Michael's story on Gather:
These are the Michael-stories I have posted so far. I will keep updating the list as I add more. There is no particular order in which they must be read. Some are full stand-alone stories; others
are just small drabbles.
About Michael's Story
Michael's story took about two and half years to write. I'm currently trying to edit all the pieces in the hopes of putting them together as a collection.
There is no particular order in which the stories must be read, though Mudo was the first written, and Mexico Can't Wait was the last. They're all narrated by Michael. They're meant to be a series of memories, and as such, they are all colored by the narrator's perception and feelings about the events.
Cast of Characters
Michael Malone -
Narrator of these stories.
Jennifer "Jenny" Lee-
Michael's love interest and co-worker.
Andrew Zachary "Anzack" Thomas -
Jenny's overbearing boyfriend.
Julian "Jules" Conway-
Michael's bandmate, plays drums.
Once made out with Michael while drunk.
Ian "Mac" Mackenzie-
Michael's bandmate, plays keyboards and bass.
He is older (and wiser) than Michael and Jules.
Maxwell "Texas" Caine-
A music manager who is interested in Never Cry Wolf.
Arthur Malone-
Michael's father. Arthur is an accountant, and a heavy drinker.
Felicity Malone-
Michael's absent mother.
Sofie D'Amo -
Hemp girl, Michael's first girlfriend. A hippie wiccan.
Annie Mackenzie-
Mac's daughter
Never Cry Wolf -
The name of Michael's indie-rock band - other band members are Jules and Mac.
Places:
Perinthus, NY-
The town in which Michael lives, works, and goes to school.
Perinthus University-
Michael's school, known frequently to the students as 'Old PU'.
Java the Hut-
Where Michael works as a barista during his college years.
Hoboken, NJ-
Where Michael's father lives, and Michael spent a good portion of his childhood.
Wildwood, NJ
Every summer, Never Cry Wolf goes to Wildwood and plays some gigs.
Publications:
Some of the Michael-stories have been published-
Mudo
published in the Feb 2006 issue of the Santa Clara Review.
California People
won a 100 dollar short story prize given by Life for Change
Dancing, Playing Scrabble, and Feliz Cumpleanos
published in It Takes All Kinds
Michael about himself: There's not really much to tell. I'm just an ordinary guy. I'm kinda short , kinda skinny - work at the Java the Hut to put myself through college. I'm in this band called Never Cry Wolf with my best friends Mac and Jules. I've got this girl I like, Jenny, who dates this real jerk. Someday I hope to change her mind about all that. She deserves better. I lived in New York until I was 14, then my mother left and my dad and me moved to Hoboken. I lived there until I graduated high school, then I went to California. I don't talk about California. I came back from there when I was 22, and started college at University of Perinthus. I play guitar. Sometimes I dream about the band making it big. I don't really talk a lot.. people tend to scare me, so it's kinda hard to make friends. I've been trying to cut back on the drugs lately, and I've pretty much given up drinking and smoking. I think my mother lives in Mexico, don't know for sure though. It's been almost ten years since I've seen her.
Jules (Michael's bandmate) about Michael: I've come to realize I kinda love him more than just in the friend way, but that's more my issue than his. I mean, he's all about Jenny now and we only made out the one time and we were both drunk and I don't think he remembers so it doesn't count. Besides I'm not gay. Completely not. Or bi, either. It's just a thing, you know? It's just because he's Michael. It's hard not to love Michael, really. There's just something about him that gets to you. Life has kind of kicked Mike in the ass more than once, but he keeps going, more or less. He's been my best friend in high school. Sometimes I wonder what happened to him in California, and I was kinda pissed he left me to go to college by myself- but that's water under the proverbial bridge now. He's the frontman for our band, the singer which is real funny considering he hardly talks at all - but he's so good at it. He's got this presence that makes people notice us. I think he'll go far, and hopefully take us along with him.
Mac (Michael's bandmate) about Michael: The best way I can think of to explain Michael is this: externally, he's like a still pond while internally he's more like a whirlpool. He's always thinking about things, always observing. And he's got a very kind heart. Michael's just not all that good at relating to people, socially. Maybe it's because he's had a lot of disappointment in his life. Never Cry Wolf provides some stability for him, and that's a good thing. He's the kind of guy you can depend on to be there when the chips are down. He's not entirely aware of his own self-worth, and I think he struggles with his identity. But he'll get it together someday, I have faith in him.
Arthur (Michael's father) about Michael: Kid has issues. I tried my best, but it wasn't easy to raise him after his mother up and left us. Michael was very silent, very sullen - kinda like he was quietly accusing me of making her go away. It didn't do wonders for our relationship. Plus, he's not very practical - he's into that music of his to the point that it overrides his common sense. I understand that he's got talent, but that's not dependable. You need more than that to make a living. I'm worried that he'll someday wind up poor and penniless and alone. I'm not getting any younger, and he doesn't come home to see me all that much. I've been trying to make amends for my transgressions, AA's been pretty helpful with that - but I'm not sure Michael forgives me. With his nature, it's hard to tell what emotion he's feeling at all.
Jenny (Michael's future girlfriend) about Michael: He's a great guy, really. He's my co-worker at the Hut, and he's always there to cover a shift or make me laugh. More than that, we're friends - I can always count on him to listen, and he's very kind. And so talented with his music- he's going to be famous someday, I know it. And he's attractive, though he doesn't really realize it. Too attractive. It causes problems, sometimes, and it's causing me to have quite a few dilemmas that I really wasn't prepared for. He's confusing, and sometimes difficult to read.
Anzack (Jenny's current boyfriend) about Michael- Little shit better stop sniffing around my girl, that's what I say. He's all emo-boy, acting like he's so sensitive with that guitar and those songs. You know it's just an act, right? I mean deep down, he belches and farts and scratches himself just like the rest of us. Nothing special about him. And he's short, too. He pisses me off something fierce, the way he's always talking to Jenny at work, and sometimes calling her up, and sending stupid emails and everything. If he's not careful, I'm going to bust his head in one of these days.
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Comments: 6
Darcey D.