Record Two: Night and Day

By Allthing Publications

We think we know a person. We think we know how the world works. We think we know our towns, neighbours, and homes. And we do. But.

Then the air changes. Then the lights go out. And suddenly, we’re not sure what to think.

Record Two, the second anthology in the Record series, is meant to document little stories from little people. This issue explores what happens when the lights go out—the difference between what we know and what’s out there. What we see, and what we get. What we want, and what we do. Sometimes, the difference is small. But other times, it’s night and day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Allthing Publications
• Release date: Jun 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301274307

Allthing Publications

A loosely confederated group of writers, editors, and general word-nerds. We produce the Record series while also wondering what to do if you encounter horror movie monsters in real life. Oh God, what's the noise in the basement? Here, you take a look at Peep Show while we go check it out.

Book preview

RECORD TWO: NIGHT AND DAY

Copyright © 2013 by Allthing Publications

Smashwords Edition

With stories by Carine Abouseif, Amir Ahmed, Alain Latour, Cathy Terefenko, Catherine Lopes, Jodelle Faye DeJesus, Rasheed Clarke, Sufian Malik, Christy Moffat, Luke Sawczak, Melissa Carter, Agnes Wakulewicz, and Chiamaka Ugwu.

Thank you for downloading this free eBook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form, with the exception of quotes used in reviews.

Your support and respect for the property of these authors is appreciated.

The thirteen authors in this collection retain and hold their individual respective rights to their stories. Opinions and stories presented in this publication are exclusively of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, or of Allthing Publications. Additionally, Allthing Publications and the editors take no responsibility for accuracy of facts, names, or events represented in this publication.

The cover for this book uses an eye icon drawn by Ayesha Rana from The Noun Project. It is licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY 3.0.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Champagne Birthday by Cathy Terefenko

Rain in Beijing by Amir Ahmed

Harbourfront Man by Agnes Wakulewicz

Fighting Noise by Jodelle Faye DeJesus

Snow through the Window by Alain Latour

Belinda’s Tragic Genes by Melissa Carter

91 Days by Christy Moffat

Support by Rasheed Clarke

Wrong Wrong Wrong by Sufian Malik

Put some Ice on it by Carine Abouseif

Derek by Catherine Lopes

Double-walker by Luke Sawczak

Orange and Red on Jarvis Street by Chiamaka Ugwu

Acknowledgments

Foreword

My DJ name is Jack the Tripper.

I’m not even sure what exactly DJs do, but there you have it: an alter ego that no one else knows about.

I’ll probably never have to use my DJ name, but having it feels good sometimes. It’s a secret up my sleeve—a second self to keep from the world.

The DJ name doesn’t suit me: I’m musically, socially, and physically inept. While my peers spent their university years dancing, I was learning how to make an N64 emulator work. That’s the Amir that my friends and family know, and they’d never suspect that there was a tiny bit of Jack hiding inside my head. But maybe, one day, Jack will come out. Wow some folks at a club. Drop a beat. Kill the lights. Watch the place transform

We think we know a person. We think we know how the world works. We think we know our towns, neighbours, and homes.

And we do.

But then the air changes. Then the lights go out. And suddenly, we’re not sure of anything.

The point of these anthologies is to document little stories from little people. In this issue, I wanted to explore what happens when the lights go out—the difference between what we know and what’s out there. What we see, and what we get. What we want, and what we do. Sometimes, the difference is small. But other times, it’s night and day.

Amir Ahmed

July 15th 2013, Mississauga

Champagne Birthday

Cathy Terefenko

I have been looking forward to this for, like, ever, Anna, you don’t even know, okay. We haven’t gone out for, like, a month! I am so ready to get smashed, amiright?!

I don’t respond about if she’s right. I’m in the front seat, keeping a bouquet of roses between my legs. The flowers are pretty, and I’m trying desperately keep them upright in the vase as Anna speeds along the DVP.

Maggie asks me something. I ask her to repeat.

I said, Maggie repeats, what about you, Cathy? Are you excited? This is your first time, isn’t it?

Not really. The car makes a sharp turn. The roses jerk, and I steady the vase.

It’s just a lounge, right? I ask. Polly dragged me to one when Nat came to visit. I’ll probably just get a drink or two and find a place to sit while you guys dance or whatever.

We’ve been driving for a good twenty minutes. I have no idea where we are, until Anna says we’re in Toronto.

I hate Toronto.

There is a long silence in the car; only the fast rap song can be heard coming from the speakers softly.

Are we picking anyone else up before we get to the lounge? I ask.

I look over to Anna. She looks like she’s deciding what she should say.

Um, no, she says. Not picking anyone else up...

Maggie laughs from the back seat.

You should just tell her we’re already in Toronto, she can’t leave.

What?

Tell me what? I ask.

They both laugh.

Hahaha, I attempt. No, seriously, tell me what?

I look over to see Anna give a meaningful glance into the rear-view mirror.

Well, since you’re so interested in knowing, we aren’t going to a lounge.

I can feel my stomach in my throat.

Then where are we going?

Anna and Maggie giggle to themselves, a high-pitched set of tee-hees.

I repeat, No, seriously, where are we going?

They don’t answer.

Guys, I’m serious. Tell me where we are going or, so help me, I will jump-roll out of this car.

Don’t be so dramatic, Cat, Anna says while rolling her eyes.

We are going... In the back, Maggie starts to slap her thighs in a mock drumroll motion, then, at the same time, they shout:

TO A STRIP CLUB.

I hear myself laughing.

Yeah, right. Strip club. That’s totally happening.

Yup, Maggie says.

I laugh some more. Haha, very funny. You got me. Seriously, though, we’re going to a lounge, right?

Anna smirks.

Oh dear God.

No.

No.

No.

No. No. No. NO!

How they hell did they manage to keep this a secret?! Everyone at work knew about tonight. Does that mean everyone knows? EVERYONE? Even the cute produce guy? Oh, please, God, no. I told him I was looking forward to tonight. DOES HE THINK THAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO A STRIP CLUB NOW!? WHY?!

But, I squeak. But everyone at work? Is that why Jessie isn’t coming tonight?!

Anna adjusts her curled hair as we pull up to a red light.

No, Jessie legit had to write an essay. But I told everyone at work to keep it a secret so you wouldn’t be able to make up an excuse.

The light turns green. Anna pushed her foot on the gas. The car surges forward, bringing me forward to my fate.

Everyone lied to me. Everyone. I have