tim burton book

[RivaOni]

has anyone read Tim Burton's (of nightmare before christmas fame) book: The melancholy death of oyster boy and other stories? its one of my favourite books and highly reccomend it, heres a taster:

The Melancholy Death Of Oysterboy
He proposed in the dunes,
they were by the sea,
their nine-day-long honeymoon,was on theisle of Capri.

For their supper they had one spectacular dish-
a simmering stew of mollusks and fish.
And while he savoured the broth,
her bride's hearts made a wish.

The wish came true-shegave birth to a baby.
But was this little one human?
Well,
maybe.

Ten fingers, ten toes,
he had plumbing and sight.
He could hear, he could feel,
but normal?
Not quite.
This unatural birth, this canker, this blight,
was the start and the end and the sum of their plight.

She railed at the doctor:
"He cannot be mine.
He smells of the ocean, of seaweed and brine."

"You should count yourself luck, for only lastweek,
I treated a girl with three ears and a beak.
That your son is half oyster
you cannot blame me.
... have you considered, by chance,
a small home by the sea?"

Not know what to name him,
they just called him Sam,
or, somtimes,
"that thing that looks like a clam."

Everyone wondered, but no one could tell,
When would young Oyster Boy come out of his shell?

When the Thompson quadruples espied him one day,
they called him a bivavlve and ran quickly away.

One spring afternoon,
Sam was left in the rain.
At the southwestern corner of Seaview and Main,
he watched the rain water as it swirled
down the drain.

His mom on the freeway
in thebreakdown lane
was pounding the dashboard-
she couldn't contain
the ever-rising grief,
frustration,
and pain.

"Really, sweetheart," she said
"I dont mean to make fun,
but something smells fishy
and I think it's our son.
I don't like to say this, but it must be said,
you're blaming our son for your problems in bed."

He tried salves, he tried ointments
that turned everything red.
He tried potions and lotions
and tincture of lead.
He ached and he itched and twitched andhe bled.

The doctor diagnosed,
"I can't be quite sure,
but the cause of your problem may also be the cure.
They say oysrers improveyour sexual powers.
Perhaps eating your son
would help you do it for hours!"

He came on tiptoe,
hecame on the sly,
sweat on his forehead,
and on his lips- a lie.
"Son, are you happy? I don't mean to prie,
but do you dream of heaven?
Have you wanted to die?"

Sam blinked his eyes twice,
but made no reply.
Dad fingered his knife and loosened his tie.

As he picked up his son,
Sam driopped on his coat.
With the shell to his lips,
Sam slipped down his throat.

They buried him quickly in the sand by the sea
-sighed a prayer, wept a tear-
and were back home by three.

A cross of gray driftwood marked Oyster Boy's grave.
Words writ in the sand
promised Jesus would save.

But his memory was lost with on high-tide wave.

Back home safe in bed,
he kissed her and said,
"Let's give it a whirl."

"But this time," she whispered, "we'll wish for a girl."

bit wierd i know, butall the short stories are about outcasts, which is why i probably like it, as that is what i felt i was at school