Newspaper

Mr. Thomas & Wiener Zeitung

Short Feature
Old, gold cobbled stone lanes, Vienna!
[Source – Pixabay]

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June 30, 2023

An old cobbled stone lane, old-old and narrow, lined with – old and famous – medieval structures, Mozart playing in the backdrop, timeless, captivating, deep and probably the reason that keeps the old charming and new, through this old cobbled stone lane passes old Mr Thomas, every day, pipe on, no smoke, with a copy of Wiener Zeitung folded, under his arm, thoroughly read, re-read.

The folded copy of Wiener Zeitung – one of the oldest newspapers in the world, 320 years old, whose first copy got published in 1703, a newspaper that Mozart must have read, that covered (in 1768) 12-year-old Mozart’s magical concert, that got shut down in 1939 on Hitler’s orders (started printing again in 1945) – isn’t heavy at all, even though historically a giant.

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“Mm-mm, I did read it.” – Mozart’s busts said in unison.
[Source – Pixabay]

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Direct, also echoing, echoes arriving/leaving, Wiener Zeitung spoke what it saw, observed, analysed freely.

Old, Mr. Thomas’s favourite, this newspaper has friends too, you know, same like it, old and gold – the Italian Gazzetta di Mantova (1664), the English London Gazette (1665) and Berrow’s Worecester Journal (1690), also Haarlems Dagblad (1883) from Netherlands and the very many, thousands and thousands, of readers and the humble employees.

Old Mr. Thomas is walking fast, caught in a thought of uncertainty and the past and future, that he almost tumbled in the present. But, hey, he is fine because he is doubtful and so will explore.


July 1, 2023

Weiner Zeitung won’t get published today. Yesterday was its last day, the print version’s that is, for an online version will be out soon.

Saying tata-bye-bye to many employees means tata-bye-bye to many readers too? Will old Mr. Thomas now, with his pipe on, no smoke, surf the internet for Weiner Zeitung?

The old cobbled stone lane, old-old and narrow, lit by medieval lamps and Mozart’s songs, will see Mr. Thomas sometime soon, him and many oldies that it had befriended and many youngsters too, with a smart-smarty phone, listening/reading as they walk, to news bulletin, probably one published online on Weiner Zeitung.

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“Where’s my copy of the Zeitung?”
“Not there, check the website bro.”

[Image by Margit Wallner from Pixabay]

Adieu Weiner Zeitung (the printed one)!

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Pip’s Umbrella and Hope

Literary Nonsense
Pip with his umbrella.
Image from Pixabay.

Lucille: Nice umbrella!    

Mo: It is Pip’s. (BEAT) Have you been drinking a lot of coffee?

Lucille: I have been advised to.  

Mo: That doctor friend of yours is a nut case.

A pause.  

Lucille: I can’t believe it? Are we living in… this is ridiculous?  

Mo: What is?  

Lucille: Haven’t you read today’s newspaper?  

Mo: Ah! I don’t read newspapers anymore.  

Lucille: Why?  

Mo: For peace, darling.  

Lucille: Peace… yeah, right.  

Mo: Wanna piece of it?  

Lucille: Piece of peace? What are you…  

Mo: The carrot cake… what’s wrong with ya Lucille?  

Lucille: O! Yeah, sure. (EATING THE CAKE) Whatever is happening, it hits everyone… directly or indirectly I mean… it hits everyone.  

Mo: Hmm! This place has the best cakes in the world.  

Lucille: I love it here! (BEAT) Is there any hope?  

Mo: Hope? Hmm… there is always some hope… that’s what is dragging us, you know, ya.  

Lucille: Dragging us you say…  

Mo: Of course! I mean come on, where is “hope” leaving for? It’s not in any rush like us, I… I hope. Gosh! (BEAT) I feel a bit eerie today, I don’t know why.  

Lucille: No really? No, it’s lovely today.


The grey weather outside changes into black and the wild dancing winds start to pour heavy rain, the clouds roar loudly declaring that they too have read the sad newspaper. Lightning hits a tree and its huge branch breaks and falls.


Mo: Storm’s here. Is it still lovely for you? Lucille!  

Lucille: What? Hm? Yeah! But listen, where did you park the car?  

Mo: Why? Under the tree. But why?  

Lucille: Now it is literally under the tree, crushed I suppose.  

Mo: What! (GETS UP) O, no!  

Lucille: Wait, try some strong coffee, you’ll feel better and hopeful.  

Mo: Wa… Lucille, you’re crazy!

Mo leaves hurriedly.  

Lucille: Mo! Pip’s umbrella!! (PAUSE) I think I hit a nerve there… but black coffee works wonders… I can’t do without it… especially after reading the newspaper.


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