Fairy Tales
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007A good number of years ago, when our children were still children, and not drink-swilling, loud-rock-music-playing, screaming maniacs (in other words, not us), Wrinkly Paddy had an idea.
Bock, he said, we’re not going to live forever.
WP, I replied, if we continue the way we’re going, we won’t see Monday.
True, WP replied, but that isn’t really what I’m getting at. Look. I’ve been thinking. You have two fine children, and I have three. N’est-ce pas?
Oui, I agreed. What the fuck are you talking about?
Well, Wrinkly Paddy shifted uncomfortably, you know the way we’ve been working together?
Of course I do, I said. And having a great time too.
True, he continued. Writing these very bad science fiction novels together.
Bad, I interjected, but extremely profitable.
True, said Wrinkly Paddy. That’s very true.
Look, Paddy went on, I had an idea.
My old friend was clearly troubled and my heart went out to him.
Speak, I said.
Well, he said, you know how we’ve been making countless millions from these shitty science-fiction scripts.
I do.
And we’ve made enough money to last ten lifetimes?
Indeed.
I was thinking, Wrinkly Paddy looked me in the eye. I was thinking about the children.
Aye, I nodded. Me too.
Bock, we’re not getting any younger.
True.
Bock, we need to leave them something they can keep forever.
True.
There’s no point leaving them money.
No. The bastards will shove it up their noses.
Nor houses.
Indeed not. Houses could catch fire.
Well then, I was thinking, what could last forever?
What indeed? Perhaps a –
Indeed! A story!
Many stories! I concurred. What a great idea.
Fairy tales, I was thinking, said Paddy.
Great, I said. We’ll write them a pile of fairy-tales. They’ll have them forever. Nobody can steal a story, or burn it or break it.
Paddy nodded and slugged back his pint. ‘Tis the way they’ll remember us.
Great, I said. Pint?
Stumble it!
May 17th, 2007
More! More!
Good story.
May 17th, 2007
Bravo!!
May 18th, 2007
Being a sailor is thirsty work, and I sympathize with the sailor who drank the sea, I have met his type in bars before, they have a fierce thirst, that only drinking can cure, and nothing will stop the drinking until there is nothing left to drink. Then they are happy and drunk.
May 18th, 2007
wonderful ,brought back alot of memories.May he rest in peace .ENCORE
May 18th, 2007
Ahhhh - Bock, that’s wonderful, really enjoyed it. Please sir can I have some more!
May 18th, 2007
Loved it!
May 18th, 2007
I read it again and cried
May 18th, 2007
I’m glad I waited to read this until I had the time to savour it. It’s fantastic, Bock, all achy and mythic and beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s perfection. I’ll be reading this more than once, I know that.
May 18th, 2007
lovely…absolutely perfect
May 19th, 2007
Is there anyone out there that can ilslutatutrate (jayus im pissed) for this story?
May 20th, 2007
Looks like Tim got the message anyway. Hey, Bock all those hours drunk in Nuts corner may not have been wasted after all. Overnight success after 20 years…..