Mike Hammer greets the winter holidays, or "A Fist Full of Snow", 10 of 10

10 of 10
But now with the body, there was also Finsterstein and a long shadow in the room as the sunless December day ended early. A long night lay ahead, cold like the corpse and winter to come. No stocking for the stiff, he thought. If he wanted a cozy chat there was Santa at Macy’s. The broken glass on the floor from his window on tomorrow reflected shards of streetlight. He buried his hand in the desk drawer, pulled out the shot glass and poured a stiff one.

                ~ Fin
                                                (c) 2010 J.B. Fletcher

Kertész

As an answer to a request that was made this morning: the latest retrospective book on André Kertész published by the Jeu de Paume is simply titled: "Kertész".
360 pages, well-documented and illustrated, for the first time showing reproduction of Kertész's publications in the weekly illustrated press of the 1930s, with an extensive biography and bibliography. I just got mine in English from amazon.com.
["Le Jeu de Paume" is the name of the National Center for Photography in Paris]

Bruno

Mike Hammer greets the winter holidays, or "A Fist Full of Snow", part 9

9 of 10     Exiting at Gun Hill Rd., they  went aways then turned into the burger joint’s parking lot.  The two overhead neon street lights were white like the little building.   It happened fast.   A .32 automatic snapped twice, a third time.  He leapt from the car seat, but it was over.  He couldn’t help the tear.

                                                          (c) 2010 J.B. Fletcher

Mike Hammer greets the winter holidays, or "A Fist Full of Snow", part 8

8 of 10   From the open window, he saw his car disappear in the swirling snow. She left a track that slammed him with a long-lost memory. He saw them years ago driving down the Bronx River Parkway on a warm fall night, the top down on the sport coupe. They passed Woodlawn Cemetery in the darkness, and laughed as they headed to the all-night burger joint.

                                                        ;- )  (c) 2010 J.B. Fletcher

Mike Hammer greets the winter holidays, or "A Fist Full of Snow", parts 6 & 7

6 of  9   She didn’t come by often, but when she did, Hammer had a soft spot for helping.  Sure she could borrow his wheels for a weekend in Pocantico Hills.  He preferred the city sidewalks  anyway, and had black tie plans for the evening at the Metropolitan Club. 

7 of 9    From his winter coat  by the door, he tossed her the keys to the Sky Hawk.  He preferred its nimbleness to the front-heavy Golden Hawk.  “The tank’s full.  Be good to me, babe.  Be good to me.”  She ran her hand down his sleeve, gave him a wink & his hand a soft squeeze.  A key dropped to the floor.


                                                                        (c)  2010  J.B. Fletcher, as always ;-)

Mike Hammer greets the winter holidays, or "A Fist Full of Snow", parts 4-5

 She came into his office like a tropical breeze on a warm, sandy beach.  The steam radiator let off a whistle by the open window.  She smiled, “Who’s the fresh one here, you or the radiator?  I haven’t gotten that treatment in years.”  Hammer put the shot glass into the open drawer behind the desk. 



 The black satin shift that hugged her could not have had a better occupant.  He moved like a panther from behind the desk.  His hand slide around the back of her neck, under her soft dark hair.  They kissed hard.

J. B. Fletcher 2010

Mike Hammer greets the winter holidays, or "A Fist Full of Snow"

      Mike Hammer greets the winter holidays, "A Fist Full of Snow"


In the snow, traffic inched along the city street like a broken Bloomingdale’s escalator at Christmas. Mike Hammer clenched a stogie in his teeth & the steering wheel like a Chinese butcher with a cleaver working hard at lunch time. All the others were little Southern grannies new to the drifting dust, snow crystals glimmering in the evening headlights. Hands clasped behind his head, he gunned the car in neutral.




Against the cold wind, Finsterstein shuffled roughly through unshoveled sidewalk snows. He was in hurry to reach Hammer’s midtown office. The air bit his face like a yapping terrier. Woman & children with holiday gift packages keep appearing in his path like obstacles at a target range. His hand tightened on the gold pendant in his coat pocket. He had to have the answer, yesterday. Hammer would help he hoped.




He threw open the office door on the third floor, his cheeks flush from climbing the stairs. Hammer was there, feet up on the desk, the window open to the December snow and the Frigidaire air conditioner blowing. He snatched the gatt from the desk top, then spun the cylinder. Finsterstein dug his hands deeper in his wet trench coat. "Howya been, Mike? I see you still like it in the cooler."


 ;- )                                                   (c) 2010 J.B. Fletcher

Winter photography classes at Community Darkroom

 CLASSES START JANUARY 18TH

      Enjoy a wide array of photography classes starting January 18th at Community Darkroom, a program of Genesee Center for the Arts and Education at 713 Monroe Ave. Classes range from beginners through advanced, using traditional, digital and historical processes.

     Start the new year off right! Learn to use your new camera, learn to process film and make prints in a black and white darkroom, design a website or venture back in time with a historic process. Choose a class that delves into the business end of photography, learn creative lighting techniques, sports photography, Photoshop, Illustrator and more! Whether you are making photography your career, are interested in the art of photography, or would just like to improve your family snapshots, we have a class for you. 

    For a complete listing of classes offered please visit our website at www.geneseearts.org. Registrations are being accepted now.  Call 271-5920 with questions or for a free brochure. Registration can be taken over the phone using visa or mastercard. Class fees range from $25 -$195. Classes are discounted for members of Genesee Center for the Arts & Education. Pre-registration is required for all classes.

Our Parks

High Falls Art Gallery

Hometown Gallery for Rochester Area Artists

Our Parks

Sunday December 5, thru January 7, 2011

And in the museum, a retrospective solo exhibit honoring the champion of parks, wetlands, and native species

Christine Sevilla

Her lens. Her favorites.
Preview of works to be sold at auction to benefit Sevilla Nature Trail

Public Reception Sunday December 5, 2010 3-6pm
Music by the Jazz Duo, Reilly Taylor-Cook and Hershel Mikel
Through January 7, 2010

60 Browns Race, Rochester, NY 14614 Information 585.325.2030
2 Blocks East of Frontier Field & Kodak Tower www.centerathighfalls.org

Corner of Platt Street & the Genesee River Accessible and friendly to all
Wed – Fri 10 am – 5 pm Sat 12 noon – 6 pm Sun 1 pm – 5 pm Closed Mon & Tue