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Wednesday, December 9, 2015

The World's Only Singing Bird (FF)

©Luther Siler
FF-Flash Fiction

Henry Squawkster was disillusioned, dejected, and half passed out on the floor of his backstage dressing room.

 "I cannot do the act as the World's Only Singing Bird one more time," thought Henry. I cannot face another audience! Every day's an endless stream of cigarettes and magazines ..."

 "Get up and get yourself together!" barked Henry's manager, Herbert Cohen. "The audience is depending upon you."

 Cohen shoved Henry onstage with his guitar. Near feverish with booze and exhaustion, Henry gazed through the wire mesh fence into the audience of calico, Siamese, and alley cats, all licking their chops.

 "If only I could perform in front of an audience of humans," muttered Henry, "instead of this damn social media world of cats!"

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Yes, Henry tawt he taw a puddy tat and he did, he did taw a puddy tat!  A whole audience full of them too. True, Henry has a lot of fans, but most of them are fans of his flavor, not his musical favorings.

 Henry hitting the bottom is what I saw this week in the picture prompt above as part of the Friday Fictioneers Weekly Traveling Variety Show & Concert. Offerings of the other Friday Fictioneers are available by buying your ticket, taking your seat, and clicking here.

 Good for Henry, he made it through another performance. No, Henry, don't give autographs!
at

32 comments:

  1. AliciaDecember 9, 2015 at 11:05 PM

    Poor Henry! What a life. And no autographs for sure. Very fun.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sandra CrookDecember 10, 2015 at 3:04 AM

    I'm trying so hard not to make a comment about pussy cats. :( Poor Henry.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rochelle Wisoff-FieldsDecember 10, 2015 at 5:34 AM

    Dear Perry,

    You have me humming Homeward Bound. Intimidating audience that. I'm afraid he has little more than a wing and a prayer.

    Happy Hanukkah/Chanukah/Chanikah...

    Rochelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 10, 2015 at 8:53 PM

      Talk about a rough crowd, they'll eat you alive. Maybe he can get a job as Paul Simon's new partner.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousDecember 10, 2015 at 1:21 PM

    Sometimes social media is like a alley of cats. Poor Henry. Fun read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 10, 2015 at 8:54 PM

      Thank you! Actually I think cat pictures are tailing off. But not fast enough for Henry.

      Delete
  5. brudbergDecember 10, 2015 at 2:49 PM

    Thank god for wire mesh... a little bit like Blues Brothers :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 10, 2015 at 8:55 PM

      Hadn't though of that but you're right. Let's hear Henry Squawster in a rousing version of "Rawhide!"

      Delete
  6. AnonymousDecember 10, 2015 at 8:57 PM

    Was this before or after the Broadway production of "Cats?"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 10, 2015 at 11:11 PM

      I think before. Andrew Lloyd Weber saw Henry's next show and some unexpected interaction with the audience and wrote a song about Henry, called "Memories."

      Delete
  7. plaridelDecember 10, 2015 at 9:42 PM

    i can relate. as a bird, he's toast. in the audience's eyes, he's food. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousDecember 11, 2015 at 11:37 AM

    I really felt for Henry. Your dazzling portrayal of the uniqueness of the dejected chicken, dehumanized in the nefarious current world context of electronic jibber-jabberish, can only lead to an utter outcome of depression and self-defecation, and, ultimately, in chicken-shit.

    I am sending you the last of my regards...
    Randy Rooster

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownDecember 11, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    Funny stuff. I loved the Simon and Garfunkel lyrics.
    Meow,
    Tracey

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 12, 2015 at 10:52 PM

      Too bad for Henry, it's "Hello Darkness, my old friend."

      Delete
  10. RussellDecember 11, 2015 at 5:52 PM

    I can't wait to see the video of this. Perry behind poultry wire. It has a nice ring to it. Especially, around the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 12, 2015 at 10:54 PM

      Sure, whey shouldn't I play Henry? I've got the disillusioned, dejected, and half passed out on the floor part down pat.

      Delete
  11. liz youngDecember 12, 2015 at 1:36 PM

    Poor little bird-brain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 12, 2015 at 10:55 PM

      Yep, the guy could have really soared in another business.

      Delete
  12. UnknownDecember 12, 2015 at 6:28 PM

    Poor bird. Life isn't fair. Those cats get all the glory, too, especially on the Internet. Great job, Perry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 12, 2015 at 10:55 PM

      Yeah, but boy can Henry Squawkster sing. I mean, boy, could he sing.

      Delete
  13. DawnDecember 13, 2015 at 9:37 PM

    Oh, that was funny Perry!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 14, 2015 at 8:56 AM

      Thanks, Dawn. The late Henry Squawkster thanks you too.

      Delete
  14. P.S. JoshiDecember 15, 2015 at 6:47 AM

    No, Perry, Henry should definitely not try to get autographs, unless he wants to commit suicide. I wondered where those internet cats go when you don't see them. Well done. :D --- Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownDecember 16, 2015 at 1:16 AM

    LOL. Good story. Poor Henry. Had to laugh at No Henry. Don't give autographs.

    ReplyDelete
  16. SubrotoDecember 16, 2015 at 4:43 AM

    Ha! Ha! Henry should have performed to the music of Victor Squawkster

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockDecember 16, 2015 at 9:08 PM

      Yeah, he sure should have ... wait! Is there such a guy?

      Delete