A Fine Literary Figure
Walking into the living room I saw him.
He sat on a hassock in the center.
He seemed in a cheery mood.
The home owner, another author, with his sons,
one by marriage and one by association, sat nearby
also smiling away.
I was wearing a bright red shirt.
It stood out.
Out of place?
Perhaps.
But not that much of a distraction.
For the man on the hassock was a famous author from New England.
He was related to Jackie Kennedy.
He was interviewed on talk shows.
He knew the rich and glamorous and influential.
They were his circle of friends.
I asked him about the JFK assassination.
If Onassis was involved.
If the Kennedy's had been seen on the Greek billionaire's yacht.
I asked about the Mafia's old “Kill the king and take his queen for your own.”
A crazy theory, but I had just read an article about it.
He was polite but evasive.
I persisted.
Finally he shrugged a concession: I might have a point.
Later they drove the world renowned literary figure to LAX Airport.
Heading down the 405 freeway he mused looking out the window
and asked “Who was the young man in the red shirt?”
The other author said “Oh just a friend of my son's.”
This time the literary figure persisted “But what does he do?”
“He's trying to be an actor.”
The man of letters replied “I think he's going to make it.”
Oh Mr. Vidal—I just wish you'd be right!
(Above image: the_new_world_portrait_1_ink_18x12, by Allen Forrest)
