| The Better of Me |
| By Herbert Van Thal |
|
http://tv.cream.org/gorilla/vanthal/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First, the arms. You can't really close your eyes when you're using a chainsaw, so I took off my glasses and tried to squint and visualised the smaller branches of a tree. The blade resists for a second and drives into the sap. |
 |
|
The legs required the main trunk of my imaginary tree, jutting over the edge of the workbench. I pressed steadily and concentrated on the floor as it disappeared beneath the sawdust. There's always more sawdust than you think. |
 |
|
At the other end of the workbench, I carved the head from the neck - more sawdust. Focusing on the floor again, I saw the log land with a hollow thud and roll to my feet. I picked ut up. I couldn't feel the texture of the bark through my heavy gloves. The log was a good size for burning. I saw my shovel nearby and wondered why I'd brought it along. Losing it. |
 |
|
I think it was the colour of the smoke coming from my chimney that drew their attention. They found me in front of a roaring fire, trying to brush the sawdust away. Sometimes my imagination gets the better of me. |
|
|
|
List all stories
|
|
|
