RAT PACK REVUE: DIVORCE YOUR LOVED ONE WITH DIGNITY ~ By Anthony Venutolo of Harbinger*33

DIVORCE YOUR LOVED ONE

WITH DIGNITY

 ~ By Anthony Venutolo

This is one of my favorite pictures of Frank Sinatra. Oozes  atmosphere. It was taken on the set of "Marriage on the Rocks," a 1965 movie comedy with Sinatra, Deborah Kerr and Dean Martin. The film centers on an ad-agency president who flies to Mexico to celebrate his nineteenth wedding anniversary, but ends up divorced by mistake.

While Frank Sinatra divorced Ava Gardner in 1957, I've always imagined him getting a quickie divorce from her over the border whenever I see this pic. In fact,  for the longest time, that's what I actually thought.

On that note, 

it may have gone a little something like this...

 

# # # 

"We can't even take care of ourselves, Francis. How were we going to take care of a baby?"


That's what Ava said to me. I knew that was the beginning of the end for us. If she only knew how much I loved her. I left my wife for her.

She said it again and I fluffed it off. It repeated in my head but I didn't know what the fuck it meant. I already had three kids and they were just fine. She would have ours and he, she -- it -- would be fine, too.
 
We've been down this road before. About a year ago, she didn't tell me about the first abortion and I never let her forget it. That was her first and last warning.
 
This time when she was knocked up, the studio got involved. Some bullshit about penalty clauses.
 
I tried to reason with her. "Baby, you're one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Do you think that schnook Harry Cohn is gonna fine you?"
 
"He'd do it. Never liked you..."
 
My blood boiled. Any other time or place, I would snap his back like a toothpick and then use it for lunch. "Me? He was a bum when I got into town and he's still one."
 
She nodded, half-afraid. She knew I was right.
 
"I'll take care of it, baby," I said as I poured the Jack.
 
"Frankie... Don't...," was all she said and looked away.
 
I bit my bottom lip and headed out to the pool with the Jack. Her "don't" told me a lot. It said that those silly Hemingway movies were more important to her than anything else. It also told me she had no confidence - maybe in me as a father, herself as a mother - I dunno.
 
Yup, I knew what that "don't" meant. I went back inside to convince her that this baby would save us, but it was too late.
 
And as I watched her walk out the door to get her second abortion, I knew we'd be in Mexico this time next week signing the papers.
 
It wasn't long before I started to dread the heat.

# # #

(c) 2011 ~ Author Anthony Venutolo

RAT PACK REVUE ~ AT THE BIJOU 

And now, just listen to the pain in Frank's voice as he sings "I'm A Fool To Want You," undoubtedly to Ava. Gives me chills...

          

AUTHOR ANTHONY VENUTOLO

Not that far from Hoboken, this slick cat knows his Joisey stuff. Acclaimed Editor at a Pulitzer Prize winning daily newspaer, afficiando of everything that swings cool, Mr Venutolo only tells it like it is with characteristic flair. Of all the gin joints in all the world, he wandered into mine one day and I've been wondering since how the lights got a little brighter, the beat ever snappier. We know him as the host with the most down the stairs at BUKOWSKI'S BASEMENT. As Ant spiels it ~

"It's primarily a showcase for nuggets that can range from Skid Row to the Savoy as well as gritty creative posts in the form of prose poems and flash fiction. So pour yourself some cheap hooch and settle in because this is a place to celebrate all things wonderous in the gin-soaked literary landscape of Chuck Buk, Jack Kerouac, Tom Waits and Raymond Carver."

 

I knew only Anthony could pour forth the sense of Sinatra. He does it like some sip single malt scotch, and with a cool swagger you remember long after the night was young. Luck be this lady tonight, hosting the RATPACKREVUE AT THE BIJOU, for he sure did it swell folks, didn't he? How tender does it get? 

"Thanks pally,"          

 ~ Absolutely*Kate         

SCOOP! Watch for Anthony Venutolo's first Amazon releases to Kindle your fires. Announcements coming soon. Some of his finer pieces

AT THE BIJOU are here, including our very first "talkie",

"An Unlikely Partner". Ya gotta hear that one.       

RAT PACK SHOWS 

PLAYING AT THE BIJOU

         

RATPACKREVUE

Tuesdays.

Thursdays.

Saturday Matinees too.

Be there or be square.

RATPACKREVUE 

AT THE BIJOU

Always swell to see you here.

~ Absolutely*Kate,

and our swanky staff of renown

THE PACK DON'T WANT YA TO MISS A SHOW:

Sinatra: "If power doesn't mean that you have the opportunity to work with the people that you love, then you haven't really got any."

Opening Night: "RAT PACK REVUE TO YOU"

RAT PACK REVUE: ROBERT J RANDISI TAKES THE STAGE

RAT PACK REVUE: "How Did All These People Get Into My Room?"  By Robert J Randisi, working the lounge before he hits the main room

RAT PACK REVUE: "Ain't That A Kick In The Head"  By Robert J Randisi, paying homage to Ocean's 11, the original . . . for all the right reasons

RAT PACK REVUE:  "Who's Got The Action" By Kevin Michaels, knowin' more than the night club scene 

RAT PACK REVUE:  "STAR" By Julie Morgan,  hitchin' TinselTown to a dick's star

RAT PACK REVUE:  "OH SOUL O'MIO" By Absolutely*Kate,  mirroring more than Dorsey

 

RATPACKREVUE 

  

~ ON OUR SWANKY STAGE ~

BIJOU AUTHORS ~  ERIC BEETNER ~ PAUL BRAZILL ~ KEVIN MICHAELS ~ ANTHONY VENUTOLO ~ and ABSOLUTELY*KATE

BIJOU DEBUT ~ JULIE (LEWTHWAITE) MORGAN ~ SEAN PATRICK REARDON

PLUS STAGE AFTER PAGE AGAIN ~ OUR HEADLINER ~

MORE OF RAT PACK MYSTERY AUTHOR ROBERT J RANDISI

WITH A FINALE OF AN RJR INTERVIEW (or Roast?) AT THE BIJOU

~ ~ ~ ~

STAY TUNED. 

PLAY GOOD TUNES.

POUR. ENJOY.

~ ~ ~ ~

 

IT'S NOT YOU ~ By Ryn Cricket

IT'S NOT YOU

By ~ Ryn Cricket

Katie and David were sitting on the couch while their mother paced back and forth in front of them.  She looked like a lawyer about to give her final argument, but they didn’t know what it was.  Both of them were doing well in school, in soccer, in everything.  They didn’t hang out with the “wrong kids.”  They had no idea why they were summoned to the couch.

“I have something to tell you.”  She began.  Minds were racing –death, disease, moving…

“Your father and I are getting a divorce.”  That wasn’t even an idea in either of their heads.  Nothing they had braced for or imagined.  By the look of shock on their faces, she felt she must continue.

“I really want you two to understand something.  I know most kids think it’s their fault when this happens, and most parents try to explain that it isn’t –because it isn’t.  But somehow, the kids never believe them.  But here’s the thing, your father and I stayed together so long because of you –not for you, but because of you.  What I mean is, as the four of us, we are awesome, aren’t we?  I mean dad coaches the soccer team, you guys play, I’m the team mom who bakes cookies, and we all go out for pizza.  We have fun.  We are a great family.  –But the two of us are just horrible.  And when you two aren’t around, it’s miserable.  When you start dating and hanging out outside without us, and go to college, we might resort to killing each other –that’s a joke…” she laughed nervously.  “You’re getting close to that age, and we can’t face it together.  I know this sucks.  I know.  It sucks for me too.  I LOVE the four of us, but the two of us, just aren’t working.”

Katie and David just sat there stunned.  You could see their minds reeling through moments.  Did they miss something?  How did they not see it?  Were all of their great times fake?  There was just nothing they could say.  They didn’t talk at dinner.  Since their father didn’t come home that night, it was a very quiet house.  Both of them left the table after dinner mumbling something about homework.  And that was it.

Their mother was left sitting by herself on the couch all night, hoping, praying they understood, hoping they didn’t hate her or resent her, hoping she could do this.

The next morning passed without a word.  Both Katie and David woke up and got ready without any prodding.  They had their usual toast with cinnamon sugar and orange juice.  And they grabbed their packed lunch, without a word, without looking in their mother’s eyes, without looking at anything.

It wasn’t 30 minutes before the phone rang.  The voice on the other side said, “Is this Mrs. Haley?” 

“Yes, who is this?” she answered wondering if she should change that after the proceedings, or should she keep it to be the same as her children.

“This is the police, ma’am.”  And he paused for a long time.  Long enough to wonder what kind off trouble her husband –soon to be ex-husband was in.  Or no, maybe David skipped school and he was picked up somewhere…

“You have a son, David, and a daughter Katie?”

“Yes.”  She said almost quietly.  David would cut school, but Katie, never.  “What is this about?”

“Their school bus was in an accident this morning, and I’m sorry, but…”

 (c) 2010 ~ Author Ryn Cricket

We're proud to say . . . Written to play  ~ AT THE BIJOU

Ryn Cricket, sensitive strong and true, writes from along the shores of Lake Erie from voice and experience that knows the world. I believe her great grandmother speaks stories directly through Ryn sometimes (that novel of tales is up to page 76 already!) . . . whereas other times a spirit of peace simply (thus strongy) stirs up from this author's colourful past:

ABSOLUTELY*KATE: Hey dear lady, why is the sensation of peace used so strongly in that which ushers you in, Katherynpeace's Blog?

  
RYN:  The name "peace" comes from two things:  When I spent some time in an ashram I acquired the name "shanti" which is Sanskrit for peace, and also, because I was in the Peace Corps, I love that word too.  About 20 years ago I had a bracelet I wore everyday with the word peace engraved in all different languages.  And I have John Lennon doves all over my house.  So another thing in common with you, former Ohio girl.  -- That and I was called Kathy growing up too. Thanks for the wonderful e-mail though, because even your e-mails are a joy to read.

ABSOLUTELY*KATE: Same backatcha Katheryn, but our readers wonder since writing from you breezes in like when the windows first get screens in spring*time, you work hard and easy at life, don't you?

  

RYN:  When I talk to people, I always hear, “I always wanted to do that,” or “You’re so lucky!” I NEVER want to be the person who says those things. I am not lucky, I make things work. I don’t think I want to do that.  I do it.

ABSOLUTELY*KATE: When NIKE calls my promotional offices, Ryn, I'll be sure to send them your way! Thanks for composing this piece AT THE BIJOU and for the lovely writings from you which will appear after Harbinger*33 sets sail in my upcoming book ~ WOMEN*LOVERS*FRIENDS&MOTHERS. It's always a pleasure to have your stuff hanging 'round where good readers feast their need to read.

 

That reaffirming Bio'stuff: When Ryn was in the seventh grade she thought she wanted to do three things when she grew up, she wanted to be an English teacher, a writer and a mother.   All of that traveling, adventure, and Peace Corps was just research for what was to come.  After more than twenty years of being told she would never be able to have children, she had two beautiful baby girls, a year and a half apart. She spends many of her daytime hours teaching English at Case Western Reserve University, and all of the rest of her time, inspiring her two little girls, or being inspired by writing at the writers’ workshop she calls “home. More Ryn? Stories That Lift make it so.

*Clink* to always making it happen!

~ Absolutely*Kate and

our fine staff of renown,

AT THE BIJOU