Finding Calvin Part. 1 - 8 - The Color Purple (Updated 8/9/2024)

Now that Calvin

 

Has made new friends

 

He's found good fortune

 

And perhaps new ends

 

For he now has a man

 

In a higher place

 

And a celebration to attend

Where many congregate

 

 

But it wasn't with trying

 

In fact it was just luck

 

Thanks to his friend Dave

 

And his introduction

 

But Dave's not coming

 

To the evening's soiree  

 

For he lacks an invitation 

 

To Mr. Lamington's estate

 

 

[...]

 

 

As Calvin pulls up to the address

 

He thinks he found the place

 

Though the mansion was not in sight

 

He found a guard and a spacious gate

 

 

[Calvin]

 

 

Good evening, sir

 

Is this Mr. Lamington's estate?

 

 

[Guard]

 

 

Yes sir

 

Just follow the meandering

 

 

[...]

 

 

Calvin drives on through

 

But he thinks it more of a promenade

 

For it has an ocean view

 

Yet no other people could be seen

 

 

He arrives at the juncture

 

And though he drives a Mercedes

 

An S-Class couldn't prepare him 

 

For the people that he'd meet

 

 

For he's just the Jelly Man

 

And though he has a few tricks up his sleeves

 

He knows they're going to use big words

 

That he's never thought or he could read

 

 

He walks to the entrance spot

 

Though no service men did he see

 

The door opened as he approached

 

And he saw guests passing by with dignity

 

 

Not knowing where to go 

 

But knowing what he sees 

 

He heads to what he perceives

 

As the center of the party scene

 

 

Though it wasn't quite a party 

 

At least according to what most would think 

 

For there was no Jay-Z nor Beyoncé 

 

Billy Joel nor Billy Jean

 

 

Instead the music was subtle 

 

Perhaps it was Yo-Yo Ma or Riopy

 

On second thought not the latter

 

For that could steal away what people think

 

 

And though some moved about 

 

Many more stood in place 

 

Conversation came with twos and threes 

 

Though some included six or eight

 

 

But Calvin was a loner

 

Conversation he didn't need

 

But he was now kind of desperate 

 

For the future's filled with uncertainty

 

 

But before he could post up

 

Or peruse the paintings that he's seen

 

He was propositioned by a woman

 

Who offered him a delicious treat

 

 

[Charlotte]

 

 

Hello dear

 

I'm Charlotte

 

Would you like a cookie 

 

Donut or rice cake 

 

 

(...)

 

 

Amused and bewildered 

 

For she did not have hand on tray

 

Calvin assured her he was fine

 

But no discussion would he dissuade 

 

 

For Charlotte was quite slender

 

Charming and dressed in splendor

 

And she had no wedding ring

 

Not that he thought that he could bed her

 

 

For she was a fine woman 

 

Far beyond his charm and grace

 

With desires beyond measure 

 

And an appetite beyond his taste

 

 

[Calvin]

 

 

No, thank you though

 

I'm Calvin by the way

 

This is such a tasteful gathering

 

And such a beautiful estate 

 

 

[Charlotte]

 

 

Yes, well he does have a discriminating eye

 

Are you sure you don't want a treat

 

We have jelly drinks and holey snacks on standby 

 

 

(...) 

 

 

Charlotte raises her hand  

 

Then she snaps her fingers  

 

Then without delay  

 

A waiter appears  

 

With a sightly chalice  

 

Upon his tray  

 

Filled near to the crest

 

With a viscous purple drink

 

 

Though quite strange  

 

Around here   

 

It didn't seem     

 

An anomaly   

 

For he glanced about   

 

And most had their own   

 

And each looked the same   

 

With an ethereal glow  

 

 

Across the chalice 

 

Displayed an inscription  

 

But what it meant 

 

He couldn't mention  

 

Though he surmised 

 

It was European   

 

Given the guest list  

 

That he was seeing 

 

 

[Calvin]

 

 

This is an interesting piece

 

"Sine Qua Non"

 

Is this an ancient relic

 

And what does it mean

 

 

[Charlotte]

 

 

Yes, it's been preserved through the ages

 

No one knows just how long

 

As least Lord Lamington's not saying...

 

 

[Calvin]

 

 

I'm sorry 

 

Did you say Lord...Lamington

 

 

(...)

 

 

Perhaps realizing 

 

She misspoke

 

She excused herself 

 

Before being known

 

 

[Charlotte]

 

 

One moment dear

 

 

(...)

 

 

[Lamington]

 

 

Ah, I see that you met Russe

 

And you've found yourself a drink

 

I'm glad that you have come

 

Let me introduce you to some friends 

 

 

[Calvin]

 

 

I think she called you Lord 

 

What is that about?

 

 

[Lamington] 

 

 

Ah, nothing 

 

If anything it's kind of a joke...

 

 

I'd like to introduce you to Bridgerton

 

And this is my old friend Wellington

 

 

[Calvin]

 

 

It's a pleasure to meet you both...

 

(...)

 

Calvin takes a sip from his chalice

 

 

[Calvin]

 

 

Is this Blueberry Blush?

 

 

[Lamington] 

 

 

Why yes it is

 

Are you a fan?

 

 

[Calvin] 

 

 

A little bit too much I'm afraid

 

 

[Lamington]

 

 

Haha, nonsense 

 

A man must have his vices

 

 

[Bridgerton]

 

 

So how do you like the party

 

 

[Calvin]

 

 

It's very classy

 

 

[Bridgerton]

 

 

Yes, well we try to keep the class distinct 

 

 

(...)

 

 

Wellington sniggers in his chalice...

 

 

But Calvin 

 

Knowing the insinuation

 

The situation 

 

And what he sees 

 

Began a smooth transition 

 

And one that he thought

 

Was sure to please

 

 

He immediately adopted 

 

An imperiousness

 

That not even he could have foreseen

 

He started talking about the news 

 

Shipping lanes and the Chinese 

 

Then he talked about Jews

 

The Mexicans

 

And Congolese 

 

Aliens, borders, whales

 

And other conspiracies

 

 

And they were all in rapt attention 

 

Very little did they intervene 

 

Except with subtle quippets 

 

Sly humor and subtleties

 

 

But Lamington was most gracious

 

Though he believed in male comradery

 

He did not once poke fun at Calvin

 

In fact he encouraged his vehemency 

 

 

And time flew by so fast 

 

With Calvin at the helm

 

He forgot that he didn't belong

 

At least no longer could he tell 

 

 

But that illusion quickly shattered

 

At the sound of an unpleasant din

 

Everyone at once became quiet

 

And then off went Mr. Lamington 

 

 

He walked up to the fore 

 

Where the din had taken place

 

And stood next to a multi-tiered fountain 

 

That spewed a viscous purple drink

 

 

Then He donned a purple garment 

 

Covering all but the eyes upon his face

 

While everyone formed a waxing crescent

 

Around the fountain waiting patiently 

 

 

[Bridgerton]

 

 

Calvin just follow my lead 

 

 

(...)

 

Two men slowly walked in 

One in all white and one in red

They carried a wired basket 

With a handle at both its ends

 

In the basket were various treats

Of the miniature variety 

Donuts, rice cakes, and cookies

A dozen high and countless deep 

 

They suspended the wired basket

Over the purple fountained drink

Looked over to Mr. Lamington 

And then he started talking mightily 

 

"We show them the way

We fill them with this drink

We let them bask in its taste

While we finish what we make"

 

The two men submerged the wired basket

Then hoisted it up under the fountain's trickle 

Rinsing off the loose remains 

While the crescent formed somewhat into a pickle

 

The line moved rather quickly 

As each guest made their own choice 

It's as if they had preplanned it 

Or as if their appetites had their own voice

 

In front of the fountain bed

Calvin now hesitates 

Will it be a doughnut, cookie, or rice cake

When there's so little holiness to contemplate

 

He still settles on the doughnut 

Because he's a man of self-belief

And he knows that he can manage desire

When there's no desire to deceive

 

He grabs the ornate tongs

Then he grabs a saucer plate

Then he chooses a golden cloth 

From the many colors on display

 

But there's no silverware 

So it will have to be finger play 

Not every meal can be a pleasure 

Some just happen to be in the way

 

As he departed from the line

He's not sure of where to stay

Nor sure of where to go

Given the company that's in place 

 

He decides to find a wall

And stare at while he eats

He's not sure of what he'll find

But he's good at imagining 

 

He mosied over to a candelabrum 

And stares deeply into its flames

But he thinks that he looks retarded

So he finds a painting in a nearby frame 

 

He found it rather peculiar

 

For the frame outshined the man

It's as if the picture was too boring 

But the frame helped you understand 

 

It was a picture of a man fishing

Atop a tall cliff with rod in hand

He wasn't anything special

Just on ground where he shouldn't stand 

 

Then approached Mr. Lamington 

In the garments worn long before 

It's as if the ritual never happened 

As his countenance somehow assured

 

[Lamington] 

 

How do you like your snack

 

[Calvin]

 

It's rather delicious

And much to my surprise

I never had a confection soaked in jelly

It creates an interesting frame of mind

 

[Lamington] 

 

Yes, well it's amazing what can be done 

When you have the right help...

 

Walk with me Calvin

I have some things that I want to tell

 

(...)

 

They exit out the back 

And walked atop the cobblestone 

Calvin looks over his shoulder 

Just in case they weren't alone 

 

Mr. Lamington talks about jelly

And how much it really means 

How he shouldn't feign ignorance 

For he knows Calvin's identity

 

He said his invitation to the soiree

Was not in itself an end

He sought his hand in the future play

And to inspire the next jelly trend 

 

And he said that Blueberry Blush

Was such a delicious libation

And that Calvin could help him so much

By making just a minor alteration 

 

He wanted to change the name

He was thinking Nordic Rush

It could even be a whole new thing

The start of a European Collection 

 

His influence would have to be secret

Otherwise it could raise some questions

And he'll be discreet with his cash payment

On his first order of 500,000 cases 

 

When they reached the promenade

Mr. Lamington bid his farewell

He told him to enjoy the scenery

And to consider the next jelly that he'd sell

 

Calvin thought of the occasion

And how it unraveled fortuitously 

For he's now of use to a man with vision

Who could surely help to pull some strings

 

Then he pondered the ritual

The Blueberry Blush and all the cakes

Was the timing coincidence 

Or was it planned for him to see

 

Surely it was enough 

To miselaborate 

Were they all in the know

What was beyond what he could see

 

This left Calvin quite disturbed

For he doesn't know where this could lead

Is he really going to help achieve 

This mysterious man's creative dream

 

Then he ruminated over impressions

And if he came off arrogantly

Though in the moment it was a blessing 

To understand more than he could read

 

Perhaps he'll don a more candid approach

If he should have opportunity

For to be nervous leads not to cessation

Just a way for grace to lead  

 

 

Still he was impressed with his display

 

It seemed he had a wingman underneath

 

At first he couldn't put his finger on it

 

Then he thought of Mestuffstoplease 

 

 

That would make the most sense

 

For who else could it really be

 

Tonight they shared a similar syntax

 

Whenever he rambled poetically 

 

 

But he chose not to think about it 

For that's not his reality 

Besides the past it never lasts

So only the future's to be believed

 

[...]