The Daily Novel

The sixties
We all graduated from Tupelo High in the spring of 1961, all but Sam Littlejohn, who had to repeat a year and eventually dropped out. Cassie graduated with top honors. After graduation, she went to New York to study dance. J.P. and Marybelle were married in June. Travis enrolled in the Memphis Art Academy [...]

Marybelle called the newspaper office and asked for J.P. He picked up the phone. “J.P. Hollingsworth speaking. May I help you?”
“Oh God, I hope so,” she blurted. “This is Marybelle.”
Either he didn’t catch the desperation in her voice or he decided it best to make light of it. He said, “Ah yes, Marybelle. Marybelle of [...]

When Marybelle got to work, the staff meeting was well underway. Prancing smugly in front of his seated employees, like a self-satisfied teacher lecturing a class, Ray Prichard said, “Well well, if it isn’t the late Marybelle Coe. We’re honored that you decided to join us.”
“Tardy, not late. I’m still among the living. I’m sorry [...]

Spring, 1982
I told this tale to Jimmy on that long drive from New York to Tupelo. Jimmy did most of the driving. He also did most of the talking. At first. He tried to draw me into conversation, but I was deep in private thoughts. He wanted to know why I was so quiet, what [...]

SoHo Spring of 1982
The gallery was crowded. I heard that it had been constantly crowded since Red Warner’s mysterious disappearance. Interest in his work had become infectious. There was a constant flow of gawkers in and out of the Broome Street Gallery. They came in, gave the work cursory glances, and talked to one another [...]

1982
SoHo
Painting can be an evil mistress. She can love you tender and she can love you raunchy, and she can rip your guts apart.
When you put that last stroke on your canvas and you know you’ve done it right, and you step back to look at what you’ve done, a deep sigh comes all the [...]