…most especially because it's not numbered or lettered, it says, with handwritten addition, "This is Steph's copy". Paul Miller told me, way back in 2005 on the old forum, it was a publisher's copy - though I never did find out who Steph was.
Two lines from this story stay with me: "It don't really matter what's said, just the fact that we're all still there to say it" and "We were sitting sad and thoughtful, tired like we'd lived it ourselves." And it's a bit of a salve after reading the news.
It's so not. But I happened on this story in the Washington Post today, and since you are a cat person, thought you might appreciate: https://wapo.st/4909cfk
I’ve always been a sucker for the zeugma: two nouns dragging you towards opposing poles, the verb holding the centre. But the double zeugma, if you can pull it off smoothly, moves you to a third dimension, the verb suspended by three nouns at the centre of an equilateral triangle in space, thus: “Tom kept losing weight and his temper and the will to live”. Bravo!
Glad you liked it!
:-)
This has been one of my all time favourite short stories. Thanks for including this!
You're so welcome, and thank you for liking it! Seems like a lifetime ago that I wrote it... :-)
And a lifetime ago that I first read it! Not long after I first read Only Forward!
Me too. I've actually got it twice, in What You Make it and More Tomorrow [which is amongst my most prized possessions.]
:-)
…most especially because it's not numbered or lettered, it says, with handwritten addition, "This is Steph's copy". Paul Miller told me, way back in 2005 on the old forum, it was a publisher's copy - though I never did find out who Steph was.
Oooh, I loved that story
Excellent :-)
That cat looks a bit like a Banksy - though I didn't know he travelled that far ;)
It does a bit!
Great - thank you!
:-)
Two lines from this story stay with me: "It don't really matter what's said, just the fact that we're all still there to say it" and "We were sitting sad and thoughtful, tired like we'd lived it ourselves." And it's a bit of a salve after reading the news.
This really is not a good time for the world...
It's so not. But I happened on this story in the Washington Post today, and since you are a cat person, thought you might appreciate: https://wapo.st/4909cfk
Wow, nice find!
But did you find the key for the keyhole next to it?
Uh, wut?
The gap in the mortar immediately to the left of the graffiti looked very much like a keyhole to my eye, so my imagination ran riot.
Oh! Finalmente, an famous series about cats….I love it…
:-)
Lovely to revisit this story, it’s so sharp and evocative.
Thank you!
I ain't no writer nor not nuffin but I don't know how you make me feel such different emotions in so short a time.
I seem to get sadness, melancholy, elation and so much else, on such a visceral level and sometimes within the same sentence!
I've always loved this story.
That's really nice to hear... thank you :-)
I’ve always been a sucker for the zeugma: two nouns dragging you towards opposing poles, the verb holding the centre. But the double zeugma, if you can pull it off smoothly, moves you to a third dimension, the verb suspended by three nouns at the centre of an equilateral triangle in space, thus: “Tom kept losing weight and his temper and the will to live”. Bravo!
Ha — I've just learned something! I didn't know that was even a thing, technically... but I'm evidently a sucker for it too ;-)