Out of The Black and Into The Red | Dipped In Cherry #4
A Special Excerpt and Tribute Take Center Stage...
Happy Leo Season,
Slight format change this month and I am saving the diary element of this newsletter for the end. And jumping right into talking about….
The book I am illustrating and writing called Party Store, a surreal summertime coming of age mystery. Set in a fictional yet familiar coastal city. Focused on aspiring photographer Vince Sanchez and his group of friends experiencing fantastical flares grounded in the tender mundane modernity of their lives.
EXCERPT + ILLUSTRATION FROM PARTY STORE:
Stars blink the way dreamy eyes do. Distant galaxies are scattered across a vast emptiness like beauty marks perfectly placed on a lover's back. Faintly, they illuminate a cloaked figure walking in galactic darkness on an invisible plane. A lush sparkling fabric shrouds their body and cascades over their face. It mysteriously dances to a breeze in the windless shimmering void. There is an alacritous pace to their stride, purposeful in the direction. They walk in front of the twinkling stars like headlights being eclipsed at a crosswalk stoplight. Suddenly- the figure reaches a halt. Their fingers glide upwards in a cutting motion creating a sliver of red that expands into an open doorway of bursting ruby light. They take a hard step backwards blinded by the initial glow, cautious to penetrate the portal. On the other-side of the gateway fog wisps over an infinite staircase leading downward. A remix of whispers melodically invites the cloaked figure to move out of the black and into the red. Their foot steps forward like a chess piece making it’s next move; two spaces up and one to the side.
Inside, a distorted mirage creeps up the ivory and onyx stairs towards the Cloaked Figure. As it emerges closer, armor made of black latex takes shape. The helmet and suit chest plate are adorned with a red concave diamond that glows with a pulse. The two anonymous beings silently greet each other with a knowing nod. Angelically standing backlit in the doorway silhouetted like LCD statues. All you can hear are the sounds of soft sizzles; like a lone neon sign outside a party store calling out to the night.
The Cloaked Figure looks around scanning the red room and begins to speak “Sorry I took forever.” The voice is distorted. It’s sound legible yet dueling between static frequencies.
Latex Suit places their hand across their glowing chest and speaks with a dualing distortion. “I’m sorry forever took so long. But I’m glad we made it. There’s still time.”
“What must I do? Where do I go now that I can see?”
“Leave now while your red eye is delayed.”
“Now? Urgency is unlike you to advise.”
“Each beat of the monarch brings you further from this moment.”
“Will we meet again…after?”
Latex Suit pauses before looking out into space. “Are you scared?”
“Of course I am. But you already know that.”
“Then we will meet again. But you already know that.” Latex Suit said resting their slick hand on their cloaked companions shoulder. “You can launch from here. Trust your vision and you’ll know where to go.”
Cloaked Figure nods goodbye, sending Latex Suit gaiting down the yin-yang stairs. The beat of their heart guides them towards an unseen desire. Layers of fog dissolve their armor into the rose tinted void. Cloaked Figure grabs the seam of their cape with a slick black glove and whips it off into the stars, revealing a familiar ensemble- a tighter fitting suit of black latex armor. A red concave diamond glows constantly from their helmet. The uncloaked figures head snaps towards the galaxies they wandered in from. The tips of their fingers snap outwards into a t-pose. Standing on the precipice of space they lean forward and let their body fall aimlessly down out of the portal. The red doors shut close any trace of their entry. Parallel and adjacent lose their logic as this Uncloaked Figure falls through time.
Without any action, cherry colored squares star to glitch around their feet to signal the countdown for takeoff. They blastoff roaring and trail behind them a turbulent checkered chemtrail. Their body flies across the universe as a falling jet black tear.
There is an explosive flash from a camera lens so bright it rivals the hot sun beaming down. Two models decorated in lavish clothes lounge next to a small glimmering swimming pool. An entourage of crew members is tucked into the backyard remaining; walled in by well manicured rose bushes and palm trees. Each petal and leaf looks raised by a green thumb. Music blasts through the speakers.
“I need more back light.” Vince shouts, holding a boxy camera in a flagrantly fresh leather case. “Chin up Mimi.” Vince says as he squats down on his knees. “Perfect. Jason eyes to your right but don’t move your head.” The camera shutter rapid fires. “Beautiful.” He smiles towards the model, the sun catching his twinkling caramel eyes. “Let’s try one more thing. Mimi move back to-”
“I think we got what we needed for today.” Said an authoritative voice standing behind Vince at a monitor. The First Creative Officer of Kit & Caboodle magazine, Bobby Brickdale. His militaristic aviator glasses rest on a puffy face. He’s wearing a pale purple sweater loosely tied around his thick neck, over a gray polo.
“Alright everyone take thirty while the editors review the creative. We aren’t starting tear down until after Kitrina gives final shot approval.” Shouted a production assistant with a clipboard.
“You two, stay put. We don’t need you to get any sweatier.” Bobby barked at the models, lowering his icy shades. “If Kit has notes we’ll be here past sunset. And we will not have time to apply your makeup. Again.” Powerfully pushing his sunglasses up while strutting away.
“I bet those shots came out great.” The production assistant whispered to Vince.
“Thanks.” He blushed. “Since we’ve got time to kill I think I’m going to run to a party store for a coffee. You wanna come?”
“Go to a what?”
“A convenience store.” He laughed.
WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
I feel the blue August heatwaves a little softer after overheating in July. Maybe that’s because I recently got a haircut. That always makes me feel realized, and cooler. However, it’s probably because I just returned from a beautiful wedding on a day that peaked at 100 degrees. Celebrating life and love with dancing, food, and friends is such a healing experience. I’d sit under one hundred suns if it meant being able to soak up the warmth of that special day again.
Dedicating this newsletter to my beautiful neighbor Emilio who passed away last month. He was an olympic qualifying runner, teacher, and poet. I knew him mostly through short tender chats on our dry lawn. Emilio was the only neighbor whom I shared a wall with, could hear romantic open window conversations from; and that gave me a piece of inspiration for an important character face in Party Store. It’s easy to forget we make such an impact on others by just simply being ourselves, waving hello, and doing the dishes. I’m thankful for the time we crossed paths and shared spaces.
Happy New Moon to you all, may you have a lovely Leo season. Much more from the world of Party Store is coming. Thanks for reading.
See you next month behind the curtain dipped in cherry.
xoxo
- Brandan
Stunning and tender. I love you