Oh, so completely riveting, absurd, and full of dark wit... especially the way it builds to the final dismissal of the so-called "adult" in the room... "That had been when she still believed her dad knew what he was talking about." Such a stinging universal rebuke! And the way you capture the whole of Bridget's experience through the leaflets and the moment with Miss Jenkins is like watching close-up, sleight-of-hand magic.
This is such a ride, and such a perfect fractal of the macrocosm. "Sometimes Bridget’s friends, if she had any, which she didn’t, but the girls that she sat with sometimes, they’d get Miss Jenkins on to the subject of Women in art and she’d get so wound up that they’d miss half of their next lesson." You're actually a genius.
Eleanor, you’re brilliant with an ending for a chapter and with compactness. Such a quiet ominous bit— back when she still thought her dad knew what he was talking about. A single line packs in that feeling that comes understanding that we’re on our own, those who are supposed to have the answers are as confused as anyone.
It's a moment, isn't it, when we realise our parents are not gods. The leap of growing up, and the despair. How frightening, and sad and the teenage reaction to be bolshy.
“After tea he’d made them sit through the safety checklist as if it was a pub quiz only the prize was staying alive.” This captures the anxiety of that time so well. It made me think of the “active shooter” drills all American schools now have. How traumatizing.
What a great peek into the angst-ridden uncertainties of our demise. Humans are so good at “what if’s,” all that planning for the worst case scenario, when too often the worst case isn’t a scenario at all but a long, drawn-out history of slow, unconscious simmering.
Scary, this strange mix of how silly some responses were/seem now and how uncomfortably close and recognisable it all still is.
Beautifully done how Bridget gets involved through a more general unease with the establishment first and not yet cares about the cause. Which is so true. The nukes are an expression of something deeper, wider.
Love the two chapter salvo, by the way. Makes me wonder if something like every other day would have an even stronger effect. Once a week is so far from how I read a book....
Yes, I landed on it (the weekend streaming) because of chapter length. Once a week didn’t feel right for these, shorter chapters. Saturday and Sunday means 3000 words in total. I’d love to stream it daily, but I knew that would leave people behind, too. Let’s see how this goes.
Loving the voiceover! And the ending of this chapter is so good.
Thank you. I have Ben Wakeman to thank for sound quality & narration guidance.
Who is Ben? Agree the narration is exquisite!
https://www.catchrelease.net/
Will check out and subscribed! Many thanks!
Oh, so completely riveting, absurd, and full of dark wit... especially the way it builds to the final dismissal of the so-called "adult" in the room... "That had been when she still believed her dad knew what he was talking about." Such a stinging universal rebuke! And the way you capture the whole of Bridget's experience through the leaflets and the moment with Miss Jenkins is like watching close-up, sleight-of-hand magic.
🪄😊
This is such a ride, and such a perfect fractal of the macrocosm. "Sometimes Bridget’s friends, if she had any, which she didn’t, but the girls that she sat with sometimes, they’d get Miss Jenkins on to the subject of Women in art and she’d get so wound up that they’d miss half of their next lesson." You're actually a genius.
❤️
Cant wait for the next chapter :)
💃🏻
Carefully focalised through the breathless narrative , a power-driver.
OMG. I think I might be Bridget.
😂❤️
The last paragraph is full-throttle brilliance.
Eleanor, you’re brilliant with an ending for a chapter and with compactness. Such a quiet ominous bit— back when she still thought her dad knew what he was talking about. A single line packs in that feeling that comes understanding that we’re on our own, those who are supposed to have the answers are as confused as anyone.
“Compactness.” Yes. That’s exactly right.
It's a moment, isn't it, when we realise our parents are not gods. The leap of growing up, and the despair. How frightening, and sad and the teenage reaction to be bolshy.
Mine was when I was about three months old, but it is likely this is true.
Ditto 😕
🙏🏻
“After tea he’d made them sit through the safety checklist as if it was a pub quiz only the prize was staying alive.” This captures the anxiety of that time so well. It made me think of the “active shooter” drills all American schools now have. How traumatizing.
Traumatising.
What a great peek into the angst-ridden uncertainties of our demise. Humans are so good at “what if’s,” all that planning for the worst case scenario, when too often the worst case isn’t a scenario at all but a long, drawn-out history of slow, unconscious simmering.
You said it. Sleep walking into disaster.
Great entry! Her dad sounds like a real smart-ass. Hate him already.
"a pub quiz only the prize was staying alive" : )
🙌🏻
Loved it. That last paragraph was so good. Had me speed reading even though I KNEW it was in her head.
Scary, this strange mix of how silly some responses were/seem now and how uncomfortably close and recognisable it all still is.
Beautifully done how Bridget gets involved through a more general unease with the establishment first and not yet cares about the cause. Which is so true. The nukes are an expression of something deeper, wider.
Love the two chapter salvo, by the way. Makes me wonder if something like every other day would have an even stronger effect. Once a week is so far from how I read a book....
Yes, I landed on it (the weekend streaming) because of chapter length. Once a week didn’t feel right for these, shorter chapters. Saturday and Sunday means 3000 words in total. I’d love to stream it daily, but I knew that would leave people behind, too. Let’s see how this goes.
Waiting for the next chapter.
Thank you for this. A terrifyingly vivid piece
My pleasure.