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1. |
Opening
Si apre solo in questo senso. |
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Recit.
I had a briefcase, a favourite briefcase.
It was a present
from my wife (his first wife).
It was Brown. It was Strong. Its
make was Samsonite.
Its surface was sort of like simulated leather,
but not like any real animal or dinosaur;
more like the floor of a dried-up
reservoir,
or crazy paving, where the children play games with the
cracks. |
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3. |
Fugue
Where the bears and crocodiles lurk in the cracks
waiting for
children, to eat them up.
Where the bears and crocodiles lurk in the
cracks
waiting for dogs and children.
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be careful - don’t get caught - mind where your feet go -
you must be careful - they’re dangerous - they’re bad -
they’re very nasty (etc.) - mind your step - don’t tread on
them.
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4. |
Recit. & Objections
My briefcase was capacious, holding all manner of articles.
With comfortable clearance from the hinges it could take A3
paper.
What’s that? A3? What’s that? metric?
We don’t like
metric.
Down, down with Europe.
What’s wrong with Quarto?
What’s wrong with Foolscap?
Do you like numbers? I’ll tell you
about Foolscap. |
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5. |
Foolscap
One and one is two,
One and two is three,
Two and three is five,
Three and five is eight,
Five and eight is
thirteen.
Foolscap’s edges are eight and
thirteen so come in the
Fibonacci series.
Because the edges are Fibonacci numbers, Foolscap
approximates to the Golden Rectangle. |
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6. |
Recit.
Never mind Quarto, never mind Foolscap.
Don’t forget
there’s another size, not metric, not an A size:
Octavo - much used
for music the whole world over -
That’s what my briefcase was used
for. |
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7. |
Music
Music. |
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8. |
Recit.
And now for the sad part.
My briefcase was stolen from my
wife’s car (his second wife).
I rang the baby-sitter (her
name was Lisa).
I’ll be late. Lock the door. They’ve
got the keys.
She was frightened; rang her father.
When I got home
there were two men (big men)
and a Doberman Pinscher. |
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9. |
Dog
Woof. Arf. |
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10. |
Recit.
And now for my special memory of my briefcase.
It had on it an
inscription in four languages: I remember but two. |
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11. |
Close
Si apre solo in questo senso.
Which is to say: Opens this way
only. |