In late December, photographer Nick Sublimakin sat on a stool and looked through the New Year pictures of past years. Bad image, he never threw. On the contrary, he carefully collected them in special albums, and approaching the next new year is always looked meeting own creative failures, so as not to repeat in future mistakes of the past.
And then it hit! How many unnatural, contrived and vulgarity contains any New Year’s celebration! That’s one of the pictures we see children running to the Christmas tree, pushing each other … On the other character is shown with half-closed eyes, exuding turbidity and indifference. Another episode: drunken ladies with potekshey makeup on the go reformat their toilets. Or this: guys with stuffed bellies, trying along with their female partners are not too sober to represent something like a dance. Not better looking and pre-bustle. Weary urbanites, the store volokuschie mountains eatables … Natural Christmas trees, pre-sentenced to an early non-existence on the slop … hype, turmoil and squash … people really do not notice all this? Are they hardened their hearts so that they can not see all these negative aspects?
Sublimakin rose from his stool and scratched his right eyebrow. Why? Maybe all this is taken as the basis of the concept album-book with the provisional name “The Other Side of the New Year? Sublimakin imagined for a second presentation of this scandalous publication anywhere in New York. The Far Side of the New Year. Hmm-m … Perhaps it would be nice … Oh, dream, dream …
The next few days Nick spent on selection and training of their old photographs, which could form the basis of the new collection. When the first draft copies of the images was ready Sublimakin decided to test it on their friends and acquaintances.
The first friend, whom he dared to show his new collection, became the Basil Kolokozvonov, a journalist who writes on the topic of aesthetics. The meeting took place in the wording of a popular glossy magazine, which published continuously Kolokozvonov. Sitting in an editorial buffet, old friends are slowly sipped coffee from china cups. Kolokozvonov flipping through the album, and from time to time, with a sigh uttered “uh” or “eh-m-m-m” or “Opensource projects, eh-m-uh!”. However, somewhere in the middle of watching Basil stopped. “Now say something nasty” – thought Nicholas.
Kolokozvonov as his eyes off the latest pictures and said:
- Hey, buddy! Could you give me one of these photos?
Sublimakin blankly raised his eyebrows, and Basil quickly find the desired image.
- Here this – he said and pointed to a rather silly expressionless photograph, which, however, fits perfectly into the context and common spirit antinovogodny album.
Sublimakin leaned over the image and at the same moment he understood. The photograph was recorded episode of the drafting of a corporate party. In the left corner of the frame got Masha, an employee of the news department. Kolokozvonov was secretly in love with Masha. But this, of course, knew everything.
- Bury – said Sublimakin and handed the photo to a friend.
Basil received a gift, vigorously stood up and walked to the door. A few steps, he turned and said:
- Thank you! Great album you have!
“Yes, from this type of little help”, – stated Sublimakin.
The next day, looking through the album loud and cheerful Uhobryushkin, old buddy Sublimakina institute.
- Here’s scream! – Loudly commented on it. – You just look at this aunt! And this something, this something! Here smehotischa something! And under the tree, then see how funny! UV-r-r-r! No more power! Thank you. A long time so do not laugh!
Nick was ready for any reaction, except that. Stiffly shaking someone’s hand, he chose to leave quickly. “Let’s go I have to Sasha Myshelomovu” – decided Sublimakin. – “He’s certainly a pain, but a smart guy. I wonder what he will say? ”
Myshelomov thoroughly looked through the album, lit a cigarette and said:
- Listen, Kohl, and it is you want, eh? Well, why do you raise your hand to the holy: the New Year? Not like you as people celebrate – well, Duc, a feast in his own way. And over the others do not laugh and mocking. There was not enough even to make the new year was an occasion for discord! A general holiday for people to stay … Do not touch it, please. Okay?
Myshelomova wife, Anna, had supported her husband:
- You know, Nicholas, – she said – Hemingway called Paris “a holiday that is always with you.” But in Paris there are plenty of drawbacks. Its rubbish, its underside, its problems. And yet for many it is a holiday. I mean, and Paris, and New Year. Holiday because, in fact, within us. What are we, so is our holiday.
“Oh, nobody understands me!” – Lamented Sublimakin. – “To Vassilich eh another look?”
Vassilich, a former university professor, now a member of one of the banks, to welcome visitors warmly.
- A thousand times you, Nicholas, right! Conventions of it all! The first of January, July 8 – which FIG difference! People really mad poshodili! Well, them, these formalities! And the convention too! I think so: if a group of people is good – it means that they have a true celebration! A very real! Whatever the date. A holiday schedule – it is always false! By the way, if we do not take a hundred and fifty grams of cognac, not waiting for a rotten holiday officialdom?
With these words, Professor defrocked pulled out the old coffee shop a couple of ancient faceted cup and saucer, on which arises is something that can be conventionally be called a cookie. All my gut feeling disharmony of the world, Sublimakin hurriedly said goodbye and walked out into the street.
Plunging into the fresh night air, he was an energetic step toward the bus stop. Before the home was close, but the walk is not like terrible.
- Do you feel sad, huh? – I heard a sudden Sublimakin nearby. He looked around and saw a girl of kindergarten age who did not know what to do, until my mother talking on the mobile phone.
- You have behaved badly and now are afraid that you will not come to Santa Claus? – Asked the girl.
Sublimakin not know what to say. He is always lost in conversations with doshkolyatami. Girl hlyupnula nose, and added:
- I know a secret. Do you want to say? – The girl began to speak softly and her voice was like a child mysteriously. – Santa Claus comes to all. I know. And even those who do not always obedient.
Sublimakin barely perceptible smile. Then mom girl finished her conversation, took her phone into her purse and took his daughter’s hand.
- Nat, come quick!
The girl took a few steps, turned and said:
- And even those who do not believe in it.