Hand In Glove #1, 2013
Her answers checked out, but she twitched and fiddled. She seemed fragile and restless, rocking to and fro on the edge of the armchair. Some did – nervous witnesses often assumed the manner of the guilty. Something in the corner of the room she didn’t want him to see. Drugs? She never let her gaze go that way. The way she moved her head gave it away. Quinnell looked where she wouldn’t. A small portable TV next to an occasional table on which stood the kind of table lamp you would pick up in a discount store, and an unused glass ashtray; nothing unusual.
DI Quinnell thanked her for her time. “You’re not planning on leaving town are you? Only we may need to talk to you again if there are any details we need to clarify.”
She assured him she was staying put until the holidays in August. “So why did you run off?” he said. Without missing a beat, she said, “I was scared.” He told her that her friend, one of the other member of waiting staff, had stayed put until the police arrived. She glanced around the room, avoiding the one spot, then shook her head and said, “I ain’t him.”
“No,” he said and consulted his watch. There were other visits to be made, including one to Tanya’s flat. The framed erotic print on the wall reminded him to get going.
As he got into the Rover, he saw the girl framed by the sitting room window, elaborately placing a hat on her head, as if she was playing a dressing up game. A confection that involved a black lace veil. The other young woman who’d done a runner was a mystery. Savage was seen with her on his arm. Then nothing.
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Hand In Glove was the first single to be released by The Smiths (May 1983). It did not chart (unless you include the Indie Chart) and I would have missed it had it not been for a friend in my English class who lent it me along with This Charming Man. He told me they were the best band he’d ever heard (he still maintains this is the case). And I was totally blown away.
If you’re new to The Smiths skip the debut album and go straight to Hatful of Hollow – both of the singles are on it along with superior versions of most of the debut along with BBC session tracks. You can listen to Hand In Glove here.
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The Future Is Papier Mâché 
That first image tells such a great story in itself. Wonderful post my friend.
Thanks very much, Terry. 🙂
I love the first pic. It is telling, in its every line and angle. You have captured a wonderful moment!
Thanks so much, MJ! That’s a lovely compliment.
The first shot is amazing – excellent captured, Richard… 🙂
Thanks very much, Drake! 🙂
I love the 3th one make me wonder about – there’s a 4 dishes menu..? “hehehe”
Ha, ha – that’s just turned my stomach!
The story is continuing well, and the images fit the words perfectly! 🙂
Thank you, Richard! 🙂
Wonderful series of mysterious shots Richard, thickening the plot beautifully!
Thanks very much, Patti!
I forgot to mention – I saw Johnny Marr in a NY bar not so long ago!
He is so cool! Not sure I’d have the guts to ask him for a shot.
He had “rock star” written all over him but in the coolest of ways!
Love the Smiths and these images!
Thanks very much, Elena! Yes, I loved them then and I love them still. Timeless music, I think.
I was so engrossed in the story, I forgot to look at the pics! for a moment but with them as with the story, there is nothing so tantalising than that which is not fully revealed but also not fully hidden.
Thanks very much, EllaDee. I’m really glad you are enjoying the text as well as the pics. I worry more about the writing (perhaps it’s a naturally worrisome activity).
I like all the different levels and layers to the third photograph, it’s a very interesting shot which keeps the brain actively looking for more within the picture.
I’m glad you said that, Cheryl. Sometimes when an image presents itself in a very bald way, I worry that when I post it it will seem like a cheap shot. I was umming and ahhing about it even after I’d posted – and nearly took it off, but someone commented on it so I kind of had to leave it in. Now I quite like it 🙂
I love the first image, that is quite powerful on its own! And The Smiths, I miss a guitar player like Johnny Marr!
Thanks very much, Chris! Yes, I miss The Smiths – they were a big part of my adolescence.
I love the guitar riffs. Morissey was a bit of a pain in the … at times but a great singer.
First shot is just lovely! So interesting. And I also really like the doc feeling of the second shot.
Thanks very much, Jennifer! 🙂
Jolly good post, Richard. I like both images and the text too.
Thanks very much, Ashley. Glad you like it – I worry about the text 🙂
You do? I’m sure I don’t know why.
Loving everything about this post, Richard. Layers and glimpses; fascinating.
Thanks very much, Karen. What a lovely way of describing it. Glad you like it.
Excellent stuff; all the shots seem to tell a story of being watched or spied on. The framing in the third shot is spot on and the chef’s cap is the icing on the cake.
Thanks very much, Stevie – I was unsure about the third shot, but it’s grown on me. Yes, his hat makes it for sure.
[…] The Future Is Papier Mâché As well as street portraits and City Stories, Richard recently shared “a taste of the, as yet untitled, work in progress” a snippet of which is “It’s an unusual one for Bamtree,” said the Coroner. “Normally speaking I get people who’ve slashed their own wrists, not ones who’ve had a little helper. These are very careful, deliberate incisions. Someone took the time to do the job properly. Of course, the aconite was a big help in this. Our victim was paralysed – probably got to see his own lifeblood draining away. Nasty, if that’s what our murderer did. Hypothesis, of course. Any idea who did it, Rufus?” […]