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costa
Costa Skrepetos
Australia, Tas, Hobart

Words: 461
Access: Public
Comments: 9

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Pesky Analogues

"Have you gone, mad?"

"No, No. Still here."

"Ah, good. I wouldn't want to be lonely."

"Nope, I wouldn't want you to be lonely either - he's such a depressing bore."


***


"Where's the door?"

"Which door?"

"The door that isn't there, of course. Which door did you think I was talking about?"

"There is no door. There are no doors."

"Exactly my point."

"Have you gone mad?"

"Nope - you're still here, to keep me from being lonely."


***


"Hey, how long's that window been there?"

"For as long as you've been here."

"Ah. Yes. But how did <i>I</i> get here?"

"Why, through the door. That's how most people get here."

"There <i>is</i> no bloody door."

"Then how did you get here?"

"Oh, piss off. I'd prefer to be lonely."

"Suit yourself."


***


"The grass is very green out there."

"Oh, talking to me again, are we?"

"S'pose. Tried talking to myself, but I became lonely. The grass - very green. Out there, through the window. Much greener than in here."

"There's no grass in here: it's just four grey walls and a concrete floor. There isn't even a door."

"Actually, I was better off being lonely - fuck off please."


***


"What makes you think things are better through the window?"

"Dunno, but it's got to be better than being stuck in here, talking to you..."

"Gee, thanks."

"...besides, this room is getting smaller."

"How do you know that?"

"Well, it used to take twenty steps to walk from one wall to the other - now it takes only five."

"You could just sit down and not pace back and forth."

"Nah. My arse gets cold on the concrete, and you seem to talk more when I sit still."


***


"I've made a decision."

"Wonderful! First time for everything, and all that."

"Get stuffed. I'm gonna smash the window..."

"What with?"

"...with my hand; climb through and go play in the green grass and sunshine."

"You might be better off just staying here. I'll be lonely if you leave..."

"Better you than me. Bye."


***


"Hey..."

"Yes?"

"You got a band-aid?"

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Comments  
Nora Comment by: Nora Online- 2007-09-13 06:39
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hi, costa. isn't this piece enigmatic? i like it very much.
some call me comma-crazy, but you might want to look into this (imho)

"Actually, I was better off being lonely - fuck off please."
"Actually, I was better off being lonely - fuck off, please."
Prizm Comment by: Prizm - 2007-07-01 08:48
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Love your creativity! I think I life in one of those rooms.
costa Comment by: costa - 2007-06-30 04:45
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wow - um, thank you for the comments, Karen and Kelly and Rosalie and Cheryl.

(Gawd...blushing a bit.)

Not read 'Waiting for Godot', though obviously have heard the title, know nothing of the book itself though. And now I have two new books to look for at the bookshop tomorrow.

That first comma was verrrry carefully placed. And so was its ommision in the repeated line. :)

I'm really honoured that its a keeper, Karen. Thank you.

The temptation would be to continue and illuminate it a bit...but I really hate sequals of that nature, they're always a letdown, IMHO - so I'llleave this alone.

Thanks again.

Costa
alien Comment by: alien - 2007-06-30 04:10
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I enjoyed that, costa. It's really imaginitive. Where on earth did it come from?

I'm still thinking about it and if there's anything I should have noticed that I missed.
I'll read this again, I know it.

That's the mark of a good piece of writing.

I, too, noticed that comma and wondered actually, if it should have come again when the line was repeated further down. That was one of the subtle things that I liked about this. It keeps you a little bit uncomfortable as you're not quite sure.

It's VERY good :D
karjon Comment by: karjon - 2007-06-29 17:03
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Well, Rosalie beat me to it, Kid - yeah, I saw Godot, but I also saw Pinteresque dialogue (just read The Dumb Waiter or The Birthday Party, if you haven't already, and you'll see what I mean).

And Kelly says that comma may be a small thing - but she knows it's not - she knows it's the crux of the whole piece.

This is clever, funny, well written and captivating - one of the best, and most original, things I've seen from you, and from anywhere around these parts, in a long while.

And of course, it's an allegory, and a damned coherent one at that, for escape from a seemingly impossible situation.

As you know, I use my bookshelf for things I haven't read yet - consider this the first one added for keeps.

Cheers

Karen
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