Stories surround us

I had a mature aged student in a creative writing class a few years ago and he had served time in Iraq. He had the cohort in his thrall as he told stories about his service experience in the war zone; what is was like sitting behind a US pilot who had the Beatles loudly playing through the ear phones of his helmet as he raced across the sky on a mission. Of men forming bands and howling noise in former palaces. Of the shouting and fervour when certain military leaders entered a packed room. He led us into the culture and showed us the bridge between escapism and reality. Powerful and evocative stuff.