SICK IN THE HEAD ~ David Barber's Debut in "THE SHADOWS OF OUR NOIR"

Sick in the Head.

By David Barber

Dad, it’s so late.

What are you doing down here

You look a state

Have you been hitting the beer

  

I’ve been waiting for you, son

Did you forget the curfew

You know, it’s not a lot of fun

Waiting and worrying about you

  

This is so lame, Dad,

I’m not a kid anymore,

I’m 21, no longer a lad

I’ve got ‘the key to the door’

  

There’s a killer out there

And I don’t want you dead

Do you think it’s fair

I’m worried out of my head

   

As I’ve just said

I’m no longer a child

I’ve got a good head

I’m not foolish or wild

  

Age is immaterial

To a hunter of the flesh

Be it singular or serial

Be it old or be it fresh

  

Dad, if you want the truth

I went down the pub

I met up with Ruth

I think we’re in love

  

Are you being serious

That slag from The Crown

That’s fuckin’ hilarious

She’s the bike of the town

  

You don’t have a clue

You’re so wrong about her

I’m done talking to you

This chat is totally over

  

You could find another

Not that dirty one

You could do a lot better

Get rid of her, son

  

My ears are sore

And your words are dead

I’m not listening anymore

I’m going to my bed

  

Tomorrow you’re staying here

You hear what I said

There’s a maniac out there

Who is sick in the head

The killer targets females

It said so on the news

And according to the details

Takes away their shoes

  

A guy or a chick

It doesn’t matter, son

If his mind clicks

He’ll strike: job done

  

Wait, how do you know

That the killer’s a he

The news never said so

It could be a she

  

Just go to bed, son

You’ll be safe up there

I’m staying down here

I’ll be sat in my chair

  

I walk up to my room

And close the door

My Dad will be sleeping soon

Of that I’m sure

  

I take out the blade

From my bedside drawer

And walk over to my wardrobe

Slowly opening the door

  

In there are my prizes

On the shelf behind my clothes

All styles and sizes

In nice neat rows

  

Red ones, black ones

Navy ones, too

All expensive leather ones

The best kind of shoe

  

I leave my room

The knife held in my hand

And walk through the gloom

Not making a sound

  

I enter his bedroom

My dad’s still downstairs

In a world of dream

Asleep in his chair

  

I walk to his wardrobe

And open the door

Moving aside a bathrobe

And assess the score

  

I count up the shoes

My dad is one pair ahead

It obviously proves

We’re BOTH sick in the head

©2012 Author DAVID BARBER

Another original DEBUT ~ AT THE BIJOU

for ~ "The Shadows of Our NOIR"

 

Absolutely*Kate sails authors
in all their cross currents

David, David, David ~ 

You are a prince 'mongst mere mortals -- You've let ME pub this FIRST! What a gem - and what a beginning to  beguine a whole slew of variant scenes . . . You've a separate book in the making when each stanza-laden delight strings together what you said your head did not know from where  words hailed . . . Hmm, one wonders what could take over a madman so wise?

This is bountifully brill, but you felt that flow from the first to all the cross currents of stream-throughs ~ didn't you? Each stanza evokes both picture and mood and tucks in phrases all just right, just right, just right. Should I effuse any more you'll either get your noggin stuck in doorways or wonder what's in my coffee. 

DAVID BARBER, "NOIRETRY's" ~ STANZA-MAN ~

 Kate,
  
Well, my head is huge now! You're way too kind! Thank you for enjoying my work, Kate. Poetry isn't normally my thing. Thanks again for the spotlight. It's great to be back submitting work.

Best,
David.

DAVID BARBER
MAN WITH PEN
needing no license

He knows how to use it.

JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM 

David Barber was born and bred in Manchester, England, but after 39 years of city life decided to up sticks and move to  Crieff in Scotland with his wife, Lisa, and their two daughters, Imogen and Melissa.  

Having written for a few years when he was younger, fatherhood took hold and, being self employed, earning money suddenly became more important so mindless scribbling had to take a back seat.

It was after a visit back down to Manchester that his childhood friend and fellow writer, Col Bury, invited him to write something for a magazine he was assistant editor of – the award winning magazine Thrillers, Killers ‘n’ Chillers.  He rattled off a six sentence story called 'Sorry Love' and sent it off.  That piece then went off to win a 2nd place Bullet Award.  

Since that day his writing has flowed from fingers to keyboard and onto magazines, such as A Twist of Noir, Near To The Knuckle, The New Flesh and Blink Ink.  He has also had the honour of having stories published in print and in e-book anthologies, True Brit Grit, Action: Pulse Pounding Tales, Off The Record and The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology.

He has just ended an 18 month stint as editor of The Flash Fiction Offensive.  During that time his eye for detail has vastly improved and the editing side of the industry has helped his own writing enormously.

He is currently working on a few projects including a novel and an e-book short story collection.  

David Barber can be found lurking at David Barber ~ Writer  

On Amazon, on Twitter at @thetwoblokes and on Facebook

BUT ~ Be these murmurings

FACTS OR FICTION? 

HOT HAYES

"David moved to Scotland only because he's always want to root for the Dunfermline Athletic Football Club and secondly (maybe more importantly) of his (some say unnatural) attraction (and affection) to the famous Scottish Highland Cow. He's a woolly buggar our David is. "

~ AT THE BIJOU Author AJ Fedora Fella Hayes

(scroll around - see him rough his stuff)

POUR ANOTHER, SMITH

"Dave is a tiler who unwinds by going for a night on the tiles. Dave's beauty therapist wife gives him a makeover every Sunday night. "

~ AT THE BIJOU Author Graham Sensation Smith (scroll around -you'll find him)

LADY LAITY

"Fact: David Barber once considered being a barber so he could have a business card that said “Barber, Barber” and planned to ply his trade in Sing Sing or else Walla Walla.

"Fiction: As a wee lad, David Barber starred in frightening public information films to warn children away from the dangers of the then popular sport of cat wheedling, but was found to be allergic to moggies and summarily fired. 

They might both be untrue... "

~ Author shady lady, Kate Laity, taking on all the spotlights she can unshadow for an AT THE BIJOU debut . . . as summer goes to a month of Julys.

MY GODFATHER,
GODWIN

"David Barber used to model himself on Sweeney Todd before he was arrested for stealing pork pies."

~ Good God, it's Author Godwin, Richard Godwin -- yeah, that's him ~ Watch for The Godwin Show of Shows debuting on hot summer nights, 

AT THE BIJOU.

RG: Kate your mischievousness will get you in trouble one day, I am fully prepared for my debut at the bijou, I am having my tux steamed. ~ Richard.

TWO SWINGING BOYS

"David Barber's nickname as a spotty teen was 'Barbs' to some, and he had (still has?) an uncanny resemblance to Depeche Mode's lead singer, David Gahan. Also, our good friend is a Manchester United fan, BUT he was a ball boy for their/his bitter rivals (and my beloved blues) Manchester City back in the 80's, and I was on the front row behind the goal (slightly envious) as he scampered around the sacred grass collecting any stray balls (coughs) for my (his?) heroes. Is he really a closet Man. City fan...? ;-)" 

~ Author of true grit, cool COL BURY, 

likewise making his AT THE BIJOU Debut

... after novel gets to agent!

THIS JUST IN from our AUTHOR!

"Kate,

You're a star. It looks great and has taken me by surprise. I've been a tad busy this past week with my e-book, which is now available on Amazon. Here's the link if you could (by any chance) add to the post." ~ David

Kate (packing yet, packing yet, for 6'am flight to OuterBanks grand seaside all-the-family-in-the-family vacation) -- "GOTCHA COVERED PAL. But -- YOU are the shining star shootin' off all heights!"

Here ya go folks ~ 

BUY THE BRAND SPANKIN' NEW BARBER BOOK 

HOT OFF THE E-PRESSES!

Yep, you can find ~

 David Barber's "The Stranger"

Graham Smith's "Isaa's Island Prison"

Kate Laity's "Chickens"

Richard Godwin's "Savage Sun"

Col Bury's "Gallance"

and Absolutely*Kate's "Angel Tough"

all pulsating in ~

 MATT HILTON'S tumultuous

ACTION PULSE POUNDING TALES,

natch at Amazon, US and UK.

Thanks David for takin' the heat under the spotlights and kleigs ~

* AT THE BIJOU *

~ Absolutely*Kate,

inviting "Come one, come all!"

to ~ "THE SHADOWS OF OUR NOIR"

Sashay or Saunter in every

summer*weekend!

The popcorn's better buttery,

and the hits?

Heck, they just keep comin'!

WHATTA LINEUP!

WHEN AN AUTHOR

 MEETS AN AUTHOR,

COMIN' THROUGH THE WRY,

you'll next spy ~

the thrill of PAUL BRAZILL

good God, it's GODWIN

shady lady, KATE LAITY

and more,

so very sure

 and shadowy more 

"Be there

or be square, Bub.

You too,

Toots.

Our Katie puts on

absolutely

killer shows."