It is too early to be up this morning but it is certainly
the right thing to do.
How we can even walk hand in hand in this world,
how will we ever do it?
People begin to get edgy now.
The storm is approaching.
We can feel it inside, we can sense it.
The storm will be coming soon.
Very soon.
And with the storm, our emotions rise.
The man, once again, although he is not a communist,
wishes America to become a communist nation.
He wants to put an end to war.
He wishes to see Johnson and Westmoreland and all the others
guillotined.
He ignored the existence of Marie Antoinette but confessed
that he once held hands with Napoleon the last.
He is not an idealist.
He defiantly is not an idealist.
Donovan is an idealist. Charles Aznavour is a realist.
Peter Lawford is a realist.
The storm has come.

No, I don’t pay football.
But I’ll tell you that I play soccer because I don’t want you to think
that I’m not the all American teenager.
But soccer doesn’t ease your mind.
You’d prefer it I played football.
I’m sorry I disappointed you.
Very sorry.
In fact, I hope to pass a football with you out in the
high school football field as soon as the storms over.
Do you think the storm will pass?
I hope not.
I enjoy it.
I prefer to sleep in the storm.
You mean out in the storm?
No, I mean in my secluded hideout.
Oh well, you must mean your mind.
Yes, I was being symbolic when I said hideout.
What do you plan to do with your time now that you’ve turned into a
cantaloupe?
I don’t know.
I’ll probably sit home and eat lots of dried fruit.
You can’t do that.
That is the raisins and apricots belong to me.
Raisins belong to me.
I can’t live without my raisin.
If I can’t have raisin, there’s no sense in living.
Did you always feel this way about raisins?
No, I used to be fond of ice-blue secret but I got over that.
See, I know that it’s raisin forever.
That’s wonderful.
Isn’t it?
Hey, do you see what I see?
Yea, the person dancing in the storm.

Look, there’s more doing it.
How can they do that?
I guess they’re crazy.
No, you’re wrong.
For them the storm brings a release of emotions.
Remember I told you that?
Oh yea.
That’s wonderful.
Isn’t it?
See, we both say how wonderful it is yet we won’t do it ourselves.
Yea, how ‘bout that.
Let’s do it.
It’s not gonna be easy you know.
I know.
But I think I’ll fall in love with it.
I hope I really fall in love with it.
See, the storm is freedom.
Oh, is that what the storm is?
I think so, I’m not really sure.
Did Buddy have a reason for what he did?
I’m sure he did.
Showmanship.
But he overdid it.
He overdid everything.
Is Buddy an idealist or a realist?
I’d say he was conceited, that’s what I’d say.
Are you sure?
I mean a person has to be either an idealist or a realist.
False.
Charles Aznavour is a realist.
Donovan is an idealist.
Understand?
I think so.
What do you think of Pepsi?
Good stuff.
Very good.
Benson and Hedges 100s. Good for a number of reasons.
Is there a curse on you?
No, who’d put a curse on me?
Gordon, through Lucifer.
I’d rather be in a black mass.

It’s time for the generations to separate themselves.
Another words, the storm is coming to an end but there is still a long way off.
People are getting impatient.
The storm must end soon.
Drink carmel soda.
That will take your mind off it.
People are still going around doing things that they
know are wrong but they have no control over it.
They don’t realize that it’s wrong until they do it
and then it’s too late.
See, the major problem with people, all people, is that
they forget their previous ages and experiences.
At one time or another, people think the same ideas.
People feel that they have to be responsible for something
whether they like it or not.
That way, they feel wanted.
Before the storm, people can kill and feel no remorse.
During the storm, people can kill and realize that what they’re doing is wrong.
They realize that they’re taking away a life.
A real life.
The storm isn’t over yet so I have no idea what people would feel by killing.
Before the storm, the world is fighting with itself
trying to find an answer to everything.
Racial problems are very big before the storm and the
storm gives them time to cool off and realize what they’re fighting about.
The point is the storm can’t really change anything when it’s over.
Only during the storm do people realize what’s going on.

I’ll always be somewhat of a pyromaniac and so will Jan.
Jan will always be a hassle freak.
Christ was a hassle freak. That’s why they crucified him.
Richard will always be a Paizano drinker and shoot behind Nancy’s back.
Nancy is a Donovan lover so that’s good.
And Wendy will always be a free for all teeny bopper
trying to impress everyone with her stories.
David will go on shooting and Tom will go on following.
We will again believe what people tell us because we
haven’t realized that people are alike all over.
No, even the storm won’t make us realize that.
Everyone is plastic.
The storm is nearing an end.
We can see changes taking place.
The changes are beautiful but won’t last for long.
People change constantly every day.
They really do.
How I would have loved to seen certain things.
Such a false dream.
The good never happens.
We all know that.
You know that something good never lasts for long.
The world is filled with miseries.
We refuse to believe things for different reasons.
The storm is practically over.
It’s cool here under the Chase Manhattan.
You certainly are a friend.
I would have loved for the storm to continue.
Continue through eternity.

Mary is willing to be in a black mass now for no reason at all.
Alan will drive me anywhere I want to go.
Robert didn’t honk the horn when he drove me home.
Bob let me have my tape recorder cord without him being in the house.
Jimmy told me how nice his pink osley was.
Vicki told me how great Peter’s room is.
Mitch is letting me write the music for his song.
Crazy Guggenheim let me have a bite of his ice cream sandwich.
Janet let me stand on her ass.

The whole mood of everyone changes.
People are becoming wonderful once again.
Even Mr. and Mrs. Suburbia look nice to me.
They’re polite.
But what about the future?
What does the future hold for the storm?
Will there be another storm tomorrow?
Very doubtful.
The time before the storm is always the most precious.
Now the world takes off it’s mask and faces the sun for the first time
all day.

the time before the storm

©1968 Michael Bitterman