Hemingway's Lesson

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Here is a story I read half a century ago in Readers Digest:

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Papa Hemingway (PH) and Charlie (name forgotten) were once stranded in wartime Shanghai.

And there were no beer bottles to be got for love or money.

Famished.

And then there was this ad that a smuggled crate of famous beer bottles are on street-side auction.

Among a hundred others PH and Charlie too were bidding.

And Charlie outbid everyone else and carried the crate home and lovingly preserved it for his Birthday Bash coming up next month.

PH asked Charlie if he could buy just one bottle from him.

Charlie agreed to gift him a bottle on one condition:

PH should give him six lessons on how to write.

The deal was closed and PH took away the topmost bottle from the crate.

PH gave Charlie his first five lessons on the art and craft of writing.

On the day of his final lesson, in the Railway Station before leaving Shanghai, PH gave out only one dictum as the most important lesson:

"When you write you should be true to yourself and kind to your characters".

"Is it necessary in writing fiction too?"

"It is....very much so"

"Why is it necessary?"

"It is necessary"

The train cooed, and before leaving, PH told Charlie:

"By the way, you better taste one of those beer bottles before you throw your wingding."

And rushing home Charlie opened one bottle and tasted it.

It was gassed Tea water.

And the next...and the next...and the next...

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