TWIST - FLASH FICTION BY JOE CUSHNAN

 

It was Chubby Checker who did it, as he has done many times before. As soon as The Twist started, the dance floor filled up. There were hoots and squeals, gyrating hips, flailing arms and a competition amongst some to see who could master the ‘round and round, and up and down’ manoeuvre. Most wedding receptions like a golden oldie disco, and this one hit the spot with Tamla Motown and rock and roll on the playlist. Robert sat this one out, nursing a bottle of lager, semi-hidden behind a pillar. He was fixated with the bride, watching her every move as she danced, witnessing her joyful relief that the marriage service had gone smoothly.

It had been a big wedding with sizeable numbers of family on both sides of the aisle and a large contingent of friends. The bride had entered the church to Labi Siffre’s It Must Be Love and she had looked beautiful. Her father had been proud. Members of the congregation had smiled, given the thumbs-up and blown kisses. The bride had beamed and blushed.

During the marriage ceremony, no one had fluffed a line. The subsequent readings included poems by Christopher Marlowe and Walt Whitman. Everyone had sung Lord of the Dance with gusto, with the priest fancying himself as Luciano Pavarotti, and not making a bad job of it.

As everyone was leaving the church, bells rang out in celebration, some small children blocking out the noise with their hands to their ears. There were hugs and kisses, chatter and laughter in the church grounds before everyone made their way to a nearby hotel for the reception.

The disco had moved on from Chubby to The Four Tops singing Reach Out, I’ll Be There with most people on the dance floor attempting the coordinated moves of a typical sixties soul group. A woman approached Robert and tried to coax him into joining in, but he resisted and she moved away. He was not in any mood to dance. He was still watching the bride.

In the speeches, some very nice things were said about the bride and groom. The best man told some funny anecdotes that entertained the audience, which was sometimes reacting with genuine laughter, but other times pretending politely that what they were hearing was hilarious, and occasionally groaning at a corny joke. Robert played along with the crowd. It was that kind of occasion.

In the middle of The Mavericks’ Dance the Night Away, the swaying bride spotted Robert and beckoned him over. He waved his hand to decline the invitation. She shrugged her shoulders. Robert stood up and left the room for some fresh air. It was a chilly night. The sky was clear. Stars twinkled. The moon looked like a sideways smile or a frown depending on how you looked at it. Robert sighed deeply. The bride was on his mind. The bride, his wife of a few hours, was deliriously happy. He was miserable. For reasons he couldn’t understand, before the day was over, he hated the idea of being married.

First published 2017 by Fairlight Books

 

 

LUNCH INTERRUPTED - FLASH FICTION BY JOE CUSHNAN

 

The patio was a mess of sandwiches, Victoria sponge wedges, sausage rolls, potato crisps, broken glasses and bottles, leaking cans of beer and cola. In shock and disbelief, we stood looking up. The sky was like the opening of The Simpsons cartoon show, clouds moving in slow motion. Then we looked down at the body on the lawn. It had landed with an epic thud from out of the blue. The al fresco lunch had been upended by the four of us as we leapt out of our garden chairs. We were frozen, all of us rigid and staring until Colin shook his head, took out his phone and called the police.

We circled the corpse. It was face down but it looked male and, unsurprisingly, lifeless. We discussed whether or not to turn it over, but no one had the nerve.

‘We shouldn’t touch it,’ said Alice, Colin’s wife. ‘CSI and all that.’

My wife, Gemma, looked pale and unwell. She was on the verge of tears. She screamed. I grabbed hold of her and we hugged until she calmed down. Colin and Alice held hands tightly. We sat again and waited for the police, not once taking our eyes off the body.

‘A proper gate crasher,’ said Colin, attempting a joke. None of us laughed. 

A siren sounded in the distance, increasing in volume as it approached the house. I guided the two police officers to the back garden. There was no need to point to the problem. One officer knelt to examine it. He whispered something to his colleague and she stepped away to radio a message. The kneeling officer suggested we go inside as he was going to turn the body over and didn’t want us to see it. Colin, Alice and Gemma took the advice. I opted to stay outside. 

As expected, the man’s face was flattened and bloody. I rocked back and forth and felt an uncontrollable urge to vomit.  I decided to join the others inside.

Before long, a scenes of crime team and medics were photographing, taking notes, discussing possibilities. One of the police officers asked that we each write a statement about what we saw and heard. We were asked if we needed counselling. We all agreed we were fine for the moment but that we might when the full horror of the incident sank in.

After a couple of hours, the corpse was stretchered away in a body bag and the crime team, medics and police officers left. I poured each of us a large whiskey. We took our drinks outside and walked to where the man had landed. At some point, we would find out who he was and how and why he fell from the sky. 

We clinked glasses, raised a toast to this unexpected stranger, drank the whiskey in one, knowing we would never forget the man, even after the lawn had repaired itself and erased his perfect imprint.

First published 2020 by Spillwords

PARK DESIGNS: WORKSHOP & GALLERY, HATHERSAGE, DERBYSHIRE

 

Great morning today in Hathersage, Derbyshire. First time visit and it is a delight.

Chanced upon the Park Designs Gallery & Worksop and met the owner, Si Homfray, who also happens to be a creative genius.

Please take time to browse his website via this link - https://www.parkdesigns.co.uk - and you will see much evidence of this genius!

The range of products includes wall art, kitchenware, homeware, clothing, stationery and a splendid range that celebrates National Parks.

Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

Park Designs

3a Hathersage Business Park

Heather Lane

Hathersage

Derbyshire

S32 1DP

T: 01433 651562

E: hello@parkdesigns.co.uk

W: https://www.parkdesigns.co.uk

BOOK REVIEW: REPORTING THE TROUBLES 2 - COMPILED BY DERIC HENDERSON & IVAN LITTLE

 

Blackstaff Press 2022

https://blackstaffpress.com/reporting-the-troubles-2-9781780733258

Reporting the Troubles 2

More journalists tell their stories of the Northern Ireland conflict

Compiled by Deric Henderson and Ivan Little

Foreword by Bertie Ahern and Sir Tony Blair

This book (and its predecessor, Reporting the Troubles, published in 2018) is, on a deceptively simple level, a book by journalists about journalism. But it is so much more than that. Book 1 and Book 2 are recollections of some of the most harrowing and deplorable events that happened in Northern Ireland in relatively recent times.

"Reporting on the tragedy of what happened here in the last five decades was never easy. It took a certain kind of journalist to head off into the night to report from the scene of the latest murder, to listen to heartbreaking stories of the lives destroyed by the conflict, and to try to make sense of it all." (Mark Carruthers).

The memories of death, injury, destruction and brutality are told vividly and also with humanity for the victims and their families. These are people stories that I read with stirred emotions, often with a tear in my eye or with raging anger.  I was struck by many things but when reading about babies, young children and others who were killed by "mistake", followed by a blasé "oops, sorry, but our campaign continues" from paramilitary outfits, I could feel the intensity of my blood boiling.

On one side of these narratives, there is despair and everlasting grief. On the other, there is a clinging to a sincere desire that the current fragile peace in Northern Ireland will one day become something more solid cemented by hope.

Another running thought as I read these brilliant pieces of journalism was the attempts by some individuals and organisations to wipe the slate clean, to erase the past as if it never really happened or mattered. How wrong would that be? What an insult to those who died, those who can never forget and those whose pain and torment never fade!

"In Northern Ireland there is a word for dealing with the past. It is a word for the killings during the Troubles, the murders, assassinations, the abductions, the bombings, the dreadful mistakes, the people who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. We call it legacy. But legacy is difficult, because legacy lasts a lifetime. (Will Leitch)

This is not always an easy read but it is an essential book that (along with its previous companion) should be read widely for years to come. There is truth here, truth told by great journalists via exceptional journalism. Without these extraordinary people, quite a few dealing still with their own recurring nightmares, the past really would be forgotten. Journalism at this high level really does make a difference. 

"We dedicated the first volume of the book to the victims of the Troubles and they and their families are still at the heart of this second book. We hope that both volumes stand as an enduring act of remembrance." (Deric Henderson and Ivan Little).

An enduring act of remembrance, it certainly is. Highly recommended.

BOOK PROMOTION - THE STRANGER IN THE MIRROR BY RAKEYSH OMPRA MEHRA & REETA OMPRAKASH GUPTA

{Blogger's note. I have not read this book (no time, sadly) but I am happy to offer it and its authors some publicity}

The Stranger in the Mirror

by

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

with

Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stranger-Mirror-RAKESH-OMPRAKASH-MEHRA/dp/9390547997/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=The+Stranger+in+the+Mirror&qid=1651674856&s=books&sr=1-8

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Stranger in the Mirror is the memoir of the legendary producer-director, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Co-written by noted marketer-author, Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, this book chronicles the richly experiential, multi-faceted life of one of India’s most celebrated and feted directors who has made critically acclaimed films like Rang De Basanti, Delhi-6 and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

Though it may seem natural for an autobiography to have a primary narrator, what makes this book truly unique is its many narrators. It is this multi-dimensional, multi-character narration that will enable readers to delve deep and truly understand what it means to be as unselfish as Mehra, a man who gleefully steps back and lets the experts do their job.

Peppered with anecdotes from Mehra’s life—from the chai-biscuit college days to the popping of the proverbial champagne—it implores readers to pay attention to understand who is narrating, because the plot may have just shifted a little bit, just like his movies. At the end, what really stands out is how effortless the journey has actually been. And herein lies the greatest paradox because there is no lack of perseverance in this journey. The miraculous manner in which things fall into place naturally, like pieces of a pre-ordained puzzle with the universe acting as the ‘sutradhar’, is the fulcrum around which the joy of this remarkable journey is built. 

ABOUT THE STRANGER IN THE MIRROR

The Stranger in the Mirror, the memoir of BAFTA nominated ace director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, is penned by noted author Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta. This marks her foray into biographies- two more of which are in the pipeline. 

The book offers a multi-dimensional, multi-character narration of an unselfish protagonist, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, (lovingly called ROM by his cast & crew) a man who gleefully steps back and lets the experts do their job. The author projects Mehra as a passionate architect who endeavours to build a bridge between Indian & world cinema.                                    

There are several anecdotes spread liberally all over the book; and you have to pay attention to understand who is narrating - because the plot may have just shifted a little bit- just like his movies. Structured as a non-linear narrative, there are several paths the reader can take within the book. Each movie has its own trajectory, along with first person narrations by almost everyone he has worked with.  

Despite the obvious struggles, the miraculous manner in which things fall in place, like pieces of a pre-ordained puzzle, is the fulcrum around which the joy of this journey is built. The carefree days of penniless youth are every bit as exciting as the popping of the proverbial champagne. Here’s a roller-coaster ride hailed by Indian media as one of the best Hindi film biographies ever written.

The book is available on Amazon UK.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

RAKEYSH OMPRAKASH MEHRA

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra occupies a reverent mihrab of his own in the annals of Indian filmmaking. After working on almost 200 advertising films and a documentary, he found his calling on the big screen. His cinema is honest, powerful and holds a mirror to society. His unsentimentally crafted portraits of conflicts inside our own culture, the demonic behaviour of humans possessed by communal hatred, the inherent imperfections that humanize super-achievers, have always been ahead of their time. His brand of socially conscious, progressive filmmaking has its own signature. His work is archetypal, socio-political and philosophical spawning genres such as sports biopics and youth-oriented cinema. As a director, writer and producer, with a yen for timeless music, he established Flicks: The Motion Picture Company in 1987, which grew into Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures in the year 2004. He is married to P.S. Bharathi. They have a daughter, Bhairavi, and a son, Vedant.

REETA RAMAMURTHY GUPTA

Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta hails from the marketing world and applies her vast knowledge of connecting with audiences to her writing. Her ability to bring pages alive with a lexical diversity that assimilates cultures and timelines and gripping parenthetical narratives has created a unique imprint in Indian writing in English. She is credited with the internationally acclaimed Red Dot Experiment, a decadal six-nation study on how ‘culture impacts communication.’ Her previous book, Rescript Your Life, was published by Rupa Publications. She is married and has two children.

EXTRACTS FROM THE BOOK

Rakeysh’s RDB was a blockbuster at another level: one of the top five hits of all time. To celebrate, we released quarter-page ads on the front pages of all the national dailies. I got a call from Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar asking for a meeting at the former’s office. I was half expecting a reprimand for bringing out competitiveness by comparing RDB’s success and trying to put it on some rank. However, both of them were convinced that my intentions were pure and they spoke of the film with admiration. The non-formula movie had arrived and I realized that this kind of movie was what I actually meant when we set out to push the envelope.

The music was a cult hit with AR doing what only he can do. Rang De Basanti became India’s official entry for the Oscars and further won a BAFTA nomination.

Rang De Basanti was chosen as India’s entry in the best foreign film category at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007. We missed an Oscar nomination, but joined Pan’s Labyrinth, Apocalypto and Black Book among other nominees in the category of best non-English film at BAFTA. The film travelled to festivals across the globe and broke box office records at the same time.

It won the golden lotus at the National Film Awards for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment. It also won three silver lotus awards: the first for best audiography (Nakul Kamte), the second for best editing (Bharathi) and the third for best playback singing (Naresh Iyer for the song ‘Rubaru’). But the irony remains. As Kamlesh Pandey beautifully puts it, ‘As long as the State remains the enemy of the nation and politics keep killing its young, RDB will remain relevant.’

COMMENTS

‘He was the one that designed my french beard for his film Aks; I have not removed it since!’.

—Amitabh Bachchan

Tune to college ke bahar bhi life ko nacha diya, kaakkey. Tim-luck-luck-tim... Love you, Mehra.

—Aamir Khan

“I resonate strongly with the fearlessness in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s films and his approach. He goes boldly into subjects that others would think twice about. He bats from the front foot!”

—Virender Sehwag, Cricketer

“It’s tough to constantly infuse your films with your own belief systems. Success or failure, Rakeysh has constantly done that. And that makes him a passionate and a true artist.”

—Shekhar Kapur, Filmmaker

“A master of the storytelling oeuvre, he has brought to life alternate narratives, whose success lies in their being relevant irrespective of the continuum of time.”

—Sanjoy Roy, Producer, Jaipur Literature Festival

“Read this book to understand the making of a genius.”

—Amish Tripathi, Bestselling Author

Rakeysh’s success is important because it is based on his integrity. Other than his obvious achievements, he is an icon because he has inspired millions of Indians to believe that cinema has integrity and soul.”

—N.R. Narayana Murthy, Founder, Infosys

SEARCHER (AFTER SPENDING TIME IN BELFAST CENTRAL LIBRARY'S NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE)

Sign in, fill in the request slip

And soon a man appears with a bound book

Of newspapers from the 1960s,

A time, as you browse the pages,

When housewives dreamed of washing machines

And vacuum cleaners as their Christmas presents

From lovingly generous, pipe smoking husbands,

When cigarettes were cool, chic and romantic

And milk was a lifestyle drink.

A time, in the petty sessions columns,

When fines were issued for playing cards

In the street, for losing control of pigs

On a public highway, for brawling,

For swearing at a clergyman,

And for shooting a duck on a Sunday.

 

 

MOTHER MEMORY - BOBBLE HAT

  In the mid-60s, my mother knitted me an almost exact replica of this hat.

Bobble Hat

Mother’s skillset expanded out of necessity,

Back in the tight money days, post-Elvis, pre-Beatles.

Alongside kitchen and other housewifery talents,

She knitted in what seemed like every spare moment,

Aran jumpers a speciality, but also

Scarves, gloves and non-military balaclavas, hats,

Especially one unforgettable hat for me,

A bobble hat, green, an almost exact replica

Of a Mike Nesmith Monkees hat, cool woolly number. 

Should have seen my face! I was a believer. Still am.