STORY SHOWCASE #24

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A MAN OF EXPERIENCE
AND WISDOM

by W. M. Hall

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A little taster…

“Simon will keep you company. He’s quite the conversationalist.”

On cue, a mackerel tabby jumped up from behind the liquor cabinet, gracefully landing on top of it. Simon continued to show off his athletic prowess by leaping onto the couch’s middle cushion, slowly sitting down like royalty, then patting the cushion between himself and the cabinet with his right paw.

“Owelwow!”

Allison laughed. “You’d better do as he says.” She headed toward a doorway on the opposite side and made a left down the hall. Ben heard the bathroom door shut and the volume of the Ethiopian jazz went down a bit. Taking a moment to scan the apartment’s decor, he admired the eclectic mix of art and furnishings. An inspired combination that most people would never consider. Original wood floors. The right number of plants for the space. And books! He appreciated that the titles seemed to genuinely reflect her interests and were not selected for display to impress others.

After opening one of the liquor cabinet’s doors and reviewing the selection, Ben thought it best to wait until later – he didn’t want to risk drinking on an empty stomach. The couch it is. Smiling at Simon, Ben carefully sat on the cushion between the cat and the booze.

“Excellent choice,” Simon said, looking up at him.

About the author

W. M. Hall is originally from southern California and derivatively living in Tennessee. His day job is working in film and television. In addition to being a writer, he is an avid photographer and occasional painter. His other interests include self-loathing, inventorying regrets and avoiding human contact.

We asked W. M. Hall …

K&R: What was the spark or idea that led you to write this story?

WMH: What sparked the idea for my story was thinking about a situation many men find themselves in, but with a twist: waiting for a woman to get ready for their date and while doing so, her cat starts talking to him in a most perverse and disturbing manner. Adding to the inspiration was that I – despite being a dog person – had recently adopted a cat whose persistent stalking and bullying forced me to take him in. This cat happens to be very vocal, but never brings up inappropriate topics.

K&R: Do you have any other work do you have out there, for folks to dig into?

WMH: My entry in Trash Tales is my first published story. More to come.

K&R: What’s next for you as a writer?

WMH: Struggling to find time to implement the singular most important piece of writing advice from two great living authors. Joe R. Lansdale says, “You just gotta get yer butt in the chair.” Alan Moore’s UK version is, “Put your ahhss on the chair.”

K&R: What does “trashy fiction” mean to you, and what do you love about it?

WMH: For me, trashy fiction is about shamelessly embracing the pulpy fun of a tale that may include, but is not limited to: voracious mutated beasts from “parts unknown,” illicit encounters with someone you just met who is as irresistible as they are trouble, and agreeing to a Faustian bargain when you know better, but your perilous predicament overrules good judgment. In fact, a lot of trashy stories could be boiled down to someone succumbing to an urge that conflicts with their morality or grasping at a caveat-ridden opportunity to escape a desperate situation, only to make matters much worse. 

What I love about trashy fiction is that it presents the possibility of combining the best of both worlds for the ultimate reading experience. Those worlds being pulp and literature -worlds that need not be mutually exclusive. Reading Alan Moore’s comics demonstrated to me that what the culture may regard as low art can reach great heights of intellectual and creative expression. One may marvel at the verse poetry of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus but also revel in its violence and cannibalism. Trashy fiction need not be synonymous with bad writing.

K&R: Hit us with your own favourite “trashy” fiction recommendations!

WMH: Blood and Water and Other Tales by Patrick McGrath, which features “The Erotic Potato” -a fly’s first person account of eating a corpse! There’s also “Hand of a Wanker”, in which the severed hand of a chronic masturbator goes on a groping spree.

The Glory Hole Murders by Tony Fennelly has not only an intriguing title and a 1980s New Orleans setting, but a deliciously catty wit from its protagonist whose observations of others’ style choices makes for a fun read.

David J. Schow’s Seeing Red is a collection of pulpy tales that demonstrates the author’s unique, but colorful descriptive stylings and acerbic humor. Some of his stories capture the situations and vibe of EC Comics, but with added depth and introspection.

K&R: If you’ve read the rest of the stories in Trash Tales, what’s your favourite, and why?

WMH: Though there are many that I loved, “Tails, You Lose” by Lisa Danny-Roberts is my favorite from Trash Tales and NOT simply because it features a cat. Having lived in Los Angeles and having endured the stagnation of the 405 “freeway” too many times, it was very relatable. It captures the essence of living in an apartment building in a big city while feeling isolated and psychically squeezed by oppressive forces that impede one’s survival. The main character’s obsession with a neighbor’s cat seems to me to be a result of being squeezed past the breaking point by such oppressive forces. He is seeking solace in isolating himself with a beautiful animal whose enigmatic qualities enable him to project what he wants her to be without really seeing her for who she is. I also appreciated that I did not see the twist coming.

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