It is my habit to keep your letters, on arrival,
unopened on the mantelpiece, among the mementos
and dusty treasure, for sometimes up to a week.
Anticipation being one of life’s sweeter pleasures.
Your bold black hand, the seal of tape (security),
the amusing doodles of hairy noses,
the way you address the envelope Doctor Reeves…
are all as good as your signature to me.
*
One 3am, unable to sleep, I opened it and read –
Dear Nick
Matt D has died in a Mexican motel.
The rumour mill grinds, as you’d imagine.
Some say murder by a drug cartel.
And some say the hanging man ain’t even him.
For good measure, Julia S
suggested
auto erotic
asphyxiation.
However,
the official line is suicide.
It does seem strange
that a fella such as him,
with two daughters
back home in Blighty,
would consider such a thing...
He was always the prince of adventures. His stories came on waves. There had been whispers
of sombrero’d dealers, mescaline bus rides, dozes in dust bins, jamming pistol barrels with a finger,
adobe jail cells, unpaid bar bills, very high jinx and very high cliffs. Perhaps a lover, too.
I don’t doubt any of this, but who knows? I’ve read somewhere that they tame tigers down that way.
“The fall’ll probably kill ya!”
RIP MD x
nickreeves 
🌷
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00:16. Thanks x
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7:45 x
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Swashbuckling
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I have missed your writing.
A moving one this is. ❤
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Hey, Michele! I’ve missed writing, too. It’s been a hectic return to work this last week, leaving me tired and blank. x
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I imagine your must be busy catching up. I understand. Readjusting schedules and busy workloads rob our writing energy. 🥱 I am happy you are making the time. 🙏🏻 x
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Blessings xx
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*I imagine you must be…
😆
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That’s quite a letter!
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He was quite a character! MD seemed to gather a mythology about himself without even trying. Whenever his name cropped up, a story or rumour was never far behind. In certain quarters, at certain late hours, people would be known to trade their favourite MD tales. x
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It’s good to know people like that!
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This quite a morning – reading Grady and now you.
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Haha. Yes, I noticed we both seemed to rise out of the plagued fog at similar times; a surprise pincer movement! Thanks, Eric. I hope this finds you well.
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This opening was on point! Really cool!
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Thanks, Benjamin. I appreciate this!
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Welcome!
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I love how this piece conveys the impression of layers of story beneath the surface. (You do this very well.)
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I shall try to keep this in mind. Thank you. x
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You’re welcome.
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Oh!
wow.
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xo
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