Early Works - Tooter

For Maurice Callard The Great Gatsby in his forte from the old man’s tears to a group twinkling in the garden. Alas, this is not my exercise, I am supposing to big head the tooter. I am supposing to what? Oh yes, what he represents to me. Well, let me see a fellow author, a good-looking fellow. Yes, I would agree with these. Now what about his bad points? You say he hasn’t any. Well just one or two. What are they you ask? You cannot think of any at the moment. Well, never mind we’ll discuss the good points in some depth. A fellow author. Well, yes, he is good in fact, some might even say quite brilliant. A good-looking fellow. Well, with the romantic look of Robert Redford and ruggedness of Clint Eastwood need I say anymore? A good teacher, I don’t think there are any complaints. Look, I’ve been going for five years, but maybe I’m a slow learner! A very helpful fellow. Yes, I would agree with this. I agree with anything, but above all my comedy and jest my work purposes. I find him a good friend and honest critic no author could ask for more. 25 March 1981 Authors Note: This was written tongue-in-cheek about my good friend for nearly twenty years. When I read this out at one of his classes, everyone had a good laugh including Maurice himself. To me he was not only a teacher, friend but at times a surrogate father as my own father had no time for my writing. Although he is no longer with us all who knew him, miss him.