August Afternoon, Delaware County, PA
by Michael Cocchiarale
Strollers and cycles flow along a paved path that wraps around the memorial park. In the pavilion, three middle-aged men in wan shirtsleeves sweat to bring the oldies back to life. “My Girl” first, followed by the off-key “ooohs” of “She’s Gone.” Outside the park, past the refreshment stand, a blacktop lane slides toward the side door of a funeral home, from which a casket descends. Plodding Hall & Oates rocks the pine boat steered by pallbearers into the dark shell of the hearse. Beyond, oblivious to the mourners, customers pour from WAWA, toting coffee and hoagies for the road.
Michael Cocchiarale is the author of the novel None of the Above (Unsolicited, 2019) and two short story collections–Here Is Ware (Fomite, 2018) and Still Time (Fomite, 2012). His creative work appears online as well, in journals such as Fictive Dream, South Florida Poetry Review, The Wild Word, Unlikely Stories Mark V, and Ovunque Siamo.
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What surprising, fascinating stuff can you tell us about the origin, drafting, and/or final version of “August Afternoon, Delaware County, PA”? The park is real. The musicians too. And the funeral home is nearly right next door. In the first draft, the juxtaposition of park and funeral home was my focus. However, during the revision process, I decided to add a WAWA, a convenience store that is ubiquitous in the Philly burbs and beyond. I thought the image of customers heading for the road provided appropriate closure for a piece about movement and flow.
Check out the write-up of the journal in The Writer.
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