May 8, 2016

Sh-Boom, Boom, Boom: A Maine Memory by Kenneth Weene



I was too young; no question, way too young. Only fourteen. I’m sure it was against the law — it certainly was against convention — but there we were in a strip club, and me with a whiskey sour to boot. How to make a teenager’s night perfect.
The stench of the Androscoggin River, which flowed though downtown Lewiston, wafted through the dimly lit room. Fighting against it was the artificial sweetness of cheap perfume and the smell of male anticipation.
A trio provided music: an upright piano, a drum, and a guitar. They were out of tune, but I’m sure no one cared. The hard, callused fingers of loggers, road workers, paper mill laborers tapped along with the shaky rhythm. Beer flowed, but hard drinks were the standard.
The group I was with stood out for its youth, the smoothness of our skin, and the city look of our clothes. Camp counselors on a night out before the kids were due. All of us college students or older except for me; as the camp owner’s son I was a tag-along. Why had they allowed it? Perhaps it was Al’s guilt from the summer before. He hadn’t listened to me, hadn’t understood the real antipathy my father directed towards me in bursts of rage. Al had insisted I deliver the message the old man had required, and I had been greeted by yet another paternal lambasting — one sufficiently vitriolic that a few parents took their kids home that visiting day.
Al had never said anything, but a year later when he was organizing that last before-the-kids-get-here night out, I’d been included. “What if they won’t let him in?” One of the others asked. Al laughed and said, “Hey, we’re talking Lewiston, Maine. Nobody will care.”
They didn’t. The bouncer—yes, there was one—asked if I was old enough. “Sure he is,” somebody answered; “he just looks young.” “Ayup, that cain happen.” And in I went.
And out she came. The first act of the night. Full-figured might be the right word for Miss Sue all the way from New Orleans. Fat-assed was the word from one of the counselors. No matter, there were whistles and applause as she ground her way around the stage to cacophony that was supposed to sound like Sh-Boom. 
My two heads reacted at once. One with adolescent lust and arousal; the other with empathic sorrow. I looked into Miss Sue’s lime-green eyes and saw the sorrow of her soul. I have no idea where she had come from and what life-slope she had slid down to arrive at this bottom, but the pain in her eyes stabbed at my heart.                         Bump, grind, grind bump — a top thrown here, a short skirt dropped there, a bra, panties: she danced on until only a g-string and pasties remained. Tucked in her g-string was a bill—an invitation and reminder to the audience. She moved to the edge of the stage and turned her large derriere to the small crowd. She shimmied and shook. Nobody responded. Not a single hand tucked another bill.
Funny what a guy will do when the situation is right. I had to. I nudged Ed on my left, held out my hand, and mouthed the words, “Can I borrow a buck.” He laughed and shook his head. I tried Pat on my right. He took out his wallet and pulled out a two-dollar bill. “Go ahead, kid” he said with a laugh in that baritone voice he used to call “Buddies 1-2-3” at general swim. 
Everyone heard him, and every pair of eyes turned towards us—every pair including the musicians and including Miss Sue all the way from New Orleans. 
I wanted to shrink into the chair, but there was no turning back. With another sip of that whiskey sour, I stood up, walked to the apron of the stage, and tucked that bill into her g-string. At that moment, Sue’s eyes changed from sadness to smile. Her mouth, lipsticked into a pout, rose at the corners. The transformation lasted only for seconds, but it was there, it was real, and it touched me.

Many years later, when I was writing “Times to Try the Soul of Man,” I remembered Miss Sue; I found her in the archives of my life and created a character. That’s what writers do; we archive life for later use.
As for that little strip joint in Lewiston, Maine. The block has been razed and a modern hotel built. The Androscoggin has been cleaned up and paper mill sulfur no longer permeates the town. Al died about a year ago. I have no idea about Ed or Pat. As for my father: well, I have to admit that I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without having weathered his rages.  

Ken Weene styles himself as a “Broody New Englander.” His novels, including “Times to Try the Soul of Man,” are available on Amazon. You can learn more about him at http://www.kennethweene.com



My giveaway will be two copies of Times to Try the Soul of Man. Comment leaving contact info to win. 
Good luck!


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14 comments:

  1. Patricia DusenburyMay 08, 2016

    That was a lovely story.

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  2. Good story. Enjoyed the read.

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  3. Ken, I always read you blog posts and they never fail to touch my heart. I'm sad that you have some unhappy memories from childhood, but glad that you can see the contribution they have made toward making you a great writer. Wishing you only happy days ahead.

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  4. Thanks for this captivating and unforgettable post which I enjoyed greatly. Maine is wonderful and we used to drive there from Mtl. and spend a week at the beach, Unforgettable summers and beauty. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Great story and setting. Nostalgic for the old times.

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  6. Joyce ElferdinkMay 09, 2016

    The story is made great because of the feelings explained! I could almost feel the unspoken messages between Sue and the young Ken. I'd say that's the true mark of a great storyteller!

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  7. Gene BaruchMay 09, 2016

    Kenny - (It was Kenny back then) I remember the couple of years I shared in pre-camp slave labor with you and Larry and Harvey and Al - and old Joe barking at you. I was embarrassed for you and learned that old Joe had a different side I hadn't seen in years past. But nevertheless, those were, for me, some of the best summers of my life. I cherish the memories and the friendship we shared way back then.

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  8. AnonymousMay 09, 2016

    Another classic from the archives of your fond memories. I like to think that most such sordid sides of towns have been leveled to the ground, if such towns were blessed enough to move forward into the 21st century. When I was stationed at Camp Lejuene as a young Marine there was such a street. State Street was its official name. As for me, I never joined the other Marines who would squander their very hard earned money in such establishments. But, I had no choice but to cross that bastion of sin to get to my real God-send, the local USO.

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  9. Ken, great story as only you can tell. I felt the emotions streaming from the page. I have this book of yours and several others but not all--yet.

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  10. Very few authors can hook me from sentence one to sentence end. Kenneth Weene delivers bang for the buck and those like me who read his works are hooked for good. This trip to Maine was fun!

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  11. Sad story! It touched me deeply about your Dad as mine was equally abusive verbally. But if we hadn't had them around we wouldn't be the persons we are today.. One wonders how the stripper came to such dim circumstances. What lead her to end up stripping for a living? I loved the story but at the same time much sympathy and sadness for her

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  12. BenjaminMay 15, 2016

    Nice job with this piece, Ken!

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  13. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I am always delighted to share a bit of my memories with the great folks who enjoy this blog.

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