The one that's always there, the one that came late, the one that never arrived and the one that wasnt invited
Futile Feast (2019)
There are two lads, sitting in front of each other
they are having sausages and bacon and eggs
they are wearing construction site clothes, missing a couple of teeth
they are both white and in their late 50’s
they seem to have known each other for a while
one of them is sporting dreadlocks
the other one a gold earring
is 8:15am
they are drinking black coffee
talking about a third lad who is not there now, but apparently, HE did something wrong
said something he shouldn’t have said
did something he shouldn’t have done
the bacon is crunchy, a little burnt in the edges
it makes a light breaking sound with every bite they take
crack
“You have no idea io what you are saying” says suddenly the first one, raising his voice
I might not have it, but neither do you. says the second one
he promised something he couldnt fullfill , he dragged us all with him, he fucked us all
they carry on eating,
their clothes are dusty
their hands, wrinkly
But how was he supposed to know?
silence
they chew on the the sausages, they need to hurry, its time to go
the yolk of the eggs in undercooked, it bleeds all over their plates
In the background of the local greasy spoon the tv is on
they are transmitting in the news:
everybody is wearing suits
somebody mentioned compromise
someone had a breakthrough
the word unconvinced was used
somebody proposed an agreement
somebody said nearly impossible
nobody seemed impressed
a sensible way forward was promised
resolution was in somebody’s mouth
delay seemed to be in the cards
uncertainty was in everyone’s minds
trust was an illusion
disruption is on its way
It’s 3pm
She ‘s half way through a a long shift at the supermarket
they had problems with the tilts all day
So people were queing
She bagged almost every single item that left the shop so far that day
a loaf of bread
PeeP
2 loose cucumbers
PeeP
a small pot of double cream
PeeP
sometimes she fantasises with what people will prepare with the items they take
a pot of custard
PeeP
half a kilo of mince meat
PeeP
sometimes she imagines their homes
their jobs, their partners,
a can of beans
PeeP
a jar of marmite
Peep
sometimes she likes to imagine them at the table,
talking about their day
complaining about the people they secretly hate to the people they love the most
a block of cheese
Peep
a bag of tea
Peep
4 more hours to go
In the cafe they just opened at the end of the street,
next to the fishmongers
they can fix your bike while you drink your latte
they have several magazines on art and design
as well as newspapers that hardly no one reads cause they have better things to do on their laptops
they also have also have cool but cheap furniture with an scandinavian vibe
the place is busy and the coffee machine is loud
A cinnamon roll is £3.50
and the ginger ninja smoothie £5.29
i splurge and get both
I sit down and open a copy of Apartment living magazine that someone carelesly has left on the table
“How to Leave a Party Politely: The Art and Etiquette of the Exit” sits oddly on page 17
- the magazine is from 2016
My mom always told me, - reads the article “It’s best to leave the party while everyone is still having fun.”
how you leave is just as important as when you leave,. the author of the artcicle then proceeds to give some tips and tricks for leaving as graciously as you arrived
On Parties
Don’t leave without saying goodbye.
Don’t leave too soon, even if you’re not having the time of your life.
Don’t make a scene.
On Conversations
Be respectful.
Capitalize on the moment
Make your move
don’t hold people captive.
its 4:45pm,
and they are collecting dishes and putting the chairs on top of the tables
they are making noise and have already switched the music off
there is a couple of us still finishing our coffee , but it desnt matter
I remember the tips from Apartment Living magazine
and pack my bag
its time to make my way home
It’s dark outside
we sit down and we break the bread
and there is beer and there is wine on the table
and also butter for those who like butter with their bread
so I take a piece and I smear the butter
it is warm and toasted
and the butter starts melting and it shines it shines so hard that is almost blinding
and i take a bite
and I can feel it
expanding in my tongue,
warm, soft, salty,
i take a small breath and I swallow
and now is expanding through my throat, descending
with all its warmth , all its softness
and it reaches my stomach, this ball of light
and I shine and i melt just like the butter I’ve just spread on the bread
and shine and melt
and I shine and I melt
i raise my sight and I see that the others sitting at the table are also shinning and melting
shinning and melting
and I dissapear
and we dissapear
and that’s how it ends