A Flash Fiction for the Net Generation

Enter-Net.

One of those stories.



The girl clicks the mouse. Electrons dance and the screen surges. A white beam shoots up her arm and sucks her into the net. It isn’t as she imagined. Numbers fly every which way, streams of code, like those movies, without the fancy colors and sound effects. It is noiseless. It is dull.
Millions of people logged in, infatuated, giving credence to cyber novels of yore. If only they could see what she sees. It's really quite dull. How much time had she wasted? Online.
On. And now In.
A code zooms by.


6 3 7 5 2
What? Is that minutes? Surely not hours. Oh my God! That’s her life! And what did it all mean? What did she get out of it? But the internet had the possibility for so much good! Right? What had she used it for? Surfing… chatting… She had made some real friends... Well, maybe not real, she’d never met them, never actually spoken to them, but they were real… Weren’t they?
But… But...
What about…
She struggled to think of the good things. She knew there had to be many things. So many. But all she could recall at that moment was the cold hours in her room.
On her own.
Wasted.
What a fucking waste.
I’ll stop. I’ll change! I swear…
A code appears.



2 8
What are you saying? Two. Eight. Too late?
But I’ll change… I promise!
I'll…
The electrons fire again, her arm frazzles. And she's out.
She lifts groggily from the keyboard.
Dribble on the keys, seeping in-between.
‘Crap.’
She snatches the nearest piece of clothing, a dirty sock from the floor and quickly wipes the keyboard.
She tests the computer.
It still works.
‘Lucky.’

87457864578364573475748578578816076139843689576485678465762437561378564785617845678456475891457834657864578167856487156470657846578214365016458764350610956147657045781465716457437548758987934908490845873673289793476895566478945943878249458768578456746573675826645287285767674365764752054654643485643785643856734658465765012459475894564568362765435648957892475987435275847358972859763485673465345643285643858456846846584658632862894658945894758975874857348572540759857897589465897234657346345632456266324562=2678562356389684658945897348578937536523=2612611133010140346790749757457171545718457845719485395490745856987569875684764897625876557267623756746782689901278156343274684945574786784658946574598648516498578657185647985671846161897564785687346547589074=0571571895165814335445345354353543453452380917345990845147561745617365781465701645716478563756374567645167456745674657665147656174567345714746572647167851567164576147556475647567657816475467856716576147561475678465786574657184657645781647856978561785678164571658716874678165781651784658764785617450817465781657864583478t3246253645324573437473247364036476343746=364723676853453454763278463274672364723647326473647374673763764654764+475643756753................


ends

(Inspired by a teen I know who spends way too much time online).

https://www.anthonyjlangfordbooks.com/books

Coming Soon,
A new Poem, Wheelchair
and more Greatest Written Films,

Until Then,

Greatest Written Films - Missing

Missing is a 1982 film of the true story of a young writer, Charles Horman who is temporarily based in an unnamed South American country (it was Chile in 1973) when a military coup tears the country apart. Charles goes missing along with a few other Americans (mainly journalists) and thousands of locals, leaving his young wife Beth, played brilliantly by Sissy Spacek, to try and track him down without getting herself killed. She is soon joined by her cantankerous father-in-law, Ed Horman (Jack Lemmon).

The deeper they dig, the more the suspicion grows that the American Embassy is giving them the run-around, implicating the US government of playing a part in Charles' disappearance as well as having something to do with the coup itself.

The film was shot in secrecy in Mexico by Greek director, Costa-Gavras, as the topic was so controversial. The U.S. Ambassador portrayed in the film sued Universal Pictures for $150 million, but the case was later dismissed. The Horman's also acted as guides on the film, giving it authenticity.

The real horror is of course, the many thousands who went 'missing' and the fact that General Pinochet who became the country's president after the coup, was never held accountable for committing mass murder (though the Brits made a half hearted attempt) and he died in 2006.



The 1973 Coup

Personally I recall the 1987 U2 song, Mothers of the Disappeared, (see the excellent clip below) which speaks about Pinochet's crimes in a heartbreak way, while Vangelis produced the actual soundtrack.

The direction is a little flat at times but brilliantly captivating in others, yet this series On Greatest Written Films is a homage to writers, being about story and script first. Missing succeeds as a gripping, moving story, with great performances by Lemmon and Spacek, made more tragic by its truth.

Link to more Film info

Link - 1973 Chilean Coup

Link - the real Charles Horman





https://anthonyjlangford.wixsite.com/writer

Coming Soon,

EnterNet - a bizarre flash fiction

And more Greatest Written Films

More Bad News, followed by a little Good...

Actually the good news came first but who wants to end on a downer? 

The Bad 

The day before I brought my partner home from hospital, my grandfather was diagnosed with a terminal illness and went into hospital. The day after I brought my partner home, I managed to speak to him on the phone and told him how I felt. He was 89, but sharp and good humoured to the end. He died a day later. 

My father and his brother rushed up (live 700kms away) but were unable to get there in time. However the funeral was rushed forward so that they could attend. My grandfather only wanted a simple service, but wants his ashes scattered in the Victorian Grampians (mountains), which will happen later. The three of us drove the 3 hours to the service then back to Sydney. This all during the week that my partner requires me for absolutely everything, as she is in a wheelchair. It's been a crazy week.

 

The Grampians 

My grandfather was healthy (up until the last few months) and of sound mind to the end. This is what I wrote and read out at his service. 

Every so often 

We are reminded of the shortness of Life 

And its fragility 

And when we witness the passing of someone dear 

we are humbled by its power 

For we are so tiny so innocent 

And at its mercy. 

We must be thankful for the days we see 

For the experiences we gather 

for the friendships we share 

for the family's we create 

They are precious 

For our time will come also 

and may we be as blessed and as loved as we have witnessed these past days 

With our dearly loved Stanley. 

His openness to the possibilities of Life were inspiring 

He was scared, yet he kept his humour 

Somehow 

Knowing what was to come. 

 He was blessed with the longevity of life 

And he knew this 

That's not to say it was all roses & laughter

 It was not without stress or strife 

But there were many great memories that he left behind 

If we remember him, it's usually with a smile 

As he was always smiling and quick with a quip or joke 

And that says volumes about the type of person he was. 

E E Cummings, who was a poet and playwright said, The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. 

Friedrich Nietzsche the German philsopher once said: And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.

And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.

Stanley danced (in his own way) and laughed every day, and for that, his life was rich. His life was full. And that is as much as anyone could ask out of life.

(2005) The Good 

Just when I beleived that every literary submission I made was somehow sucked up into a cyber void, I finally had a story accepted for publication. It's for a regarded Anthology, only printed up once a year, and also a special 25th Anniversary edition, so I feel honoured. Honestly, it couldn't have come at a better time. I really needed some good news. I'll provide a link when it comes out if you're interested, which will be later in the year. Things are still very hectic at this end, but will endeavour to post once a week, and will try to get to your blogs when I can. 

Coming Soon, 

Greatest Written Films 

A Classic

https://www.anthonyjlangfordbooks.com/

Car vs Person. A True Story.. The FollowUp

It's been a difficult week. My partner had to go in for surgery on Wednesday. As she is six months pregnant she was concerned about going fully under Anesthetic, so she opted for a Epidural. She was awake for the operation and was okay coming out but once it wore off the pain settled in. She was on painkillers but not enough and it took hours of agony before they could administer her with enough. It was truly horrible to have to watch. (see poem below)

 

They had to cut into the bone beneath the knee to repair damaged bone and cartilage. She wasn't allowed to move her leg at all for 24 hours and it still is difficult to move and very painful as you can imagine. She has to keep it elevated at all times. The baby is fine, thank God. Tough little nugget. The name we have chosen means strong in battle. She's certainly earned it. 

My partner spent 3 nights in RPA, (Royal Prince Hospital Sydney, where the show RPA is filmed). I spent two in there as well. We were fortunate to get a private room. A chair folded out into a cot and that's where I slept. I was there for 60 hours straight, but had to get home to prep the house. Her father had to build a ramp to get her into the house.

 

So here we are. She has to spend 6 weeks with no weight on her foot at all, and a further 6 weeks with minimum weight. This takes us past the birth of the baby. It's going to be a challenging few months. She needs a lot of painkillers and is understandably frustrated and upset as she is a very independant woman, who was fit and with a strong career. 

This loss of independance is hard for her to accept. We know it could have been worse but this doesn't help when it takes us a good 20 mins to get her to the bathroom in the middle of the night. This is of course, all compounded by the fact that she is 30 weeks pregnant. 

I'm her primary carer now. I have to do everything for her. It's draining and time consuming so forgive me if I do not read any fellow bloggers posts for a little while. I'll be lucky to do any of my own. Fortunately I have a few items in reserve. I'm sure in the long term, things will turn out. We just have to be patient. I'm certainly seeing another side of life I didn't expect to see. From a purely selfish point of view, I'm sure elements of it will turn in my writing one day. For now, we have to simply get on with it.

 

When They Suffer 

29.6.10 

One of the most Difficult things in Life 

Is to Watch those you Love In Pain 

Perhaps it is the Hardest 

Made Worse By the Knowledge 

That it was not necessary 

All should have been Avoided 

An extra Swivel of the Blade It Helps 

If there is Something You Can Do 

If only a little amount. 

And Yet, You still Must Watch 

And if you're any sort of Person 

It will Rip Your Heart Down the Middle 

And This is Me 

And That is Her 

And All I can do 

Is Wait And Suffer Alongside...

Coming Soon: Back to normal posting, Greatest Written Films 

https://www.anthonyjlangfordbooks.com/

Until Then

Some Bad News - Car vs Person

I don't normally post about things that aren't related to my writing, but the past two weeks has seen an impact on my writing and my life and though it is quite personal, I have decided to share it with you. 

For those who know me personally, you will already know that my partner was hit by a car while out walking on the 20th of June. She is six months pregnant. Fortunately the car wasn't going fast and she (and her friend) were not seriously injured. The baby is also safe. 

Believe me, it's the phone call you don't want. I was at work at the time and had to go to the Emergency department. It's terrifying, but of course, it's important to remain calm. I'm the main person she turns to so I have to remain calm. We are also grateful as we know it could have been much worse. She did go a bit up onto the bonnet but did not hit her head or stomach when she landed on the road. 

The man will be charged with negligent driving. He was in the wrong.

Her leg was damaged but not severly. She needs injections daily to reduce the chance of a blood clot, which I have to administer, as her leg is in a brace. She will have an operation this week to fix the bone fracture beneath her knee cap.

It's painful and she is on crutches, but its even harder for her to get around as she is pregnant. She also has some torn cartilage. As she can't put any weight on her left foot at all, mobility is very limited. Naturally she is scared to have the operation but we have been guaranteed (as much as they can as there is always some risk) that the baby will be okay. 

 My partner won't be able to walk for 3 months after the operation, which is past the date the baby is due. Challenging times ahead. (She also has children from a previous marriage). I will post an update after the operation. I'll return to my normal posts soon. Hope you bear with me for the next couple of weeks.

https://www.anthonyjlangfordbooks.com/books

Feral Street - The Climax (also known as the Orgasm Episode)

Feral Street 

It's like Debbie Does Dallas in her Wonder Years. 

Pray she doesn't have a mullet... down there. 

The Thrilling Climax (also known as the Orgasm Episode)

Ep.6 – Family First. 

In the last Ep, Timbo was in jail and Johnno was still on the run. Will Trace ever able to tell her man about her problem, or will MG get to her first? 

Wendy the cop opens the glass cell door. 

Timbo: (Grinning). 'Hey cutey! Are ya here to take me DNA sample? I'm ready to give it!'

Wendy: 'I'm ignoring that. We've retrieved the hotel video. It seems the other men did start the fight.' 

Timbo: 'Told ya! Those suits were fruits in cahoots!' 

Wendy: 'You are weird. Look, the hotel could have pressed charges, so you're lucky that you're only banned.' 

Timbo: 'Banned? But I didn't even flash me todge! Now I can't play me pokie machines! Where am I s'posed to drink now?' 

Wendy: 'Gambling is bad for you. And there are others bars around.' 

Timbo puts his hand to his chest with fake surprise: 'You really care hey! And did you just ask me out for a date?' 

Wendy: 'Ah, I don't think so. But you can tell your mate he's off the hook. If he turns up.'

Timbo: 'Johnno isn't home yet? Filth Meister. He's probably got his doodle stuck in a poodle.' Wendy: 'You're disgusting.' 

Timbo: 'That's just what we say, when we pick up a stray. Not that I do. I'm waiting for the right woman. Wink. Wink.' 

Wendy: 'She would have to be insane. Anyway I'm sure your mate will come home when he's hungry. Right. My shift is over. Do you have a lift?' 

Timbo: 'Are you serious? The only lifting I do is me beer to me mouth!' Wendy: (Sighs) 'If you promise not to be gross, I can give you a lift.' 

Timbo: 'I got a better idea. How about I give you a lift to a late night bar and buy you a drink?' 

Wendy: 'You just said you don't have a car.' 

Timbo: 'Oh. Um. Yeah. They call me Himbo sometimes. Ha ha. Howz about you gimme your phone number instead? Really, I'm not bad. Maybe a little sad, but that's ok, coz I'm not a dad!' 

Wendy: 'Come on Brain Melt, I'll take you home. And I'll think about it. As long as you stop with the rubbish dump limericks.' 

Timbo: 'Anything for you. You're pretty top. For a cop.' 

Wendy: 'And you're kinda fun. For a bum.'

Back at the girls house, Sez, Trace and MG finish up the last of the cheap cask wine. 

Sez: 'I think we should invest in a dog.' 

Trace: 'Really? You reckon we can afford it?' 

Sez: 'No but I need something to kick the shit out of when I get home.' MG laughs. It's a raucous roly poly guffaw. 

Sez looks to Trace and raises her eyebrows. 'What a fucker of a night. I'll check youse later.'

Trace: 'Where'd ya think ya goin, ya slut sauce?' (makes a poor attempt at hiding not wanting to be alone with MG). 

Sez: 'I gotta go to me Mums. Have to get me little cum stain.' 

MG: 'You're what?' 

Sez: 'The scabby squealer, the annoying anchor. Me sperm sample!' (she slaps Trace's arm). 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do!' 

Trace: 'You'd do anything, slop bucket.' 

Sez laughs and leaves. 

Trace: 'I'm really tired now Muddie.' (fake yawns & stretches.) 'Awhhwwwhwhhhww.' 

MG: 'But I gotta talk to you Trace.' 

Trace: 'Not now Muddie. There's too much shit goin on in me head. I'm worried about me man Johnno. Remember him?' 

MG: 'It's really important. It's about that time.' 

Trace: (whispering). 'Jesus Mud, I was trashed that night. Look, I know you wanna slam the salami but it's not gunna happen again, awright?' 

MG: 'But... I shuda told you before...I... I got the clap. You gotta get yourself checked out.' 

Trace: 'What? I got it from you? Where the fuck you get it from?' 

MG: 'Well... um..' (looks at the floor). 

Trace: (holding her hand to her mouth). 'Say it isn't real Muddie. Say it isn't real!' 

MG: 'She's not me real Nana! She's me step Nana!' 

Trace: 'Aww you're fuckin disgustipated!' 

MG: 'She's not that old. She's under 50 you know! Just.' 

Trace: 'Get outa me house ya dirty maggot Nana-fucker! You've given me old Nana crabs!'

Johnno is still stumbling around the outer suburbs, lost. He's hungry. He's tired. He's thirsty. And he's as dirty as a feral cat. 'Mummeeeeeeee!' And maybe one day, he'll work out how to get home. Or perhaps be smart enough to ask someone for help. More than likely he'll be out there forever. Searching for Feral Street.

Most definitely the end. 

Hope you enjoyed the series. 

https://www.anthonyjlangfordbooks.com/books

Coming Soon, 

More in the Series on Greatest Written Films 

More Poetry 

A new non-fiction Series - Famous After Death 

Until Then,

Feral Street - Episode 5 with Video

A friend put me onto this video. If I could make Feral Street into a series, I would cast this guy in the lead. Gold.

   

Feral Street Like the Sopranos parachuted into an X-rated Gilligan's Island. But not. Pray you don't end up there..without a mullet. Meet Johnno, Timbo, Sez & Trace. And MG (Mud Guts). (All early twentys. The boys live together, the girls next door and across the road, MG with his Nana.) Warning: Not for the easily offended..

Ep.5 - Cop a Feel. In the last Ep, an all in brawl at the pub split the team. The cops were called but Johnno went on the run. 

Timbo moans as two cops throw him into the glassed cell. One of them is a young blonde woman. 

Timbo: 'Please guys! No rectal exam! Beat me up instead!' 

Male Cop: 'Another freakin yobbo comedian.' 

Timbo: 'This is messed up guys! I'm not even pissed hey!' 

Wendy, the Female cop: 'You were involved in a foray.' 

Timbo: 'Foray? I don't eat fish. Geez guys, just coz a guy's got a bit of a mullet goin on you blame him! Those suit wankers started it!' 

Wendy the cop: 'My brother's got a mullet, so that's got nothing to do with it. We'll interview everyone and get the full story.' 

Timbo (looking her up and down) 'That could be hours! Come on Miss. Give a bloke a leg up! Or at least a leg over!' Wendy: 'Enough of that! It'll take how ever long it needs to.'

Timbo: (singing). 'Oh I've got the Jailhouse Bluuuess! And I think I just did a pooz! Miss, you'd make me so happy, if you cud put on me nappy!' 

Wendy: (smirking): 'You're not funny. I'll be sitting right there, (points to her desk) so I'll be watching you okay?' 

Timbo: (smiling) 'Sweeeet! Maybe it won't be so bad then. Take ya time hey!' Wendy can't help but smile, shakes her head and goes to her desk.

 

Trace, Sez and MG have given their statements to the police and are walking home. 

Sez (punches her hand): 'Oh that's ruined me whole fuckin night! I wanted to get Timbo smashed as a maggot and get a hold of him.' 

Trace: 'You mean get a hold of his schlong, ya filthy minded tart!' 

Sez: 'You can talk, with ya crabitat yoghurt crabgina!' Trace (angrily embarrassed): 'Shut ya trap Whoredrobe!' Mud Guts is unsure what they're on about. 

Sez: 'Now its all fucked up. How's a woman s'posed to pull a good bloke around here? With all these screwed up feral losers! No offence Mud Guts.' 

MG (with his crossing rapper arms): 'I know youse weren't talking about me, coz I got it goin on, don't you see! I'm Q u a l i t y with a capital K! Oh Em Gee.' 

Trace laughs. 

Sez: 'No offence Muddie but the only way you're gunna pull a root is if she's fat, blind, retarded, deaf, ugly as a warts pus on a pigs ass with no arms, no legs and spends her day sniffing around a garbage dump for an empty baked bean can to lick.' 

Trace laughs so hard she snorts. MG watches his beloved Trace, knives plunged deep into his fragile heart, his bottom lip quivering. Trace is laughing so hard she begins coughing and brings up a pile of yellow green phlegm and spits it out. 

Sez: 'Ya snot got on me shoe Slobber Slut!'

 

Johnno runs through the dark street, his mullet flapping around his ears. These cops want him. He knows he will go to jail for sure. They've been hounding him since he was 15 and stole a car and crashed it into the Chinese laundry and hid inside one of the dryers and the owner in a fit of rage turned it on. 

Ok, so the cops rescued him that time but there was that time that two cops stuck his head in a toilet! How messed up man! Even if his hair was accidentally on fire after he broke into a paint shop and was so wasted he fell into a cabinet of paint thinners, getting soaked and laughing and lighting a ciggie. Guess they rescued him then too. But they wanted him locked up for good this time! And none of it was his fault! He would have left town or caught the train to the city or somewhere if only he wasn't lost. 

All he knew was that he couldn't go home. Wherever that was. He holds his hands to the Southern Stars, like the dude in Shawshank Redemption. 'Farrckkkk!'

 

Next and last Ep: Will Johnno be caught by the cops? Will Timbo be freed by the cops? Will MG confess his love for Trace? Will Sez ever get the snot off her shoe?

 

My Books, Videos, Downloads and more

https://www.anthonyjlangfordbooks.com/

Until then,

 

Feral Street - Episode 4 of 6

Feral Street 

Kind of like the O.C. but totally opposite. 

Pray you don't end up there... without a mullet. 

Meet Johnno, Timbo, Sez & Trace. And MG (Mud Guts). (All twenty something. The boys live together, the girls next door and across the road, MG with his Nana.) 

Warning: Not for the easily offended.. 

Ep.4 – The Feral Five bastards 

Last Ep Trace still hadn't told Johnno about her problem, mainly because he was preoccupying himself with his Pamela Anderson poster. Tonight, they're hitting the pub, even if they have to walk there. 

The Feral Four have beers in hand but are 45 mins late meeting MG outside his Nana's house. 

MG: 'Bout time you guys!' 

Timbo: 'Shut ya guts, Mud Guts.' 

Johnno: 'Yeah Mud Brain.' 

Trace: 'Fuck Winkle.' 

Sez: 'Yeah Muddie. Ya guts look like a lumpy pair of elephant balls!' 

MG moans but the other four crack up. 

Johnno: 'Let's go. We got a long walk.'

Twenty minutes later they arrive at the pub. 

Sez is panting. 'God that's a long way. I think I need a ciggie.' 

Timbo: 'Good idea.' (They all light up). 

MG: 'Guys, can we eat this time please? I'm starving!' Trace: 'You're always starvin ya fat cheese log.' 

Johnno: 'I need a friggin beer. Badly.' 

Timbo: 'You just finished one ya drunken butt sack!' 

Johnno: 'That was just a traveller. Doesn't count. I want a real beer.' 

Trace: 'That was real beer ya horny Pamela Anderson cucumber.' 

Johnno goes red: 'Don't talk to me Slut Cream! Unless it's with ya legs open!' 

Trace's mouth drops and Johnno storms off. 

Sez: 'Oh nice one Johnno ya mangy maggot!' 

Timbo: 'Don't listen to him Trace. He's nuthin but a dead dingo's dried do-do.' 

But Trace starts to cry. 

MG's belly groans and he rubs it: 'Sorry tummy. They know not what they do.' 

Sez puts her arm around Trace: 'Forget that fuckin dog bandit.' 

Trace: 'I can't. He's the only guy who gives me vagina a heartbeat.' 

Sez: 'The only punany he wants is Pamela Anderson's. What sorta guy wanks off to a freakin poster?' 

Timbo: 'Um yeah.' Timbo quickly looks to MG and back again. 'Anyway, at least it's not to Paris Hilton. That bitch gives head as bout as good as she can act! Come on Gut boy.' (Timbo takes MG and leads him away). 

Sez: 'Trace, you gotta put out love. Let him go Greek Style.' 

Trace: 'I'm not frigid ya know! I tried that. I didn't mind it but afterwards his dong looked like a chocolate covered muesli bar!' 

Sez: 'You have to talk to him about the crabs. You gotta come clean.' 

Trace: 'After the Greek, that's what he said!'

The boys stand at the bar and the girls join them. Unexpectedly a group of middle aged footy officials in badly dressed suits walks in, but Johnno, still cranky, refuses to let them in at the bar. 

Suit 1: 'Come on mate. Shove over will ya?' 

Johnno: 'I was here first.' 

Suit 2 laughs. 

Suit 1: 'Don't act like a bogan mate. You're not the only one who's thirsty.' 

Johnno turns.: 'Just coz I got a mullet don't make me stupid.' 

Suit 1: 'Never said you were stupid mate.' 

Johnno turns. 'Never call a bogan, a bogan. Unless you mean it.' 

Suit 1: 'What? I said it, didn't I?' 

Johnno: 'Well I am. And proud of it too.' 

Suit 1: 'Good on ya. We agree.' 

Johnno: 'No we don't! I don't agree with nuthin you say mate!' 

Suit 1: 'So you're not a bogan then?' 

Johnno: 'Don't say I'm not a bogan.! I am!' 

Suit 1: 'Oh Christ almighty. Forget it.' 

Johnno: 'Haha. I win!' Suit 2: 'What a fuckin knob jockey!' (he steps up). You're a fuckin bogan dick chips.' 

A fist goes flying and beer sprays everywhere and a glass smashes into Suit 1's face and people rush in and Sez screams and there's blood and Trace screams for Johnno but in moments there is an all in brawl. 

Security rushes in and the bartender calls the cops. 

Suit 2 falls in front of Trace and believing she is defending her man, rests her shoe on the man's gonads. 

Trace: 'Ya Mumma screws Elvis impersonators and chews moldy gum from ya cat's labia majora!' She squishes down hard. But no one notices as Johnno sneaks out the back and does a runner.

Next Ep: Where has Johnno got to? What happens to the rest of them when the cops turn up? Will Mud Guts ever get to eat? Until then,

https://www.anthonyjlangfordbooks.com/books