that element of unpredictability he has searched for while wandering through town. However, their chance encounter is not fleeting but lingering. For them to separate would be the conventional conclusion like just another numbered moment on the shelf of memories. He looks at her face of contentment and he is pleased. He sees she presents that part of him he could not have shown on his own. He is not sure if she feels vice versa but such is not his concern. The most important thing is continuity.





Conclusion:
She removes her other hand, showing a sign of trust towards their progress. She asks, “So, we’re friends, again?” He answers, “Indeed.” She says, “Good. It is nice to meet you.” He says, “Likewise.” They shake hands, on and on, in a continuous reaffirmation of what sharing moments have been all about. Her grip is firm enough for both of them and their hands move up and down with the rhythmic consistency of a bilge-pump while they make comments like “Put it there, buddy”, “Cheers”, “Congratulations” and the more traditional “How do you do” as the day rolls on and nothing else matters.

The Togetherness Trap

The Togetherness Trap
By Lee Gerstmann, 2007

1:

Always Holding Hands

No matter what happens
they are always holding hands
during day and through the night
forgetting about schedules and errands
making a fantasy come to life
with no regard for consequences
or witnesses and newspaper headlines
because the air is fresh
on this day of afternoon sunshine
and everything seems surreal but clear
while they continue the walk
always holding hands




2:
The Togetherness Trap

Togetherness can be a trap
sometimes sticky
sometimes sweet
but always unexpected
when one says yes and the other says no
while the connection continues to flow
beyond the realm of probability
as the world continues to pass by
flashing moments on the highway of life
and two hands stay connected
One is determined
One is reluctant
but communication never stops





3:
Communication Gap

One can plead with hand on heart
but continue to find no way out
as the togetherness trap keeps on sticking
Translation is a tricky matter
refusing to smooth the carpet of conflict
granting no permission for change of scene
Fate laughs at attempts of escape
regardless of any words spoken
Persuasion becomes merely false rhetoric
when dealng with a firm grip and smile





4:

Surprise, Surprise

Surprise, surprise... this is for keeps
and not quite what was bargained for
One was imagining a false permanence
Another was wanting the real thing
Now he is stuck like a finger in the bottle
trying to pull away from gravity
never understanding complex communication
dealing with a persistent partner
as she is sure of their connection
providing a squeeze of pressure if necessary
all in the name of togetherness





5:
Parting Can Be Awkward

Parting can be awkward
when two have shared happy moments
Final goodbyes can take a while
as he tries desperately to work loose
but she keeps clinging with desperation
causing the prolonging of resolve
while groaning takes the place of laughter
and contact has not quite ceased
so everything stays the same on the surface
and that is why parting can be awkward





6:
Separation

Separation can be impossible
when she continues holding on
trapping his fingers
sticking around like a persistent memory
reminding him of responsibilities
and unanswered questions
His getaway plan proves unsuccessful
going against the flow of the connection
but he can correct his mistake anytime
and she will be around to listen




7:
Arguments

Arguments are bound to happen
when conflicts arise among couples
He wants to watch sports
She wants to stroll through the park
Such is the paradox of duality
combining attraction and irritation
fusing together and becoming one entity
all because of clever persistence
causing his inability to escape





8:
Suspense

Suspense allows him a glimmer of hope
as she appears to understand his attitude
pretending that soon he will be released
allowing for his renewed independence
but he has to wait a little bit longer
as she lets the situation linger
making the process ever-so-slow
building the tension just like a movie
while he feels better in his disillusion





9:
Too Good To Be True

His hopes are too good to be true
as she proves to remain the faithful partner
staying with him like sticky taffy
harder to remove as time rolls on
He has learned the hardest of lessons
when dealing with human interaction
almost forgetting his initial desire
all because of his stubborn ego
but he will soon remember the bliss
whether or not he has a choice





10:
Happiness Returns

They continue on their way again
as if no trouble ever existed
The togetherness trap keeps holding strong
allowing for him the comfort of security
while she sticks true to the occasion
letting everyone know they are inseparable
today and tomorrow and more days to come
proving their bond is oh-so-sincere
because he has no other choices
on this day of business as usual

Handshake Pictures Needed (with women wearing these outfits)

When I go out and do handshake pictures with women for my chapbooks, I am looking forward to the day I find women wearing these particular types of outfits. The shirt is tucked-in on each outfit and that is a major reason why I like the outfits. If you are a woman willing to appear in some handshake pictures with me while wearing one of the tucked-in sweater outfits or one of the layered-look outfits, I will be extremely ecstatic when we do handshake pictures together.
However, all of these outfits are quite nice.

Just a somewhat conventional but sexy long-sleeved T-shirt and pants outfit will suffice and will make my day if you wear this type of thing when doing pictures with me.



Another sexy and a tad bit less conventional take on the regular shirt and pants look is this example that would elevate my status from mere everyday person to someone able to attract a woman wearing this type of thing. I'd be ever grateful to a woman willing to do handshake pictures with me while wearing this type of outfit.


Now we are getting into the area of the boss-who-thinks-he-is-meeting-a-secretary-but-finds-he-is-meeting-another-boss-so-they-go-for-after-hours-drinks-in-his-or-her-yacht type of scenario. The turtleneck look is quite cool and European-ish and will definitely add a bit of pizzazz to any woman willing to wear it while appearing in some handshake pictures with me.


Now here is more of the area of ooh-wow-I-would-like-to-meet-a-woman-wearing-this and as soon as that type of area comes around my block, I will be ready to subscribe for any services rendered. Seriously, though, I would be jumping for joy if a woman is willing to do handshake pictures with me while wearing something like that tight black shirt and pants look.


Now we are getting into the land of the surreal with an outfit such as this tight sweater tucked into pants. This is just almost too much and would be my dream come true if I was able to do handshake pictures with a woman wearing this type of outfit.


I would love if a woman was daring enough to wear her tucked-in T-shirt so tight that it looked like it would never come off! I yearn for the day I can do handshake pictures with a woman wearing something looking almost exactly (if not TOTALLY exactly) like this outfit.


She looks ready to give me some cooking lessons and I am ready to taste anything she makes. This is a quite classy look and any woman willing to wear this type of sweater outfit tucked in while doing handshake pictures with me would receive many thank you responses from me. This sweater is not extremely thick so women ought not be afraid to try tucking in one of them from time to time.


This is one of those I-never-would-have-dreamed-I-would-see-a-woman-wearing-this-type-of-sweater-tucked-in-with-shirt-collar-peeking-underneath-in-my-neighborhood-as-if-such-a-thing-is-ordinary types of outfits. She looks quite attractive and one of my fantasies is doing handshake pictures with a woman wearing that type of sweater tucked in with the shirt collar showing on the neckline. Ooh la la!


It is a shame this type of look is so rare nowadays because it is a beautiful look for women. Such a thick tucked-in sweater almost makes me faint! I would love if a woman did handshake pictures with me while wearing a tucked-in sweater like this. Do I see any volunteers? Please?


This outfit is almost too sexy to show. It is awesome!! Please!! I beg a woman to do handshake pictures with me while wearing this type of outfit!!

Remember, it does not have to be the exact colors of clothes or the exact physical body type of woman that I am looking for while doing handshake pictures with a woman... I am looking for women willing to wear certain outfit and I am willing to give out my poetry to those willing to appear in those outfits and do handshake pictures with me. The further up the list a woman goes as to what kind of outfit she is willing to wear (for instance: number 8 is further up from number 2), the more poetry I am willing to give. Please let me know if you are a woman willing to wear one of these types of outfits. If you know what number of outfit you might wear, I would be happy to know in advance.