If I have portrayed Rena as some kind of freak, I am deeply sorry. I have made an attempt to put humor in her plight, because there is real tragedy here that began when we went to pick up Rena Victoria’s belongings. She and her boyfriend were invited to stay in an apartment on Venice Boardwalk. When we walked in, I got the total picture. These two dudes had rented this place for the weekend so they can drop LSD and geek on the freaks. These cynical dudes were of the privileged class, more than likely from Bellaire. Their parents had money. They were rolling around in a Dopey Cosmic Hee-Haw. Thinking their tinkle-brained visions were extremely clever, one held out his finger to Rena and said;
“Here pretty-bird. Come sit on my finger!” And then chucky-doll sniffed his finger. This made penis-nose, chucky’s best acid buddy, go into cosmic stitches.
“Go get your things, Rena!”
In the scene where Rena’s boyfriend shows up at the Harkins house, Rena is standing nude at the foot of Wanda’s bed. We had not slept in a bed – ever! In our tent, we were subdued. We had neighbors in tents. Then the was the Buddhist fasting who came every morning to put his patato in our fire. Rena wanted me to see the vivacious sexy side of her. I had never seen a woman look sexy like this. As she came to get in the bed, there was a knock at the door. My friend James made an announcement.
“Rena’s boyfriend is at the door! Shall I let him in?”
When Rena got back into bed, she wanted to continue where we had left off. She was being extremely coquettish. There was a mischievousness about her that told me she had played sexual games, let her fantasies run wild. I was afraid I would not be able to play, not be able to perform. What other surprises were in store? Was there another drop-in guest waiting in the wings? When we got to Oakland, hipsters who did not give me the time of day, came to say hello, and see ‘The Beauty’. Rena was getting a shit-load of good-vibes, and, I a shit-load of bad-vibes.
What I said in its entirety, was;
“Rena. I love you so much. I don’t want to play anymore!”
I have had over forty years to regret saying this, the biggest mistake of my life. I judged Rena. I abandoned her. I made her a prisoner of her beauty.
Above are photos of the Victoria Secret’s model, Alessandra Corine Ambrósio. Rena was way more beautiful. The Geeks had seen her in her bikini, and decintigrated, melted at the sight of her, the girl of their dreams, so close, yet so far away. They could not handle the truth they could not possess her, capture her, and do whatever they think they needed to do with her in order to grow up and be men. So they hurt her. They were cruel to her. Six hours later, one of my best friends kidnapped Rena, drove down Pismo Beach with her in the car, leaving me standing there wondering at the crazy shit Rena brought out of – boys!
Brian Purvis had seen Rena in her bikini, lift up his six-year old daughter, and carry her into the waves. Truly this was one of the most beautiful sights anyone has ever seen. And there is the beautiful soul to go with.
Jon Presco
Copyright 2013
Rosamond Press 
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