Friends – Johnno

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER

The first time that I saw the framed, black and white photo I thought I saw a resemblance to my great aunt’s next door neighbour. how on earth do i know what they look like? In fact, i thought it WAS my great Aunt’s neighbour. it cost me $500 to find out actually; in the archives of Wellington’s State Library.

The photo was of three men – all wearing top hats and looking very earnest.  100% pure New Zealand, i can hear my grandfather say.  i’m not sure what makes them look so, because they looked like every Caucasian male of that era; circa 1920s.

Anyway, the smaller of the three looked like the person in question. He was the size of a small child, yet he was clearly a fully-fledged adult, standing in a three-piece suit and pointed black shoes. Actually, I’m guessing they’re black as it is a black and white picture.

But I don’t understand why this picture is hanging on my neighbour’s lounge room wall. i was baffled. And I would have to stay baffled because my neighbour was dead.

These shoes hurt, i thought. In fact, everything seemed to hurt these days.  i sat down on my comfy velvet couch and rub my heels as I stare up again at the photo, that is now hanging on my lounge rom floor.

I was turned on by the though of discovering the strange, coincidental relationship all those years ago.  That feeling was overtaken by frustration, angst and …now …what do i feel now? Meloncoloy?

Oh, can you please turn that off Doris. I can’t think with that wireless droning on and on. She should listen to real music if she wants us to cooperate.

Where was I? Melancholic, apparently. Maybe I’m reflecting the feelings on show on the faces of these three gentleman.  These three friends. They’re all I have now.  They’re all I have.

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