NOTE: This is Nippertown’s first piece of fiction. It’s a short story inspired by the characters in the Beatles’ classic “Eleanor Rigby.” And just to make the tie-in, the Spectrum 8 Theatres in Albany will be screening the recently remastered film “Yellow Submarine” at 12noon on Sunday (May 20) and again at 7pm on Monday (May 21).

Short story by Allison G.

Eleanor Rigby walked down the cobbled street. It was a cold November day in Coventry. The sky was overcast and the streets were littered with autumn’s colorful leaves. As she walked down the street she saw the lights on in the church. Eleanor decided to escape the late fall chill and go into the church. When she walked in, she saw Father McKenzie giving a sermon to the empty chapel. She sat down in a pew towards the back and listened to him intently.

“God told us to ‘love thy neighbor’. Then why is it so hard for us to help someone we don’t know? Why don’t we expand from the friends we have now and meet new people? I challenge every man, woman, and child to talk to someone you don’t know today. Whether you meet them in the park or on the street, make someone’s day special. Maybe you’ll start a lifelong friendship.”

Father McKenzie finished the service and went up to Eleanor. He was a tall, gentle looking man with black hair and green-gold eyes shielded by his brown horn rimmed glasses. Even though the colors of his eyes were vibrant, they were dead and tired looking.

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