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We are writing history - Chapter 1

Carolin Teufelberger
26.11.2020
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Clémence Censi

One crime novel, two authors. My colleague Natalie and I are writing a short story, alternating chapter by chapter. This week: a poetic sun blind weaver, a murder attempt and a dry food vending machine that awakens bitter memories.

What's happened so far

In the intro article, Natalie and I explained the rules for our new series and let you vote on the genre, time and product to be included. That's why we're now taking it in turns to write a crime novel in the present day every Thursday. The product in the first chapter is a dry food vending machine.

Ephraim can barely feel his hands. Cuts and calluses adorn his sandpaper-grey skin. Today he has made six sun blinds. Soon they will be hanging over the balconies of people who have grown tired of the orange-brown fabrics. Day after day, the fine yarns intersect to form the metre of his emotions and become works of his personal truth. He does not accept commissions. Artists cannot be service providers.

With a slightly stooped posture, he trots to the fridge in the corner of his workshop and grabs a non-alcoholic beer. He gave up alcohol years ago, involuntarily. He still likes the flavour, sweet drinks or even water are not worthy substitutes. His gaze fixes on the finished blinds and a gentle smile crosses his lips. The fabrics tell his story.

He was often alone in his life. As a child, he ate tinned herring fillet almost every day. As a teenager, he turned to poetry instead of kissing girls and going over the top. As an adult, he added the blinds. Since then, he has spent his days in the cool workshop. What others pejoratively refer to as a hole is a place of security for him. His thoughts kept him company, people never could. They are little more than extras in a film set in his own head.

Continued on 3 December 2020.

You can vote until 29 November 2020 at 11:59 pm. The product with the most votes at that time will be included in the next part of the story. Follow the topic "Series" here or us as authors to make sure you don't miss an episode.

Here you can find the next chapters

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My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.


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