Most of the Forum crew rolled up to Brainwash around the same time Sunday (November 20th) night. It was dark and cool out and Brainwash looked warm and welcoming…though it didn’t necessarily like a place a reading was about to take place. The cafe was full of patrons and some of them were clustered around (or on) the small stage where the reading would be and the mic wasn’t set up. Ellie went to see to the microphone, our fiction editor Michael cleared people from the stage area. Kat brought sweets.
Ellie served as emcee once again and Forum contributor Monty Heying led off, reading from a short story. He was followed in no particular order (because I don’t quite remember the order) by John Isles, one of our faculty advisers who read some of his poetry, Real Lapalme, another contributor read two of his poems from the last issue. Assistant fiction editor Chanelle was reluctant to read but was eventually persuaded to share an excerpt from a piece of short fiction. I read a poem by a friend then a few of my own, poetry editor Alison read a couple of poems and a nonfiction piece (also transit themed).
I had mentioned the event to my dad Ra-Ta and he decided to attend and decided to share a rather rousing rendition of a two of his own raps (he didn’t even need the mic). Michael read a couple of poems, Ellie introduced herself and read a piece about riding the 22 then another guy with observations about seating on the bus (yes, another bus-themed item).
Ellie was outside being interviewed by the Guardsman so I somehow ended up behind the mic to bring the festivities to an end. Thus the night came to a close. It was a small reading but it was lively and spirited and a lot of fun. A big thanks of course to Brainwash and to everyone who came out or just stuck around and listened.
by Ayo Khensu-Ra
Forum Literary Magazine 