Anthology 2019

Page 188

Mr Nobody Jay Kent I am an invisible man. Now, that may sound like some sort of profound metaphor, perhaps highlighting my isolation from society or maybe even how lonely I am. But understand this – I am being entirely literal. I am an invisible man. If you try and look at me, you’ll see nothing. Because I’m invisible. Now, you could ask, “How is that scientifically possible? What medical condition could possibly result in your entire body being invisible?” Well, believe me, if I could visit a hospital or something to try and find a cure, I’d jump at the chance. But every time I go and make an appointment, it never gets made. Because the person at the front desk can’t see a patient there. And you can’t make an appointment with something you can’t see. So this is me. Invisible. Transparent. Other synonyms for ‘see through’. It’s not entirely a bad thing, though. Your imagination may be like a rollercoaster, thinking of what you may do if you were invisible. Nick a packet of sweets, sit in public naked, rob a bank. I assure you, I use my condition in a very good-willed and law-abiding way. I’ll admit, as a teenager, I did attempt a few things. Successfully, too. But looking back they were a bit embarrassing. Your typical things, you know? Sneak out at night, take a few beers from behind the bar, sneak into the changing rooms of the opposite sex. I regret this, I’ll say that now, and I would not attempt anything like that again. I won’t abuse my condition. Some people will consider it a superpower, and you know that quote. With great power comes great copyright issues. But here I am, a good 29 years old and I don’t even know what I look like. I mean, I’ve styled my hair…I think. Best as I could, y’know? I think it might look good if I was visible, but I’m not too sure. You’d think the fact that nobody can see my appearance might be a benefit for getting into relationships, because as we all know, looks don’t matter in a relationship and personality is all that matters. But, sadly, that’s not how the world works. To trigger some sort of attraction, you need a physical appearance to trigger a chemical called dopamine in your brain that makes you think someone is attractive. And that’s one of two reasons I haven’t had a relationship in my life. The second reason is because I can burst spontaneously into talking about dopamine without reason. I usually spend my nights at home, listening to ‘Nowhere Man’ by the Beatles on repeat. I do this for at least a week per month until the song gets on my nerves, so I change the record and listen to whatever comes up on the radio.

188


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Untitled

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pages 194-195

Resource for writers and teachers

7min
pages 196-204

Juliet

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page 191

Like Dreams Or Drainpipes: A Meeting

3min
pages 192-193

The Little Mermaid

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page 190

Librocubicularist

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page 186

Mr Nobody

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page 187

Blossom

1min
pages 184-185

Portrait of Nusch

2min
pages 188-189

Machine Wash Only

1min
pages 182-183

The Tunes of Life

9min
pages 178-181

Recuperations

1min
pages 176-177

Villanelle for a Dementia Patient

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page 175

Payday

5min
pages 172-174

Two Bowls

1min
page 171

A Face and a Name

22min
pages 153-164

Back To The Pen And Paper

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page 170

The Harpa

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page 151

A Villanelle on Inferiority – Fool’s Gold

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page 150

Seal-Breaker

21min
pages 137-149

Storm

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pages 135-136

The Mad Side

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page 122

Cell 56

22min
pages 124-134

The Figurative Café

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page 121

Gracious Tempest

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page 116

A Day in the Life of

9min
pages 117-120

Bus Stop

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page 115

Fake

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page 114

Station Four

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page 111

Another Dance Competition

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page 110

Dwarf

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page 106

Silent City

6min
pages 107-109

Humphrey

5min
pages 101-103

Harpenden

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pages 104-105

Mocha Afternoons

22min
pages 88-98

January II

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page 100

Almost a Confession

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page 85

Small

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page 81

A Point in Time

5min
pages 82-84

Tea

21min
pages 68-79

The Skirt Sonnet

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page 80

A Backwards Wish

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page 67

Photograph

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page 66

The Armchair on Bradford Road

4min
pages 64-65

DNA/Making

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page 63

Forged in Fire

21min
pages 51-61

Newborn

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page 62

Part of Your World

1min
page 50

Fear Like Waves

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page 49

Desertium

21min
pages 40-48

Chasing the Wind

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page 38

Van Gogh’s Cornfield*...........................1

5min
pages 36-37

Like Dreams or Drainpipes: The Funeral

4min
pages 34-35

Foxgloves

10min
pages 26-31

Packed Lunch

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page 25

Fresh Clean Bedding

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page 33

Shall I Compare Thee to a Cup of Tea?

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page 24

Temptation

10min
pages 18-23

The Squid

6min
pages 12-15

Perspective

1min
page 6

Ode To The Reader

1min
page 5

Basketball in the skies

1min
page 7

Advice

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page 16

Cygnet

1min
pages 8-9

Aubade

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page 10
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