Posts by Richard

After the funeral of my sister Debra, my ears are filled with an eerie revelation that gives my heart solace and assuredness.  Debra’s girlfriend Simonette says to me softly and reverently, “As Debra and I were walking home from school,” she pauses, “on that fateful day, Debra turned and handed me her Bible. She said…

As the funeral arrangements for my sister Debra are being made, my parents are discussing whether to have an open or closed casket. Since Debra’s body was dragged under the car over one hundred feet and mutilated, they decide to keep the casket closed. As we sit behind a side curtain reserved for the family,…

My father and Mother arrive home. My Dad lacks his usual up-beat character, and his demeanor is very grim. He lifts his head and his dim eyes are filled with tears. The odd thing is my Mother isn’t shedding any tears and says nothing.  “What’s going on?” I ask sensing something dreadful I don’t want…

I am sharing my rebellious life with a friend from church. We are pleading for God to show me how to heal my depleted body and provide me with lucid direction. As we talk and pray, the telephone rings. “Hello.” I say.  It is the police, and they want to talk with my parents. The…

The same week I start going to church, Debra and her girlfriend Simonette both dye their light hair black, run away from home and I’m concerned they are being sexually abused.  When Debra finally returns, I breathe a sigh of relief; she is safe and, when I see her, I wrap my arms around her…

I know I need to change my habits or I’m gonna be killed or die. I move closer to the three blurs and the woman says mildly, “I’m Rita. This is Bob and his brother Jim. She faces me and asks, “And what’s your name?  I say, “Rick.”  Jim says cheerfully, “I’ve seen you around…

“At my table I’m interviewing some of the first members of the Lamb’s Players theater troupe and they are, Lynn Hansen, Glen and Bernelle Hansen, and actor Randy Baker. Can you each share some of Richard’s early characteristics?” “Yes, Jon,” Lynn Hansen says, “in 1972 we just made the migration from Minnesota to California looking…

As I am tromping across the grassy field I notice three blurry shadows. It is two guys and a girl sitting on the grass. In an act of weakness from my resolve to quit using drugs, I casually approach them and ask, “Do you have any stash?” Almost in unison, as though being cued, they…

I slowly regain consciousness, and stumble my way to the apartment laundry room. I flop to the floor and lean up against a washing machine. My body battered and aching, I cry out, “God, please help me!”  Some stranger finds me in the laundry room. He has a soft kind voice. He places a hamburger…

When the heroin cocktail hits my heart I start convulsing and gasping for air. I can’t breathe! Terrified, I think, “I’m gonna die!”   My body is bouncing and flopping off the floor like a fish out of water. I lay there continuing to gasp, choke and cough, certain that this is the end. As I’m…

Everything comes to a nasty end when my partner, Doug, thinks I cheated him. Doug and our supplier, Big Tom, try to kill me with a hot-shot. Big Tom holds up a large “kit” (a homemade device for shooting-up) that has an extra-large eye-dropper attached to the rubber grape.  Doug takes it and says with…

I have been assigned to attend what is called Adaptive PE for the blind and partially-sighted students. It is here where I earn added respect from Doug when I showcase my talent for using my touch to crack the gym locks. I become quite proficient and am able to get away with stealing cash and…