This week cavalcadeofstars debuts Robert Vaughan with 10,000 Dollar Pyramid.
10,000 Dollar Pyramid
Originally published in Elimae February 2011
10,000
It’s the square of 100, the exact age she died. Not square, more like a pear, a pair,
paring sentences down to “golly gee” or “don’t ya know.” She lived in the Land of
10,000 Lakes, never set a digit in a single one. Until her last decade, too frugal to travel,
her ten children brought tales of the world-at-large. Her friends called her Cleo not
Cleopatra, they shared the same hook nose, nostrils flared.
Dollar
During the course of her life Cleo screwed every single President. Her favorite lover
was John F. Kennedy, she adored his idiosyncrasies, his stooped, loopy gate. Every time
they go-cart raced, she beat the living crap out of him. He’d suck on her toes until they’d
wrinkle. Upon leaving, he’d place a dollar bill in her bathrobe. She kept them in an
aluminum piggy bank in her basement.
Pyramid
The schemers came and went during her lifetime. Big money developers who lost
fortunes in get-rich-quick vapors. Entire household savings could go like the collapse of a
skyscraper, or a plunging meteor. She was a positioner, loved to gain from another’s loss.
Had a knack for sucker lists, loved the bait-and-switch, zig-zag scams, the apex of a
prism. Cleo died in her sleep at the Luxor Hotel, lights beaming at the top.
Bio:
Robert Vaughan’s plays have been produced in N.Y.C., L.A., S.F., and Milwaukee where he resides. He leads two writing roundtables for Redbird- Redoak Studio. His prose and poetry is published in over 125 literary journals such as Elimae, LITSNACK, BlazeVOX, and A-Minor. He is a fiction editor at JMWW magazine, and Thunderclap! Press. Also edits Flash Fiction Fridays for WUWM.
His blog: http://rgv7735.wordpress.com.
You had me at “Golly Gee” and took me to the beaming up at the Luxor. Wowzers – Living high and go-cart races. Mr Vaughn, even if you aren’t the man from Uncle . . . you know how to vroooom.
Nice seeing you charm at Jeanette’s. She’s worth it.
~ Absolutely*Kate, believing in believers
AT THE BIJOU . . . and around WebTowne
Loved this at elimae, and love it here. Peace…
Thanks for reading, and commenting!
Also, thanks so much, Jeanette for providing the chance for this little piece to shine again!
One. Word. At. A. Time. Robert. Makes. Me. Smile.
Strange and delightful piece! I enjoyed reading it again.
You are really getting some well-deserved mileage out of this fantastic piece, Robert! Well done!
It has been a pleasure having you visit on a beautiful holiday week.
Great piece, Robert. Well done
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