The Surprise

Tales From Jack Sailey’s Journal Presents:

The Surprise

Take a breathe- Verse 1

Sun comes up in a scintillating fashion

Slithers in the blinds, strikes my eyes

I awake; besides the piercing light, 
the grey undertones dress the sky

I check the scene;
 I gather a quick measure of the potential of the day

Rise up; synchronously plummet to the couch

Urge to begin, time to move

Feet planted once again, I approach the kitchen

Forge over chaos, leave bottles in my wake

Made it again, another binge, one more day

Stretched my perception to the outside depiction

Stopped and listened

Just cars and birds holler in the distance

About face, march

Suddenly a memory arises

The girl from the previous night 
stabs me and reminds me of my vices

Journey down the hallway, headed for my sanctuary

Push the entrance to the portal

The image becomes clear

The lady from last night is still here

Face in pillow; naked except socks

The night stand is full of its’ usual residents

Hydrocodone, crack cocaine

A few baggies, and the vinyl, the single, “Purple Rain”

Think about slipping her a surprise

But something doesn’t feel right

She looks pale

I shake her twice, her body is lifeless

Panic grabs me, so I grab my phone

Scan through the contacts

I need some assistance

A person who isn’t concerned with the facts

Just the restitution in this body loosing

Land on one, hit send

Like I thought, he isn’t concerned with the sin

Only in the outcome and the ends

Now I’ve confirmed my expectations

No time for elatedness

I need a shower to shake this

Turn on the water

Flop down on the toilet, reach in the drawer and grab my pipe

Hit it twice, then its game time, one mistake isn’t owning my life

Take a Breathe- Verse 2

Worked in the shampoo

Heard the screen door

Bang on the wall

It’s Keith, “Hey man did someone call a sneak?”

Yeah man; she’s in the room

Take a tour, Ill be out soon

“What happened did she choke on that paradise?”

Not sure, I was done for

“Alright, I see, we’ll get this done for sure.”

He went to investigate

I spun the nozzle to the right

Stepped in my shorts, grabbed a towel

Then I aimed my sights

Hit the lights

Strangeness, my man is on his knees

I hear a sniffle

Right hand of mine reaches to shake him

He swung around a sent me to the wall

Fingers circling my throat

Leaving indentions

Before I could plead my case, didn’t even get to mention

I peered into his eyes and realized the reason for his disdain

This is the crazy part, pay attention

I met this man awhile back you see

Hung in different circles

I from Harbins and he from Pirkle

But once one night

Our groups were gathered at a cookout

Was slightly faded

Didn’t store any memories

Looking into his eyes it all became clear

Her name was Sandra

Keith and her shared a parent

Now it was apparent

“Your going to die mother fucker!”

I attempted to gurgle a phrase

He swung me to the floor

I rolled backward, reached for the gauge

Cocked back

Left him in more than a daze

Thoughts poured in, must wait till dark

In mean time, wrap them, drag them to the door

Leave them on a portrait on the floor

Now I wait…count the seconds till dusk

Take a breathe- Verse 3

Time has come

Opened the door slowly, glance quickly

Thrust them in the trunk

Landed in the captains chair

Headed for the abandoned construction spot

The one where those two children fell

The news reported it was at least a 100 foot drop

Secluded in a corner

With no one looking

Light will never shed

Nervous tension

Swerve in the street

Avoid a dog

For some reason, a hit a run seemed wrong

Either way; my act of kindness, there is no one to witness

My path is glared upon by the overlooking grenery

My inner voice starts to speak

No problem, have something to make me free

The flame rolls under the glass

Spot smoke rolling up

Breathe in slowly

So simplistic, when emotions don’t lead to resistance

Arrived did I

Turn the key, sound of a pop, the enclosure revealed its inhabitants

Staged them at the edge

This was it

I first rolled an acquaintance

Stood for a second

Thought of the girl

Did she deserve this?

Or was she ever so inviting, into this treacherous world

Right hand clenched her wrappings

Went to act

Foot slipped

Suddenly I was staring at different scenery

It was the sky

Never imagined this would be how I ended my life

As I descended, my one night stand came after me

As if seeking revenge

Soon we will be at the bottom

Our paths will collide

Our resting place

Before I could start to repent

Felt the earth

Maybe no one was even there to listen

Either way the drop was much shallower than I first thought

Deep enough to inhibit my movement

But still I gasped for air

Door has yet to slam, suddenly I begin to care

The high is gone

I must prey

Wait…. it’s too late

Pain takes control

Blinds start to close

I start to feel the dark

I can’t believe I became another victim from the 
"trailer park"……………The End

Life and Times of a Junkie

Everyday I seem to see a slight distortion in reality. The common problem in our United States of America is racism and the economy. This is over-rated by stereotypes. The money rules the world and our perspectives dictate the outcome. The initial commentary is simply overwhelmed by adjectives that are as empty as the speeches at political conventions. The immigration factor is a morality issue and not one of national security. We must first approach people as people on an individual basis. There should be no distinction on race, religion, political affiliation, or national appeal. Thus, our national policy should have no left or right feeling based on where somewhere is from. The intention is much more weighted than the outcome. Our country was founded on a plague of imperialism and negativity. A house built on tooth picks is soon to fall by the wind of change. So, we must rebuild with a concrete of change……

Redemption

I don’t know where I’ve been,

All I know is I’ve killed the kid,

The one in me, innocence been splattered,

This must be it, needless to say,

I must spit,

Before its blood might as well be rhymes,

More so a message, get with the times,

So I place a fancy beat ,

 Add some sick soliloquys ,

Mix it up with a blend of melodies and metaphors,

Break it down, slang it out to the crowd,

Before you know it young mans been crowned,

That’s just a dream,

A wonderland, never know what will happen,

Better look out - while you think your ahead,

I’m actually about to start lapping,

What’s that, the quiet, no more laughing,

I have been here too long to not speak up,

Times up, grab a cup moist the mouth,

Get it ready for the showing out of a lifetime,

I guess its my time,

No longer will I peddle for the devil,

I didn’t sell my soul I pawned that bitch,

The terms weren’t clear, times were tough

But now I understand, and I want out of here,

I’m taking my shit ,throwing away my fear

I’m keeping a little bit in my pocket to remind myself though

Never get to close

Fuck drawing the line in the sand,

I’m flipping the whole sandbox

To expose the new plan

I had my dance with the devil,

Had a couple spins and a few twist

Champagne I sipped,

Now I’m spitting  out that shit,

To ignite the slit wrist

Of those who were affected

The broken families, babies neglected

This is for the misrepresented

The ones that have been bamboozled and swindled

The truth is here

Let it ring out , no clichés or shiny metals

This aint no trick, as real at it gets

Fuck the devil,

I’m exposing the one walking with arms open,

Only to get you close

Then its over

Whether it’s a noose or a poison toast

He will take you there,

The destination is known, its not where you wanna be

Look at me

I had to crawl out that bitch,

That black hole almost took me over

So now its time to lynch,

The true ignorant one,

The addicted and the pushers ,

the peddlers,

And all yall motha fuckas

That follow the hecklers

Stand in line

No fuck that

It’s our time, no more feeding the beast

When it’s all said and done

That man should be deceased

If not,

The next generation has to strap up,

Get ready for battle

Because I won’t stop, and he wont stop

So I thought I told you that we can’t stop

You may be persistent

You may be a baffling bastard,

But fuck it, I got a whole new hit list,

It includes the ones that go after the weak,

Petty mutha fuckas, quick to slap a man that turns the cheek

Well lets’ get it right

This is only the beginning

And it starts tonight, night, night, night

Nas said he’s gonna overthrow the devil

Whether it be with two turntables

Or some elaborate scheme

Whatever it may be,

I’m down, Ive seen the light

I had to get to the darkest spot,

For me to rise I had to first drop

I had to be humbled ,and I see that now

Thanks to he who is above

Out of love we can make it back

But now that we got a description
Gives us a chance to take a step back

Gain some perspective

Retroactive action must happen

Before we may begin overcome the most simplest sin

Time will tell, least now I know

No longer am I head in the sand

Rise up, like Samuel Jackson said

Looking Inside

This is an ode to those who should be men

But I suppose they took another route

This is why I why I stand on my mountain and shout

To let everyone know that this will not be tolerated

No more will bitch made men get highly rated

Because their perception masquerades as reality

And this is the main problem in our society

Wake up everyone and extinguish the growing fire

This is the pimps, drug dealers and the pathological liars

The one that have no loyalty to anyone but himself

They have already cashed in

And its only a half passed twelve

Bar don’t close till three

But those sneaky mother fuckers

You know the ones, they gave in

They know there is no hope,

Well there is redemption but if you don’t wake up

Then your gonna be just another one not to mention. Betrayal

A Warning to Myself

I’m pushing words

Your peddling letters

Whether it’s the introspective degenerate

Or the outspoken illiterate

All I know is I’m searching for my large professor

I’m trying to be known as one hell of a storyteller

Because I’m not selling crack, 
don’t got a wicked jump shot

But I damn sure can exhale these tales
 to take me to the top

Look at the positives and not the fails

And to all those fair-weather friends

I might turn the cheek

But let it be known your lack of loyalty disgust me

 I wish you well

Take head the warning

Its either a hot pine box or a cold cement cell

Drop that shit now, those pills are your free ticket to hell

Its not the getting high part, It’s the lengths you go to get that spark

That’s the difference, the solution is the simplest

Yet hardest to touch,

So we bypass certain roads and then we start to spiral

Its viral, it’s an infection, I tried to warn you

Too Late, on to the next patient

Treatment

The overwhelming itch is back

I tried to let it subside

But he made sure that I stayed on track

Never would I be alone

I won’t be able to stand without his hollow help

I met him when I was twelve

I never would have thought 

I would be another notch on his belt

He was so friendly and soothed my pain

Twelve years later I find myself on the fourth floor

The floor where they keep the insane

This is designated as treatment

But I never understood

I see men in there fifties 
broken down but still proud

They were called for an unjust cause

When it was over, the overseers moved on

They told them to do the same

But when you bring back with you such a beast

There is no walking away, 
no good times at the beach

You can’t just pack it away in the attic

It must be destroyed, but no one knows

The consequences of there choices

Have filtered through many generations

Now we are at a point where

It’s not a good dinner conversation topic

So we drop it

Leave them in the mist

Pay off a couple so there is no riot

But in truth, they got off easy

Those men are now reduced to a VA diet

The distance in our years is clear

I am supposed to be in my prime

They are simply winding down,
 they already had their time

The connection is evident, the beast travels

Whether it be in the jungles of Vietnam

Or the once prosperous lands of Saddam,

Doesn’t matter, once he gets a sniff

Nothing else matters, he will be friendly at first

He will flirt, he will even praise and adore you

Whatever it takes, but once he’s got you

The mask comes off

He will expose his true self to you

By then, it too late he’s got you

Then he backs away

Until that long awaited day

It’s Hell and he waiting by the gate

You realize addiction is the devil

Just disguised a little

Day at Church

Day at Church

I sat grasping my New King James Version Bible as a 50 something man who resembled that of the KFC clan. He began to rant on how our country has come into decline within the past 40-50 years. If that is so, am I to ignore the genocide that sparked our nation, then the slavery that followed to build our economy to the super power it is of yesterday. Those times produced families that bled success. The type that you usually see at your friendly-neighborhood Republican- Presidential- Convention. Our country was founded on God, ok, I get it, I believe in God and Jesus Christ; but last time I checked we did not get a pass to rape and pillage the world, then put it in poetic documents that certain preachers nowadays use as a tool to peddle towards their own destination. Moral of the story is simple. If you are behind your issues then great. Back them with passion and your full heart. But, do not begin to scrape up misinterpreted history to better your argument. Your beliefs should stand side by side your ideas.

Disturbance Up The Hill(teaser)

Tales from Jack Sailey’s Journal Presents
Disturbance up the Hill



The living room full of early 1990’s contemporary furniture was only occupied by a lonely looking man and the sound of the “Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits Album”. The record player was playing with the distortions of the old vinyl, along with the slight malfunction that caused it to bounce every three cords. Aside from the two V.I.Ps of the room, there also resided the dual feeling of revolt and desperation. The true meaning of the atmosphere cannot be described in a simple paragraph. The best way is to completely dive into what is exactly going on. The purpose is that we must completely emerge ourselves in the complexities of the story.
            I am that lonely-looking man. The only previous information of this scene that you may possibly need to know is that this is a trip into an alternative world. Not meaning that you or I have walked paths into subsequent areas. The reason for labeling this is simple yet complicated. The people in the story are not necessarily the cream of the crop nor are they the average community of our social life. Now that I have mentioned the parameters of the characters that we are dealing with, I feel it important to simply transition into their story. This is a story I have gathered among my travels abroad. I have flown on the clouds and dredged through the mud. What I came out with is a compilation of sorts. This is simply one of those stories. Tales from Jack Saileys’ Journal Vol. 1 presents Disturbance up the Hill. Enjoy.




1.
The tiny neighborhood of Lime Bay located in Steelo, North Carolina was covered with the stench of failure. It was the sort of place where dreams go to die. The occupants are at the end of their rope and have no intention to crawl out of the hole of despair that they have found themselves in. With all of this known, it is also very important to understand that these are not bad people. They are merely the victims of their circumstances. They go to work at jobs that provide barely enough to survive and no sense of pride. Even with the bad conditions at work, they face the day with a crooked smile and move forward. They raise their children with hopes that they may merely find themselves in a slightly better situation. The stars are not the ambition of most. Well, except for the children. They have that glimmer of hope that could light up the darkness at the lowest depths. The street that acts as the gateway for the people is accompanied by only five houses located neatly around a cul-de-sac. As you enter the neighborhood there is a house at the entrance which is atop a hill that leads down to the before mentioned pocket of houses. Six houses are all that occupy this street and the nearest residence or commercial property is five miles. They are slightly behind the curve when it comes to renovations and modern technology. The fact is this is one of those neighborhoods that you will die trying to get out of.



2

“Hey Travis, come check this out,” said the chunky red haired boy.
The red haired boy was filling his attention with the notion that he could build a fort with cardboard and a couple of pieces of ply wood. Ply wood, which was rotting.
“Alright man, I’m coming, hold your horses,” shouted Travis.
Travis began running across the blacktop to the side of Jason’s house. Jason being the red haired boy had always been the more optimistic and adventurous of the two.
“Really, you had me run to see your fort of cardboard, I told you it won’t work. The rain will ruin it,” spouted off Travis.
“Listen, why do you have to be such a dream crusher?”
“I am not a dream crusher, I am a realist, it’s like my dad always says, “Don’t know why your bouncing that ball, your just gonna end up a ditch digger”, and that is how I approach every situation. Why shoot for the stars and miss when I could aim at the mailbox and hit?”
“Well, my dad always says that if you shoot for the stars then you might at least get the moon.”
This was a common back and forth between the two. They knew that neither would ever cave on the issue. Why would they? This has been engrained in them and they developed a thick skin for critiques. They were enjoying their summer break, well, as much as they could live in the depleted area. Their parents could rarely give them the things that they wanted but they often found themselves trying to balance between the dreamer and the cynic. That summer was a turning point in their lives.
“Did you see it last night?” asked Travis.
“Of course I did, it was right on schedule, right at midnight.”
“Why do you think he does that?”
“I think he is some kind of weirdo or something.”
“Whatever it is, we should make it our summer goal to find out why.”
“Travis!” shouted a much too old for her age looking woman.
“That’s my mom, I gotta go, but we will meet up tonight for a game, and I’ll bring Scott, ok.”
“Cool, I’m about to go draw some plans for our reconnaissance,” said Jason.
They were referring to the house at the top of the hill. Every full moon there is a scarecrow that is placed on the front-right corner of the fence. Every full-moon for as long as the kids could remember. Now keep in mind that these are nine year old kids, there memory does not go back that far but it does excite some conversation.




3

6 pm

“Hey man, where’s Scott?” asked Jason.
“He is coming; he had to clean up his room.”
“Ok, cool, so what is on the agenda tonight?”
“Well, how about we play hide and go seek?”
“I could do that. It has been a while. Scott hasn’t come out in a couple of weeks.”
“Is he still shaken up?”
“Yeah, but he will get over it.”
“Hey guys,” shouted the extra skinny dark haired boy with a green cast on his right arm.
“Hey Scott, how’s the arm?” asked Jason.
“It’s good, well it itches like crazy but it doesn’t hurt or anything.”
“So, this is the plan, hide and go seek, no boundaries, and no holds bar,” explained Travis.
Travis always likes to give out the game rules. It allowed him to be in control of something.
“Who is gonna be it?” asked Scott.
“I will,” responded Jason.
“What’s base?” asked Scott.
“Man, you have been out of the game for a minute, you know the sewer is base,” said Travis.
“Oh yeah, sorry,” said Scott.
“Okay, let’s go, I am counting,” said Jason with a huge grin.
The other two boys sprinted off in opposite directions. Jason closed his eyes tightly because he did not want to accidently cheat.
“29, 30, 31, 32,33,34,35, ready or not here I come!” shouted Jason.
The chase was on. The true test was not in the hiding spot but in the escape route. You always had to think one step ahead of the seeker. The game was going to take a serious turn.

4

10pm

“Did you see in which direction he ran to?” asked Jason.
“No, I just started running,” responded Travis.
“Scooottt!” shouted Jason.
“This isn’t good, I looked everywhere.”
“Me too, I gotta go tell mom.”
“Good idea, it’s getting late.”

5

The search for Scott Dass lasted for three weeks before the local officials concluded the worst must have happened. There would never be any explanation to the neighborhood children or to the parents about what happened. The only circumstantial evidence is that now on every full moon there are two scarecrows placed at the front right corner of the fence at the house up the hill. What does this mean? Nobody knows but I have dedicated my life to finding out why. This is only the beginning.