I probably should have said this sooner, but Tracey & Joey is a real documentary, about the woman who did actually get burned to death. You can read about it all over the Internet - here's but one example: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-50890878
Another cracker Chris. I wonder how people with no experience of the lifestyle described relate to these little snapshots of life outside of their normality, where a ten minute interaction contains so much drama, uncertainty and in this case life and death. You captured perfectly the detachment and simultaneous hyper focus of the user as the prize comes agonisingly and ecstatically within grasp. (as I write, my hearing has become 'fox like' as I await the approach of a specific car lol). Once again the reader is unceremoniously thrust into the story and into a midst of a gaggle of characters whose random and often ignored interjections makes the reader (me anyway) feel like I'm holding a documentary camera, swivelling quickly to focus on the speaker - always slightly too late as another one has started talking. It gives the story a feel of huriedness even though not much is happening. A conversation between people intent on ignoring each other.
The sense of how devalued dignity and life itself has become is summed up perfectly in the last sentence, where we learn that a person's life with all its possibilities could possibly have been saved. But no one, not even the deceased himself, could be bothered.
Top notch short story work here man. Unfortunately I have also spent many a year in that world, with the only exception being that I never got into needles. But still threw away many years to addiction, and in 2018 I lost my older sister and my 22 yr. old baby brother to addiction. I'm proud to say I have 2 years in recovery now, with no plans of ever going back. I found your substack from your youtube channel, which I found thru AIU, whom I've messaged a couple times on IG to send him stories of bleep fuckery, which runs rampant in Baltimore, which I sadly call home. I love your work bro. Keep it up. Salute.
Cracking story as always Mr Dangerfield!! Another peek into the sordid world of desperate junkies and ‘powder power’dealers. The gouching descriptions are spot on…I almost felt like I was back there.
Keep up the great work Chris…can’t wait to read more
Truly grim. Very well expressed, I liked the evidentiary links, WoW. Another well written piece of junk lol yes I see what I did there. Crikey I hope your editor comes good, poor fellow xoxoxoxoxox
Chris, I mean this in no way as a criticism: you're one of the very few authors whose work is so clear and visceral that when I finish reading I feel like I need a shower. Exceptional prose.
Feb 23, 2023·edited Feb 23, 2023Liked by Chris Dangerfield
Really enjoyed this one. Read it twice, a few days apart and it's grown on me. One of your most vivid portraits of the physical realities of using, I thought.
While this miserable exchange, between the haves and have nots, really conveyed the desperation and degredation of all involved, it's still a good read as the scene is so well painted. The orange of the vomit is a good image of when happy colours aren't nice! The queasy grim of that crowd and the feeble car crash of Terry and Anna. This writing invites and respectfully tolerates a darkened voyeur.
The telling of Tracey's story within the dialogue had an impact precisely because its horrors had no impact on the room it was told to. He was ignored briefly became one was ignored ...suggesting your own role in this drama?
To have the king of this tiny castle, Terry, being so fatally hopeless, staggering about blindly with a needle to his exposed groin, is such brilliantly pathetic drama.
These people barely exist yet it's a gripping read?
For me, this seems to be the crux of the biscuit, so to speak, as far as these tales are concerned.
Why did you send that female editor a sample? You must have known. Were you trying to wind her up? And you got the autopsy report! Does that fall under freedom of information or something like that? A depressing one, this. I've heard you mention Anne's parting comment before.
I used to go round a dealers house every time someone went to have a lick on the pipe he always started, someone's nicked his gear, putting a proper downer on it trying to make people para lol.
Another great peak through the window of a junkie - though, without the sickness, this could quite easily be puff smokers or waiting for the guy with billy / pills... I've certainly been in that scenario a few times, ha!... them dealers man, fuck 'em. Thanks, brother, enjoyed that!
Bang on inane conversations we have when we're on it. Accurate to a tee, the under pllaying of how we play russian roulette when we dig the 'tackle'. Powder power bastards dealers absolute Cunts. Enjoyed this body of work , reminds me of the banality of using. Cheers bruv.
What a world they must live in , and its just constant! Ive only had glimpses into this sort of thing danger and i just can't imagine doing it (being a junky).
On a lighter note this had me howling......“Athletes foot, eh? I didn’t know Terry played any sports?” lol
The usual tale of degradation and unpleasantness you can almost smell whilst reading. Good tale but I am truly amazed you survived to write. Good storytelling nevertheless
I probably should have said this sooner, but Tracey & Joey is a real documentary, about the woman who did actually get burned to death. You can read about it all over the Internet - here's but one example: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-50890878
Another cracker Chris. I wonder how people with no experience of the lifestyle described relate to these little snapshots of life outside of their normality, where a ten minute interaction contains so much drama, uncertainty and in this case life and death. You captured perfectly the detachment and simultaneous hyper focus of the user as the prize comes agonisingly and ecstatically within grasp. (as I write, my hearing has become 'fox like' as I await the approach of a specific car lol). Once again the reader is unceremoniously thrust into the story and into a midst of a gaggle of characters whose random and often ignored interjections makes the reader (me anyway) feel like I'm holding a documentary camera, swivelling quickly to focus on the speaker - always slightly too late as another one has started talking. It gives the story a feel of huriedness even though not much is happening. A conversation between people intent on ignoring each other.
The sense of how devalued dignity and life itself has become is summed up perfectly in the last sentence, where we learn that a person's life with all its possibilities could possibly have been saved. But no one, not even the deceased himself, could be bothered.
I enjoyed it immensely.
Top notch short story work here man. Unfortunately I have also spent many a year in that world, with the only exception being that I never got into needles. But still threw away many years to addiction, and in 2018 I lost my older sister and my 22 yr. old baby brother to addiction. I'm proud to say I have 2 years in recovery now, with no plans of ever going back. I found your substack from your youtube channel, which I found thru AIU, whom I've messaged a couple times on IG to send him stories of bleep fuckery, which runs rampant in Baltimore, which I sadly call home. I love your work bro. Keep it up. Salute.
Cracking story as always Mr Dangerfield!! Another peek into the sordid world of desperate junkies and ‘powder power’dealers. The gouching descriptions are spot on…I almost felt like I was back there.
Keep up the great work Chris…can’t wait to read more
Truly grim. Very well expressed, I liked the evidentiary links, WoW. Another well written piece of junk lol yes I see what I did there. Crikey I hope your editor comes good, poor fellow xoxoxoxoxox
Chris, I mean this in no way as a criticism: you're one of the very few authors whose work is so clear and visceral that when I finish reading I feel like I need a shower. Exceptional prose.
Really enjoyed this one. Read it twice, a few days apart and it's grown on me. One of your most vivid portraits of the physical realities of using, I thought.
While this miserable exchange, between the haves and have nots, really conveyed the desperation and degredation of all involved, it's still a good read as the scene is so well painted. The orange of the vomit is a good image of when happy colours aren't nice! The queasy grim of that crowd and the feeble car crash of Terry and Anna. This writing invites and respectfully tolerates a darkened voyeur.
The telling of Tracey's story within the dialogue had an impact precisely because its horrors had no impact on the room it was told to. He was ignored briefly became one was ignored ...suggesting your own role in this drama?
To have the king of this tiny castle, Terry, being so fatally hopeless, staggering about blindly with a needle to his exposed groin, is such brilliantly pathetic drama.
These people barely exist yet it's a gripping read?
For me, this seems to be the crux of the biscuit, so to speak, as far as these tales are concerned.
Much love. Gertcha
Very hard hitting but fascinating reading, as always.
Why did you send that female editor a sample? You must have known. Were you trying to wind her up? And you got the autopsy report! Does that fall under freedom of information or something like that? A depressing one, this. I've heard you mention Anne's parting comment before.
I used to go round a dealers house every time someone went to have a lick on the pipe he always started, someone's nicked his gear, putting a proper downer on it trying to make people para lol.
Another morbidly interesting little story, very much looking forward to the novel and well wishes for your former editor during his convalescence.
Another great peak through the window of a junkie - though, without the sickness, this could quite easily be puff smokers or waiting for the guy with billy / pills... I've certainly been in that scenario a few times, ha!... them dealers man, fuck 'em. Thanks, brother, enjoyed that!
Bang on inane conversations we have when we're on it. Accurate to a tee, the under pllaying of how we play russian roulette when we dig the 'tackle'. Powder power bastards dealers absolute Cunts. Enjoyed this body of work , reminds me of the banality of using. Cheers bruv.
Ok no probs , i forgot you werent taking pledges yet but if you do decide to i'm on board.
What a world they must live in , and its just constant! Ive only had glimpses into this sort of thing danger and i just can't imagine doing it (being a junky).
On a lighter note this had me howling......“Athletes foot, eh? I didn’t know Terry played any sports?” lol
Hoitaa
The usual tale of degradation and unpleasantness you can almost smell whilst reading. Good tale but I am truly amazed you survived to write. Good storytelling nevertheless