A. L. Kaplan

Author: A. L. Kaplan

  • BOBBY

    Hey Loony.

    Stop it, Bobby. You’re such a pain in the butt.

         I choke on sobs as I run my fingers over the photograph in Mom’s old album.  My brother and I were arguing as we hiked that day, barely even noticing the views that mom captured with her camera. We were twins, fighting was what we did. This image is burned into my mind.  I can’t believe mom saved it all these years. I wish I could forget that day, or better yet redo it. Even after twenty years, the pain is still fresh.

         Make me, Loony. Loony Louise.

         I said stop calling me that.

         A little shove was all I gave, just to make him stop teasing.  Bobby fell back into the railing, laughing the way ten year old boys laugh. I remember his eyes widen with surprise and then terror as he teetered farther back over the rail.

         Bobby!

         I reached, but his fingers barely brushed across mine, like two feathers in the wind. Then he was gone, tumbling down into the water and rocks. He didn’t even cry out as he fell. There was a pause, then a splash and a crack. I stood there numb, watching a red streak taint the water below and my brother float slowly down stream. Mom screamed, but it sounded far away. All I could do was gape.

    Tears splash onto the plastic of the album. If only I hadn’t pushed so hard. If only…

         I’m sorry Bobby.

  • Salt and Sails

    Cool spray caresses my face and the salt tastes sweet on my lips. The scent of sea air permeates my being. This is my first and only love. I close my eyes and feel the brig as it cuts through the calm waters of the bay. The rise and fall of the waves still send shivers of joy down my spine. Here is where I belong, not bound to the hard unmoving land.

    I clutch the two gold bands that hang from my neck. My parents told me I was born in the churning waves of a storm, among the sugar cane and indigo of the hold. They were only passengers on that voyage, and fled the rocking of the ship as soon as they made landfall. But my destiny was established.

    Forty years have passed since I ran to my lover disguised as a boy, only days after my parents died. I was twelve, and have never left the embrace of the ocean. Now, as Captain, I sail the same route that bore me, delivering new shipments from the islands to these costal ports.

    The days of the brig are almost gone, overtaken by newer ships with smaller crews. But this is my life, my ship. There are no regrets. My heart races through the water like a dolphin and I long for the challenge of sailing into those crimson seas at dawn. Perhaps I’ll leave this world the way I entered, on the roiling waves of the sea.

  • The Rendezvous

    There was no moon tonight, which suited Kara just fine. She preferred to stay in the shadows. Out in the woods she felt safe, but this close to people made her nervous. Kara had promised Ethan she would wait here under the streetlamp while he gathered supplies, but she longed for the comfortable feel of her pack mates. Only her overriding need to be with Ethan kept her here.

    Until she had found him, bleeding and near death, Kara hadn’t realized she needed human companionship. Maybe it was the eyes, or the soft way he spoke to her as she nursed him back to health, but something awoke in her. Perhaps it was the way he accepted the wolves that had been her only companions these last eight years. Could he hear them the way she could?

    Footsteps approached and Kara ducked into the shadows, as skittish as a young wolf, ready to bolt. Relief flooded her as she recognized Ethan, and her heart began to flutter with something more.

    “Ethan.” she said, a wolfish whimper slipping into her voice.

    “I’m here, Kara,” he said, “now and forever.”

    She stepped back into the lamp light and looked up into his brown eyes, longing for his touch.  Shivers ran up her spine as he brushed a hand across her cheek. Kara nuzzled into Ethan’s chest and felt his love telegraphed through his beating heart.

    He was hers, and she his…for life.

    It’s the way of the pack.

  • Love and Devotion

    Smooth gray stones burn the pads of my feet and the sun sears from above. My tongue hangs loosely from my mouth as I pant, but it’s dry and cracked, granting me no relief. I long for some shade or damp sand to cool my burning paws, but there is only the dry creek bed and blinding light.

    Days ago a stranger took me from my home and left me at the odd den with noisy animals. They took me away from the girl, my girl with the long curls and misshapen paws that feel so soothing as they stroke. The angry man hurt her, hurt our pack, but he’s felt my fangs and can’t harm anyone again. She lay so still when the strangers came and hid her under a sheet. I must find her, keep her safe from others. It’s what keeps me moving past the hunger and thirst.

    I close my eyes and picture her smiling face and warm hugs. I remember also my nighttime escape over the chain link fence to find her.

    A sudden coolness brushes me. Opening my eyes I see a trickle of water running under my toes and through the stones. The feeling sends shivers all the way to the tip of my tail. I don’t notice the roar until it crashes into me. As I am tossed in the water I know I will never see my girl again.

    Yet I feel her arms embrace me as darkness encompasses.

  • Restaurant Review – Nari Sushi

    Looking for a bite of sushi but don’t want to break the bank? Look no further than the weekday lunch special at Nari Sushi. Located at the King’s Contrivance Village Center in Columbia, Maryland, Nari Sushi offers a variety of Asian dishes along with its sushi offerings. While the restaurant is small in size, it is large in friendly smiles.

    Their weekday lunch special is a great deal. For only ten dollars you get your choice of ten pieces of nigiri sushi and a sushi roll. With seventeen different rolls to choose from, there is something for everyone. It also comes with a small bowl of edamame for the table, soup and salad.  The fish was fresh and flavorful. We also ordered the seaweed salad. The generous portion was served on a plate with two pieces of crab stick. At the end of the meal, we were treated to a cup of cool cinnamon tea. Everyone at my table left satisfied and full.

    Just a note: Yellowtail, salmon, tuna, and California rolls all have spicy versions that are available with the lunch special. If you love heat you’ll love these, but be forewarned, they are hot.

    Nari Sushi
    Japanese Restaurant
    King’s Contrivance Village Center
    8640 Guilford Rd, Suite B-80
    Columbia MD 21046
    410-381-6888
    Lunch:   Mon – Fri:  11:00 – 2:30
    Dinner: Mon – Fri:  4:30 – 10:00
                   Sat:  11:00 – 10:00

  • Bluefish

    It’s cold and damp on the sidewalk outside of Pesca’s Restaurant. The neon fish stares at me from the window, twisting its body as if it knows what I did. I rub my sleep deprived eyes and the fish lies still again, once more just a window decoration. Looking through the glass I see a woman bring a fork to her mouth, heedless of the sharp barb I see buried in the meat. My conscience forces me to react, but banging and yelling brings only the maître d’s wrath and he shoos me away.

    Faces glare at me from within as I back into the street, but I pay them no mind. Only the display matters now. The glass fish springs from the window like the real ones I saw leaping out of the water on my fishing trip. It charges me and a scream chokes in my throat. My feet are rooted to the asphalt. Dagger like teeth cut into my flesh, sending waves of pain through my body. Light flashes and my mind drifts away.

    Waves swell around me as I strain against the hook caught in my lips. Despite my efforts, the boat only looms nearer. A sharp hook pierces my side and I am slammed onto the deck. All around me is the nauseating scent of blood in the salt air. The hook is ripped from my mouth with pliers and I writhe in pain.

    I see myself watching as I am tossed into a bucket of dirty water filled with lifeless friends. I twist in a vain effort to escape, praying that I will rescue myself. But I only watch in fascination as I suffocate in the filthy muck.

    Lights flash all around me and the hard street is my only pillow. People watch, enthralled by the spectacle. As they lift me onto the gurney I see the neon fish smiling. It’s had its revenge at last.

  • Pine Boughs and Moss

    “I’ve been here, but when?”

    There’s no one to answer my question but the gurgling brook and the birds singing in the trees. Only my empty memories keep me company. It could have been days or even years since I passed this way last. It looks so peaceful, yet that tree leaning over the water fills me with dread.

    Visions swirl through my mind and I feel the world begin to sway.  I have to look under the tree, under the pine boughs and moss. I wade into the water, feeling the slippery stones beneath my bare feet. My hands shake and I rub them on my ragged pants as I go, ignoring the icy chill that isn’t from the water.

    Webs part as I push my hand into the dry hole, trying not to think about what might be lurking in the dark hollow. Shivers run down my back as my hand touches something cold and hard. Smooth sides and sharp edges greet my dirty fingers.

    Holding my breath, I pull the object out of its hiding place and am nearly blinded by the red light that gleams off its surface from a stray sunbeam. I stagger back and fall into the water, barely keeping my grip on the fist-sized stone. My head throbs with remembered pain. I touch the scar on my head. It runs deep into my heart. Tears stream down my face.

    They hid this here.

    Before they shot…

    Everyone.

    Even each other.

    For a rock.

  • Twilight Hunt

    Kara tightened the cord holding her parka hood closed and retrieved the knives lying on the hardened snow. Cramps gnawed at her legs as she crouched, but she kept her vigil, carefully scanning the icy landscape, as still as stone. The sound of drumming feet reached her ears, growing louder as the elk ran over the rise, pursued by three silver furred wolves. Mist exploded from the elk’s mouth with each step, sides heaving with fatigue and eyes wide with terror. The elk tried to turn, but the lone female of the pack charged and snapped until the elk returned to its original path.

    Heart hammering with nervous excitement, Kara remained frozen in place as the five hundred pound cow drew near. One strike from its massive feet could kill her or the wolves. It was risky for their small pack to hunt an animal this large, especially with an untried pup that had dull fangs and only two legs. But they needed meat and this was the only game for miles.

    The two lead wolves struck the elk simultaneously, causing it to rear up almost on top of Kara. Flush with the fervor of the hunt, Kara sprang from her hiding place and sunk her blades into the elk’s neck, only barely missing the thrashing animal’s deadly feet. She leaped back in triumph as the elk sank to the ground. Finally, she had proved herself more than a mere puppy.

  • Restaurant Review: Asia Nine

    Wandering around DC before seeing Jersey Boys at the National Theatre, my family and I happened upon Asia Nine Bar and Lounge. The restaurant was practically empty, which didn’t inspire confidence, but it was barely six in the evening on a Thursday night so we decided to give it a try. We were greeted with smiles as soon as we entered, and the service remained impeccable the entire evening. My mouth started watering as soon as I opened the menu, which has a collection of Asian fusion dishes. The quiet, relaxing yet elegant décor was the perfect atmosphere for a sleepy Thursday night before a show.

    Asia Nine offers a wide variety of small and entrée sized dishes, and a sushi bar. For you sake fans, there is a plethora of brands to choose from. We decide to pass on drinks. (Falling asleep at the theatre is so not cool.) After much deliberation we settled on three of their small plates and two entrées which we ate family style. Presentation from start to finish was perfect. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for flavor. Most dishes were wonderful, while others just didn’t work.

    Our first appetizer, the Peking Duck Roll, was one of our favorites. The meat, wrapped with cucumber, scallions, and hoisin sauce was delicious, but it was the Indian Roti wrapper that had me. I would have been content with a basket of the bread for dinner. The Asian Shrimp Ravioli, served with a sesame-sake crème was Debra’s favorite. I loved the ravioli, but found the sauce a little too rich and plentiful for the three small bites swimming in the bowl. The Nuta Salad, which contained a variety of fresh raw fish, sliced cucumber, and seaweed, was our least favorite dish of the evening. There was also no mention in the menu that the sesame sake and miso dressing was spicy. Had we known, we would have ordered something different as only half of the family enjoys spicy food.

    Our two entrees, chosen from the list of signature dishes got split reviews. Julie and Bruce both loved the Korean Sizzling Beef, which we heard coming long before we saw it. The sliced and marinated sirloin came to the table sizzling and bubbling with a smattering of vegetables. It smelled lovely, and the taste was reminiscent of Korean barbeque, but not quite. The Grilled Salmon with New Style Udon consisted of a grilled salmon fillet laid across a bed of Japanese udon noodles. Debra and I loved the flavor of the light sauce, which didn’t taste particularly garlicky or creamy despite the description. There was just enough of it to flavor and coat all the noodles without being soupy. Bruce didn’t care for this dish at all and Julie wasn’t thrilled with it either.

    Dessert, which is ordered and served through a different waitress, was the highlight of the meal. We found two to share from their limited selection. Thai tiramisu, a layered chocolate, coffee and almond confection was light, rich, and full of flavor. I made sure to run my fork across the chocolate & caramel sauce crisscrossed over the plate with each bite. The real winner was the Sticky Rice with Fresh Mango, which wasn’t even on the menu. The creamy and coconut flavored rice was absolutely wonderful, especially paired with fresh mango.

    Asia Nine is located just around the corner from Ford’s Theatre at 915 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20004. Phone: 202.629.4355

  • Restaurant Review: Blue 44

    Recently I had the pleasure of visiting a small restaurant in DC called Blue 44. A friend, whose husband happens to be the executive chef, had recommended it. I arrived a little after one in the afternoon with my teenage daughter, not sure what to expect. A peek at their menu on-line had me intrigued. The restaurant is decorated in dark tones with an elegant yet homey feel. Mirrors covering one wall make the space look twice as wide as it is. In fact, having been seated on the opposite side of the room, I didn’t realize they were mirrors until I got up to leave. An elderly couple was having a quiet meal in the back and several families with young children sat at tables near the front.

    A smiling waiter handed us the single page menu attached to a piece of corrugated cardboard with a bull clip. This completely recyclable innovation made me smile. I had been expecting something more upscale and less approachable. While humble in its presentation, this menu contains many simple yet elegant dishes. Even though the menu is small, there were a variety of appetizers, salads, and entrees to choose from and all sounded delicious. We perused the descriptions of burgers, grilled cheese, ribs, as well as papardelle with wild mushrooms. Appetizers were priced from $4 for the deviled eggs to $10 for the mussels, and entrees ranged in price from $12 – $19. They also have a separate kids menu.

    We wanted a light meal, so we focused on the appetizer section of the menu. After toying between the Sweet Potato Biscuits and Wild Boar Sausage appetizer and the Calamari Appetizer, I finally went with the Calamari and an arugula salad. My daughter, Debra, chose the Fried Oysters.

    Debra’s Oysters were served surrounding a small mound of greens. Not a huge fan of tartar sauce, she did enjoy the cucumber tartar sauce which was artfully drawn on the plate emphasizing the circular pattern of the oysters. Each oyster was perfectly fried and seasoned, with a crisp outer coating yet smooth and tender interior.

    My senses were treated by the wonderful aroma of rosemary as my plate arrived. The sautéed calamari was deliciously tender and served over a smooth polenta expertly seasoned and prepared with fresh herbs and smoked mozzarella. The sauce was creamy with a hint of tomatoes and more fresh herbs. I didn’t leave a drop behind. The arugula salad was simple, with just enough lemon vinaigrette to add flavor without overpowering the dish.

    I would highly recommend this restaurant for its excellent food and cozy atmosphere. By the way, I got to sample some of those humble deviled eggs later in the afternoon. Yum.

    Blue 44
    5507 Connecticut Ave NW
    Washington DC, 20015
    202-362-2583
    Check their web site at blue44dc.com for hours and directions.
    They do have a small parking lot behind the building.