memes

In the Clutch of the Octopus

Joe and Frank were the best friends brothers could be. As Frank and Callie’s relationship began to blossom, Joe found himself alone more and more. Iola had gone to summer on Rocky Isle, so Joe thought he should take up an extra hobby. He wasn’t quite sure what that would be. A little soul-searching was in order. So, he set out early one morning on his own to hit some flea markets in the area. That’s when he found the brass hookah. He thought it looked like a many-tentacled octopus. Nargeela, the Turkish merchant said with a smile as Joe handed him the money. He took it home to polish it up and discovered a hidden chamber inside the pipe containing a small chunk of resin. Thinking it was incense, he held it over a candle flame. He found its sweet scent relaxing. Later that week, Frank noticed that Joe seemed absent and detached. He was sleeping late and was easily agitated in the morning. Something had a hold on him.

https://www.beardofbees.com/pubs/The_Hardy_Boy_Poems.pdf (by Eric Wayne Dickey)