Local author Miranda Keeling’s second book The Place I’m In is a collection of short stories and observations which reveal the beauty of regular moments in our day-to-day lives
Sometimes we all need a gentle reminder to slow down and notice the regular moments of our day-to-day lives. In her second book The Place I’m In, Walthamstow author Miranda Keeling shares observations that she has collected from years of doing just that. Told through the lens of location – ranging from cafés to the countryside to the intangible feeling of coming home, this collection of short stories reveals the beauty in the everyday.
In A Café
Cafés are more than places to eat or drink: they are offices, date venues, confessionals, somewhere to have a break while a baby finally sleeps.
I take in the layers as I approach. First, the outside – can I see my reflection in the glass? I look inside – is it full or empty? Are the tables close together? I zoom in.
A baby sleeps in a pram. A pigeon has wandered in through the open door. I head in too, and choose a place to sit.
More intimate moments capture my attention: a person types on a laptop, their face lit by the screen. Someone puts a layer of ready-salted crisps inside their cheese sandwich. Someone buys a take-away coffee and runs out again. Their interaction is fleeting.
A regular wanders in. She leans on the counter and asks the owner about his kids. She isn’t going anywhere for a while. Under it all is the sound of the drinks machine and the smell of coffee and toast.
I zoom out. I notice the room again. It’s a bit cold by the window. Wet trails from umbrellas cross the floor.
A man talks to a friend. He emphasises his points with his hands, positioning them like tall ships cutting through deep water.
A woman waits for a coffee in a coat that makes her look like a polar bear who has forgotten to put its head on.
As my toast arrives, the waitress asks: ‘Miranda?’ A woman opposite me also says, ‘Yes.’ We exchange a both-being-called-Miranda smile.
The Place I’m In by Miranda Keeling will be released by Leaping Hare Press on 19th June. It is available for pre-order (£14.99) at all good bookstores
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