Robert L. Slater's Blog, page 2
April 4, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The Second Evening V
Rated (PG-13) for adult situations.
On a forest planet known as Araucaria circling a star not far from Tau Ceti, Sular Berlioz and her husband, the Governor live on the island of Zandro. The semi-sentient Araucarians refer to it by a much longer name, but because they are a telepathic race, and have no written language, it took some time for the Terrans to hear their thoughts and approximate the...
April 1, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The Second Evening IV
Rated PG for adult situations and language.
Rowan cleared their throat and began. Strats and Toshs stories remind me of one about a young man that also includes horses, jewels and a dead man.
Pete Andrews had grown up rather wealthy in West Virginia after the Civil War, the youngest of three boys. As he neared adulthood he began pressuring his father, a horse-breeder, trainer and trader, to let him travel by...
March 31, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The Second Evening III
Rated ARGH (PG) for implied pirate violence.
Once upon a time a brilliant merchant named Lando Rufalo lived in Ravello, a lovely little city on the western coast of Italy, between Gaeta and Reggio, a place known today as the Amalfi coast. Despite his accumulated lands, villas, olive tree orchards, vineyards and wine cellars, Lando was not satisfied. His greed led him to follow the advice of Zafer, a merchant...
March 28, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The Second Evening II
Mina: Happy Endings
Strats Second Story Na Voz Dos Temporais
Rated PG-13. Thievery, Implied Sex and Violence. Spaghetti Western
Strat strummed the little classical guitar, breaking into a nimbly fingered Spanish guitar piece. This ones set in the old west. Once upon a time in California His guitar work changed up, rougher, twisting into something darker like the music of a Spaghetti Western. He spoke over the guitar as he let it fade out. In the voice of storms, this dark song falls from...
March 25, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The Second Evening I
Mina: Happy Endings
Rowans Second Tale: Forest for the Trees
Rated G. Allegorical story of being an artist
There was once a man known by the name of Tolk, who had been avoiding getting ready for a long journey for years. He found all sorts of reasons not to really prepare. Tolk was a writer, at least thats what he referred to himself as. He lived a fairly decent life out of what his parents had left him as the only child. He worked at his writing, but let it go when there were things that...
March 23, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The First Evening Conclusion
Raymond: The Truth and a Lie And a New Queen.
Rated PG. Music!
Angelisa glared at me and my cigar again. I hadnt realized I had taken it back out. I shrugged and sheepishly put it back in my pocket. Not that I even like cigars, but seems like if youve got a chance to try something that someone says is the best of something, you ought to try it.
Gianni handed out napkins and pens.
Write down the name of the person you thought told the best story.
Who gets to count?
I do, Angelisa said...
March 22, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The First Evening X
Raymond: The Truth and a Lie
Rays First Tale: Horseshoes, Hand-grenades and
Rated PG. [First story written back near my birthday in Feb 2020.]
I rolled one of the little cigars Id found, over and over in my hand. Thinking about which story to tell. Finally, I cleared my throat and began, Back in 2018, I met a dancer, name was Bobbie. A bit older than me, but seemed like she wouldnt want to admit it.
Jeri, my girlfriend at the time, wanted to take ballroom dancing and I wasnt against it....
March 20, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The First Evening IX
Raymond: The Truth and a Lie
Minas First Tale: Blues in Black & White
Rated PG-13. Moderate violence & underage drinking.
Mina met eyes with everyone in the room. Im going to tell a tale of love, of optimism and human goodness. Its not without pain and sadness, but it is a story of people.
I was born in Somalia. I dont know my birthday. I dont know my name at birth. I have vague memories of my parents, living in a tent and being surrounded by people with my color skin.
When I was three, my...
March 18, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The First Evening VIII —
Raymond: The Truth and a Lie
Rated G. Nice personal story about growth and family.
Lorens First Tale: Water Your Plants for the Future?
Loren ran his hand through his short-cropped jet black hair. After a contemplative glance around, he stood, crossed over to the bar and refilled his water glass. After taking a deep swallow, he began. Growing up, I was just about the most perfect kid. I know, I know. Its a stereotype. Stereotypes exist because they represent people. Great grades, decent...
March 14, 2020
Voyage of the Decameron: The First Evening VII
Raymond: The Truth and a Lie
Rated R for sexuality and mature themes.
Palomas First Tale: Dog and Butterflies
Paloma let out a long sigh. This isnt my first cruise ship journey, not by a lot. But its the first one where I wasnt working. Her gaze seemed to fade into the past, to see things the rest of us couldnt see.
You worked on cruise ships? Gianni asked. Whatd you do?
Might be more appropriate to ask what I didnt do? Her eyes dropped and the rest of us shared a look. Except Mina, who...
