The Mississippi Man - Chapter One
““One might be painted whileone
is asleep,” suggested Mr. Brandas a
contribution to the discussion.” ( Henry James, The Europeans, (1878) p.66. )Chapter OneDavid West is taking an evening walk in
Baltimore at Upper Fells Point. In Baltimore, competition has closed steel
plants and shipyards, but people are still thriving with their lives, inventing
new jobs and careers. Summer has come, and the birds are singing. The story
begins here.-------------------------------------------------------O n an ordinary husky September night it was. In Upper
Fells Point in northern centralBaltimore,
it was. A slight, semi-hot rain had been falling ceaselessly all day. More
often than not, on evenings like these after the storm, small, friendly ponds appeared
on the lonely streets of the flat-footed picturesque city, known as the birthplace
of Frank Zappa and Billie Holiday. Suddenly lights from the random street lamps
glittered brightly, as they were reflected by myriads or more of wet surfaces
outsid…
