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A DOZEN DRAFTS (DEMICONCIOUS DIARY)
Markus Henschler
#1
A scene completely lacking sound, comparable to silent film.
Almost everything in the field of vision is pitch black, only a lighter segment of the picture in the upper left golden section, approx. 2 x 3 cm. In this passport photo:
The moving portrait of a primary school teacher with a terrible name and seriousness.
It lasts about ten seconds.
Nothing happens except that she focuses and looks through me with her terrible sternness.
#2
We sat on a bench with a panoramic view. It was flooded, there was a lake and only one person
around who dived in and proclaimed 'Wow, it's really cold down there'.
I joined, but not all the way down.
Then we were quickly in two single beds next to each other, laying naked.
We had sex, the top layer of skin slightly came off like a crust.
#3
Build a large, reclining Jesus cross out ice cream.
Emptied large boxes of Neapolitan ice cream and properly arranged the blocks.
#4
I was on my school bus and someone said, 'Sit down, I thought there were different numbers.
There are too many people in here’. I sat down.
(I wanted to sit with the cool kids, but there wasn't enough space)
S. got up and at Waldacker Nord, the bus driver said he had to get off.
S. gave another blatant diss, the bus driver ran after him and they both got into a fight.
The bus driver had finished his shift, heading to the ATM first.
A small child replied 'No' after being asked 'Can you drive?'.
I sat in the front and tried to steer and brake (the brakes only working occasionally).
Steered the accelerating bus through gates, often almost hitting them. Through towns and
across the country. I told one child we should call the police, but we couldn't.
We slid diagonally down a small cliff and came to a halt. A soft landing on the finest sand.
From there we were amazed, seeing seven rainbows on top of each other.
The first children began their futile attempts to push the bus back up.
#5
In a flat for four (built differently to mine):
In the kitchen, a dishwasher twice as wide including four small cutlery baskets on the lowest
level. The fridge also oversized, as was the gap underneath, hiding medicines and white
chocolate. I spent a lot of time in the flat and kissed around with F.
#6
Visited mum, she had rearranged a few things (everything felt much emptier, some of the rooms completely unfurnished). Her higher, small cupboards were all gone.
The downstairs room vastly filled by a collection of cuddly toys and hand puppets. Mostly white stuffed polar bears, among the bright white duplicates you could easily recognise the two old plush polar bears, their fur slightly beige and stained from years of cuddling and carrying
around. Some of the polar bears were fanny packs. My sister was also around, I said to her:
'You don't have to live in this house to enjoy your time here'.
#7
Walking along unknown, long streets with close friends. The normally wide road slowly turned
into a long, thin line, maybe two feet wide. Water to the left and right. At the end of the road/line there was a distance to the next one, too far to jump. Walked on despite wearing shoes. Met a guy (really aggressive), he carried a long weapon, similar to a big pool noodle.
Only managed to calm him down when we said that the three of us belonged together.
At some point the streets were flooded, several police jet skis arrived and started drifting.
#8
Went stargazing with J. (in broad daylight), walking along two slightly overlapping boulevards
which were orthogonal to each other.
A shop selling joke articles about the Federal Republic of Germany.
J. said that he went there with his family on public holidays and used the sight to be alone with
his loved ones for a few minutes and let that moment sink in.
Dancing on the dancefloor with L.
G. sneaks into an extra role at B.'s performance at the airport, dressed as a sleeveless
construction worker.
#9
In O., in my old child's room. Somehow discovered that there were sex toys on the floor
(I think I had forgotten to put them away)
Other episode: Followed A. at a gentle distance and traced A.'s life in episodes
(met up with friends, empathizing the places)
#10
It was about C. flying to Canada. C. was briefly upset that S. didn't really say goodbye, there was one single giant tear running down C.'s cheek. In a giant airport I thought to myself: Let's walk to the fat penthouse in front of which C. is walking through a garden towards the gate so we can all wave (just my idea).
In another part I was swimming and was happy that L. joined me.
I swam a big curve to end up outside with the people. Don't know
- if they were happy to see me
- how much I was wearing
#11
There was a yellow backpack at a secondary school on a mountain.
I think I knew some people there. I desired a lighter, knowing I wanted to light a fire further away.
Instead of asking, I took a yellow backpack and ran away. I couldn't find a suitable place to
make a fire – the area next to a yellow excavator was too conspicuous. I re-entered the school
grounds from another side and dropped the yellow rucksack somewhere.
I gave lessons about Nazis, no child listened to me and neither did other teachers.
Then I worked in a MediaMarkt as the presenter of a children's morning show.
#12
My hands resting on the railing, the sun's rays shine into the light blue water.
I'm getting pushed from behind, only catching a glimpse of the person who gave me a nudge.
Now immobile, sinking, but always aware and looking.
The light blue slowly darkens to mid-blue, various fish pass by in azure, jellyfish in deep plum
blue. I'm slowly getting the concept of ultramarine. Turning to dark blue and taking its very time transforming to black, until I hit the bottom of the sea and wake up.
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