(A Vintage Petrol Lighter Story Volume 3: The Morning We Get is a work of fiction presented by DependableFlame.com)
Welcoming The Morning We Get
Shawn had been staring out that window for days. He thought about feeling sorry for himself once but then thought better of it. The rain just kept
falling, gathering at spots in the top of the frame and running in currents down the side like tiny, rushing rivers, bending, flowing, being blown to and fro by the whim of the elements.
This wasn’t normal precipitation by a long shot but regular rainfall was a given here. The intensity with which this rain fell may have been peculiar but to Shawn it was just more of the same, the inherent heartbeat or rhythm of this place, a comfortable surrounding with exceptions to be made and fostered.
The sun had fought hard to make an appearance only a few short days ago but its absence already loomed larger than that teasing portention provided in hope. “Ah, it’ll break soon,” Shawn thought, “and perhaps take with it the rain for a day, or an hour or two!”
Sipping the coffee he’d endowed with a heavy dose of cream and unsalted butter, Shawn tripped the piezoelectric ignition, lighting his Ronson Jetlite butane lighter. Abandoning the coffee momentarily, he drew the White Rhino Glass dab straw from its rest in the clean cobalt blue half-oval ashtray that was its home and twirled its tip ever so patiently through the hard blue flame until it glowed. Shawn waited a beat, then bounced the tip of the straw across the surface of the Rainbow Cakes live resin in the jar as he inhaled feverishly, the other end held tightly in his lips.
The exhalation of vapor was voluminous and coughless and set his mind in a contentedly alert state. He repeated the process twice more. “What a magnificent morning for coffee and some dabs!” he thought, or so he thought but actually said to the eagerly panting Labrador Retriever at his feet.
Half A World Away
Elston was struggling a bit this morning but against what he couldn’t be sure, just a nagging notion that he’d neglected or forgotten something
important. It was just beyond his grasp though, or perhaps completely out of reach and made no difference anyhow because he had plenty of work to do and no time to waste!
Elston often dealt with feelings that seemed beyond his reach or at least beyond his ability to effectively deal with. Sometimes they assaulted him head on but that was rare and most often they just fluttered and flicked along the edge of his consciousness, like nuisances that never fully introduce themselves.
He’d rather be taking a walk, becoming more familiar with the beauty and intrigue that surrounded him. Spring growth and flowering trees coming to life. The grass damp and the sidewalk cluttered here and there with the community’s evidence of last night’s revelry or fellowship. To pull deeply and calm as he struck the file wheel of his 1941 Replica Zippo lighter and set flame to the marijuana joint he would have stuffed just before leaving.
To take it all in and exhale against the brightness of the April morning as songbirds sang, crows cawed and pigeons cooed and contributed to the piles of dung they had started days earlier.
But alas, Elston had work to do and it was no chore like the work he used to perform. There would be a day when work would only bring joy but that was not in the here and now where toil had been brought on by the Curse. Yet wiser decisions and a better understanding of himself had brought him to a place where he was satisfied and not frustrated completely by his work. But perfection had not yet come and this was evident in the details, like say when quantity of such work was not sufficient to fill his day.
Personal Preferences
He’d need to have a talk with himself, maybe a reminder of previous days when the “chores” of his life were compulsory, like waking up every day in
Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day, waking again to do it over with no better grasp or understanding than he’d had the day before and yet the problems and toils still compounding.
There was at one time nobility in that previous work. It had been tainted, of course, along the way with and by those who had once shared in it but now lorded it over him and his fellow strugglers. Task masters who had forgotten their kinship with the ones who toil. Folks that take advantage of and ignore the travails of fellow human beings to the benefit of their own bank account.
Motivations which are never spoken in the open of the day but whispered in the corners of the night as they laugh and bandy about their excuses and desires and justifications. Seeking approval and true meaning where only indulgence and frivolity can be found.
Misleading others into their own sad circumstances, then blaming them and calling the entire enterprise something else entirely. Making subjects out of acquaintances who were only looking for a wholesome vocation.
Days could disappear here were he not careful. Moments could become traps disguised in the mundane reality of his own emotions. But that was not his fate. “I know Whom I have believed!” he exclaimed softly to himself as he picked up the phone and hit the familiar preset.
A Friend Closer Than A Brother
Shawn was sick when he realized he’d missed the call. Not like he was mad at himself or was beating himself up for it or anything like that. Just a
missed opportunity he wished he had back. Oh, the conversation could always wait for another day but there also wasn’t anything wrong with it happening this day and Shawn was keen to see that occur.
Just as the day had started in a dubious manner(in like to the many just before) he now felt tension between his motivations. He had accomplished much now though by this time in the afternoon, having relocated the chickens as the alien bright sun burned off the moisture in the grass from days worth of rain accumulation and spent the earlier afternoon cutting the grass with his rope-pull start, push mower like a latter-day Hank Hill.
This was meaningful work even if a tad tedious. The tedium would never be dealt with here and now but would always be part of the toil which if he handled properly today was building up for him a weightier and more enjoyable crown in the life to come.
Just then the phone vibrated as Shawn fumbled it off the table and into his lap at which point it fell to the ground and shattered the glass screen. “Hello?” Shawn exclaimed into the speaker, confusion and anger filling his voice as Elston listened and discerned. “I just broke my damn phone!”
“Oh, man, I’m sorry to hear that! How is the rest of your day going, brother?”
(Please leave any comments, questions or suggestions in the comments section of this or any other page at DependableFlame.com. This is a work of fiction and any similarity of the characters or situations herein to those that have happened in real life should be seen as coincidental.)
This is quite the behind the scenes peak into Elston’s mind. Reading this seems like you’re sitting right there in the room, petting his Labrador retriever. The deep descriptions paint a dark picture of Elton’s morning, and you can’t help but hope for a better afternoon. Looking forward to Volume 4!
Thank you Kate for stopping by and taking the time to leave such a kind comment. The morning has never been my best part of the day so you may be on to something there. It is often improved though by hitting the dab straw or smoking a joint! This story was mostly about the meaning of friendship though and specifically the long distance type that requires folks to actually think about one another and reach out every so often. Friendships that stand the test of time. Volume 4 will be here Monday so check it out!
Hello, we have read all four stories and will comment on them separately one by one. The first story “Welcoming The Morning We Get” tells us about the character Shawn who finds comfort and satisfaction in his morning routine in contrast to the weather outside. In short, it sends us the message that we should be content with our little morning routines that start our day. The second story “Half A World Away” tells us about the character Elston who has internal conflicts and struggles, while he is searching for his own fulfillment due to everyday events. We see his longing and longing for nature, and in addition, he has a great responsibility at work, while he feels great tension. The next story, the third in line, is “Personal Preferences”, and she tells us about the monotony of her life, which she compares to Bill Murray’s character from the movie “Groundhog Day”. Remembering some beautiful times in which there was nobility in their work, but it was tarnished by those who once participated in it. The story sends us a message about the challenges and complexities of life, as well as the influence of other people on one’s circumstances and importance. And the last story is “A Friend Closer Than A Brother” in which we also have a character named Shawn, we see that the main character regrets missing what he says is an “important call” due to illness. When his phone vibrated, he dropped it and broke it, and in his anger over the broken phone, he unexpectedly received a caring and above all emotional response from the man who called him by the name of Elston. Perhaps the missed call to the main character was a reminder to be more careful in the future and appreciate the little joys that come his way. After our comments on each of the stories, the third story made the biggest impression on us. We believe that all the stories are beautifully summarized and, above all, meaningfully written, and that each one sends a specific message. We like that the author added the option that some words that are in bold can take us to more detailed information about it with one click. That would be a modest comment of ours based mostly on the stories themselves and their messages to each reader.
I appreciate you guys taking the time Andrej and Luka to read the story and leave such a detailed and complimentary comment. I was glad to read your insights as they interested me greatly. I actually wrote this story as kind of a four act play with the third act being somewhat ambiguous as to whom we are actually following. It is about the friendship shared by Shawn and Elston while they live with such great distance between them. These circumstances can have varying influence on a relationship and friendships worth keeping are worth fostering.
The breaking of the telephone brings Shawn back into the physical world. The thoughts going on in his mind was a dream.
I appreciate the dramatization of Shaw’s thoughts and the the dream-like usage of Vintage Petrol Lighter- so detailed in description.
Great write-up. I specially enjoy reading such “abstract writing”. Waiting for the next volume.
Regards,
Rohit
Thank you Rohit, I appreciate your input and insights my friend. It is interesting to hear varying perspectives on these stories and to learn what readers are taking from them. I see these so far as chronicling a friendship between two people as they each struggle through their daily lives. They each have their own problems but do not neglect to stay in contact because they understand the benefits and responsibilities of maintaining a long distance friendship over time.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading “A Vintage Petrol Lighter Story Volume 3: The Morning We Get”. The imagery of the rain falling like tiny, rushing rivers and the beauty of the spring growth and flowering trees was vivid and captivating. Your writing has a way of pulling the reader in and immersing them in the scene.
The contrast between the two characters, Shawn and Elston, was also well done. Despite being half a world away from each other, their experiences with work and personal preferences resonated with each other. The description of Elston’s struggle with feelings beyond his reach and Shawn’s contentedly alert state after taking some dabs added depth to their characters.
Thank you Anoth, I really appreciate hearing you thoughts on the story and am glad to read that you enjoyed it and of course thankful as well for taking time to leave such a descriptive comment covering you analysis of the story.
It is a story basically about friendship that also takes into account many of the issues going on in their personal lives on a daily basis. I like the way you picked up on the contrasting ways that Shawn and Elston come about their days.
Interesting story on the friendship. Sometimes we don’t realise wha kind of friends we have around us, until they are gone. Friendship is something what gives our life another extension, we have to cherish it, and by no means take it for granted. If it is friendship around the corner or friendship around the globe. I have some of my dearest friends living in another part of the world and some just in my city. It is not the distance, but the quality that matters.
Thank you Julius for taking the time to read the story and to leave such a thoughtful comment about the experience you had reading it. Properly valuing our friends is a skill that many people don’t really care about anymore in this social media world we live in, but you state wisely that we should cherish our friendships and value them for what they are. It would be unfortunate to realize what a great friend you had but to come to that knowledge too late.
Great post, I really enjoyed reading about your experience with the vintage petrol lighter. I also have a few vintage lighters that have been passed down to me from my grandfather, and they hold a lot of sentimental value for me. There’s something special about using a lighter that has been around for generations and has a rich history behind it. I particularly loved the way you described the sense of excitement and anticipation as you struck the lighter and lit the joint. It really captured the magic of using a vintage lighter. Thank you for sharing your story and reminding me of the beauty and significance of these small treasures shared among friends.
Thank you Dave, I appreciate you reading the story and also for stopping by to share your analysis of it here in the comment section. These stories have been a nice exercise in a more creative type of writing that fiction affords the opportunity for while still introducing various elements of everyday life that the characters may be struggling or having some other experience with.
I like how Shawn almost felt sorry for himself, but then snapped out of it like he was entranced by the rain, then fell into seemingly contented normalcy with his dabs. Elston seems like he is troubled most of the time, and wallows in introspection as a daily diet, but, then again, he was pretty high. The levity at the end certainly brightens up an otherwise dark and dreary tale, which is what rainy days can become. All in all a pretty haunting chapter. It’s a good thing Elston called! Nicely done.
I really like the way you interweave your links into your story. Again, nicely done.
Dave
Thank you Dave, I really appreciate you taking the time to read the story and especially for leaving such a nice comment. I have been pondering writing this sort of niché fiction for a while and so far I feel like it is going alright. I have enjoyed the opportunity to do a little more creative type writing than I might otherwise be able to do for show & tell, repair instruction, or review articles. These stories are just another way to present some vintage lighters and other relative information to DependableFlame.com.
This is such a deep story that is told. From morning routines to long time friendships the story explained it all in so much detail I literally felt like I was a part of the story sitting right there with you. Zippo lighters remind me of my grand father. He had so many that were shaped differently that he passed down to my son. The specific one I remember is the toilet zippo. When you life the lid of the toilet the flame came from the bowl. LOL Thank you for sharing the story!
Thank you Danielle, I really appreciate you reading the story. I am glad that you enjoyed it and felt like you were setting right there! I also think it’s interesting that you speak of Zippo lighters in the generic sense, sort of like some of us may call any soda a Coke. There are valuable lighters of all shapes and sizes but it sounds like you are referring to some novelty type figural lighters as Zippos. You are not alone in this but for clarification sake Zippo is a specific brand and a pretty good one at that! Thank you again for stopping by.
What a lovely way of introducing cigarette lighters to those of us who still indulge. I remember my parents giving me a Ronson lighter for my 21st birthday. They were seen as a status symbol almost. Like a good watch a cigarette lighter showed people you had a hint of style. And by using stories as you are, it also shows a hint of style and prestige.
Uniquely done, thanks for the great read.
Stephen
You bet Steve, I am glad you enjoyed reading the story. I remember when any self respecting man had to wear a watch on his wrist as well. There used to be an affinity for well-made consumer products that were also useful in our lives and that’s exactly why lighters were seen as a status symbol like you say. Ronson lighters were certainly well made and a feather in the cap to anyone who opted to use it. I think this is a notion we need to harken back to, put more old lighters in more new people’s pockets.
Reading this gives me a bit of an insight into what is going on in Shawn’s mind. He seems to be finding the morning difficult, and has regrets about missing a phone call. But then lighting up a joint, seems to be calming him. Until he drops and breaks his phone when he is trying to answer it.
But his friend Elston, or maybe it is his real brother, seems to be compassionate and sympathetic, hopefully making Shawn feel better about his misfortune. I looking forward to reading the next instalment.
Thank you Liné, I really appreciate you reading the story and hope you will keep up with later installments of this serialized niché fiction. Shawn and Elston are very familiar with each other though not actual siblings but the kind of friends that are always there for each other and care for each other in such a way that they can rely on each other as friends that are as close as a sibling. I like to think Shawn always feels better after a conversation with Elston.
You cannot underestimate the power of vapour and coffee. They are essentials to putting my day right. I like to reset my mindset with some early morning sip of coffee. I like Shawn’s style of waking up early with coffee. It opens your mind and heart. I can tell you that I attend to my daily challenges with a higher degree of alertness when I start my day with a glass of coffee.
Thank you Parameter, I appreciate you dropping by to read the article and also for leaving such an insightful, kind comment. You should try to check in on one of our weekly YouTube Live streams Vintage Coffee And Lighters Live! where we talk about all kinds of elements concerning old petrol lighters over a hot cup of coffee. The camaraderie and fellowship that is present in the vintage lighter community never ceases to amaze me and I would love you to experience it for yourself.
Hi, I enjoyed reading your post.
This took me away for a few moments and helped me forget about my day, in a good way. The literary content helped me to imagine myself in another time and place, familiar yet unfamiliar. I have not read your other posts in this series, but are wondering what situation this finds the character in. What the past few days, weeks, years have been like for thier life and what they are hoping to achieve in the future.
I’m also curious as to the vintage petrol lighter and how this came to be in their possession and why. Are they a collector, or just a fan who enjoys a smoke? Thanks again for your blog.
Thank you Dale, I really appreciate you reading the article and taking the time to share your insight into the story here in the comment section! I can tell you that life has been difficult at times for both Elston and Shawn but not in the sense that either has really been beaten down by it. There is much more of their personal situations to come in the storyline and I also appreciate your eagerness to learn what brings the lighter into the story in the first place. All will be revealed at the appropriate time my friend, I hope you will continue to read these stories!