Between Shows
A red feather, jammed in a spotlight hinge high
in the darkness. A crimson curl, shivering when the cleaner vacuums below. A
ghost of brighter times.
How did it get there? Maybe a
gift left by a secret visitor, some rara avis out of Wonderland? No, it
flew itself to these heights, buoyed by laughter and applause, buoyed again by
impossible magic, by the rising heat of allure, up and up until, like a scarlet
moth, it alighted.
It shivers again, but does not
fall, yet. One August day, soon, you will return. Find a red feather on an
empty stage. And begin the carnival once again.
* * *
Neil Williamson's award nominated short stories
are collected in The Ephemera (Elastic
Press, 2006 / Infinity Plus Books, 2011). Neil also forms part of a strange
cabaret duet called Markee de Saw & Bert Finkle. They can be found
at the Edinburgh Fringe, if you look hard enough.
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