This post features Act 2-- uninterrupted, with no comments-- of the daily zapfic serial #GHAWG published at LeoThreads.
Post images made using MS Paint.
TL;DR
- About #GHAWG
- Previously, in Act 1
- Act 2
- Zapfic entries from [25] 2023-March-29 through [61] 2023-May-05
- Quick Summary of Act 2
- Navigation to Other Acts in #GHAWG
- When (and Where) To Catch GHAWG
About #GHAWG
Below is the description taken from the first annotated weekly summary covering #GHAWG:
#GHAWG is short for "God's Hog: A Watchful Guardian." This fictional story tells how David Guardia, a courier and business owner from Bayonne, New Jersey, US moved into the next phase of his life after spending the final ten years of his ailing father's life helping him.
(Hyperlinks in original)
2 months after I began publishing the daily zapfic serial, I decided to publish a weekly summary which also included commentary relevant to each zapfic entry.
The weekly summaries add depth to #GHAWG. However, they are capped at 7 entries (with perhaps a few bonus entries). With the serial entering its 6th month, it can take a while to get caught up even with the delayed weekly summaries.
Recently it occurred to me that some people would prefer to read the zapfic uninterrupted; that is, with no commentary, just the text. For this reason I will publish on a recurring basis a post containing all the zapfic entries associated with one Act (or Interlude) of the daily zapfic serial.
Eventually, these Uninterrupted posts will catch up with the daily zapfic serial. At that point, these Uninterrupted posts will be published at the end of each Act (or Interlude) as needed.
For anyone interested in commentary, start with the post featuring zapfic entries 1 through 7 along with the introduction.
Previously, in Act 1
David Guardia is living his daily life as a motorcycle messenger by day and a paternal caretaker by night, with a side hustle in decentralized blogging he's had for over six years. He does his best to care for his ailing father, even at the cost of his own health.
After ten long years, the day finally came and his father died in the hospital. He ties up some loose ends, namely accumulating funds to upgrade his ride from a beat up Honda to a certified pre-owned Harley-Davidson. When he's ready for that upgrade, he hands the business over to one of his couriers.
At his age, some men either take a mistress or buy an exotic car. For David Guardia, that means taking that long-deferred road trip from Bayonne to the annual motorcycle rally at STURGIS. Although he knows he will be starting a new life after the ride, he doesn't realize how new it will be.
Act 2
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 25. 2023-03-29 02:21:17 |
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| For a ride as long a mine to Sturgis, the trip from Bayonne to Allentown was relatively short. Next leg of my ride takes me along the Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 325 miles to East Palestine, Ohio (barely across state lines). |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 26. 2023-03-30 02:12:56 |
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| For the last 100 miles something felt off about the bike. I couldn't figure it out, so once I arrived in East Palestine, Ohio I went looking for a motorcycle mechanic. I really didn't want to abort my trip to Sturgis this early. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 27. 2023-03-31 00:30:03 |
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| "Solenoid Cascade Failure." "Say again?" I asked the mechanic. "You were 1 hour away from riding a brick." "So the starter needed replacing." She nodded. After the mechanic replaced the starter, I tipped her her hourly wage. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 28. 2023-04-01 03:25:35 |
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| With East Palestine 30 minutes behind me, I was thinking how I dodged a bullet when I took the Harley to the mechanic. I don't mind leaving the mechanic a large tip, but the new starter means I'll be eating Spam for a few days. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 29. 2023-04-02 01:17:03 |
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| After chasing Spam with lime seltzer water and a couple of mints I resumed my ride on Interstate 80 northwest toward Cleveland, Ohio. So far my trip to Sturgis was uneventful; getting the starter replaced was just a precaution. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 30. 2023-04-03 01:30:27 |
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| "Is that your Harley?" I nodded. "Sweet ride." After 10 minutes, the gentleman knew about my journey to Sturgis and what led to it. I even told him about that black Big Wheel I had. We both nodded knowingly as we remembered. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 31. 2023-04-04 00:14:57 |
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| An older man with a Movember-class moustache found me. "I'm sorry I knocked down your bike." The 3 of us went outside to inspect the Hog; no damage. "Call me if you need repairs," Geraldo Rivera said as he handed me his card. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 32. 2023-04-05 01:55:39 |
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| Before Geraldo Rivera left, I told him that my father's favorite episode from his talk show featured Iris Chacon. It's also when I learned about women who weren't my mother. The blush on his face showed he knew what I meant. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 33. 2023-04-06 01:57:22 |
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| After my brush with fame in Cleveland, I'm on the road hugging the north coast of Ohio. Sandusky looks like an interesting place for my purposes, so that will be my next stop. I'm not anxious for it, but soon it's time for Spam. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 34. 2023-04-07 00:18:52 |
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| "That's it for the Spam," I thought to myself as I was feeling nauseous. Being behind that fuel tanker didn't help. First chance I had I parked away from traffic. Before the tanker disappeared it turned over and caught fire. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 35. 2023-04-08 02:11:31 |
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| Sandusky, Ohio needed to wait a bit. I decided to stop at a bar for a bottle of Magner's. An arm wrestling tournament was in progress. I was drafted into it, the Good Lord knows why. I shouldn't have defeated the town favorite. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 36. 2023-04-09 00:31:48 |
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| The angry bar patrons surrounded me after I beat their guy. With a bottle in each hand I looked like an American Musashi. Before mayhem could ensue someone was choking, I dropped the bottles to administer the Heimlich maneuver. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 37. 2023-04-10 00:57:28 |
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| "Are you OK?" He nodded. We all saw he was OK. The mob decided to give me space. The man shook my hand firmly; I did likewise. I told the bar owner as far as we're concerned, the match didn't happen. So I forfeited my winnings. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 38. 2023-04-11 00:17:07 |
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| After I arrived at Sandusky, Ohio I located a motel where I could call it a night and catch my Zzz. The next day I found a diner for breakfast. After I finished my steak and eggs meal I heard a voice near me say, "Thank you." |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 39. 2023-04-12 00:21:25 |
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| The man I rescued with the Heimlich maneuver stood by the table with hand outstretched. I shook his hand firmly and invited him to sit with me. I was going to ask how he found me, then I decided I was better off not knowing. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 40. 2023-04-13 00:47:12 |
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| "You saved my life back there." "I can say the same about you. Thank you also." "I'm Manny Rey." "I'm David Guardia." Manny reminded me of my father only 30 years younger. I told Manny about my trip to the rally at Sturgis. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 41. 2023-04-14 00:21:39 |
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| "You'll meet Harry Hoqualogue," Manny Rey said. "He still rides with The Mongols. I have this message for him." He hands me a sealed envelope. "I have other things going on," he continued, "So I won't be riding into Sturgis." |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 42. 2023-04-15 00:52:49 |
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| "How far will you be going?" I asked. "Illinois, near Wisconsin & Iowa." "I'm new to this region, and we're both heading west." "Are you proposing we ride together for a while?" "I am." It's as if Manny Rey read my mind. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 43. 2023-04-16 00:17:13 |
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| We exited the diner for the next stage of my ride to Sturgis: the companion stage. Manny Rey's bike was in even worse condition than the rat bike I left. "It's a Honda," he said. I nodded; after all, how can I argue with facts? |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 44. 2023-04-17 00:08:28 |
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| While riding on the state roads we saw other riders and their rides. We gave thumbs up to riders of Harleys, Hondas, Ducattis, an Indian, a Royal Enfield, and even a Vespa. Riders respect other riders' rides. That's what we do. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 45. 2023-04-18 00:38:50 |
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| We had time, so we agreed to take US HWY 24 from Toledo to Defiance. Manny Rey said it was my kind of place: lively downtown, good meals, hearty people. Defiance, OH is real, unlike Defiance née St. Louis in that sci-fi series. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 46. 2023-04-19 17:49:13 |
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| While in Defiance I needed quarters for parking meters. Manny Rey suggested I get 3 rolls from the first bank I saw. I noticed through clear plastic that one roll was very old. It contained $110 in silver. I pocketed this roll. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 47. 2023-04-20 00:08:23 |
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| With no wind, Manny Rey and I played UNO in a park. "Would you rather get DRAW25 or a gift from a bird?" "The gift," I answered. "Bad move." A large dropping from a bird hit my yellow vest. Sometimes it's not about winning. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 48. 2023-04-21 01:38:55 |
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| I stopped channel surfing in our motel room when I found the series about Vikings. Manny Rey saw why. "The shieldmaiden," he said. "Yes." "You'll find yours." "I wish!" "She's out there. You'll find her, or she'll find you." |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 49. 2023-04-22 00:10:30 |
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| I picked Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon" at the jukebox as a very tall redhead entered. A Sinatra hater let me know with a slug to the face. Once on the floor in my submission hold, I screamed at him "Say it! SAY IT! SAY IT!" |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 50. 2023-04-23 00:44:00 |
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| Manny Rey noticed the bruise on my face. I explained how I defended myself against the Sinatra hater. "This isn't New Jersey"-- which was true. I looked for a witness to back me up, but the tall redhead had left the bar already. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 51. 2023-04-24 00:49:52 |
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| Manny Rey and I passed Sturgis, Michigan on US HWY 12. After riding past town and township we reached White Pigeon Twp near Klinger Lake. Manny Rey saw a crowd of rowdies getting larger when he asked me if I knew how to swim. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 52. 2023-04-25 00:52:00 |
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| "I can swim," I said to Manny Rey. "If we reach that ramp first, we can fly rather than swim." Manny Rey and I hit top speed as the rowdies chased us in all manner of vehicles. We hit that ramp. We could fly. They couldn't. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 53. 2023-04-26 14:47:00 |
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| Manny Rey and I kept riding on I80 past White Pigeon Township until we reached South Bend. The potholes were our cue to take stop at a diner. We talked for a bit. He and Harry had a falling out. I'm living out a mid-life crisis. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 54. 2023-04-27 00:14:42 |
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| "Too much time working," I said. "Personal plans deferred for more immediate priorities. Now that my father is in a better place, I can start over." Manny Rey looked at me, then said "Now you start the next phase of your life." |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 55. 2023-04-28 00:23:57 |
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| At Gary, Indiana we stopped for gas and drinks. I left the store and saw Manny Rey performig magic tricks for a group of children. When I got near them they scattered. Manny Rey saw embarrassment on my face and nodded slowly. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 56. 2023-04-29 00:45:28 |
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| I saw Manny Rey surrounded by 3 men. Harm was in their eyes. I don't know how it began, but I know how it ended: Manny Rey smiled as he squeezed a glass bottle until it cracked. The confused men were afraid, so they withdrew. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 57. 2023-04-30 00:28:00 |
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| Civil unrest brewed in Illinois since before I left Bayonne. Chicago & environs were a short distance from Gary. We had no intention of staying in or near Chicago, so we were OK. Our priority was to get past O'Hare to the west. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 58. 2023-05-01 01:17:06 |
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| We took I80 from Chicago all the way to Barstow a short distance from the Illinois-Iowa state lines. We needed gas and grub. This part of the ride was tense, so we needed to get sleep. Next stop: the Mississippi River and Iowa. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 59. 2023-05-03 01:34:57 |
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| While looking at a paper map of Illinois I noticed 3 places of interest: Barstow was where we were; NE 54 miles was Emanuel Cemetery near Dixon; halfway was Prophetstown. It never would have occurred to me to name a town that. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 60. 2023-05-04 00:15:54 |
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| Due to bad weather we began our ride out of Barstow after sunset. I thought we dodged a bullet riding through Illinois when peaceful protests turned into violent rioting. I80 into IA was our best option; we just had to reach it. |
| View thread using LeoThreads ♦ 61. 2023-05-05 00:37:51 |
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| As Manny Rey and I crossed I80 at 70 mph into LeClaire, Iowa, he told me that I would be OK no matter what happened that night. He was right about everything else. That's when a fuel tanker exploded and knocked us 100 feet away. |
Quick Summary of Act 2
After his father passes away, David Guardia takes time to tie up loose ends. When he's ready, he begins his long-deferred ride to STURGIS. During the first leg of his ride, from Bayonne to Ohio, he met some interesting people and had some interesting experiences.
At one point he's about to get the daylights beaten out of him when an unexpected situation occurs. Not long after that he meets his riding companion for Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois-- the uncanny Manny Rey. From there, his ride crosses from the interesting into the out of the ordinary, bordering on the bizarre. By the end of this stage of the ride both he and Manny Rey are riding for dear life. That's when the ride ends with a BANG!
Navigation to Other Acts in GHAWG, Uninterrupted
To find other Acts (or Interludes) such as this one-- or weekly summary posts to read the serial with DVD-like annotated commentary-- use the GHAWG Navigation threadstorm at LeoThreads. Within LeoThreads, hashtag #GHAWGnav brings up the navigation.
When (and Where) To Catch #GHAWG
When
- Daily -- Each zapfic entry is posted shortly after midnight, from New York
- Weekends -- Weekly Summaries (with screen capture from LeoThreads) are usually on Saturday, sometimes Sunday
- Monday -- GHAWG, Uninterrupted posts
Where
- Daily zapfic entries drop at LeoThreads, usually posted shortly after midnight from New York (sometimes around noon)
- Both kinds of posts-- Weekly Summaries and GHAWG, Uninterrupted-- can be accessed from my LeoFinance profile page
Thank you for reading #GHAWG, LeoThreads first daily zapfic serial. Until next time!