Dermott Hayes's Blog: Postcard from a Pigeon, page 49
August 30, 2016
Flax Golden Tales…
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A book of children’s poems found in a charity shop and a mysterious birthday message, a collage of carefully selected images and coded messages, have found new life here in the gathering collection of stories, prompted by a message left in a book, from Sylvia, the girl in Shel Silverstein‘s song, writing to her ex-boyfriend, to a philanderer, exposed and shamed, a big sister writing to her brother, an infatuated schoolgirl discovers betrayal, a story of international intrigue and assassination, another of a man discovering a girlfriend’s dark secret and a tragedy from her past and the latest, A Lifetime Full of Stories, a poignant tale of loss, longing and regret, The Invitation, a childhood memory of a little girl and her mother and a strange sense of foreboding and, in Happy birthday, Scott, a classic tale of young, unrequited love as a young sister gets a crush on her older brother’s best friend.
When Fijay of Blog On! and I first engaged in this project, we never envisaged the interest it would spark. The creative torrent it has unleashed is humbling and I feel grateful and privileged to have a part in it.
So here’s a thanks to you all and an invite, again, to anyone else to take part, have a go and put your spin on the tale of the The Book and the Message.
To Sir with Love
The Book
Sylvia’s Letter
Unposted Letters 1&2, Unposted Letter 2, Unposted Letter 1
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Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_the_Sidewalk_Ends_(book)
A lifetime full of stories…
This creative experiment about a book and a mysterious birthday message has turned out some stunning tales, none more than this one, a poignant tale of loss and longing, from Ms Skyfall and A Lifetime full of Stories…
[image error]I stole some time off my work to make a small and quick attempt to trace the story behind the message in the book.
The other versions are here:
To Sir with Love
The Book
Sylvia’s Letter
She carefully chose the things which she was going to paste in the book. Scott is far now, and probably looking smart and brave in the army uniform. She was so small then, clinging to him and crying all the time, until he got into the van and said good bye. Then she waved back at him till her arms ached and could no longer see him.
Over the years, she has collected so many things to give him when he comes back. Where ever she went, she never forgot to bring back something special for him. Because he was special. People told her she was stupid to wait for him. That he…
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August 29, 2016
The treasure
The Cliffhanger Chronicle’s spin on the message in the book
Matt had been surfing the TV since the last 2 hours. He was back home early today, thinking he’d take Hailey out for dinner at their favorite restaurant. The last few months had been crazy since they moved into this new apartment. Little did he know that he was in for a surprise! There was a sticky note on the key holder.
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Call an Expert
Watching the well endowed redhead with the tight dress, at least two sizes outside the range of decency, undress her husband, made Melissa feel uneasy. Maybe Susan’s strategy for confronting Arthur’s sexual indifference was wrong.
‘I’m not comfortable with this.’
Arthur sat up, paying attention.
‘Relax, honey, She’s an expert.’
Hand me that Hammer
The Anthropocene epoch: scientists declare dawn of human-influenced age
Experts say human impact on Earth so profound that Holocene must give way to epoch defined by nuclear tests, plastic pollution and domesticated chicken
Nuclear test explosion in Mururoa atoll, French Polynesia, in 1971. The official expert group says the Anthropocene should begin about 1950 and is likely to be defined by the radioactive elements dispersed across Earth by nuclear bomb tests. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
Humanity’s impact on the Earth is now so profound that a new geological epoch – the Anthropocene – needs to be declared, according to an official expert group who presented the recommendation to the International Geological Congress in Cape Town on Monday.
The new epoch should begin about 1950, the experts said, and was likely to be defined by the radioactive elements dispersed across the planet by nuclear bomb tests, although an array of other signals, including plastic pollution, soot from power stations, concrete, and even the bones left by the global proliferation of the domestic chicken were now under consideration.read more
August 28, 2016
CHEAT
She loved Jeremy. He was sweet and caring, never forgot a birthday or anniversary and never kept her waiting, even when she was late. He always called her if he was held up at work, when they needed all hands on deck. But tonight he’ll die because Jeremy’s a cheat.
Photo: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/48/1a/fd/481afd2b99d398d31051972a442ddd95.jpg
Sylvia’s Letter
This is where it all started and, frankly, explains the unsightly plaster stuck to the collage, I needed something to cover ‘Heather’s’ name because I’ve written it as Sylvia’s letter to her boyfriend saying all the things she wanted to say to him but couldn’t because her mother (Sylvia’s Mother) wouldn’t let him come to the phone.
When I bought a book in a charity shop I found a mysterious birthday collage inside the cover. Fijay from Blog On! and I decided we would both do our own versions of the story behind the message in the book.
I bought a book by Shel Silverstein in a charity shop. He wrote Sylvia’s Mother. It was a book of his drawings and poetry for children. I remembered buying the same book once, in New York, and bringing it home and reading it for my children. There was a birthday message, pasted as a collage, inside the book and a cryptic note to whomever it was intended. I mentioned this to fellow blogger, Fijay who has many theories about what was going on. So, I suggested she post a blog about her interpretation and I would post mine.
Now my first experience of Shel Silverstein was as a songwriter
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Dear Little Brother…
HERE’S ANOTHER SPIN ON THE MYSTERY OF THE MESSAGE IN A BOOK FROM A CHARITY SHOP from Kate McClelland
A poignant and very relevant human twist…
Hello Scott
How’s it going?
It was so lovely to get your letter the other day.
Thanks for taking the time to write from your new life in the big old US of A (mock courtesy).
I have made a start clearing out your stuff from your old room as you asked.
Mum is sulking (you know how she can get) as she had it like a shrine! She’s still convinced that you’ll change your mind about emigrating and come home. I’ve told her time and time again about ‘Skyping’ but she says it not the same as she can’t hug the screen.
We’ll save up and come out there next year probably (don’t be horrified you little git just because you’ve gotten all grown up and move to the other side of the world doesn’t mean you’re rid of us Mister Smelly Pants!)
I’ve sent your clothes to Oxfam – well the ones that were salvageable! I can’t believe you kept that dreadful ‘Chippendales’ onesie! I’m afraid that’s gone in the bin as I couldn’t inflict that on another human being. Your only saving grace is that you didn’t take it with you.
I’ve sold your old computer games and console and I will transfer the money to you on Monday. Didn’t get much for them, but its money in your pocket.
I have to say, I’m a little upset with you young man. Just sorting through your old books today (I’m keeping some BTW). You didn’t take ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’ with you. How rude!!
After all my efforts cutting and sticking the pictures in the front of it! A picture of Madonna in that corset, your Star sign reading for your birthday in 2001, an American flag and palm trees (It’s so obvious now, I must be psychic! – I can seeing you laughing at that, stop it!).
My lovely message to my little bro ‘Here’s a little something to remind you what it feels like to be a kid – to be free! A small escape from all the madness – Oh Wait – How could I forget? You still are a kid!’
Hahahaha! Remember? It was a bit mad that year with Mum & Dad splitting up and all the rowing nonsense that went on. At least we had each other to fall back on eh?
Don’t worry, I forgive you, that’s what big sisters do, you little sod.
Seeing as you haven’t missed it, or even opened it, (you ungrateful little horror) I will send it with the others to a charity shop.
Anyway I’ve spent far too long writing this, it’s more than you deserve for abandoning me here. You might get the impression that I love and miss you and that will never do. So I’ll say ‘tootles’ for now fart brain.
Hope all is well with you, we are always here if you decide to pay us a visit or stop this madness and come home – (kidding). Please write to Dad, you know he’s gutted he wasn’t at the airport to see you off, so suck it up and stop being a wassock.
Lots of love and pathetic mushy stuff
Your Big Sis
Heather
PS we shot the Smokey the cat – we didn’t really, I just wanted to make sure you read all the letter
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
H xx
I have a Dilemma…
IN THE CONTINUING MYSTERY OF THE BIRTHDAY CARD IN THE BOOK FROM THE CHARITY SHOP, here’s a fresh look from LOST PROPERTY
Below is my take on the idea offered up by Twisted Roads Of Madness and Postcard from a Pigeon. The idea of finding a collage in a second hand book.
Note: That this is entirely fictitious, there is absolutely no facts here and I’m not solving a murder no one else has been able to I am just an author using a massive amount of poetic license [image error]
To Sir With Love — Devil Doll Musings
I took a Twisted Road of Madness to find Sylia’s Letter and this is my take on how Dermott got that book … To Sir With Love “Hi, do you have any books by,” I paused to consult my note. “Shel Silverstein?” “The guy who wrote ‘a Boy Named Sue’ and ‘Sylvia’s Mother’? Sure.” The…
via To Sir With Love — Devil Doll Musings
Postcard from a Pigeon
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