marcinblach

Thank You, Dear Gentle Reader It's 5 pm on a Saturday in New York. The Reader walks into a bar where he works as a barman. In his bag is a copy of the novel "Money", which he has been reading on the subway on the journey to and from work. He hasn't checked the pages, but he's almost finished. Soon after setting up, he is joined by his first customer, a dishevelled, but interesting looking, character he doesn't think he's seen before. The customer is holding a folded piece of paper in his left hand. He slips on the newly disinfected floor and almost knocks a seat over while trying to take a position in front of the Reader at the bar. He gets up off the wet floor, rubbing his left elbow. It's giving him some pain. His eyes are bloodshot, but he doesn't look obviously drunk. He orders a beer and finally sits down. He is still holding the piece of paper. The Reader recognises his English accent and initiates a conversation. Reader: Are you OK? John Self: I’m not sure. Reader: Can I do something to help? John Self: I don’t know. Reader: Do you need anything at all? John Self: Yes. Reader: What? John Self: Some more money. Reader: Haha. We could all do with some more money. John Self: I know, but it’s not for me. Reader: Who’s it for then? John Self: My author. Reader: What do you mean, your author? John Self: Martin Amis. Reader: I know him. He's famous. John Self: Yes. Reader: Doesn't he have enough money? Isn’t he already rich? John Self: No. Reader: Wow, weird…so he depends on you for money then? John Self: Yes. He depends on me for money, and I depend on him...for dear life, actually. Reader: So what happens if you don’t make him enough money? John Self: I’ll probably die. Reader: But you’re alive. I can see you. We’re talking to each other. Here in this thread. In this bar. You're drinking a beer. John Self: Yes, but it could all come to an end. Reader: Why? John Self: He could hand me a suicide note. Reader: Is that the note you’ve got there? John Self: I’m not game enough to look. Reader: Where did you get it from? John Self: Martin gave it to me. Reader: Do you think he wanted you to read it? John Self: Yes. Reader: Well, why don’t you read it then? John Self: It’s not the end of the novel yet. Reader: How far away is it? John Self: I think it must be very close. If I read the note, it will be the end of the novel. Reader: What’s wrong with that? John Self: It’ll be the end of me as well. Reader: Oh, right. Is there any way we could make it last longer? John Self: Yes. Reader: How? John Self: You could give Martin some money. Reader: I don’t have any more money. John Self: I can’t be much of a character then. Reader: Hey, you’re a real character. As real as they get. John Self: Thanks. You’re very kind. A real gentleman. Reader: What are you doing? John Self: I’m going to read the note.

2022-09-02 16:25