Day / story 7.

In 2000, Nick Hornby curated a collection of short stories called Speaking with the Angel. He invited a dozen or so famous writers to create an original short fiction as a fundraiser for TreeHouse, a school for autistic kids which Hornby’s son attended.

The 4th story in this collection is “Peter Shelley” by Patrick Marber. I’m familiar with him as a playwright (Closer, After Miss Julie) and also for writing the screenplay for one of my favorite films, Notes on a Scandal.

This remarkable thing about this story is the voice. He writes a 1st person account of late ‘70s 14-year-old boy who loves records (much like Hornby himself) and has an awkward flirt, and then a more awkward trip to a girl’s house, both of them big Buzzcocks fans.

Short paragraphs. Shorter sentences. The scant (but delicious), matter-of-fact details that a young teen might notice: “the carpet is like fungus on cheese”; “her fingers are pretty chewed up but look nice all the same”; “I’m no oil painting either, I suppose.”

It’s a delight to read. And maybe might tempt you to fire up some good old 70’s punk.

Come for the Marber, stay for Zadie Smith, Dave Eggers, Roddy Doyle and Mr. Horby himself.