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Al Mac's avatar

Yeah brill, very much enjoyed. Vivid detail. I don't think it shows you in a bad light really, not considering anyway.

I wonder if LJ is still alive, heard anything of her? Your poor old mum but...did this aggro bring a little extra meaning to her life too?

Top stuff anyway. Loving your work.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Thanks Al - means a lot. It's strange, because sometimes even the violence in this world has an almost cartoonish quality to it - but it's still violence. I haven't heard anything from her or any of that crowd for decades. And in answer to your question - well yes, this is what the covert incest is about, and it's quite a spikey topic I'm glad is no longer the case. Nice one for leaving a comment.

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Al Mac's avatar

No problem at all.

Just reading through all the other comments & it confirms all the aspects that I got from it too. Dark for sure but better to look back on these events than to be living them still.

It doesn't so much paint a picture of history but a crystal clear portal back in time.

I felt like I was there, maybe not for a bag of brown, more like a small sack of sulphate or 50 French blues, remember those? Loved those. Anyway don't worry about typos, I only noticed one myself lol

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

French Blues are a very strange drug. Maybe you know this but they were a combination of dextroamphetamine and amylbarbitone - basically speed and 'barbs. 'French' comes from the manufacturer, Smith Kline and French. I have no idea why they would mix those two drugs, but fuck me, it's no surprise they were discontinued. Re the typos - I just really wanted to get the story published, with barely one eye left working at six this morning I tried to proof-read it and just pressed 'GO!' But today I went through it again and was found loads of mistakes, continuity ones too - not just typos. All sorted now. I don't think anyone expects me to use an editor on Substack. I've been through some of the previous stories and cleaned them up a bit too here and there.

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Insignificant Rube's avatar

I remember the saddest of distribution systems being that human pez dispenser, he'd open his mouth and spit out that tiny bag, just had to feed his cold hand 5 bucks..

I enjoy your writing Chris, and lokk forward to every time you put one out..

- Dr_Rube (aka Dr Science)

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

The first time I ever scored, he just spat it on the floor, me on my hands and knees in the rain fiddling about amongst the dirty, Soho street detritus looking for the almost invisible yet drastically life-changing bag of nightmares. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

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Liz Young's avatar

Human pez dispenser good one 😁

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Elbostrom's avatar

I am speechless, you done good .

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. 'Speechless' is interesting. I cannot separate myself from this world, from these events. And in telling the story I have nothing but words. But for a reader, I think 'speechless' is appropriate - if such a thing is possible.

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Jon's avatar

I have something of a morbid fascination with this world so thankyou for making it so vivid in your excellent stories. Thinking of poor Brenda sitting in front of the tv having a relaxing evening only to get your mum on the blower telling her she's very much needed on a skaaaaaaag mission is hilarious to me.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Good lord - I just wrote a reply and it posted it twice, so I deleted one and it deleted both. Now what did I say? Ok - they're like a different breed very forgiving, very accepting. I think the best conversation would have been the one they had before I got into the car. Also, I am aware of such fascinations, otherwise I would be writing for people who already know such situations, and if I was, I could probably sum it up in a few paragraphs.

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Jon's avatar

I'm jonesing for another junkie story, when is the next one? You have a gift for zoning in on the minutae I want to hear.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Hello Jon - haha, I'll take that. Seven Spastics next, then Script Monkeys (which is a junk story) - the novel will be the one. Ah yes, the novel........

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Greggo's avatar

Quite the vividly painted dark adventure! Really brought home the grim and miserable Sisyphean slog of the professional junkie. You have an obvious name for your new gecko...

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

I will certainly be using 'Sisyphean slog' at some point. Jokes (not) aside, that's the really difficult part to convey about that world, it just goes on and on, and on....and most writers, film makers (storytellers) fail there, and almost make the events seem anomalous, which they are most certainly not. So that's a bit of ego-fuel for me. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

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Al Mac's avatar

Sys what?? gonna have to Goo.. I mean duck duck go that one lol

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

You need to read Albert Camus' book 'The Myth of Sisyphus'. But the short version is a man spends his life pushing a boulder up a mountain knowing as soon as he gets to the top it'll roll back down and he'll have to do it all over again until he dies. You don't NEED to read it, of course. But it's a cracker.

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Liz Young's avatar

This story reminds me of the time I gave a homeless person £30 to go and get me some crack haha what a div, I still look out for him when I'm in town and I've been off the gear 3+yrs. 😁 Brilliant, you write in such away that this story should leave a bad taste in ones mouth, but after the drop in my guts caused by relating and identifying with your frustration, shame, my own feelings your tale invoked, it comes across as normal as you and your mum taking a trip to sainsburys.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

There you go - you know. I was just replying to Greggo about how this stuff isn't stand-out weirdness, it's just another day, one amongst thousands. I remember on another score with my mum, after I told her I needed another bag because what I'd bought already wasn't very good, she said to the dealer who got in the car "This is decent stuff, right?" which was indeed a low, but also - in a very confused way - somehow mothering. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

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Liz Young's avatar

My OH came back with oxo Mam can I borrow 😉£20 Alan just got ripped off again, Now I'm clean she doesn't even visit or send a birthday card, it's like they forget about you if you're not crawling bout the floor, weird life innit.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Yeah, just lie after lie after lie - and even the truths are deceitful in a way. That's a weird turnout for you though, it certainly is a weird life.

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Darren Tooley's avatar

I'm not much of a reader chris... but enjoyed this immensely, look forward to reading the rest. Lambretta Daz

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Hello Daz - this is a great comment. I would love to think I could get people reading who usually don't. Maybe it's the feel-good nature of my content? Thanks for reading.

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Max Waller's avatar

Consistently brilliant work mate.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Cheers, Max - this is very encouraging. With my novel on the horizon, and with literally years of work gone into it, such comments are actually motivating me to finish it, rather than lose my bottle and procrastinate it into oblivion. Really appreciated. Thanks for reading.

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Matt D's avatar

Well done son.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Cheers Matt - thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

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Martin Davis's avatar

Yet another tale of woe...I wonder what attracts people to that lovely existence. Oh yes its the Heroin. Good stuff Chris glad you escaped that hell. Just one point if your mom was 70 when you was 30 how old is she now....think that was one of the typo's

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

That's a damn fine call - I said elsewhere that it wasn't just typos, but also continuity issues such as that, which I've now made good. Things like how old I was is a bit of a blur, but there you go. Thanks for reading - and leaving a very helpful comment.

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SpecialAgent0099's avatar

Loveeeee getting this in my email today, thanks Dangerfield 🖤

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

I just read through it and saw so many typos and incoherent sentences, I should have really given it more time, but really means a lot that you were happy to see it land. Thanks for leaving a comment.

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SpecialAgent0099's avatar

style is what attracted me to your YouTube channel. The Crack Diaries, were a random click, and I was hooked!! Giggles. Thanks for the reply, Cheers, A

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Understood. I am actually already writing The Crack Diaries as three short novels. There's a lot I didn't get into the video because I was just winging it. Damn, the good old days when YouTube actually suggested my videos to people.

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Ben Holmes's avatar

Grim, realistic and darkly fascinating. The gritty prose and fast-paced narrative compelled me to keep reading until the last.

This one will stay with me for a long time. A lingering sour taste combined with a strong sense of schadenfreude.

Storytelling at its best!

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Nice one, Ben. I had a fair amount of fear about releasing this one (and judging by the typos and other mistakes I've just rectified) I think I got it out quick before I changed my mind. Thanks for your kind words. 'Storytelling at its best!' is no small sentiment. I can't ask for more than that.

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Ben Holmes's avatar

I can quite imagine it took some nerve to put this one out.

A brave and shadowy flight into the terrifying and dangerous world of the junkie from which nobody comes out looking very good - not even those who are trying to help. Mother is both innocent and an “accomplice” in some sense - acting to make up for the void left in her own life (as the nurse sees it).

A vivid and dramatic insight into the nature of addiction and the loved ones it affects.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

There you go. That took a deep breath to read. Families really do suffer, in a way more than the user.

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Raymond piper's avatar

Brilliant honest and gut wrenchingly detailed . Hoit and avit.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Thank you Raymond - it's quite the ask these days to get someone to read 5000 words - so thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Avit!

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Anne cullagh's avatar

Gud story mate im gona b looking at all the certain types like lizard jane bowling on the way to score thinking is that her now lol🤔🤗👍❤

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Of course, you're on the manor! In truth, I imagine she's no longer with us - although maybe - a strangely resilient bunch junkies, considering the life. Pelosi-like eyebrows, big, goofy teeth, scabrous, and probably screaming at someone. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

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Jer's avatar

A dark but well worth the wait to read chris"s latest story , well worth the read if you check comments first.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

Nice one, Jer - that's an interesting angle - to read the comments first. Given me some food for thought regarding my novel. Thanks for reading.

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Telford Tige's avatar

Wow! Another engaging story, written in such away that I can begin to understand a life that I thought I could never understand.

You should publish a novel.

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Chris Dangerfield's avatar

This comment means so much to me - for obvious reasons. And yes the novel - it's getting there! Thank you Mr Tige.

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