Arthur Maturo
Bio
A lover of books; a lover of writing. What else needs be said?
Stories (6/0)
Trust
I was so happy when Papa chose me to accompany him to the barn. He always made a big deal about how he needed someone responsible to help him with the equipment. "They're not just tools," he'd remind everyone with his flinty index finger emphasizing the point, "and they're certainly not toys. I have expensive equipment in there that helps me keep our farm in business and food on the table. I won't abide any horseplay that might do any damage to any one of this family's investments." He was always so stern about anything in the barn. So he never took just any one of us when he needed some help.
By Arthur Maturo3 years ago in Horror
Breeding Time
The bar where I meet him is called Chances. Whoever designed it probably self-identifies as an artist whose work is informed by explorations into nuveaux-modernism. The color scheme is dominated by blues, greys, cheap brushed metal made to look expensive, frosted glass, the dark green of several sansevieria and horsetail plants surrounded by small obsidian decorative stones. The floor is cold, hard concrete. Thin matte-black light fixtures hang from the ceiling like spiders from their webs. And although there are lights everywhere, there isn’t nearly enough lighting. Sports is the only thing on every flatscreen. Drinks are laughably overpriced. It’s the kind of place a man in a designer suit brings a date when he has one goal in mind. A wave of relief washes over me because I have the exact same goal in mind.
By Arthur Maturo3 years ago in Horror
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due:
Actresse Loretta Young has been credited with obseving that “giving credit where credit is due is a very rewarding habit to form.” Many of the conveniences that we enjoy we’re developed by individuals who remain unknown when they might otherwise have served as role models. The first computers, for example, were developed and run by women. Flash technology (the tech that makes websites like YouTube possible) was developed by a woman. Many such tech developments are enjoyed in our daily routine without little knowledge about the individuals who developed them. Who developed scanner technology that allows us to take advantage of self-checkout options at our grocery store? Who developed the USB interface resulting in the convenience of thumb drives? Who developed fiber optics?
By Arthur Maturo3 years ago in Beat
I Hate Everything About U
When scrolling through the vast number of songs that could easily make any Anti-Valentine’s Day play list, there is one song that distinguishes itself from many others. It encapsulates, for me, the spirit of Anti-Valentine’s Day in that it expresses very much the opposite of that lovie-lovie smootchie-smootchie garbáge that a day like Valentine’s requires. The original song was recorded by a hard-rock / heavy metal band from the early 90’s who’s name alone might start us off in the right direction for our Anti-Valentines Day celebration: Ugly Kid Joe. Their debut hit is the perfect break-up song, the perfect I’m-pissed-off-with-you song, and, in my most humble opinion, a superb candidate for the anthem of Anti-Valentine’s Day: “Everything About You” absolutely must top the list of any Anti-Valentine’s Day sentiment.
By Arthur Maturo3 years ago in Beat
The Devil and The Owl
The devil glowered bitterly as he slouched in The Obsidian Throne dissecting the events of his most recent disappointment. The High Holy One, he surmised, had cheated again. It was the only way He could win. It was the only way He had ever won. So when the devil, recently returned from yet another failed venture, found himself in a particularly rancorous mood, The Black Palace, having been erected in one of the darker corners of his realm, served as pensive space where he could escape from the chaos swirling around The Throne of Thorns (his usual locality) to sulk alone in his thoughts. And sulk he did (though not entirely alone. A few rats scurried about, quietly spreading disease in a corner somewhere).
By Arthur Maturo3 years ago in Horror