Honorable mention: “Opening night, Redondo Beach.” photo by Peggy Cohen “The Peiravenu Stele.” story by Rob Peyton
Lovers pay a terrible price for violating a taboo by Rob Peyton Professor Delmore stood before the wooden signpost in which was carved “Peiravenu Stele 2 miles.” When he was a young boy living in Manhattan Beach, his father warned him numerous times to steer clear of the stele. Even as a youngster, however, Delmore questioned why his father harbored such superstitious and unfounded concerns about Hermosa Beach’s most impressive monument. Young Delmore often snuck off just to admire the 26-foot tall stone monument, which scholars claimed had been built by the Critterites, a group of Aztecs who had fled from the Spanish conquistadors and settled in the north end of Hermosa. The stele was not at the forefront of Delmore’s thoughts today, however. Instead, Delmore was wrestling with two contradictory sentiments. He was deeply saddened by his father’s recent death, but he was also elated at the prospect of reacquainting with Margaret. Two days before his father had succumbed to cancer, Delmore received a message from Margaret asking him to please come see her in Manhattan. Although Delmore did not consider her to be superstitious, she demanded that Delmore take the longer, slower route…
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