Page 118 - Herioter 2020

The Affair across Europe, of Italy, Edinburgh and fortnight – soon they would both be
all in between, he found himself doing
forced to leave and face up to reality. But
It all began in a bar one sultry summer’s something he had never done before. their time together was not yet up when
evening. Doesn’t every interesting Perhaps it was the need for a distraction reality came looking for them, or, more
drunken mistake? from the incessant monotony of specifically, knocking on their hotel room
everyday life in this mundane city, or door in the form of his eldest son.
Except that this was not a singular spur-
of-the-moment act that would lead perhaps it was a deep-seated desire to I will spare you regalement of the shame
simply to aching regret and a throbbing feel needed again. But, as she slipped her and loss Willy felt that day, and of the
headache the next morning; it was a room key into his hand, he clasped it like consequences that echoed in the years
chance encounter that soon blossomed a lifeline. that followed. I will only say that, until his
into a seductive web of lies and deceit Her name was Jean. Jean Brodie. Over dying breath, Willy Loman never forgot
that would eventually be the downfall of the course of the next few nights, she the Scottish woman with the piercing
the once great Willy Loman. told him of her prime, and her girls, and blue eyes.
Boston – a place whose very name would her desire for change. She entranced him Esther Arthurson (S5)
later be enough to make him bristle with with stories from another culture and Esther’s short story was inspired by two
self-loathing. Even back then, when life an approach to life such as he had never texts she studied at Higher English, The
was plain sailing and his charm served before encountered. Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Death of a
as a key to any door in the city, Willy The passionate affair lasted almost a Salesman.
detested the place for its homogeneous
residents and lack of character, and often To the ones The rowdy classes,
found himself winding his way through The screams and the shouts.
the drab maze of grey streets back to his that don’t fit in Not a place that I want to be loud.
hotel room alone in the early hours of the
evening, instead of seeking company and The mean kids, But, I am more cool
entertainment amongst the locals, as he The lean kids,
was wont to do on a sales trip. And yet, The ‘ones that look green’ kids, than the cool kids at school,
on this particular day, he broke free from Because I accept myself.
this lonely routine and decided to indulge Social climbers,
in a pint or two before turning in for the The minors, Yes, I am more quiet
night; an innocent choice that would The ones at their finest, than the chimpanzee riots,
forever alter the trajectory of his future. But I’m not putting myself on
She was perched at the bar, two stools The ones that know who they want to be, the shelf.
along from him, wearing a flowing ivory The ones who are all that they can be,
dress that matched her pale complexion, The times you’re not heard,
and, even before she spoke, he could And then there’s me. The times you’re not seen,
tell she was foreign. The regal manner in Are times that have already past
which she held her head was unlike any Standing on stage, though no one can and been.
posture he had observed before, and he hear
was intrigued by her soft, lilting tones as The calls of help that I make. So accept the Now,
she asked the bar tender for a dry sherry. And take a bow,
Without thinking, Willy had stretched out Trapped in a cage, though no one can see And end that dark chapter within.
a hand with which to hail the man and The bars that I’m trying to break.
called, “I’ll get that.” So accept the Now,
Walking alone,
Their eyes met and an electric storm No place, no home, And take a bow,
brewed in the air between them as No group that I’m meant to fit in. And start a new chapter,
the woman observed her generous
benefactor, appraising him with her Walking alone, Begin.
shrewd blue eyes. Suddenly it was the No place, no home,
two of them in the bar, as the rest of the No getting out of the bubble I’m in. Katie Park (S2)
customers and their rowdy hollers faded
away into white noise.
‘cus I am more quiet, Katie was awarded the Cunningham
Three drinks and a few hours later, Than the chimpanzee riots. Prize for S2 for ‘To the ones that
having sat, enthralled, as this mysterious I hardly fit in with the crowds don’t fit in’.
woman recounted tales of her travels

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