Mister Penny Whistle

By Michel Henri

A fable for our times - as much for adults as children - a poor tin whistle's journy to playing in a concert orchestra

• Language: English
• Publisher: APS Publications
• Release date: Dec 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781911310365

Book preview

This story is dedicated to Kate and Adam for all their love and devotion during my difficult life.

I was born a child

I think as a child

I live as a child

l will die as a child

Mr Penny Whistle

MISTER PENNY WHISTLE

What a fantastic blow! This man they called the old tramp could really make me sing. He was just the greatest. Mind you his teeth were a bit rotten. In addition to that his breath smelled and that was bad; very bad. However, the music he made...Well let’s just say; that was very special - out of this world!

I would hear people declare, time and time again; as they dropped money in his old battered hat:

That’s just far out man. Brilliant!

Good for you mate.

You’re a pleasure to listen to.

The compliments just kept coming; hour after hour, day after day. I was so very proud to be part of his unique artistic performance. It seems to me that l had always been playing with the old tramp but not so. We first met when l was being thrown about in London’s Trafalgar Square by a group of drink and drug-fuelled youngsters. He was leaning on the side of one of the big lion statues drinking from a bottle covered in brown paper.

During the throw-about the old tramp, ambling through them, caught me and, with deft sleight of hand, hid me in his overcoat pocket and l was safe.

From that day on we were never apart. We played together at any place they allow buskers but mainly he preferred the underpasses, as they’re warmer in the cold weather and cooler in