William S. Burroughs: The Junky's Christmas
Cover to a 1994 anthology featuring the story.
|
The Junky's Christmas is a short story by William S. Burroughs. Famous as being one of the key writers of the Beat Generation, and most influential writers of the 20th century, Burroughs was renowned for writing often semi-autobiographical works about opiate addiction. First published in a 1989 collection of stories called Interzone. (Named after the "International Zone" where Burroughs lived in Tangiers, that also featured in 1959's Naked Lunch.) The story also featured as spoken word piece, on the 1993 album Spare Ass Annie And Other Tales, which was set to music by the Industrial Hip-Hop band The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. The track was used for the 1993 claymation short film, produced by Francis Ford Coppola. The story also appeared in the alternative Christmas themed anthology The Junky's Christmas and Other Yuletide Stories in 1994.
The plot of the story revolves around Danny, a penniless junky on Christmas Day looking for a way to get money for his next fix, after spending 72 hours in a police cell. Searching around he comes across a suitcase, which when he opens, he finds two served legs of a woman. He discards the legs, and eventually sells the suitcase for a few dollars. But is informed, when he attempts to score, that his dealer has been arrested. In desperation he finds a doctor, and cons him into giving him some morphine. Danny rents a room for the night, and prepares the morphine. From another room he hears moaning, and goes to investigate, finding a young man in pain from kidney stones. Danny gives his fix to the young man, and returns to his room. Suddenly he feels the effects of heroin wash over him, like an "immaculate fix" for his good deed, Danny drifts off to sleep. |
Despite it's seemingly depressing one, Burroughs reads it in a heart-warming slow melodic tone, a perfect alternative Christmas treat. Maybe not for sitting around a roaring open-fire, while the snow gently falls outside. More one to snuggle down in front of your flickering computer monitor, with the lights down low, having yourself a jingle bells junky's festive fix.
The Best Of The Worst Weird Christmas Movies - Let this be a warning to you. Clicking on this link means you are exposing yourself to some of the worst movies of all time. Happy Christmas!
|
The Dark Side Of European Christmas Traditions - Across Europe there are many dark and creepy figures associated with Christmas, whose folklore origins stem from pagan winter celebrations.
|
Also in 1993, Burroughs and Kurt Cobain recorded a spoken word record of his 1973 short story The "Priest" They Called Him, which is spookily similar to The Junky's Christmas. Read the Captain's Blog post about it here.
Bad Santa: 12 Creepy Christmas Clauses - From a drunk department store Santa to a happy hirsute hobo. We all love a dishevelled dude in a Santa suit.
|
Weird Toys Not To Be Found Under The Tree This Christmas - Before parents wrapped kids in cotton wool, and heeded recall warnings about dangerous toys. Things were much more fun!
|