He placed the bag on the counter. Wearing a leather vest over a Harley-Davidson t-shirt, a red bandana and battered jeans, his look screamed “biker dude.” I had my doubts. For one, the hands that rested atop the red plastic bag were too clean, free from the grime of long hours atop a carbon-belching motorcycle. Also, his face was smooth and pale, far from the tanned and cracked patina earned through years of open roads and meth addiction.
“I’d like to return this, please,” he said, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the atonal metal riffs blasting over the shop speakers. A Hell’s Angel wouldn’t have been so shy. He would have barked his demand: “I want my money back!” and left his weathered hand upturned, greasy palm awaiting repayment of funds. It was clear that this poor guy was unwittingly playing out a role that had been carefully marketed to him. With money earned from his white-collar job, he had bought into a manufactured mythos and turned himself into a caricature.
Returns could be tricky. The store carried a wide variety of “delicate” items, many of which bore a yellow sticker that read “NO RETURNS” in high contrast black type. The policy couldn’t be any clearer, but we tended to presume literacy, a presumption that too often proved ill founded.
I reached into the bag and pulled out the item. It was a Tokyo Diva love doll, a top seller due to its twin vibrating “cyberskin” orifices. Still in the original box, it had been repackaged rather crudely. Where once a pair of rich, red action ready lips had lured loners through a cutout plastic window there was now only an indiscriminate patch of fleshy vinyl. (Read on …)

I give up. I can’t write a lick. At least, I can’t finish anything I’d really like to present here. Instead, I’ve posted only quicky writings, nothing of substance. Almost embarrassing, except that I’m now too old to give too much of a damn.

Instead, please visit my other sites, where I can at least blather quasi-legitimately about things nobody cares about: TODBRILLIANT.com

OR

My beloved photo site. JUNETEN.com The pix are rather lovely.

Today, I’ve reposted the first story, “Headless in Seattle,” after making significant changes. I hope to get through the others in the coming days. Posting drafts online is a bit scary. Honestly, I really do want to remove them all until they’re polished and complete. Yet, leaving them hanging here, naked and ugly, compels me to dress them up. Were I to leave them at home, so to speak, I’ve no doubt they could languish as drafts for years.

One down, seven to go. . .then 42 more after that!

Shot date: 02. August 2004 (Polaroid SX-70)

ZACH & SARAH HAPPEN TO VEGAS: A Quick Dialogue Exercise

Photo/Story © 2007 Tod Brilliant

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EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY

ZACH and SARAH stand on a Las Vegas sidewalk looking at a sign that reads “CHAPEL BY THE COURTHOUSE: WEDDINGS $40” in bold red letters.

Z: Do you want to do it?

S: No.

Z: Why not? It’s a good deal.

S: I just don’t want to get married.

Z: To me, or in general?

S: Both, I think. Maybe someday, but not right now. It’s too hot.

Z: For forty bucks you’re together for life. It’s a pretty good deal.

S: You can get Ginsu knives for twenty, and they’re guaranteed for life.

Z: Yeah, but they have plastic handles. They’re not human.

S: A good set of knives can do far more than a good husband.

Z: Like what? (Read on …)

I’ve updated the last story, and in so doing I’ve significantly altered the story. As a result, the photograph that accompanies the story is no longer directly related to the text. And you know what? That’s okay! The photos I choose are the seeds for the related story. In some, the connection to the story is quite clear (See #6: The Ocean & the Artists or #1: Headless in Seatlle), whereas in others it’s a bit less clear. Using a photo as a starting point has been quite a challenge in that there are a number of stories I’d like to try, but they don’t relate to my initial challenge, that of creating “POLAfiction”.

Seven down, forty-three to go. If you’ve read all seven, you are a hero to me.

Feedback is more than appreciated, if you have the time and inclination, as is a publishing contract.

Tod

Shot date: 17. May 2007 (Polaroid Square Shooter 4: Choco80 Film)

THE GREAT THING
Photo/Story © 2007 Tod Brilliant
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Even though they’re heavy, take up a lot of room, and have been out of style for two decades, I continue to collect books. Once in a while, I’ll buy a book that comes inside a protective plastic bag. Usually they’re art books or books that one would consider artsy. The bag is meant to keep the book in pristine shape forever and ever. I have no use for this bag. I throw it away immediately. It only keeps the book closed and I feel that books are infinitely more useful open than closed. So, while I have (Read on …)

Shot date: 24. November 2005 (Polaroid SX-70)

THE OCEAN & THE ARTISTS
Photo/Story © 2007 Tod Brilliant
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“Have you met the Isermanns?”

Nicole shook her head.

“No? You really have to go meet them!” Krissi declared. The pink pantsuit-wearing redhead took a sip of wine from her glass before continuing. “They’ve lived up at the top of Big Hill Road forever and know everything about the area. They’re kind of like antiques: old and dusty but with neat stories to tell.”

Nicole noted that Krissi had a unique speech impediment; she accented almost every other word, dragging them out while increasing the volume. She found listening to Krissi talk much like going to a tractor pull; everything was real slow and real loud.

“I’d feel funny going over there without Carl. When his transfer goes through, we’ll invite them over.” As she said this, Nicole knew there was little chance that her husband would agree to invite the Isermanns. He viewed his home as a well-ordered sanctuary. The furnishings and fixtures were all very Dwell Magazine – expensive, soul-free, and imbued with a sterility that would make a urologist jealous. Carl was quite unlikely to disturb his perfectly appointed rooms with strangers.

“Don’t wait! You’re practically neighbors. Just go over there and introduce yourself. It’s not like they’re axe murderers!”

Nicole thought Krissi was a nosy cunt. She’d formed this opinion of her coworker after (Read on …)

Shot date: 21. October 2006 (Polaroid 680 SLR)

ZACH & SARAH
Photo/Story © 2007 Tod Brilliant

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INT. APARTMENT – BEDROOM - NIGHT

ZACH lies on his back, eyes open wide, on a bed with SARAH who, pillow between between her knees, has her back to Zach.

ZACH
Am I thin?

SARAH
Yes.

ZACH
Am I skinny?

SARAH
Mmm . . . no.

ZACH
Did I used to be skinny when we first started dating?

SARAH
Yes.

ZACH
Do you think other people fear me?

SARAH
No.

ZACH
Would I make a good mugger?

SARAH
It’s too late, baby. I’m tired.

ZACH
But just this question. Would I make a good mugger?

(Read on …)

Shot date: 12. September 2006 (Polaroid SX-70)

COMMUNITY OF STRANGERS
Photo/Story © 2007 Tod Brilliant

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“You must get this a lot, but . . . is that your real name?” she asked.

He had long ago grown used to the question and responded with his stock answer. “Yeah, it is. My parents were hippies.”

“Well, I like it. It’s nice. It’s, I don’t know, peaceful somehow.” She returned his credit card along with a pen and a pair of receipts.

He signed his name to one — WEST WARD — and cracked a road-weary grin. “Most people ask me where I’m headed, but I guess you know that already.”

(Read on …)

Shot date: 08. December 2006 (Polaroid SX-70)

APPLES & PEARS
Photo/Story © 2007 Tod Brilliant
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My name is Graciela Rojas. I am nineteen years old. For nearly six months I have been working at the Farragut Family Farms fruit processing plant. We specialize in Pink Lady apples and Bartlett pears, but that doesn’t matter much. I am not writing this note for anyone in particular, except maybe an older version of myself who may read it one day and remember that the struggles are nothing new. (Read on …)