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Saturday 16 January 2016

MEAN STREETS

This part of Glasgow is characterised by it's abandoned and shuttered shopfronts
into whose doorways we duck to avoid the gangs of youths. In the square
a lone busker, mentally on another planet, strums on his guitar out of tune;
and on a vandalised bench sits Tommy, who a decade ago
was in our class at school: the boy with learning difficulties, upon whom
the teachers soon gave up. Now, he sells poppies each November on a street corner.

Later, at the local pub's closing time,
there is the usual fracas - a loud explosion of violence
that spews out onto a back street where a young couple are snogging against a wall,
their faces hidden beneath hoodies. We quickly move on, in case they recognise us.
Midnight finds us sitting at a table in the seedy nightclub,
where doll-like women are dancing in cages

and the men are moving from table to table on the make.
One leans forward to stroke my face, his breath reeking of whisky.
I feel my space being invaded. Nevertheless, I can't suppress a mocking giggle -
he is so drunk it's funny. Clearly angered, he grabs me by the hair
and hisses through clenched teeth, "You'll pay for that, BITCH!" - a threat I know you'll avenge.
But for now we swiftly leave. Experience has taught us how to survive

these mean streets where we were born and most likely will never leave.
We re-cross the square, dodging the broken bottles, takeaway wrappers and fresh vomit.
It is deserted now - apart from a junkie out cold on the bench, syringe still in his arm.
A lone pedestrian Police Officer gives us a wide berth,
his eyes betraying sheer inner terror. We part ways.
You go to buy a gun from an acquaintance. I go home to bed.


Don't worry, guys...a purely fictional piece! ;)

35 comments:

  1. A fine piece indeed, hopefully it gets expanded upon. Greetings!

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  2. Thank you so much...really happy you liked it!
    As I wrote, I was tempted to stretch it out into a novel, but I just don't possess the talent...:/

    Have a fabulous weekend! :)

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  3. So well illuminated, "Y"_!
    __Fiction, written about that fence that helps us avoid the decay of morality.
    __Human failures have been with us forever, and now moral degradation seems to be severly amplified by population densities. We can cross that fence if we wish, but most of us still choose this side.
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    __I truely hope all is progressing well with Austin_!

    _m

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    Replies
    1. In truth, I am something of a coward, Doug...if I lived in a place that harsh, I would simply have to move!
      But this piece was born out of my love for the old Scottish TV series, "Taggart". Can't really say why, but it managed to get under my skin!

      Oh thank you so much, Doug...yes, Austin is doing really well. He is still very underweight, has a cough and shortness of breath...but is staying positive and looking to the future...and best of all, his heart is fixed! :))

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  4. Wonderful descriptive writing, enough clues to imagine and complete the story.

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    Replies
    1. Many thanks, Anthony...wow...such a great compliment.
      Oh how I wish I had the confidence to write a full-blown novel...;)

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  5. Beautiful and dark writing.

    Greetings from London.

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    1. Thank you so much, CiL!

      Greetings from a rather icy Hampshire...with a still frost-encrusted lawn! ;)

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  6. Ah well, that's a relief. :)
    Beautiful and effective.

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    1. Many thanks, Lux...I really appreciate that!
      Have a great day.:)

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  7. U r fighter ... a smiling fighter that is, Carlos ... Love, cat.

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  8. the last makes a lot of difference :)

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  9. wow, i read this yesterday and right as I was finished got a phone call so never commented. Really powerful read - I've been binging on Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy so I could almost visualize this in my mind. Glad it was fiction. They shot parts of Sons in Ireland -...

    anyway loved the fictional piece.

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    Replies
    1. So happy you liked this, Sandy...as I wrote, I almost felt myself morphing into an episode of Taggart"! lol
      Many thanks.:)

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  10. A beautifully fine piece, dear Ygraine. :)

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    1. Thank you so much, dearest Linda.
      So happy you liked it! :)
      xoxoxo

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  11. Wow, my dear Ygraine...I was never so happy to get to the end and find that it was fiction!!! I was mesmerized~

    Hugs and Love
    xoxoxo
    So Happy That You are Blogging Again~

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    Replies
    1. Oh wow...you are so kind!
      Thank you so much...:))

      Much Love & Hugs xoxoxo

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  12. Oh.... I was fearfully reading those lines. But alas.... I was happy that it is just a fiction. Wow.. so creative and lively.

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    1. In truth, Dumcho, I have never visited Glasgow...but this was inspired by the fabulous "Taggart" TV series of the eighties.
      So glad you liked it...and thank you so much! :)

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  13. Oh! I was able to expel my breath after reading the last line.It is a captivating piece.

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    1. Thank you so much for reading this...and my apologies if I alarmed you ;)
      It was fun to write...but I'd hate to live like that in reality.

      Have a great day, my Dear Friend xoxoxo

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  14. I have "Billy Bobs" pub rite beside me ... have never been it, though, as my pub days are over ... smiles ... but I remember ... smiles ... awesome piece u wrote, my friend Y ... Live and learn ... smiles ... Love, cat.

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    Replies
    1. So happy you liked this, Cat...the writing of it certainly kept me amused for a few hours!
      Many thanks :)

      Hugs xoxoxo

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  15. Great piece of writing Ygraine! You sure do know how to write an atmospheric piece of art :) So realistic :)

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    1. Oh wow...thank you so much, Rose...can't tell you how much that means to me.
      So happy you enjoyed! :)

      Big Hugs xoxoxo

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  16. Boa tarde, você escreve de uma maneira linda e apaixonante.
    AG

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    Replies
    1. Many thanks, AG...your words mean so much...:)

      Have a great day! :))

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  17. Hello Ygraine,
    A great story!! It could be a real story of a daily day of a district in a big city.
    You know captivate people with these kinds of stories. Fantastic.

    Many greetings,
    Marco

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    Replies
    1. Oh wow...many thanks, Marco...so happy you enjoyed this!
      It was great fun to write.:)

      A Hug :))

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  18. I am glad this was fiction, but I bet there is places like this! Very sad! So well written! Very meaningful! Hugs my friend!

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    1. Have to admit...I was glad this was fiction too! lol
      I do love the old "Taggart" series...but would hate to be a part of that scene.
      So glad you liked it!:)

      Big Hugs xoxoxo

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  19. I'm sure glad it is fictional Ygraine.

    You certainly conjured up the feeling of this locale. Gritty and evocative writing. Well done.

    Have a wonderful weekend. Hope things are improving day by day, on the home front. Lots of hugs,G

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    1. Wow...you have used the word "gritty"...that is exactly how "Taggart" has been described...so I must have captured it's essence to some extent! lol
      Many thanks, my Friend.:)

      Yes, fingers crossed...things on the home front are progressing well.
      We know it will be 18 months - 2 years before Austin is totally better, but he is slowly getting there.
      Thank you so much for your support. You have helped me so much to cope.:)

      Have a wonderful weekend!

      Big Hugs xoxoxo

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on my posts.
I really appreciate hearing your opinions...:)