Friday Fictioneers
I just sang Walk on By and they walked on by. I used to have a studio. I made records, sold lots. I filled halls, played festivals. Now look at me. In my guitar case, there’s just a few coppers, a pound coin and screwed-up chocolate wrapper.
See him, posing for selfies? Last time we met I was Jack-the-lad and he was sleeping rough. I once helped him out, gave him a bed and a square meal.
Think positive. I can do it. Smile, sing. Give ‘em soul, show ‘em Elvis lives! I will eat tonight. I will!
Please God say I will.
For Friday Fictioneers which is hosted by Rochelle who also provided this week’s picture.
Regret and desperation in equal measures. Well done, Keith.
Indeed. Thank you Sandra
With a thread of hope.
The dream turning to a nightmare.
It happens. Cheers Iain.
Intriguing story which left me wondering how he ended up losing everything. Was it because of the guy he helped? Nicely done, Keith.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I hadn’t thought of that! Now you/ve got ME wondering!
Dear Keith,
The desperation in that last line is tangible. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
That’s very kind of you, thanks, Rochelle.
Elvis has left the building.
Indeed he has! Cheers James.
This just makes me so sad. You’ve written it beautifully, or it wouldn’t have had such an effect.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, it makes it all worthwhile.
Well written and really touching. How many of those old guys we see are living the hard life of a “has been”? Some buskers make a good living; we heard of one young man, playing the flute, who made enough to pay his way through university.
They do, and they often sell their CD’s! Not this chap though!
It’s tough at the top, but much tougher at the bottom.
Good one, Keith
Perfectly put CE, thank you.
So easy for anyone to fall down like that. A sad story Keith
Too easy. Thank you, Lynn.
My pleasure
Really emotionally written Keith.
Thanks so much Louise
Not everyone makes it big in music. I could feel his pain and despair.
Well done.
Very true, cheers Dale.
I’m rooting for this busker too! He’s had a taste of life in the real world and deserves a break.
Hopefully he’ll travel full circle! Thanks Vivian
😊
Hope is the last thing that leaves… but sometimes I think there is a lower low for everyone.
As you say, there’s low and rock bottom. Chers Bjorn
Keith, this one grabbed me and won’t let me go. It’s truly one of your best. Great rhythm, well-chosen words. Kudos!!!
Wow, thank you, Alicia! I’m delighted it worked!
What a come down. Lots of hardluck stories this week. Well portrayed.
Aren’t there just! Cheers.
Great use of 100 words. I love seeing good buskers, and often wonder about their life story.
Me too, thanks Mike.
There have been a couple of people i’ve known like this. On top, and one slip, and it’s gone.
It happens, sometimes by their own means, sometimes due to poor fortune.
Fame and success are fickle, aren’t they?
Fickle friends indeed. Thank you.
A tough life, especially coming after success. Love the first line!
Thank you so much.
That’s show business – the higher you climb the harder you fall.
So true. There’s no business like it. Cheers Liz
Such a tragic story, looking back at past glory and, I assume, regretting the poor choices and chances squandered that landed him in such poor straits.
So often poor choices lead to a downfall. In his case even I don’t know. Thanks Joy.
It made me think of all the one-hit-wonders. They rose to the top quickly, then crashed and burned almost as fast. Music is a tough business.
There are indeed so many examples, Only the strongest survive. Cheers Russell.
Sad story of someone who once enjoyed fame.
Indeed. Thanks so much.
An affecting story, beautifully told. I love buskers and find it almost impossible not to stop and listen awhile and drop a bit of cash into the hat. Great opening with him singing “Walk On By” as they walk on by.
Me too and the more different the better. Thanks so much for your generous words Jilly
Life can unravel so easily. You captured his desperate tone perfectly.
It certainly can Ellie, thanks so much.
You gotta love his positive thinking!
It’s a powerful weapon. Cheers Dawn
Great job. The ups and downs of life …
Thanks so much.
You conveyed his desperation and determination to keep positive. The depressing thoughts raging through his mind must be horrifying.
At leas he’s not giving up, not yet anyway. Thanks Michael.
such a deep piece for so short – felt the angst (and love how sandra wrote equal measures – bah)
Thanks so much. Yes, she summed it perfectly.
🙂
I feel like running out and finding a random busker to lay some money on.
There are some very deserving ones. Thanks Alice.
Life for many is very difficult. I felt his anguish and desperation, yet determined to survive another day. Well done!
He will I think – I hope. Cheers Brenda
Well done, Keith. There is always a story behind every person, and you put a face on those who are so often fleetingly faceless, even if we pause to put some coins or a dollar bill in their case.
I often wonder, then forget again a few minutes later. Thanks for your comment.
sad. it looks like he didn’t save for the rainy days.
Such is the world for so many so-called celebrities. Cheers plaridel
Lovely and sad
…but determined nonetheless. Thanks Laurie
Such is the life of a busker. Some days you don’t eat, some days you eat like a king. You portrayed this life very well.
So true EA. Now that so many people have read about him, he might start doing pretty well…oh, hang on, it’s fiction!
There’s a great documentary out there called “Searching for Sugar Man.” If you haven’t already heard of it, you should see it. It’s an amazing story about a rise to fame and a fall from grace.
No, I’ve not seen it. I’ll seek it out, thank you.
Well done. Humor at the beginning and the harsh reality at the end.
Such was his life – so far. Cheers, Sascha.
So far–is an important qualifier. Hopefully it will turn around.
Who knows what tomorrow may bring?
A touching story with many layers.Made me think how time and luck are so fickle.
Who knows what tomorrow may bring. Thanks YS
Haunting stuff Keith. Very powerfully written.
Thank you so much
This is wonderful, filled with hope and regret.
That’s very kind of you Kelley, thank you so much.
Oh, a tragic story. How did his dreams turn into a nightmare, I wonder. The best part is, the narrative allows me to interpret the story (as a reader) in different ways.
A part of me says that he ended up like this because of the person he helped once.
The second interpretation is that he could never make it big as a musician (not because of any lack of talent but circumstances perhaps) and now he has resigned to his fate.
Both scenarios played out in my mind as I wrote this, also that his music was no longer current. In the pop ‘music’ digital age however it’s not that necessary to be musical at all . Anyway, I’ll leave it to you to decide!
It is sad how real talent gets no attention in this age of auto tuning. I loved your story.
Indeed it is. Thanks so much.
He helped that lad rise.
Glad that he still has his spirit intact. May he achieve his goal again.
Have a lovely weekend, Keith!
The power of positive thought is a valuable tool. Thanks for your good wishes.
The desperation at the end is frightening. Will he hopefully have more than a meal in his future? I hope so. Seems like he is a great guy.
He’s determined which is a good start! Cheers Fatima
Well done Keith, you pack a lot into so few words – his backstory, his despair now, his only hope to get a few coins is to project verve and optimism, the exact opposite of what he feels. Good story.
Thanks so much, WWM. I’m pleased it came through. Comments such as yours make it all worthwhile
I could feel his longing laced with hope. Very sad, and I’ll think twice before I “walk on by” again.
Well done, Keith. In those few words, I feel like I know a lot more about him than I would expect.