Unsung Heroes - Readers. Twilight Lawns goes to Italy. Part 1 of 42.
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We are talking about…
September 24th, 2011
Toronto International Airport (YYZ).
Svetlana waits for the British Airways flight to London.
She writes something on her computer. Well, not something, she writes a hub…
A man approaches her and starts singing “Kiss of Fire”.
Luis Armstrong
I touch your lips and all at once the sparks go flying
Those devil lips that know so well the ART OF LYING
And though I see the danger, still the flame grows higher
I know I must surrender to your kiss of fire…
He sings beautifully.
She glances over her screen and …
- Luciano, darling! What are you doing here?
- Isn’t it obvious? I am bringing sunshine into your world.
- With that killer of a smile of yours? Of course, it is obvious, but…
- I am flying to Rome.
- What a coincidence! Me, too.
- Well, if you are flying to Rome, then you are at the wrong gate. This flight goes to London.
- I know, I know… I am flying to London first to meet a fellow hubber.
- A hubber? Is that a word?
- Of course, it is a word. It is not my favourite…
- Does it mean anything?
- No, it does not mean much. There is a web-site called “HubPages” and people can publish their work there. Those pieces or items are called Hubs.
- Hubs? Why not tires?
- I suppose some of them should be called “tires” because they put you to sleep after the first paragraph if you manage that much…
- That bad?
- Well, it depends on the author, of course.
- Do you have to use that ghastly word? Can you call them mmm…. What are they anyways? Is there a synonym? Can you call them articles?
- You can call them anything. Pick your favourite word and feel free…
- You know my favourite word.
- ??? Do I? Desire?
- Well, that, too. My favourite word is “dance” and my favourite dance it tango.
- Well, call them dances then.
- How will it work exactly? A hub is a piece of… a piece of… a piece of …words choreographed in a … No, I am not so good with words. Besides, I am trying to define something that you gave me no explanation for. Why do you call them hubs?
- I don’t know exactly why, as I have mentioned I don’t like either word - “a hub” or “a hubber”, but those pieces incorporate more than text and pictures. There are video clips and links and polls and quizzes, it is the age of the Internet, so the idea of an article has changed.
- I am glad the idea of “a dance” has not changed that much.
- I did not know you were so conservative. But a dancer must have imagination, just like a writer or any artist… Everything changes…
- Everything changes except my desire… “I can't resist you, what good is there in trying? What good is there denying you're all that I desire?”
- Luciano, por favor… Would you, please, stop… You know me so well, I’d love to tango with you right now, but I am working.
- Here? Are you working here?
- I am writing. I’m late, there is a story…
- Are you writing?
- Luciano, I am a writer and I am writing now…
- What? What are you writing? Can I read? Are you published?
- Yes, you can read, but, no, I am not a PUBLISHED author. I came across one “hubber” who wrote in his profile. “I am a “PUBLISHED” author”, the word “PUBLISHED” was capitalized. I laughed.
- Why?
- Because it tells everybody else who is not a PUBLISHED author that he or she is a piece of … a piece of … a piece of… to borrow your expression.
- Oh, don’t be too hard on yourself. Where can I read you, my Unpublished authoress?
- You can read me on HubPages.
- Oh, again, this word…Do they pay you?
- Who?
- Hub… whatever?
- No, Hub … whatever does not pay me. Hub… whatever LETS me publish there what I write. Regardless of the quality. Nobody charges me, but nobody pays me either.
- So, why then?
- Do you love to dance?
- You know I LOVE IT.
- So do I. But I love both: dancing and writing. I cannot NOT write. It is a passion, it is a curse, it is…
- OK, I get it, whatever it is…
- Just replace the “kiss of fire” and “you” with the “passion for writing”
Just like a torch, you set the soul within me burning
I must go on, I'm on this road of no returning
And though it burns me and it turns me into ashes
My whole world crashes without your kiss of fire!
Painting the canvas of my soul...
- Svetlana, you are so poetic!
- Pathetic?
- POETIC!!! Don’t pretend to be deaf, I know you hear quite well – we have danced! You are my favourite tanguera!
- Luciano, mi amor… You know what this fellow hubber called me once? “The Hight Priestess of the Written Word”, but I thought about it …
- Svetlana, you are a tanguera and …
- OK, “The Tanguera of the Written Word”.
- So, what have you written so far?
- You can go and read, I will give you the link, but right now, I am writing the story that is called“Autobiography in 42 Chapters”.
- Have you finished it?
- No, I have only just begun…painting the canvas…
- How do you know then that it will be 42 Chapters?
- I don’t know, the number is… Oh, never mind… Let me show you my page…. Oh, give me a sec, I will check my e-mail…
Checks her e-mail, reads…
- Oh, no!!!
- Que pasa?
- Ian said his flight was cancelled.
- Cancelled? Why on earth?
- He said there was a group from the British Museum and the archaelogical expedition and some equipment and there… Vespasian or something… Wait, it does not make any sense… Something about a bomb… I don’t understand. I am sure he will tell me all about it tomorrow when I see him. He probably will not be too happy. But he asked me to go directly to Rome…
- Prima! I love you! Then you are coming with me!!!
- Luciano, I am not sure I would be able to exchange the tickets…
- Nonsense, you don’t have to exchange anything, you are coming with me – Business Class.
- Out of the question! I cannot accept.
- Sure, you can. You are coming with me.
- Have you noticed that you have not even asked me? You has just told me.
- Of course, I am the man.
- Sure you are, but you are not MY man to pay for the luxury like this. Why?
- Why? Why? Why? Do you always have to know why? Maybe I hope to finally seduce you? Maybe I want to become YOUR man? Such a beautiful woman. Why? Why? Why?
- (mutters under her breath) Be careful what you wish for…
Luciano starts singing again and this time dances tango…and this time Svetlana joins him in both – singing and dancing.
I can't resist you, what good is there in trying?
What good is there denying you're all that I desire?
Since first I kissed you my heart was yours completely
If I'm a SLAVE, then it's a SLAVE I want to be
Don't pity me, don't pity me!!!
[The song is played again].
Kiss of Fire - Georgia Gibbs
- Georgia Gibbs - Kiss Of Fire - 1952 - YouTube
This song was recorded by several artists in 1952. Georgia's version was the biggest hit. - Please listen - you won't regret it.
On the plane to Rome
- Luciano, I am sorry, I am afraid I am not the best company. I must write, I have a deadline.
- I HATE everything that is dead, lines included. But if you must, you must… Let me read your story…
- The first chapter is called “The passion for the forbidden dance”.
- How becoming!
He reads two chapters.
- So, what has happened to Dolores? And who was that bastard who shot her? Some autobiography…
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Unsung Heroes - Readers Series.
- Unsung Heroes - Readers. FROM YYZ TO AAZ.
A story about Augustine - a prominent author on HubPages and a friend. A thank-you card? collage? story? Not everything can be defined. Maybe he is the first one to get something of this kind.
A Trip to Italy
- Unsung Heroes - Readers. Twilight Lawns goes to Italy. Part 2 of 42.
The Big Day. Friends meet in Rome. There are too many things that seem improbable. Parallel plots, parallel conversations… It is only a beginning of a journey… The first day feels overwhelming. - Unsung Heroes - Readers. Twilight Lawns goes to Italy. Part 3 of 42.
It's a dark, dark night. Dolores wakes up and she is caught .. at the crossroads of infinity and eternity. Everything is coloured in YELLOW, the colour of insanity. Is that a dream? Will it ever end?
Maja steals a pen while the author has a night swim
- Unsung Heroes - Meanwhile in Rome...
A spin-off from kallini2010's story. As Dolores continues her adventure, so does Maja as she sits in Rome...
Autobiography in 42 Chapters.
- Autobiography in 42 Chapters. The Passion for the Forbidden Dance.
Some people are strange: degreed as an engineer, turned to Buddhism to find peace, studied psychology to dissect the mind, and studio trained in Tango to demonstrate her passion for the forbidden dance. - Autobiography in 42 Chapters. What's Wrong with Now?
Chapter 2: Don Carlos calls Dolores and asks her to send a script about Narcissus. Will she?
Narcissus and Echo
- Narcissus and Echo. Never Together, Never Apart
A phantasmagorical detour in the story of Narcissus and Echo. A never ending story of love, life and the search for the meaning. Of...? You decide.
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Thank you, Mike, yes, I love this story, but the way it was born!!! I had almost everything written and then only because I did not want to forgo my new brilliant idea, I had to re-write and re-format and it takes me forever.
Today is Ian's birthday and I promised him to have a cup of coffee in Rome and we do discuss movies ..... there is more than one theme and more than one motif - I hope you listened to both versions of "Kiss of fire" - I LOVED Georgia Gibbs.
The reason I am asking you - this song is a motif for the second part, as well.
Sounds like Ian. Or how I would assume Ian would sound like. An exciting journey I'm sure. Will there be more? After Rome, Venice maybe?
Guys! Not fair! Yes, the next stop is Venice. Any other predictions? But before I get to Venice, let me get out of quagmire of the movie conversation... I must finish.
We will stay awhile in Rome. What is the rush?
I assume that Ian will fly, but prefers train travel. Rome is enchanting, and full of colorful characters. Romance is afoot, possibly in Rome. But it seems like more opportunities for dancing would happen in Venice. There is no ryme nor reason to my predictions...
Augustine, honestly, I do surprise myself. Yes, romance is afoot everywhere. But, of course, it begins in Rome.
And you are going to Canada, by the way. Pack wisely.
I don't know if Ian will like this whole thing, but it became more than one series... it became... it became...
I hope it is a good birthday present, but it is even more than that. OK, I gotta upload the next chapter.
I plan to travel to several countries. I especially wish to visit Canada and Nova Scotia. I want to see if I can mess up vending machines and coin operated washers with American quarters.
This thought did not occur to me... maybe because I don't use any coin-operated machines.
But you can suggest something - I only plan to send Don Carlos to Nova Scotia, but what for?
That is the question. The whole thing is unfolding as we speak.
To find the pipe that Cabot smoked when he discovered the Cabot trail. He thinks it would go well with his smoking jacket.
Well, I have to look up "Cabot" - I have not the slightest idea.
To paraphrase Bette Davis, "Fasten Your Seatbelts Its Going to Be a Bumpy Night", but if the journey to Rome is any indication, here we go for a bumpy ride.
Did you realise that Ian, the artistic Libra is snuggled inside Luca (or Luco) the physician, one of the Four writers of the Gospels. Matteo, Marco Luca/Luco e Giovanni.
I love coincidences like that.
Ian + Luca (or Luco) = Luciano.
Thank you for the very special greetings, Svetlana.
He was an early explorer, discovered the trail that holds his name.
Ian, I am glad you liked it. It is not going to be too bumpy to be uncomfortable. The idea is to have fun - even if in the future you would suspect that I am being "vile" - I am not. Applies to all my characters - I love them.
No more killings (I have done that before). Not for this story.
No, I did not realize - Luciano...
There were a couple of reasons I selected this particular name. Luciano is a real person, though not like I described him for the most part.
I was going to join you on the flight to Rome - but I did not have time for yet another chapter. I did promise you "coffee on Monday" - so I skipped your flight. It can be still written - a flashback - you got somehow to Rome.
So, I needed somebody ... On Saturday I saw real Luciano after a long break. He was out of sight, out of mind, but then I remembered ... And when he "performed" Bachata - sure his name was on my mind. I enjoyed his dancing with gusto.
The photo is from that evening, but the partner I am dancing with is John, not Luciano.
I love the name Luciano because it fits my concept - the names that mean "light and something related to light". I even contemplated being Lucia instead of Dolores. You should see his smile - it radiates - I told him, I have not seen anyone whose name is so becoming. I wish I could share a picture.
But I am glad you liked his name, too. I would have never thought.
There will be plenty of multiple references and I am sure even those that I am not aware of - but that is the beauty of communication between writers and readers.
Augustine, I have to look him up, but I have someone for you to meet... in the wild... you are going to like it. You may even be painting by numbers together under the stars...
Certainly intriguing, Svetlana. Brava - more, more.
Thank you, Nellieanna - there is the beginning, go back to the "Autobiography in 42 Chapters. The passion for the forbidden dance.", then next, then Narcissus, this one and the next chapter #2. I think I have to rename these two - the names are too long.
I'll check them out! You are really on a roll!
By the way - I love the pictures of YOU. You look just gorgeous!
Nellieanna, thank you. All of a sudden, men (Buses?) want to paint my rooms, have coffee with me and whatever else...
Que pasa? What is happening? What has changed?
The suspense is killing me... I'm moving on to Capitolo Due now!
And you've got Kiss of Fire stuck in my head now!
Maja, but it is a beautiful song! I looked it up - it was written in 1903. If a song lives that long - it means it is AWESOME!
I do love it. I hope you checked the performance by Georgia Gibbs - she was the second best singer...
As I was looking up who was the 1st - I ended up finding another piece - I am going to love this song more and more...
There are lyrics written in 1930 and the other version that I included in the next article dated to 1946.
I am not reading now, I am saving till later - I am exhausted with my "Painting Adventure/Misadventure more like".
Painting Tribunal.. Oops... Tribute by Painting... to Painting?
Painting Tribulation.
I always wanted to see Rome! :) fascinating start to a journey!
Thank you, RNMSN. I am glad you like it - I have never been to Rome, but this story is about "hubbers" getting together, about real people being put into the surreal shadow world.
There are so many references here, but I guess the story can be enjoyed even without knowing them.
Too many series & themes got intertwined here: "Autobiography", "Narcissus & Echo", "Unsung Heroes" & "A trip to Italy".
If you like it - you are welcome to continue reading. There are only two chapters so far - I must discipline myself into writing the third part, but I am dying from migraine. Maybe going to Italy could be therapeutic.
mckbirdbks Level 8 Commenter 8 months ago
Hello Svetlana. I saw the previews of this story elsewhere and must say the coming attractions were very appealing. And that you chose such a beautiful location there is no telling the adventures you have planned. Once this work is turned into a movie, you are off to Rome to supervise the screenplay. Ok, my seatbelt is fastened, off to London then Rome.