Page 415 - Christian Maas Full Book

Guignol’s band

A dilettante, gifted indeed, however as gifted for learning as for making fun of the sometimes-

clumsy explanations of his teachers. An excellent student, but a rebellious student, as he appeared in the

eyes of his peers, giving an impression of ease but secretly learning relentlessly, even giving wrong right
answers to his schoolmates to be the best ! In fact, his thirst for revenge would make him go full steam
ahead: the middle-class children to whom everything was luxury and ease had to be dealt with. He had

to make up a character, and above all hide the sad truth, the shame of having to help his mother, who

had become a simple caretaker, to take care of the garbage. So yes, he would be the bright and noncha-
lant student, the one who dared to display a surrealistic outfit to go to sports class, who stood up to his
teachers at the risk of getting slapped, who kept inventing joke after joke for his friends, some of which

didn’t turn out well.

On the contrary, his friends would admire his fanciful character, despite often being the target of
his jokes. Besides Christian would remain faithful in friendship; his small circle of friends going on and

on. Whether he left or came back, whether he disappeared or reappeared, they would stay under his

charm. For it would be an understatement to say that this exceptional being attracts all those who ap-
proach him; he bewitches them, and both men and women may only submit to the influence of a real
spell. Like any extraordinary character, he does not see friendship with simplicity. Old mates may not see

him again for years, others may believe he has gone missing, and others assert he is dead, which is quite

to his liking. Never where expected, always on the verge of a new departure, he makes a little bubble out
of the whole planet. Paris-Tokyo, Tokyo-Los Angeles, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok, Bombay...
We could multiply indefinitely the comings and the goings. Artists are said to be like migratory birds

and this image fits Christian well; and the wayside rests he is fond of truly are his studios, where he can

express himself freely, sheltered from material contingencies and modern life difficulties.

But let’s get back to his years in middle school, and then to high school. The smart student pursued

his path and his jokes. He went skiing with a friend at the age of 16. Although he had been given some

money for the trip, he preferred hitchhiking so he could put it to another use. The trusting friend let him
take care of everything, what a bad idea it was! He found himself before even realizing it, in a Hotel de
passe in Annecy. In short, nothing went as planned and his mate would keep noteworthy memories of

that odyssey. An other friend, alarmed by an unsettling message from Christian : come quickly! He took

Christian Maas 424 CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ Vol. II

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