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Highrise Two, 103 Stories
By Milo S. Miles
ISBN: 978-1-84747-753-8
Published: 2008
Pages: 112
Key Themes: fiction, short stories, schizophrenia, empowerment
Description
This collection of 103 essays, written over some years, I venture to suggest shows increasinglybetter mental health developing over that period illustrated by the improved command of expression of the author in choices of somewhat differing subject matters. That may be of only minor concern though, of more importance to one and all is it’s preoccupation, almost throughout, on the benefits of and obligation to do “ the right thing”, which, although possibly didactic, may be unexpected coming from someone with the notorious label of paranoid schizophrenic, perhaps even being very reassuring for that particular reason. Having said this, humour is very apparent still, amusement naturally being intended to maintain the readers’ interest in the writer’s views and opinions, which are propounded also with a creative use of language. While some of the stories are purely for fun, you will hopefully find most are enjoyably enlightening and of value on several different levels.
About the Author
Milo Seamus Miles was born in Hampshire in summer 1951 to parents who were afraid to address their historic issues, which they were also, alas, too scared to share. The author became terrified that possession of the knowledge that they were keeping from him and processing it cognitively would have a devastatingly detrimental effect upon him leading to adverse, maybe evil, consequences perhaps for everyone including himself in terms of his subsequent behaviour, being convinced by the great fear manifested by his mother and father.
This led to an aversion to learning and thinking which then halted almost completely, not to be resumed for over a dozen years, with the resultant deterioration in mental health from which paranoid schizophrenia eventually derived. Finding his misery, the low quality of life, unacceptable, he decided that he must strive to achieve something of major importance to make this having been a worthwhile, transitional situation, starting by establishing “ how” he wanted to be. With this as his guide he became increasingly functional and, with aims for his behaviour, later began to make a contribution.
Stimulated by reading Milo’s autobiography in mid-1998, his mother was motivated to, together with his father, divulge the bones of the difficult personal experiences that they had hidden from him for 47 years. Accepting the facts and finding out more, Milo dealt with these things, becoming increasingly confident of his commitment to assist in humanity’s well-being, being informed by the wisdom engendered through having responded appropriately, albeit delayed, to the suffering which he had decided he must make every effort to overcome, trusting that this would be achieved by becoming consciously aware of the relevant truth and putting it into context. A faith which proved correct.
Book Extract
1. Dung
At Zaire National Zoo Ossie Stretch the ostrich keeper was busy on a personal matter. “What’s the matter?” you may ask. “No matter,” he’d reply, “It doesn’t matter”. But it did matter, and what Ossie wanted no-one to know was that he was stealing elephant droppings, putting them in a trunk, and sending them on ahead of the elephant to the studio of a very famous artist in England, to be displayed on canvas with the artist’s work and exhibited in art galleries throughout that country and beyond.
Of course Ossie, if it was discovered it was he who was providing the elephant faeces, would be in the shit for not sharing his remuneration with the zoo authorities. Why put Ossie at risk when perfectly formed elliedung was available at zoos throughout the U.K.? It came out that the consistency of the product is different in Zaire, due to the elephant having the more ‘natural’ diet available in Africa. This made it particularly appealing for the artist’s palate. “It’s a question of quality, as connoisseurs of this artist material will know,” quipped the painter, “You have to pay through the nose to get a trunkful of elephant’s excrement”.
The End
2. Some Clergy
Bishop Basher was a matey of the laity. He also liked to think he had friends in sky places, especially after two or three spirits in the evening prior to taking his dog ‘Collar’ for a walk. On one such walk he bumped into the Rev. Mick McVicar, who had just met Father Seamus O’Reilly at a ball in the Parish Hall. Mick had said, “I’m Reverend McVicar. What’s your name?” Seamus had replied “O’Reilly”. At this Mick had said “Oh really!” Seamus responded “No, O’Reilly” They had laughed over this quip, and had great fun telling the Bishop of it.
The three of them had started to discuss the divisions between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, which hadn’t been helped by the recent scandal of a local priest running off with the vicar’s wife. She had apparently been unfrocked and the priest was defrocked.
The curious Curate asked the Right Reverend if the wronged Reverend had forgiven the marriage vows transgressors. The Bishop replied the wronged Reverend often prayed for their and our souls.
The End.
3. A Sovereign
Windsor Castle lived with Sybil Lyst. She supported him and their son Buckingham in style, while the extended family existed on generous state handouts. The family enjoyed public popularity a lot of the time, due to the personal touch of the official matriarch. Sybil was dynamic, there could be no doubting of that, for she was often seen in near and far-flung places, making the public appearances that were the bread and butter of her perceived role, that is that of an important personage.
Unfortunately for her she had no personal power, only a few rights, for example the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn the Prime Minister, who ultimately decided what was to be proposed to Parliament and passed with his party’s majority.
Her influence, though, should not be underestimated, as she evoked the respect due to someone who had knowledge of the personal habits of several British Prime Ministers, dozens of world figures, not to say statesmen, and hundreds of opportunistic, scheming, grasping and greedy persons who became prominent from time to time, as well as the humble people who were rewarded by ‘her’ gift, the honours connected with the British Empire, whatever that is, in return for their service; also lots that weren’t.
The fact that no British Prime Minister has tried to get Sybil replaced as Head of State must prove that she is thought to be of use.
The End.
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