Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Goodbye Kiss . . . by Paul D. Brazill of Harbinger*33



A TORCH SONG? Oh yes, how could a thriller to me from He ~ the inimitably charming (and to some disarming) (but never harming), Paul David Brazill, be otherwise?





Splendid Ladies
and Dashing Gents
*** NOW PLAYING ***
*** AT THE BIJOU ***


The Goodbye Kiss
~ by the scintillating mind of Paul D. Brazill

The Salutation Bar was stiflingly hot and cluttered with the usual hodge-podge of misfits, waifs and strays. Walter sat at a table by the window watching the streamers of steam rise from his muddy coffee. Beside him, a gangling scarecrow of a man slurped his beer with all the enthusiasm of an ex-con in a bordello. Each sip was like a leaky tap drip, drip, dripping throughout a sleepless night.

Outside, the cloak of darkness had draped itself over the city, and the moon bit into the sky like a fang. The night was suddenly filled with the crackle of exploding fireworks as Lena oozed into the bar like mercury. She stood before Walter and a chill of recognition sliced through him. She nodded and he stood.

The next day a church bell echoed through the granite autumn morning as Walter lay slumped against a gravestone. On his forehead, a smear of lipstick and a perfect bloody circle were all that remained of Lena’s goodbye kiss.

The End
(c) Paul D. Brazill . . . 2009

Paul Brazill was born in Hartlepool, England and lives in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He has absolutely nothing to do with the shooting of Liberty Valance, nor the monkey purported to be hung in the renown of his town. He can be found stalking though (of course), @ http://pdbrazill.blogspot.com

To me, aboard the Harbinger*33, Paul is a cool character marked by sharp intellect, quick satirical wit and the sparkle of a rather knowing eye over two glasses in mid*clink*, on the starboard side or at any tempting tavern. The first time I wrote noir, back in ol'6*City, he came jauntily forward from the shadows, a mentor of sorts. Mon Dieu, my life, from that point in time and tiempo has decidedly and delightfullly ne'er been quite the same. Some of his talented writing chums have become Thrillers & Chillers of my own, and many more I Mythica'lly anticipate to meet.

Billowing thanks to you Paul . . . with always a kiss of *hello*. Honoured we all are that your talents are aboard Harbinger*33, sailing to its publishing journey of manifesting destinies.

~ Na zdrowie, with FairWinds, Favourable Seas

~ Absolutely*Kate and readers about to delight in you the more

19 comments:

Michael Solender said...

Always. Always, I'll say it again. A real pleasure. This man has got some game!

Paul D Brazill said...

Thanks MJS. And K-k-kate for having me!

Crybbe666 said...

Even tho this was a short-film, I certainly won't be asking for my money back. Woo-hoo!! What a corker!!

Harry said...

"the moon bit into the sky like a fang" Love that one Paul! Love it all really.

Anonymous said...

A short yet excellent piece Paul! I love the darkness of it all. And yes, I certainly won't be asking for my money back either.

Harry said...

The title had me thinking of a song I couldn't quite place. It came to me, Donald Fagen, The Goodbye Look!

"I know what happens
I read the book
I believe I just got the goodbye look"

I think Walter got it too. :)

Mike Wilkerson said...

The Prolific One strikes again. It's just good writing, over and over and over...

Mike Wilkerson said...

But of course I meant "damn good" writing.

Kate Pilarcik ~ absolutely said...

Well you're "damn right", Mr Wilkerson, sir. That Paul Brazill fella has really got it goin'on. Ain't nobody but no body that can swing a simile and melt a metaphor like that superb thriller'man.

Folks can actually *see* a Brazill'work in the big screen of their mind's eye. It's that vivid!
~ Absolutely*Kate and the BIJOU staff

Laurie Powers said...

I love it! But then I knew I would.

Paul D Brazill said...

Thanks all. I quite like this one too! Harry -GOAL! I am, of course, a big fan of The Nightfly...

Paul D Brazill said...

Oh, I should mention that Walter is named after Walter Conley of disenthralled fame.

Angel Zapata said...

You burned a happy hole in my brain. Thanks, Paul.

Gerry Hatrić said...

Ooh, that's dark! Nice one, Paul.

MRMacrum said...

Why is red lipstick so evil? And why do I like it so much. Paul has figured it out. Excellent.

Jodi MacArthur said...

All I can say, Paul, is that your writing is *absolutely* addicting.

"the moon bit into the sky like a fang." ~ amazing metaphor. Loved this piece of yours.

Paul D Brazill said...

Thanks everyone.

Anonymous said...

Paul, you should be one of the first at the Bijou. Your stories are clever and vivid.

pegjet said...

your writing oozes on my page, like the blood from a fresh papercut...

um, er, this is why i leave this pulp fiction style to the master. I actually smiled at the drip, drip dripping and again at the imagery of fireworks when Lena walked in.

I love your writing. Always have.