tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40660523721450184552024-03-18T20:08:53.091+00:00CafeLitMagazineShort stories to be consumed with a favourite beverage Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.comBlogger2849125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-92116575721710263742024-03-18T16:00:00.004+00:002024-03-18T16:00:00.138+00:00Zoom by Allison Symes, green tea<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">‘The
advantage of flash fiction writing is you zoom in on the most important part of
a character’s life. There is no room for waffle.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The flash fiction tutor only wished
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zoom </i>video function didn</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">’t
hone in on her greying, thinning hair. Didn’t matter how she changed her
computer angle. Whenever she set up a meeting with herself to practice and
record her latest talk, all she saw was her hair. It wasn’t a flattering look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Maybe
I should just switch the camera off when I record myself, </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">she thought. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My attendees are only interested in what I can share with them which
will helps them with their writing. Why do I worry so much? I don</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">’t the rest of the time.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Still that old saying was proven
true. The camera never lied. She only wished it would - or at least be a little
kinder. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">She smiled as the thought of a
story came to her. Just what would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Snow
White</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">’s </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">evil stepmother have done if,
instead of having a magic mirror, she had a magical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zoom </i>camera which honed in on every single fault <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">she </i>had? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The flash fiction tutor shook her
head. No. Evil stepmother would just smash the thing and have done. Still, the
tutor thought, maybe I can write this one up, make this one humorous, and for
good measure, I</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">’ll give the evil stepmother problems with
her hair too. Write my angst out!</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Later the tutor</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">’s
flash fiction came second in a humorous mini story competition. Her prize was a
posh comb and brush set. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><h4 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>About the author </o:p></span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.25in;">Allison Symes, who loves quirky fiction, is published by Chapeltown Books, CafeLit, and Bridge House Publishing. She writes for Chandler’s Ford Today and Writers’ Narrative. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.25in;">Website: <a href="https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com/">https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com/</a> </p><div>Books: <a href="http://author.to/AllisonSymesAuthorCent ">http://author.to/AllisonSymesAuthorCent </a></div><div>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@allisonsymes">https://www.youtube.com/@allisonsymes</a>
Her flash fiction collections are <i>From Light to Dark and Back Again </i>and <i>Tripping The Flash Fantastic </i><div>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</div></div>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-29008077522448173602024-03-17T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-17T16:00:00.131+00:00Sunday Serial, 240 x 70, Gill James, 8. Clouds 5 June 2018, rain water, <p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">A clear blue sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great wide chimneys belch out what they say
is only steam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A threatening black
spreads across the sky, obscuring the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh the irony. The sun gives us life and warmth and light. We create this
power to run, heaters, light bulbs and machines that save lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When everything else goes wrong the sun
carries on shining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except it doesn</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">’t now because we have covered it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re putting out the sun. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span>
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mouth in time. She died uncomfortably at 4.30 p.m. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Robby McArthur had given up the fags ten
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Farmer Peter Robinson’s crop failed because
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">About the author </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gill James is published by The Red Telephone, Butterfly and
Chapeltown. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She edits <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CafeLit </i>and
writes for the online community news magazine: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talking About My Generation. </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing and has an MA in
Writing for Children and PhD in Creative and Critical Writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.gilljameswriter.com">http://www.gilljameswriter.com</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE">https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE</a>
</p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://twitter.com/GillJames">https://twitter.com/GillJames</a>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-65011616919492427082024-03-16T16:00:00.006+00:002024-03-16T16:00:00.133+00:00Saturday Sample: Glit-er-ary, Liz Cox, A Little Bit of Sparkle, <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeFJ2qEKsC_BfP91zjDGL4FWbiGnHCOwHuvt9rWFFceZpH-ZrNfrtacB59genUGvTNTtavv6K9WcgnT0t5_EPLyEcRHV07QJRtRl1HAULH11Fh6bndNXyocnVj7b4t_-6zdqloRfpNlBL9wzNN10gjViT-UuGAPnHElvu-ZE_rIyhls8K4omn3prsqYU/s600/Glit-er-ary%20Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeFJ2qEKsC_BfP91zjDGL4FWbiGnHCOwHuvt9rWFFceZpH-ZrNfrtacB59genUGvTNTtavv6K9WcgnT0t5_EPLyEcRHV07QJRtRl1HAULH11Fh6bndNXyocnVj7b4t_-6zdqloRfpNlBL9wzNN10gjViT-UuGAPnHElvu-ZE_rIyhls8K4omn3prsqYU/s320/Glit-er-ary%20Medium.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><h1 style="text-align: center;">A Little Bit of Sparkle<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p align="center" class="Author" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth Cox<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="FirstParagraph">Ruth pulled her summer jacket tightly around her and
zipped it up. Even though it was still August, it had been raining earlier and the
sky was overcast. She hurried to the pay station to get a ticket for her car,
as she was running late. Her friends would think she had stood them up. Hunger
was eating away at her; she was eager for her coffee and scone. Without looking
where she was going, she was scrabbling in her bag to find loose pound coins in
the voluminous interior, when she stumbled. As she steadied herself on the wet
metal pole, there on the floor she saw a pair of child’s trainers, silver and
covered with sequins. Neatly placed side by side, as if left there on purpose.
They were filled with rain water.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She looked around her, thinking that someone had just put
them down while on a similar mission to herself and had simply forgotten to
pick them up. But there was no one to be seen. She reasoned that they must have
been left there some time ago to be so full of dirty water. She didn’t know
what to do. Should she tip the water out? She might save the shoes from
becoming soaked through, but looking at them it appeared to be too late for
that. Should she pick them up? No, someone might remember where they left them
and come looking. It would be unfair for her to take them away. No, she would
leave them. She expected they would have been retrieved by the time she left
the café. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Ruth crossed the road to meet her friends her thoughts
were occupied by the shoes to such an extent that she almost walked under a
black car, only brought out of her daydream by the angry honking of a car horn.
Smiling a vague apology, she raised her hand to the irate driver and continued
towards the café. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She met her friends here each week for coffee and a chat. It
got her out of the house, but she never felt completely at home there. As she
pushed on the chrome handle of the smoked glass door, it opened silently in her
path. The clacking of her heels across the grey tiled floor of the entrance,
caused all eyes to be raised and glance in her direction. The room was full
this afternoon and smelled of wet coats and coffee. Black and chrome chairs
were scraped across the light beech floor of the dining area, as people turned
back to their conversations. As she moved across the floor, she pretended to
look at the abstract art from local artists which adorned the grey walls; the
only bright spot in a dreary room. Her friends were waiting, coffee cooling, as
she approached.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Hello everyone, I’m sorry I’m late, I was distracted by the
strangest thing.’ The waiting women looked at each other and raised their
eyebrows.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Go on, do tell,’ her best friend Janet encouraged, as she
summoned the waitress with an imperious wave of her bony hand. A young girl
with a row of piercings along her ear lobe sauntered over, shuffling her feet
across the scuffed floor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Yes,’ she sniffed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Four coffees please and take these dirty cups away.’ The
girl turned away, leaving the cups behind.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ruth smiled apologetically at the tattooed girl, ‘Leave her
alone, Janet, she’s only a child.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Tell me what distracted you.’ Janet’s acerbic voice brought
Ruth back to reality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Well’, said Ruth not knowing where to start. ‘When I was
leaving the car park, at the bottom pay station, there was a pair of child’s
silver trainers, covered in pretty sequins.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘What’s so special about that?’ Janet’s interest had waned,
as she was expecting something more salacious.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘They were placed neatly, side by side, which seemed oddly
deliberate to me. And they were filled with rain water.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Some careless child left them there I expect. Nothing
unusual about that. Careless little blighters, children.’ Janet, who didn’t
suffer fools gladly, was bored with the subject now and was stacking the dirty
cups, as the waitress reappeared with the coffees, slopping the contents into
their saucers. Ruth looked as if she had been slapped across the face, but
smoothed her skirt down and said nothing. The others glanced at each other.
Janet could be so insensitive sometimes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The subject of the shoes was soon forgotten in the general
conversation that followed, but not by Ruth. Round and round in her mind a
picture of the shoes turned like a kaleidoscope, sequins flashing blue and red
and purple.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I’ve got to go,’ Ruth pushed her chair back with a scrape,
grabbed her paisley scarf and large leather handbag and fled. Her friends
stared in amazement.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘What’s wrong with Ruth this afternoon?’ Pauline drawled,
flicking back her blonde fringe. ‘She’s not a creature of impulse normally.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘She did seem a bit odd, something to do with those shoes I
expect,’ said Annabel, a petite brunette wearing a thick sweater and old jeans.
‘You can never tell with Ruth.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The others looked to Janet for her opinion on this unusual
situation. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Who knows,’ shrugged Janet, sipping her coffee and
negotiating a cream slice. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ruth ran to the carpark. What if the shoes were no longer
there? What would she do if they had gone? As she reached the pay station, she
could see the shoes gleaming in the sun, the sequins turning orange and red
now. They were still sitting side by side on the tarmac. No one had come for
them. They were hers. She skipped the last few steps across the road, despite
her aching hip. Picking up the shoes, she carefully tipped the water out onto
the floor and caressed the shoes dry with her paisley scarf, the one Alan had
bought her for her last birthday. There, they were lovely and dry now, look at
how the sequins were shining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
flicked a damp leaf from the toe of the right shoe, buffed them once again with
her scarf and placed them neatly together in her bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She patted the bag and turned towards her
car. Tilly would love them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She laid the bag carefully on the passenger seat, so as not
to upset the shoes onto the floor of the car which was rather grubby, and
draped her scarf carefully over the bag to shield its contents. All the way
home she sang along with the car radio; Eddie Cochran, Cliff Richard, Ed
Sheeran, Rod Stewart, Katy Perry, tapping her chewed finger nails on the
steering wheel in time to the music. This was a good day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When she arrived home, Alan was already there. His golf
match must have finished early, and he was in the kitchen putting the kettle
on. She had to tell him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Guess what I’ve got for Tilly?’ she blurted out unable to
contain her excitement. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Now, love,’ said Alan, ‘come and have a nice cup of tea.
It’s ready and I’ve put some chocolate digestives out as well.’ He placed the
mugs on the pine table, then turned to get the teapot.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Alan, you have to see, they’re so lovely, Tilly will be
thrilled.’ <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alan sighed and turned to look at her, the plate of biscuits
still in his hand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘What have you brought?’ Alan was tall and spare with thick
grey hair which he wore closely cropped. His face was tanned yet etched with
lines.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Look here they are,’ Ruth exclaimed, unwrapping the shoes
from her scarf with a flourish. She placed them neatly side by side on the
table, then ran her fingers through her curly red hair, streaked with grey at
the temples. ‘This is how I found them, but they’re a bit wet inside. They were
filled with rainwater. I’ll have to dry them out properly, before I give them
to Tilly.’ The shoes twinkled at her, as if delighted to be in her company. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘But Tilly can’t wear them my love, you know that.’ Alan
spoke patiently but Ruth, distraught, grabbed the shoes from the table and
turned for the stairs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘You don’t understand. Yes she can, of course she can!
She’ll love them.’ Ruth ran up the stairs clutching the sequinned trainers in
her hand, her hoarse voice trailing in her wake. She tripped up the last step
and reached for the second door on the landing grabbing the handle. A plaque on
the door said ‘Tilly’s Room’ picked out in gold letters on the cream painted
wood. She turned the handle and entered the room. Illuminated by fairy lights
which she kept on all the time, the room glowed with pink; flowery curtains and
pale pink walls contributed to the womb like feeling of the space. She smiled
and closed the door quietly behind her, inhaling the scent of the roses that
she always kept there. Her soft whisper filled<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the empty space.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Here you are, Tilly, just for you, I know you’ll love them’
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ruth closed her eyes, imagining Tilly slipping her feet into
the glittering shoes. She watched her tie the silver laces in a big bow, then
grin up at her mother, her childish eyes, shining, as she twirled her feet
around under the fairy lights to make the sequins gleam. Happiness engulfed
her.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alan followed Ruth up the stairs wearily, his hand gripping
the pine bannister, his knuckles white. He turned the door handle, entering the
room behind her just as she was placing the shoes side by side on the narrow
bed, smoothing the flowery bedspread, as she did so. His face crumpled with
sadness. Turning to Alan, Ruth whispered, her face alight,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘There, when she comes home from school, they’ll be ready
for her.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘But Ruth,’ said Alan, taking hold of his wife tightly, ‘you
know she won’t be coming home from school.’ For an instant Ruth was defiant, but
then her shoulders slumped. Her knees buckled, as he held her. She laid her
head on his shoulder, her eyes glittering, reflecting the sequins on the lost
shoes. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.thebridgetowncafebooksshop.co.uk/2021/06/glit-er-ary.html">Find your copy here. </a></b></span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">About the author </h4>
<p class="Bio"><span lang="EN-US">Born in Yorkshire and now residing in Anglesey,
Elizabeth spends her time working at the ‘day job’ and writing short stories,
poetry and attempting to finish a novel. She had her first short story, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Winking at Angels</i>, published in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Baubles</i> anthology in 2016. When
inspiration dries up, she gazes at the wonderful Snowdon mountain range from
her window until it returns. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-18973849961564500082024-03-15T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-15T16:00:00.133+00:00Anger Management by Rahcel Hawes, ristretto <p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hello
Cordelia” Sherry said. Again, there was the same circle of chairs. Same people like
all the other times. Just one new guy with his arms crossed tightly over his
bulging chest.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sorry
I’m late,” I squeaked, after grabbing the last two snicker doodles on a plate
next to the 1990’s almost empty coffee pot. Only a few people looked up to
register my apology as I shook the dregs before pouring them into a cracked
mug. I took the seat next to the new guy and smiled, waving my lukewarm
beverage in greeting. His name tag read “Butch”. He stared straight ahead, as if
I didn’t exist.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s
kind of obvious, isn’t it” I whispered loudly after leaning closer to his ear.
“Your name, I mean.” I wiggled in my seat to get a better view of his massive body.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Huh?”
Butch said, frowning. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I
mean, look at you. Your shirt is so tight I can see your nipples.” I said,
licking my lips. “Your muscles are like the ones the guys on the cover of those
romance novels have. It’s as if, I don’t know, it’s like they’re speaking to
me.” I made talking gestures with my right thumb and four of my fingers to
illustrate my point while giving my most charming smile.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Jesus
Christ” Butch said, throwing his pamphlet on the ground. “Do I have to f*cking
sit next to this b*tch?” he asked Sherry after standing up. He was even bigger
upright. A pleasant tingling went from the base of my spine up to my face. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Cordelia,
personal space,” Sherry intoned. “Personal space.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Of
course!” I inched my chair a foot away from Butch, closer to Michael. Michael
put his hoody over his head and started humming <i>The Star Wars</i> theme. I
tapped my right foot in lock step with the music. I knew this one. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I
love that song!” I jumped up into the middle of the circle to face Michael while
conducting my arms to the crescendo. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in
before letting it out with a loud sigh.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You
gonna let that tiny b*tch do that?” Butch asked Sherry. “Just like that, in
front of all of these mother-f*ckers?” Tears tinged the corner of his eyes
where the top and bottom lids met.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sweetly
I turned to face him, made a raspberry noise with my lips, kissed my hand and touched
my butt before sitting back down in my designated chair.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Cordelia
only has a few more weeks before she graduates out of AM1, Butch. She’s made so
much progress,” Sherry said, glancing down at her clipboard. “Cordelia, can you
remind everyone why you were sent here?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Weeelllll,
the people I work with didn’t understand any of my jokes,” I said, laying my
hand against the top of Michael’s head, trying to figure out if both of my
palms could fit under his hoody so I could better stroke his thick wavy black hair.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Can
I go to the restroom?” Michael asked, but he left the room before Sherry replied.
I rested my hand under my chin and raised my eyebrows while curling my legs
under me in a lotus position. I stared into Butch’s eyes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You’re
full of sh*t” Butch said, cupping his right fist inside his left hand like a
pitcher with his ball and his glove before a throw. “Is she for real?” Butch
asked, looking at everyone else in the room.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Anger
comes out in many ways,” Sherry said, writing a few notes on the paper on her
clipboard. </span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Michael
came back into the room and walked around all of the chairs but still the only
one open was next to me. I stood up, grabbed his arm, and pulled him back to
his previous seat. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Boundaries,
Cordelia. Boundaries,” Sherry nodded left and right with her eyes closed.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
followed Butch out to the alleyway when the meeting was done. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You
live around here?” I asked, giving him my best curtsy. Butch kept walking and
smoking his cigarette. I tried to keep up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You
didn’t make any sense in there,” I said, running so as not to lose him. I hated
to lose people, especially ones with huge arms and tight grabby-looking hands.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I
have to catch my bus, you dumb twit,” Butch spat out, picking up his pace. In
the far distance a bus moved slowly towards us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You
think you can just leave me?” I said to his retreating back. Without looking he
started to cross the street. “You’re not as big as you think you are,” I yelled
while looking for something, anything, to throw at his huge head. Not to hurt
him, of course, just to get his attention. Not finding anything I threw my
phone and it glanced his right ear.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What
the f*ck?” Butch said as he turned to look at me as the blinking walk signal morphed
to the stop hand signal. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh
my God, get my phone, get my phone. Hurry up. Please get my phone! Oh my God!” </span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And
the funny thing was, Butch did! He bent down to pick up my phone just as a
tractor trailer ran through the light. As the horn blared and his body was
lifted high up into the air I thought, hmmmm, someone really should have taught
him the right way to cross the street when he was younger. But I guess no one had
cared enough to have done that for him.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About the author</span></h4><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <br /></span></div><p>
Rachel Hawes writes about education, technology and history. Currently Rachel is a middle school English and Technology teacher. Originally from the Boston area, she now lives in Arizona where she enjoys southwestern sunsets, the dry heat, and walking with her dogs. </p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-2054300453918164252024-03-14T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-14T16:00:00.259+00:00A Visit to Grandma’s by Jane Spirit, pressed apple juice<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Rosie hesitated
at the door of her grandmother’s little home on the Deep Woods Estate. She wanted
to capture her arrival there for her many admirers. Standing on the threshold she
could feel the icy winds that blew through the estate despite the many
sheltering trees that surrounded it. She found herself recoiling from residual
raindrops that dripped, even on this dry day, off the massive chestnut whose
branches were growing ever closer to the bungalow’s wooden facade. Still, Rosie
was pleased with the image when she checked it. The wind’s slight ruffling of
her trademark scarlet cape and the slight fuzziness added by a water drop on
the camera lens had added a touch of mystery to the selfie. Content, Rosie
cropped the shot to highlight the little basket of fruit she carried casually
over one arm. Thinking that she was lucky to get any kind of signal in this god
forsaken forest, she posted the picture. Then came the familiar surge of
adrenalin as she saw in her mind’s eye her two thousand followers simultaneously
pressing their screens and witnessing her doing her good deed for the day. This
was inevitably followed by a dragging sense of uncertainty. How would the image
be received? How quickly would her followers swipe their screens in search of
something more diverting? Surely this wholesome persona thing could not continue
indefinitely. </span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Then again, she already had plans and
would be taking some artfully arranged pictures for her new media account that
afternoon. Rosie planned to use those new images to launch herself as a chic
interior designer. Her company strap line would be ‘Cabins with attitude’. She
had recently completed renovating grandma’s to reflect the current trend for
Scandinavian shabby chic. She’d started by knocking down the old dividing walls
to create one room out of the space and then added a couple of strategically
placed screens instead. Next, she’d installed some brightly painted chairs and
rustic tables before distributing mostly faux animal skins to give a cosy
effect. Not that her grandmother had shown any great appreciation for what she
had done, but then the old woman spent most of her days in bed in the winter
waiting for her stock of logs to be replenished by the local woodsman who
offered cut price timber in return for cash. In any case, Rosie hadn’t minded
doing her bit for her grandmother by transforming the faded chintz decor. And, when
she stopped by, she could make use of the off-grid candlelight, snapping her
noir self in black and white angled shots taken against the large scroll work
mirrors that now festooned the remaining solid interior walls. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Ready for her visit, Rosie let herself in
and went straight towards the cabin bed in the far corner of the room to let
her grandmother know that she would be taking a few pictures whilst she was
there. She sat down briefly on the folksy painted stool by the bed in which
grandma appeared to be taking her customary afternoon nap. In any case the
patchwork quilts and blankets she liked to use to warm herself had been pulled
up high above her chin obscuring her face, so that all Rosie could see was a
little of grandma’s hair escaping from underneath the ridiculous floral
nightcap she insisted on donning in the winter. That was understandable,
perhaps, thought Rosie. It was a cold day, and the stove was not lit to give
warmth. She explained to the dozing old lady why she would not be able to stay
long at all. She had an important business meeting to prepare for back in town.
She had just wanted to drop by with some fruit. Yes, she went on, she knew that
grandmother did not particularly like fruit, but all the same, she hoped she
would at least try an apple just to please her. Rosie worried about the lack of
vitamins in grandma’s porridge -based diet. Anyway, she would leave the fruit
basket by the bed and then she would be on her way. She’d just take a few pictures
first.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>As Rosie stood up and balanced her basket
on the rickety bedside table, grandmother suddenly opened both her eyes and
stared at her granddaughter before saying rather gruffly,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span> </span>‘Thank you my dear.’</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span> </span>‘You’re welcome,’ Rosie replied, feeling a
little concerned by the old lady’s hoarse voice.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span> </span>She must have got a bit of a cold. She might
even have caught a fever, judging by those bright, rather over-dilated eyes.
Rosie supposed that colds were almost inevitable when you did not eat the right
foods. She also noticed that a little more of grandmother’s hair had come loose
from underneath her nightcap and that, even in the dim light coming from the
single lit candle, she was sure that the hair was no longer its sparse, wispy
silver self. It had become somewhat wiry and was now a kind of steely grey.<span> </span>How odd, she reflected, but then she supposed
that even an old person might experience moments of vanity and seek to change
their appearance. Her grandmother must have hobbled her way into the nearby
hamlet and subjected herself to a perm and colour at the old school hair salon
by the crossroads. Rosie decided that it would be more tactful to ignore the
hair and not to rebuke Grandma about the incipient cold. Instead, she bent down
to pat her through the bed clothes. As she did so, the old lady stirred a
little and began to yawn, exposing to view what now seemed like massive yellow
teeth. What was most out of character, was that she also started to slobber.
Then she began to make noises that seemed to bear no resemblance to human
speech. Could her grandmother be growling at her, thought Rosie? She had been finding
it increasingly hard to be confronted by the old woman’s growing decrepitude,
but to be growled at seemed to her to be the final straw.<span> </span>Without so much as a backward glance, Rosie
jumped to her feet and hurried towards the door. Flummoxed as she was, she
still could not help but notice the reflection of herself in the huge gilt-
edged mirror next to the door and, with instinctive approval, she raised her
phone to capture a selfie.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>At the time Rosie caught only an
impression of herself before rushing from the house and back down the track to
find her little red convertible. She jumped into the car, revved its engine,
and made her escape from Deep Woods. Only when she was safe and sound back in
her modern apartment did she look at the photo. She noticed then how the
phone’s barely focussed camera had somehow transformed the figure of her
grandmother as she loomed up behind her into a multilimbed giant beast,
overshadowing her with its tufty hair, fanglike teeth, and a jaw wide open to
omit the terrifying wordless screech that had followed the growl and still echoed
in Rosie’s ears. She decided that it would be best to delete the photo, telling
herself that she did not want to remember her grandmother as a demented howler
unable to communicate as she once had by gentle speech and whimsical folk songs.
Rosie shivered at the thought of becoming an object of pity, and of fear, if
she were ever to lose her reason like that. Still, looking again at the image,
she took comfort in her own familiar contours. She could see that her blond
hair was as gorgeously plentiful and fly away as ever, her sharp features still
just visible in the half light and contrasting well with the rounded shape of
the cape. And yet, absorbed as she was in her beauty, she could not help but
notice how one side of her hair looked somehow a little flatter and even matted
in comparison to the rest. Its texture was more like that of the wolf pelt that
she had hung behind grandma’s bed, and which could just be discerned at the
edge of the picture. Rosie put that down to the candlelight, but, when she
zoomed in, Rosie’s attention was drawn first to her face and then to her mouth,
which was slightly open in the shock of the moment. Rosie realised then that,
amidst her pearl drop teeth, she could detect the slightest suggestion of
jaggedness in the two incisors just visible between her red lips. It was as if
they had acquired a new tendency to protrude. She pressed the delete option
immediately. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>The next morning, Rosie hurried to her
car and drove herself out of town fast. She took no selfies as she followed the
track she and her grandmother had once taken through the forest to reach the drowned
quarry that everyone local knew as Echo Lake. Alone by the water’s edge, Rosie
took out her ‘phone and threw it as hard as she could manage into the deepest
and darkest part of the lake she could reach. The phone must have been faulty,
she told herself, and she needed a new one to reconnect with her followers and
her ambitions. She paused for a few minutes longer before retracing her steps.
How could she resist opening her mouth to call out ‘Rosie’ as she had done on that
childhood visit, delighted to hear her name rebounding round the lake’s steep
sided rock surrounds. This time, however, no words came out; instead, she heard
a babble, and then what could only be described as a growl, building to a screech
whose arc of sound faded only when she drew breath, and began to walk and then
to run from its reverberations.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Rosie drove back into town with her mouth
firmly shut. New lines of grim determination across her forehead made her look
suddenly older, but she made sure to avoid looking properly at herself in the
car mirror. Instead, she allowed herself to think only about her immediate
plans. First, she would purchase a new phone. Then she would postpone the
meeting with her potential backers and make an urgent appointment with her
orthodontist and hair stylist instead. Momentarily, she found herself
forgetting recent horrors and even musing on how she might pitch her newfangled
‘howling therapy’ to any rich celebrities who might be interested. Suddenly becoming
aware that she was rapidly approaching the familiar signpost, she was forced from
her reverie and slowed just enough to swerve her car into the turning for Deep
Woods. Rosie knew that whatever her dreams might have been, she still had no
choice but to return to grandma’s house. How else could she ever hope to
understand what was to become of her?</span></span></p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>About the author </span></span></h4><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span>Jane Spirit lives in Suffolk UK and has been inspired to try writing fiction by going along to her local creative writing class. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-24160428515482658092024-03-13T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-13T16:00:00.143+00:00Moving on by Judith Skilleter, sparkling wine <p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal">Phyllis was widowed six months ago. Her husband died after a
long illness. When the end came he was ready to go and she was ready for him to
go. Not in a selfish sense, but she could see the pain and indignity was
putting him in an emotional and physical place from which he could never
recover. Her husband was unhappy with what the illness had reduced him to; he
felt less than half of the man he used to be. He did not want the world to see
him in this state and Phyllis knowing he was a proud man, did not want that either.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her husband died at home. That was his wish and Phyllis
knows that she could not have done more for him – apart from helping him to die
which was his wish in the weeks before his death came naturally. They had
talked about going to Dignitas in Switzerland for assisted dying but her
husband was determined to be at home until the end. And as time went on he was
too ill to get to Switzerland anyway.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is now six long months since his death. All the messy stuff
has been sorted and all the bills paid. All the finances and pensions and
insurances and banking have been settled to her relief and satisfaction. But
why did it have to take so long? All is left is for his ashes to be spread in
the garden when the spring planting time comes along. That was his wish, for
his ashes to help future life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And it is about now, when there is nothing to do, nothing to
consider that the pain of her loss hits Phyllis. She had been told that after
all the administrative work of bereavement is done then the pain will take over
– and she didn’t believe it. How could anything be as painful as watching your
husband of forty-five years die slowly and painfully. But they were right, the acute
loneliness cuts right through and cannot be lessened.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Phyllis is also angry – with both her husband and herself.
Their roles within the household had always been shared and now Phyllis is
having to consider things that were never before her responsibility. New
skills have had to be learned and at a time when her brain seems scrambled. Phyllis
can now, albeit reluctantly and slowly, find her way round a computer, she can
change a plug and she is driving more. Her husband loved his cars and he loved
driving. Phyllis was more than happy to sit next to him and read. What a mistake.
Phyllis has over the years as a passenger lost the concentration and
confidence that makes a competent driver and getting behind the wheel is a
scary process. As for other tasks gardening is now paid for as will be
decorating, when she gets round to it.Phyllis resents the fact that
she has acquired new responsibilities and she also is angry with herself that
she didn’t take an interest in these before her husband’s death, even before he
was ill, even perhaps throughout their long and happy marriage. It might have
made a very difficult time less so.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And after six months the support from others has died away.
More than once she has been told that she should be getting over it by now.
“What a load of bollocks” thinks Phyllis. She has been advised to get out, find
company, have fun, take holidays. “Total crap” thinks Phyllis. She has been
told “He wouldn’t have wanted you to mourn.” “Perhaps” thinks Phyllis “but he
also knew it would be difficult for her and her husband’s advice was the best
advice. “Take each day as it comes; don't rush into big decisions and take
comfort in what we had for so long. We were very lucky and it will not be easy
adjusting to a life alone. Allow yourself to be sad but do not avoid the little
bits of happiness that might come along” Her husband had been a very wise man.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But where does all this need to love, need to care for and need
to be with go when there is a death. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it just hang about and remain unfulfilled
until there is space for it once again in her life? There is a horrible feeling
of betrayal if something comes along that she enjoys. Staying with the sadness
is a permanent link with her husband and she does not want to lose it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Phyllis’ grown-up children are aware of how their mother is
dealing with the death of their dad. They have ideas to help and have suggested
that she stays with them more often. Phyllis tried this once or twice but each
time she left early to return home where her memories were. They have suggested
a holiday, a holiday with them all together to celebrate their dad, but Phyllis
wasn’t keen. “No thank you, I am fine at home at the moment” was her reply to
the invitation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The family know that their mother is not being awkward – it
is just that the time is not right, yet. It is a difficult time for all of
them.</p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">About the author</h4><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><p>
Judith Skilleter is new to writing fiction after a long career in social work and teaching. Her first children's novel The April Rebellion, has recently been published. Judith is a Geordie, who settled in East Yorkshire 45 years ago and is married with four grandchildren. </p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-44494853660657809852024-03-12T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-12T16:00:00.135+00:00What the Future Will Bring by Barry Garelick, Darjeeling tea <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The morning sun
filtered through half-closed venetian blinds in Mark’s furnished one-bedroom
apartment in San Francisco, illuminating the dining room table that served as
his desk. Debby would be arriving that afternoon from Ann Arbor. They had
arranged to meet around five at a hippy-style coffee house, a place he hated
but it was near his apartment. The table was cluttered with bits and pieces of
unfinished stories that Mark was working on, scattered among parts of
yesterday’s newspaper heralding the latest news on the Watergate hearings and
the possibility of a presidential impeachment. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was late June in 1974 in San Francisco. The world was moving on, Mark thought.
He didn’t care, or thought he didn’t. Over time he would care more about many
things but for now his view of what the future would hold was focused mainly on
the past. He was thinking now about Debby’s visit, and decided to put the bits
and pieces of his stories in a drawer in the dining room cabinet normally used for
silverware. He then sat re-reading a letter from Debby that lay in a relatively
bare part of the table, focusing on the last paragraph, hoping to find more
than was there.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It felt strange
after talking to you last week. You didn’t say much on the phone. It’s OK.
Sometimes there’s not much to say. Dr. Lehman wrote to some shrink in San
Francisco at Mt. Zion Hospital, I think. I’ve set up an appointment to talk
about therapy over there. I hope he can recommend someone in Palo Alto for me.
It’s pretty scary leaving Dr. Lehman. My confidence in myself is at an all-time
low right now. I fully expect to get booted out of Stanford in about one semester
unless I learn a whole lot about how to live between now and then. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be arriving Thursday afternoon; my
appointment is Friday morning, and I’m leaving Sunday. I look forward to seeing
you. But we can’t tell how things will work out with us.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">P.S: I’d really
like to read what you’re writing now.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-hyphenate: none; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They had a long-distance relationship
over the last two years, primarily through letters, a few phone calls and occasional
visits – her last visit was in December. He had graduated two years ago, and
had remained in Ann Arbor during that summer. He spent the summer thinking
about his plans for the future which were to leave Ann Arbor in the fall for someplace.
Wherever ‘someplace’ was would be where he would make it as a writer which was
how more than a few college graduates were planning their futures. He had known
Debby for a few years at school; she was younger than him, and had an
intimidating beauty and what we thought of as an unintended sexiness. After a
short conversation with her earlier one day, he visited her in her apartment
that evening. He had tried to kiss her but she pulled away. He never asked why,
though he suspected her psychotherapy may have had something to do with it. Despite
a sexual relationship eventually emerging, the thought of her resisting that
first kiss remained as one of several recurring obsessions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The hippy-style
coffee house where they were to meet was in view from the bus which let him off
across the street. While waiting for the light to change he saw her sitting by
the window. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders and back. Debby sat
on a cushion (there were no chairs) at one of the two-foot high tables made
from wooden telephone cable spools. She hovered over a cup of Darjeeling tea and
looked up as Mark approached. Her greeting in its entirety was a kind of smile
and sort of a nod and a soft ‘Hello’ as if she were greeting a stranger. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Have
you been here long?’ he asked, sitting down next to her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">She
looked at her watch. ‘About a half hour. I took a cab from the airport to Cliff
House to have an Irish coffee. My sister told me I had to have one. And then I
came here.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘How
was the Irish coffee?’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I’m
not sure. I have a stomach ache. I think it’s from the Irish coffee. I thought tea
would help but it hasn’t,’ she said, looking around. ‘This place reminds me of
Ray’s in Ann Arbor, except Ray’s is dark inside.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Yeah;
same stupid counter-culture vibe,’ he said. ‘It’s everywhere. The Watergate
hearings have validated them; they were right about everything. They’ll be
running the country soon; doctors and lawyers will be working as laborers in
the fields.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">She
had heard this before from Mark. Like Mark, aside from being against the Viet
Nam war and all that came with that, she had little to no patience for the praises
of Marxism, idolization of Mao and the prevalent belief that having sex had to
be for all the right reasons. She thought most of it, including feminism was,
in her words, ‘a crock of shit.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Not
much will change,’ she said with an unstated sigh. ‘How’s work at Federal
Highway going? Speaking of working as laborers,’ she added.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘It’s
going. Editing fascinating accident reports. Today’s was about the police
chasing a motorcyclist who crashed into a parked car and died. Very detailed police
report; I could even tell you what he had for breakfast.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I’d
rather read what you’re writing now. Your stories or whatever.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes,
his stories or whatever. He answered as he usually did: he said nothing. Having
not yet become the next Richard Brautigan or countercultural hero he felt
horrendously inadequate. In fact, seeing others his age at Federal Highway in
more professional positions, he had thought lately about applying for a more
challenging job advertised recently – as long as he could still write at night,
he told himself. Best not to mention that now, he decided.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Debby
had her hands on her stomach. ‘I’m really not feeling well,’ she said, moving
her small blue and white suitcase out from under the cable-wheel table. ‘Can we
go to your place?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
Mark’s one-bedroom apartment was on the third floor of an old building. ‘This
is it,’ he said, opening the door and stepping into the small foyer. The
windows looked out at a courtyard where people in other apartments across the
way could often be heard. Debby looked around, poked into the kitchen and
dining room area, and said ‘I need to use your bathroom.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After
she came out she looked pale. ‘I need to lie down,’ she said. ‘I feel nauseous.’
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They
went into the bedroom and she lay on the bed, resting her head against the faded
wooden headboard. The nausea came in waves, she told him and between the waves
she talked. Mark thought that the talking would stave off further nausea. As a
further deterrent he put on a Taj Mahal album that he was fairly sure Debby
would remember. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They
talked off and on for about an hour. ‘I tend to worry too much,’ she said. She
was worried about Stanford grad school as she had said in her letter. Her
sister was currently an undergrad at Stanford and found it tough. ‘So what’s
grad school going to be like? I know I’m smart. But I don’t feel smart. I’ve
lost confidence. Confidence in my mind.’ She became silent. Another wave of
nausea, Mark thought. A few minutes later, she started talking again.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I
haven’t heard this album in a while,’ she said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I
think you first heard it when I brought it over to your apartment.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘When
was that?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘The
summer before last. We were sleeping on the floor in your living room.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She closed her eyes. Another silence. After a
minute she said ‘I’ve been feeling bad about music lately, actually.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘How
so?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I
was seeing a lot of Pete for a while. He’s into classical music. I wasn’t into
it; I used to be. Maybe I failed myself, somehow. Or maybe I never had any
feeling for it and thought I did.’ She rolled on her side. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He
hesitated before asking his next question, thinking he shouldn’t, but asked
anyway. ‘Have you been sleeping with Pete?’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No
answer. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I
assume that means you did.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I’m
really not feeling well,’ she said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He
could see that was true but his better judgment was taking a back seat and before
he even knew it was happening he found himself speaking angrily. ‘You’re all
about yourself. And your damn doubts. I’ve never known where I stood with you,’
he said. ‘You couldn’t even give me a decent greeting. You barely said hello. I
sometimes think you never really liked me. The first time I tried to kiss you,
you pulled away. It was the night I brought the Taj Mahal album over to your
place. You said you couldn’t get involved. We slept on the floor in the living
room. That was your compromise I guess. A week later we were having sex and I
have no idea why. If you’re not attracted to me, just say so, and let’s get the
whole thing over with.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘For
Christ’s sake, Mark.’ She rolled over on her stomach. ‘I don’t know anything. My
stomach really hurts. I think I have to vomit. I don’t think I’ll make it to
the bathroom. Do you have a pot or something?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
topic of their relationship on a necessary hold – mercifully so, Mark thought –
he ran into the kitchen and grabbed a large aluminum pot. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘It’s
kind of large,’ he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘It’s
fine,’ she said, grabbing it and getting on her knees. She put her head in the
pot and tried gagging. After a few tries, she said ‘Nothing’s happening.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Try
to relax.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started rubbing her back. ‘If
it happens, it happens. Do you want some 7-Up or something? I heard that
settles your stomach.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I’ll
probably throw up.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I
thought that was the idea,’ he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">She
thought a moment about this. ‘I’d rather throw up on my own than by 7-Up.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That
established, the two were silent. She lay with the pot next to her head. ‘I’ll
sleep on the couch in the living room,’ she said. ‘I’m feeling tired. I can
make it to the couch. I think I just need to sleep. I’m sorry you’re upset. We’ll
talk about things tomorrow. I promise.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘OK.
We’ll talk tomorrow.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Outside
it was dusk, but dark in the apartment. Mark lay in bed. After a few minutes he
heard Debby’s rhythmic breathing. He recalled his tirade and tried to make
sense of it. His doubts didn’t make sense, but there they were and now she
knew. He remembered in her letter that he read that morning, saying ‘Sometimes
there’s not much to say.’ This made more sense than anything he could come up
with at the moment, so he tried to read a book but couldn’t concentrate. After
a while he just lay staring at the ceiling, wondering what their relationship
was about if anything at all, and then not thinking about anything that he
would remember. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mark woke at
seven the next day. Debby was sitting on the couch, fully dressed. She wore a
flowered dress and had lipstick on. ‘I feel better,’ she said when she saw
Mark. ‘I think.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘You
think?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Not
as bad, anyway. Are you going in to work?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘No,’
he said. ‘I’m calling in sick.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They
had coffee together, neither mentioning last night’s conversation. Mark told
her how to get to Mt. Zion hospital on the bus that ran on Divisadero. ‘The bus
stop is right in front of Family Farmacy. And it stops right in front of Mt.
Zion Hospital; you can’t miss it.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">She
put on her long overcoat, and grabbed her shoulder bag. ‘Wish me luck,’ she
said and closed the door behind her. It closed harder than expected and slammed
shut. She opened it again and stuck her head in. ‘Sorry; I didn’t mean to slam
it.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">While
she was gone, Mark worked on one of his stories, marking it up and adding what
he felt was missing. Sentences that struck him as mundane he either eliminated
or tried to make them sound more literary without making it seem obvious.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A
few hours later the buzzer sounded. He opened the door a crack so Debby could
come in, and continued working on a sentence. When she walked in he quickly put
the story back in the drawer. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘How
did it go?’ he asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Good,
I guess.’ She sat on the couch. ‘I always start crying when I talk about
myself. With a shrink I mean. Well, anyone for that matter, but especially with
a shrink.’ Mark sat listening. She took off her coat and plopped it next to
her. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Would
you like to know what I told him?’ Mark nodded. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I
told him I was scared about grad school, about leaving Ann Arbor, and leaving
my parents in Chicago. And scared about what will happen with us. I told him
about Pete. And about you. And how I get confused about what it is I want.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mark
looked at her expectantly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Yes.
I slept with Pete,’ she said and went on. ‘I told him that I’m in pain – the
shrink, not Pete. I wouldn’t mind the pain so much if I thought it was useful. Sometimes
I feel like dying, but most of the time I don’t. And sometimes I think I want
to marry you; but other times I’m not sure.’ She put her hands behind her head
and sat back. ‘That’s what I told him,’ she said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘What
did he say?’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Debby
shrugged. ‘Not a whole lot. He said some things that made me cry. I’d rather
not talk about them. I don’t want to cry right now. He wrote something down in
his notebook and said he would have a name of a shrink in Palo Alto for me in a
few days.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘That’s
all he said?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Pretty
much,’ she said. ‘Oh, he did say he thought my stomach ache was from the Irish
coffee I had. He said spoiled milk can do it.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Somehow
I doubt that,’ Mark said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Well
I’m glad that’s all over with,’ she said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Which?
The stomach ache or the shrink visit?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Both,
I guess.’ She looked more relaxed and talked about how all that was left to do
was to move to Palo Alto and how she wanted to start a new life out west; how she
would be driving there in the car her father bought her for graduation; how she
hoped she didn’t get lost on the way. She just learned to drive, she said, and didn’t
like it because traffic made her nervous, that she’d like to take flying
lessons because it seemed calmer in the air than on the road, and then was
silent. After a moment she said ‘Are you angry at me for going to bed with
Pete?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘A
bit, yes. But I guess it’s no surprise. It isn’t as if we’re married.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘True,’
she said. ‘Have you slept with anyone?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘No,’
he said and thought a moment wondering if he should say what he was thinking,
and then said it. ‘But not for lack of trying.’ They both laughed, stopped, and
then laughed again. She looked for something in her shoulder bag.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Were
you working on one of your stories when I came in?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Yes.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Why
won’t you show me what you’re writing now?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I
don’t know,’ he said. ‘Well, actually I do. A lot of times I think it doesn’t
measure up to what I was doing at school. Probably because I don’t have a bunch
of people telling me how great my stuff is. So the last thing I need these days
is confirmation that my stuff isn’t living up to what it was.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I
know the feeling,’ she said. ‘About lack of confidence. It might be good what
you’re feeling.’ She continued looking in her shoulder bag. ‘Then again, maybe
not.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘That’s
reassuring,’ he said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Where
the hell is it?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Where
is what?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Ah!
I found it.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘What?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘My
diaphragm.’ She held up the small case and headed for the bathroom. This
sounded promising.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A
few minutes later they lay in bed, her head on the pillow next to his. ‘I never
did tell you why I pulled away when you tried to kiss me that night.’ She
turned on her side, facing him. He waited, running his hand through her hair. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘It
was because I thought you were so pure.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Why
would you think that?’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I’m
not entirely sure. Probably because I think I’m not. There’s so much wrong with
me.’ He moved closer to her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘You
know I can’t tell how it will work out with us,’ she said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘I
know,’ he said. ‘I can’t either.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Sometimes
I want the future to be over with so we’ll know what the future will bring.’ He
moved his face close to hers. ‘Are you angry with me?’ she asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Not
at the moment.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘That’s
good,’ she whispered and kissed him. ‘For now.’</span></p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the author </span></h4><p>Barry Garelick has fiction published in <i>The Globe Review, Cafe Lit</i> and <i>Fiction on the Web</i>. His non-fiction pieces have been published in <i>Atlantic,</i> and <i>Education Next</i>. He lives in Morro Bay, California with his wife. </p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-33516489316076995902024-03-11T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-11T16:00:00.144+00:00Scientific Attraction. Lutium By Jim Bates, mocha<h4 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The story so
far:</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In Chapter One, <i>Gadolinium</i>,
we were introduced to Sherry a sixteen-year-old girl who has withdrawn due to
the loss of her father in a tragic car accident. Chapter Two, <i>Terbium</i>,
we were introduced to Zeke who has been in the child welfare system for six
years and is having mental health issues. They both like science a lot. In
Chapter Three, <i>Dysprosium,</i> we are introduced to Mary who is one of the
mental health professionals caring for Zeke. We are also introduced to her
boyfriend Len. In Chapter Four<i>, Holmium</i>, Len, and Mary meet Leroy a
homeless person, and befriend him. In Chapter Five, <i>Erbium</i>, Leroy, and
his pal Riley attempt to rob a store, and the result is better than they could
have ever expected. In Chapter Six, <i>Thulium</i>, they end up going home to
Leroy’s parent's farm and are welcomed with open arms. In Chapter Seven,
Ytterbium, Riley has returned to Minneapolis and is working at Café Enya where
he has an interesting encounter with one of the regular patrons. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Lutetium<br /> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Summer, 2021</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In Minneapolis,
there is an area east of Lake Harriet known for its quiet, tree-lined streets.
It’s called Lynnhurst, an old neighborhood with most homes built between 1870
and 1940. To the west, the area closest to the lake, the homes are bigger and
statelier. To the east, they are more modest, usually one or one and a half
stories. But no matter the size, the homes are well cared for, and, because
sidewalks line the streets, it’s a nice place to go for a walk. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There are many restaurants there,
with Café Enya being one of the most popular. There are also local coffee shops
with names like Patisserie, and Second Shift, and the one that Sherry and Zeke
liked to go to, Mud Bound, named for the thick black coffee both of them loved.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They were students at Monroe High
School and their favorite class was chemistry, taught by Mr. Jordan, a
second-year chemistry teacher. It was the weekend, a pleasant Saturday
afternoon, and they had met to work on a summer school chemistry project
together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sherry opened her notebook. “Okay.
Lutetium. What do have so far?” She had turned seventeen a month earlier and
had a round, friendly face, a hefty build, and stringy brown hair that
frustrated her because she washed it every night and it still looked like she
didn’t. She wore colorful dresses she bought online or at thrift shops.
Sometimes they had a print pattern or sometimes a solid color, like today. Her
peach dress set off her green eyes, at least that’s what Zeke thought anyway,
gazing at her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He was a tall wiry kid, with runaway
dark, curly hair that he kept in place with a green and gold baseball hat that
had a star on it. It was actually a hat for a professional hockey team named
The Stars, but Zeke didn’t care. He liked the color and he liked the star
because he enjoyed going outside late at night and looking at the night sky.
The stars up there gave him a sense of peace and serenity, something that had
been missing most of his life. Until recently.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He
also recently turned seventeen and today he wore black jeans, a black
tee-shirt, and a black jeans jacket. On his feet were work boots. Hanging out
with Sherry was the first girl he’d ever spent time with in his entire life,
and he was head over heels in love with her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sorry.
What?” he asked in response to her question. He was easily distracted around
her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sherry grinned and pointed to his
head. “Head in the game, Zekey Boy. Head in the game.”<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He grinned. God, he loved it
when she talked to him like that. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But, time to focus. Time to get that
report going. “Yeah, lutetium,” he said opening his own notebook. “I don’t have
much.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sherry took a sip of her coffee.
“It’s a strange element.” She took off her wire-rimmed granny glasses, cleaned
them on a napkin, and then put them on, a move Zeke noticed she did often,
especially if she was deep in thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zeke drank from his mug. “Yeah. It’s
not found naturally in nature, but only shows up when it’s synthesized.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sherry signed. “I know. It’s weird
that it gets to be an element.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Agreed.” Zeke read from his notes.
“What I’ve got is that lutetium was discovered independently in 1907 by three
different guys: one, French scientist Georges Urbain, two, Austrian
mineralogist </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freiherr" title="Freiherr"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Baron</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Auer_von_Welsbach" title="Carl Auer von Welsbach"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Carl Auer von
Welsbach</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, and, three, American chemist </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_James_(chemist)" title="Charles James (chemist)"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Charles James</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. All
of them found lutetium as an impurity in the mineral </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ytterbia" title="Ytterbia"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">ytterbia</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">,
which was previously thought to consist entirely of ytterbium. I guess in 1909
the Academy of Science awarded the discovery to Urbain.” He looked at her.
“Remember, we talked about ytterbium in class.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Right.” She held up her hand and
began ticking off the main points. “Rare earth metal. Found in Sweden northeast
of Stockholm on the island archipelago of Resaro. Named after the town of
Ytterby where the mine is located.” She smiled at him, displaying straight
teeth with a tiny gap between the front two that Zeke found very sexy. God, he
had it bad for her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah,” he responded, drinking some
more coffee. He loved science and found it to be a savior of sorts after the
life he’d led. “Does it bother you that these lanthanides are so…Um. So
boring?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sherry, who’d just taken her own sip
burst out laughing, spraying coffee all over the table. “Oops,” she said, still
laughing. “Sorry about that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zeke grabbed some paper napkins and
started dabbing up the spillage. “No problem,” he grinned at her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She took her own handful of napkins
and helped. The few other customers in the café glanced at the two of them and
went back to whatever they were doing. Zeke looked over at the counter and the
two waitpersons Ben and Sylvia were chuckling. They’d been employed at Mud Bound
long before Zeke and Sherry had started hanging out there and had been enjoying
the budding relationship forming between the two teenagers over the past month
or two. Ben waved and Zeke waved back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With the coffee cleaned up, Zeke
said. “Want to take a break?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sure.” Sherry looked out the
window. “It’s beautiful outside. How about let’s go for a walk?” She looked at
her phone. “My mom’s picking us up here at 4 pm. We’ve got an hour.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“She can still drop me off at my
place, right?” Zeke lived with his foster parents Don and Phyliss in south
Minneapolis a few miles from the coffee shop.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yep. No problem.” She smiled and
waved at Ben and Sylvia. “See you guys later.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They waved back. “See ya.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zeke picked up the empty mugs and
set them in the used tableware container. Sherry tossed out the wet napkins.
Then they each shouldered their backpacks and walked outside into the warm July
sunshine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Let’s head for the lake,” Sherry
suggested.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sounds good to me.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mr. Jordan had designed the summer
class, especially for them. He was working with Doctor Sylvester Gannon the
psychologist Sherry and Zeke were both seeing. Since the two young people had
an aptitude for and an interest in science, chemistry especially, it seemed
like a good idea. So far it was working wonderfully. Mr. Jordan monitored their
work, which was to write reports on certain elements of the periodic table.
When they were done with each one, he’d join Sherry and Zeke in Doctor Gannon’s
office when they gave their report. Sometimes others on the staff of the
psychiatric unit of Hennepin County Medical would attend. Others, like Mary
Swanson, who’d been part of Zeke’s treatment ever since she’d met him during
his first stay at the hospital for evaluation six years earlier after his
mother had run off with her boyfriend, never to be seen again. He’d been ten at
the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Since then, Zeke had been in the
foster care system. Zeke’s two younger sisters were readily adopted, but not
Zeke. He was shuffled from one home to the next as he began acting out and
getting into trouble. Eventually, he turned to drugs. He wasn’t a full-time
addict, but he’d be the first one to admit he used them more than he should.
Then, this past school year, he’d stumbled into Mr. Jordan’s classroom and his
life had changed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Almost
like in a movie,” he’d told Sherry once. “It was awesome.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What
happened was that after a week or two of trying to understand what the teacher
was talking about, it was like a light bulb had gone off in his brain. He
realized that Mr. Jordan was not only talking about chemistry but also about
atoms and molecules and how things in the world were put together. In short, he
was talking about life. Zeke’s mind was blown, but in a good way, and he was
hooked. That fall he cleaned up his act, stayed away from drugs, and applied
himself to studying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All was going well until this past
spring when Mr. Jordan gave the class a final assignment for the year,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I want you to write a report,” he’d
told them. “It has to do with the periodic table.” He smiled at the
good-natured moans and groans coming from the class. Mr. Jordan was a
well-liked and popular teacher. “And…I want you to read them out loud in front
of the class.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zeke had been so excited that not
only had he written his report, but he’d also got carried away and written kind
a story of his life, a subject he hadn’t talked much about, even in all of his
years of therapy with doctor Gannon. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The day before he was to give the
report, he’d scored some heroin to try and calm his wired nerves. He smoked it
and, unfortunately, overdosed. He’d ended up back at the psych ward and it was
there where he’d told doctor Gannon about the report. With Zeke’s approval,
doctor Gannon had told Zeke’s foster parents who had brought the report in for
the doctor to read. He’d shared it with Mary and two other men on the staff and
they’d all agreed that Zeke was a young man with a lot of potential. Doctor
Gannon then told Mr. Jordan and Zeke had eventually read his report to him
during a special meeting in Doctor Gannon’s office. Mr. Jordan, Mary, and a few
other staff members were there as well. Oh, and Sherry had also attended. Zeke
had asked Mr. Jordan if he thought Sherry would like to come along with him to
hear it. He’d asked and she’d accepted. The two of them had been friends ever
since.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sherry was dealing with her own
recovery. Six years earlier on the way home from hockey practice, the car
Sherry’s father was driving spun out on a patch of ice killing both her father
and her best friend Leslie. Sherry survived only by the fast thinking of a
nearby dog-walker who had been able to slow the bleeding from her neck wound
until the paramedic arrived. In the weeks following the accident, Sherry’s
mother had gone into therapy while Sherry applied herself to her studies,
especially science. She became more withdrawn than she had ever been, applying
herself even more to her studies and schoolwork. She also spent a lot of time
with Leslie who lived on in her memory so strongly that it was like she was a
real person, her imaginary friend. Now, with Zeke in her life, Leslie didn’t
appear all that often. And when she did, it was all right. She liked Zeke.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>Yeah, he’s okay</i>, she’d told
Sherry just the other day. <i>You could do a lot worse</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Considering he’s my first-ever
boyfriend, thanks for that,” Sherry had told her, smiling. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Leslie had just grinned and given
her a high five in return.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now, Sherry and Zeke tried to spend
as much time together as they could. Both of them had never been so happy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sherry’s
thoughts were interrupted by Zeke. “Shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They
were waiting for the light to change on the corner of Lyndale and 40<sup>th</sup>
Street. It was a busy intersection. There was a thrift store on one corner. An
Indian restaurant called Eastern Star took up another corner. Right behind them
was a small grocery store. Directly across from them was a Quik-Stop gas
station. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“There.”
Zeke pointed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sherry
looked. Across the street were three scruffy-looking guys who were hanging out
next to a bus shelter. They were in their late teens. White guys in oversized
baseball trunks, tee-shirts, and flat-brim baseball hats, smoking cigarettes
and pushing each other around, sort of playfully. Sort of not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“What?”
she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I
know those dudes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She
looked again. One of them gave the finger to a car driven by an old lady who
was a little slow pulling away from the stop light. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“They
look kind of rough. How do you know them?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Zeke’s
ears turned red. “Um. I used to buy drugs from them.” He pointed again. “That
guy. The tall one with the red hat and the scraggly beard. He’s bad news.
Name’s Spike.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Spike?”
Sherry coughed out a laugh. “Seriously?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Zeke
took her by the arm. “Seriously. Don’t laugh,” he whispered. “Keep it down. The
guy’s a jerk. He’s mean.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A
worried look crossed her face, and she frowned. “If that’s the case, maybe we
should turn around and get out of here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Zeke
was about ready to agree with her when Spike saw him. He pointed and gave him
the thumbs-up sign, their former signal for if Zeke was interested in scoring
anything from him. Zeke shook his head in the negative. “No,” he yelled across
the street. Then he watched in horror as Spike said something to his two
friends. In the next moment, all three sauntered across the street heading
right to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Damn,”
Zeke said to Sherry. “This is not what I need.” Ever since the episode the day
before his speech in science class, Zeke had been clean. He’d been living with
his foster parents, seeing Doctor Gannon, and going to meetings at a group home
near the hospital just to make sure he was doing all right. And he was. He was
getting on with his life. He was thinking about even getting a job, like at Mud
Bound. And he was taking the summer class of course. And seeing Sherry. For
sure. Sherry. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He
glanced at her and she glanced back. <i>Don’t worry</i>, she mouthed silently.
Then she straightened her shoulders and said, “Hi, gentleman,” as Spike and his
buddies walked up. “What’s going on?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Spike
grinned a smirky grin and said, “Hey, little lady.” His eyes brushed up and
down her front, mentally undressing her. She made herself not shudder, even
though he gave her a bad vibe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I’m
doing good.” She stepped aside. “Now, if you don’t mind, we’ve got someplace we
need to be.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Spike
didn’t like being told what to do. Especially not by a female. “Hold it, little
lady,” he said, putting his hand inches from her chest. “You aren’t going
anyway.” He turned to Zeke. “You’re awfully quiet, my man.” He pointed to
Sherry. “Lady got you pussy whipped?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Zeke
was normally a quiet, live-and-let-live kind of guy, but he didn’t like the way
Spike was acting toward Sherry. “Not at all, Spike,” he said, trying to keep
the quiver out of his voice. Spike had him by three inches and at least fifty
pounds. Plus, his two buddies were with him. “We’re just out enjoying the day.”
He pointed down the street. “Going for a walk.” He took Sherry’s hand and
stepped to the side. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be on our way.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Later,
Zeke would swear that that’s all he said, but apparently Spike hadn’t liked
what he’d heard. He held up his hand. “No. I’ll not be excused,” he said,
sneering. He turned and spat on the ground. “It’s fine if you don’t want to buy
from me, but, I’m a little short of cash. So, before you go…” he grinned his ugly
grin again, “I need you to give me all of your money.” He glanced at Sherry,
his eyes coasting down to her handbag, then moving up to her breasts. “You,
too, sweetheart.” He smiled. “If you’re nice, my boys and I will take you with
us.” He grinned and licked his lips. “Show you a real good time.” He turned
back to Zeke. “First you, pal.” He took out a knife and flicked it open. It had
a four-inch blade. Zeke had seen it before. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Damn,
Spike, you don’t have to act this way,” Zeke said, reaching for his wallet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Sure,
I do,” he said. Then he pointed his knife toward Sherry. “In fact, I’ve decided
I’m going to take the little lady with us. Time to show her what it’s like to
be with a real man.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He
leaned toward Zeke and held the point of his knife right below his right eye.
His buddies watched with stupid grins on their faces. None of the three noticed
as Sherry, in one quick movement, reached into her shoulder bag, grabbed her
bottle of pepper spray, flipped off the cap, and sprayed Spike right in the
face. Then she sprayed his two buddies. In ten seconds, they were all on the
sidewalk, hands clasped to their eyes, writhing in pain. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Take
that, you creeps,” Sherry said, holding the can ready to spray again if she
needed to. She didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“And
stay away from me,” Zeke added, standing over Spike after he’d kicked the knife
away. Then he pointed to Sherry. “And her, too.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Spike
couldn’t speak, but Zeke knew that the jerk would be pissed. Was he worried
about possible repercussions from the would-be gangsta? Maybe. But, then again,
not much. One thing he knew about the drug-dealing bully. Spike was a coward. A
big one that needed his two henchmen to back him up. Zeke looked at the three
of them rolling back and forth on the sidewalk, crying as tears streamed down their
faces while a crowd gathered around. The dealers got what they deserved. He’d
take his chances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A
minute later a police car showed up and hauled them away. The confrontation had
not gone unnoticed. At least three people had called it in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After
the scene cleared, Sherry took out her phone. “It’s nearly time for Mom to pick
us up at Mudd Bound. We should head back.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They
started walking. Zeke said, “You were pretty incredible back there.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“You
were, too. I liked how you just tried to get past that jerk and not make a big
deal.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Zeke
laughed. “I’m not a macho man, I’ll tell you that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I
know,” Sherry grinned. “I don’t mind at all.” They walked along for half a
block quietly thinking their own private thoughts. Then she stopped and took
his arm. “Say, I have a question. You weren’t thinking of buying anything from
him, were you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
was a question out of the blue, but it was a question he was glad she asked. He
didn’t want any secrets between them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After
thinking about it for a few moments he said, “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Good,”
she said, relieved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They
walked a little further and then Zeke said, “Look, can I tell you something?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Sure,”
Sherry said, stopping to look at him. She could tell he had something important
to say and she was all ears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I have to admit, I think about it all the
time.” His father had sold drugs and been an addict. His mother used meth while
she was pregnant with him. Dealing with addiction was something Zeke was going
to have to deal with his whole life. He knew that. To be honest, he kind of liked
the feeling drugs gave him sometimes. At least in the past, he did. But that
was then, and this was now. Now was different. Now he had some things in his
life worth living for. He took her hand. “In the past, I did it for all kinds
of reasons.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Like
what?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh,
I was lonely, I guess. That was a big part of it. I missed my mom. And my
sisters. I have no idea where they ended up.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“We
can find them, you know. Ancestry and stuff like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">All
he heard was that she’d used the word ‘we’. “That’d be cool.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Look,
I know things were tough for you, but the one thing I’ve learned dealing with
my dad’s death is that life is hard sometimes. We’ve just got to muddle through
somehow.” She grinned. “If not, we could end up like Spike back there.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Zeke
nodded, “No kidding. I hear you. I couldn’t agree more.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By
now they’d arrived at the coffee shop. It was just about 4 pm, almost time for
Sherry’s mom to pick them up. There were a couple of empty tables for outside
seating and the two of them sat down. Sherry took out her phone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I’ve
got a text from mom. She’s on her way.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Zeke
wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. He loved talking to her. “You know that report
isn’t due until next week. We’re making good progress on it. Do you think we
could get together and work on it again? Soon?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sherry
set her phone down. In the back of her mind, she could hear Leslie saying, <i>go
for it, go for it.</i> But did she really want ‘go for it?’ To hang out with
Zeke? A guy with a boatload of troubles? God only knew she had enough of her
own. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She
looked over at him. He was a nice guy. She enjoyed being with him. Plus, he
liked science. That counted for a lot. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Sure,”
she said, standing up as her mom pulled up to the curb and beeped the horn.
“How about tomorrow?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He
stood up to join her. “I’d love to.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
two of them walked to the car, but before they got in, Sherry leaned into him
and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Me, too. Tomorrow it is.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Zeke’s
smile had never been so wide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h4 style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">About the author </span></h4><div>Jim lives in a small town in Minnesota. He loves to write! His stories and poems have appeared in over 500 online and print publications. To learn more and to see all of his work, check out his blog at: <a href="http://www.theviewfromlonglake.wordpress.com">www.theviewfromlonglake.wordpress.com</a>. </div><div>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)</div><script type='text/javascript' src='https://storage.ko-fi.com/cdn/widget/Widget_2.js'></script><script type='text/javascript'>kofiwidget2.init('Support Me on Ko-fi', '#29abe0', 'F2F6C3CXJ');kofiwidget2.draw();</script>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-71829084740135559522024-03-10T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-10T16:00:00.266+00:00Sunday Serial, 240 x 70, Gill James, 7. Gaming 24 April 2018, cola,<p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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vouchers for Gaming World.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cheque just
get lost in his bank account, went <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>towards paying the bills. He just had to buy
another game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">He
looked at the display of the latest arrivals. What was it to be? Fighting an
ancient monster?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or something spooky </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";"> the mystery of a deserted house, perhaps?
Who were those hooded figures? The game's title indicated violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps not such a good idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She'd only complain. A quirky red car with a
grin on its face might mean his hand </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">eye coordination would be stretched. That would be no bad thing.
That was his excuse for spending so much time on his computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there was that deep space one </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"Come on. Get a move on. The bus is
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"Oh, woman. Stop nagging, will
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"Well hurry up." </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He pushed open the door of the shop.
Consoles whirred and blinked as gamers concentrated on improving their scores. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave grinned at him. "Hi, Sammy. I've
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"Oh?" </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave reached down under the counter. He
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"What is it?" </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"You'll just have to try it and
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"The bus </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">…?" </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"You won't have to worry about the bus
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prototype but oh, boy. It'll change your life. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sammy slipped the disc into the DVD
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">About the author </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gill James is published by The Red Telephone, Butterfly and
Chapeltown. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She edits <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CafeLit </i>and
writes for the online community news magazine: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talking About My Generation. </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing and has an MA in
Writing for Children and PhD in Creative and Critical Writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.gilljameswriter.com">http://www.gilljameswriter.com</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE">https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE</a>
</p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://twitter.com/GillJames">https://twitter.com/GillJames</a>
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Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-58861495165155435412024-03-09T17:24:00.000+00:002024-03-09T17:24:00.258+00:00Saturday Sample: January Stones 2013, Gill James, When Physics Got Sick, tap water, <h4 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When physics got sick</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">The Scientist
carefully took the shards of glass out of the cupboard, dropped them in the
sink, and watched underwhelmed as the tumbler formed itself. It seemed natural,
as if it had happened a thousand times before. Yet his constantly questioning
mind wondered whether this, this first occurrence of something quite
extraordinary, marked the beginning of the end as the second law of
thermodynamics was breaking down.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">As he filled the
tumbler with water he became aware that at the same time as being in his
kitchen he was also upstairs and at the other side of the universe, so clearly
Planck’s Constant had suddenly become somewhat bigger.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">Later,
examining the internal structure of protons, he found that they were indeed made
of cream cheese and constantly mumbled nonsensical German so the label “quark”
was actually extremely apt. Yet there was a paradox because surely the cream
cheese itself was made of atoms, and they, in turn, of protons.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">And yet.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">There was no
problem for Newton. Apples still fell merrily on the heads of those foolish
enough to sit under apple-trees in the autumn. The big nuclear reactor in the
sky still reacted. His home planet appeared to be carrying on its Maypole dance
around its star and keeping up its complex ceilidh with the rest of the universe.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">The Scientist
paused for a moment and pondered. Perhaps the Humanities people were right
after all. Every physicist knew that all of these laws did not work all of the
time. Everything was relative anyway – Einstein had shown this. There could be
a god, then. Or maybe the Matrix was not so far-fetched. It might even be the
philosophers who had got it right – that life is but an illusion.</span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.thebridgetowncafebooksshop.co.uk/2021/06/january-stones.html">Find a copy here </a></span></span></div><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">About the author </span></h4><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</h4><p class="MsoNormal">Gill James is published by The Red Telephone, Butterfly and
Chapeltown. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She edits <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CafeLit </i>and
writes for the online community news magazine: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talking About My Generation. </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing and has an MA in
Writing for Children and PhD in Creative and Critical Writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.gilljameswriter.com">http://www.gilljameswriter.com</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE">https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE</a>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://twitter.com/GillJames">https://twitter.com/GillJames</a>
</p>
Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-39932106646706330582024-03-08T16:00:00.008+00:002024-03-08T16:00:00.350+00:00Decluttering by Paula R C Readman, Shroomi Dark Roast Mushroom coffee for energising, focus, and a positive mood<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Okay, so I’m sentimental about certain things, giving them a deeper
meaning. But, over the years, my feelings for such things have changed,’ Jane explained
to her friend Lucy as they sat in her garden, on a bright sunny morning,
sipping coffee. ‘For years, an old-fashioned coffee pot stood on the shelf in
my kitchen. You know the one, I mean?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Oh yes, the brown one that sat on the high
shelf. Didn't you find it in a flea market, on your travels in France?’ Lucy
asked with a smile.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘No. It came from my parents' house. Mum and
Dad wanted to downsize, as they were getting older. I was helping Mum sort out
all the clutter, and while rooting around in the cupboard under the stairs, I
dragged out a box. In it, wrapped in old newspaper was the coffee pot. I loved
the shape of it, and believed it once belonged to my grandmother. It looked old
and well-used, and the date on the newspaper was 1954.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘It didn’t belong to your grandmother, after
all?’ Lucy said with a frown.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘See where sentimentality got me. I created a
romantic picture in my mind of the object whereas, in reality, it was the
furthest thing from the truth.’ Jane sipped her coffee.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Surely, something made you connect it to your
grandmother?'</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘I don’t know, maybe it was the date of the
newspaper. Why would Mum and Dad keep it, if they didn’t have some connection
to it? Anyway, I asked Mum if I could have it. I wanted a keepsake that past
generations had passed on. The old brown earthen pot had a look of age about
it. Mum just shrugged her shoulders and said, ‘Take it, if you want it.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘So why are you throwing it out now?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘What’s the point of cluttering up your life
with things that are no longer important? Like my parents I need to downsize
and move on with the next chapter in my life.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Yes, I understand that.’ Lucy glanced in the
direction of her house, and then to the skip standing on Jane’s drive. ‘Now my
children are teenagers, I could do with having a good clear-out myself.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘When I think how sentimental I’ve been about
holding on to things I thought were important to me, I realize now that no one
else cares, the same way I do. In the end, everything will end up in a skip,’
Jane said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘That’s sad,’ Lucy said. ‘But I see your
point. We are all hoarders, aren’t we?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘I’m not anymore. It’s time I had a good clear
out and downsized, especially since divorcing my husband. That’s what the skip
is for, so I can make a fresh start after years of his hoarding. A clean slate,
both physically and mentally.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy laughed. ‘I love your positivity. So
you’re coming out with me and the other girls tonight?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘You bet I am.’ Jane dropped the coffee pot
into the skip on top of a pile of her ex-husband’s clothes. ‘Well, if Bill can
buy a whole new wardrobe to look young and trendy for the younger woman in his
life, then I can make a fresh start too,’ Jane said, emptying the dregs of her
coffee mug onto the ground. ‘Would you like to see the new dress I bought
especially for tonight?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Oh, yes, please.’ Lucy followed Jane into the
kitchen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Great, I’ll stick the kettle on again. Just another
couple of armfuls of my ex’s clothes to go into the skip, and I'll be done,’ Jane
added with a laugh. ‘More space for me to fill with new outfits in the future.’ </span></p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the author </span></h4><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /></span></h4><p>
Paula R. C. Readman is a prolific writer. She shares her life with her husband, Russell, and two cats. She collaborates with three publishers and has penned six books and over a hundred short stories.
Blog: <a href="https://colourswordspaper.blog">https://colourswordspaper.blog</a> or just Google Paula R C Readman, and something’s bound to pop up. </p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-2939326571097847572024-03-07T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-07T16:00:00.148+00:00Champagne Ideas, Lemonade Pockets by Sarah Swatridge, Champagne<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">To
Adele’s surprise she’d found a bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge. It
hadn’t been there yesterday, so Peter obviously had something to tell her.
Clearly something worth celebrating!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Adele’s imagination started to work
overtime. Life had been so dull and routine of late. How exciting to have some
good news at long last. She wondered what it could be? If he’d won The Lottery,
he’d have mentioned it already. Had Peter been promoted? Had he been given a
pay rise?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">She heard the front door open and rushed
to greet him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘So,
tell me?’ Adele asked as she threw her arms around him. ‘Why are we
celebrating?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Are
we?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘There’s
champagne in the fridge!’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Oh
that,’ said Peter wincing. ‘Don’t get too excited. I won it in a raffle.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Oh,’
said Adele flatly. ‘Is that tooth still bothering you?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Yes,
but now I’ve got a dental appointment.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Adele busied herself making tea,
Peter set the table.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘You’re
quiet. Is something wrong?’ he asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I
didn’t realise how much I craved something positive.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I
know what you mean,’ he gave her a hug. ‘We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could</i>
just open it.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘No.
Let’s wait for an occasion. It doesn’t have to be anything huge, just something
hopeful.’<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">There didn’t seem to be anything on the
horizon that would bring good fortune, but at least they were well prepared
when their luck changed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I’ll
celebrate if my toothache has gone by the weekend,’ Peter rubbed his jaw.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Every time Adele opened the fridge,
she saw the bottle of fizz, and decided to increase her efforts to get a
permanent full-time job. She’d had enough of being a temp. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they could celebrate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Toward the end of the week, she
noticed building work going on in a shop that had been empty for some time. Maybe
there would be a job opportunity there? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Peter’s toothache gradually worsened.
Each night he kept them awake. They were both fed up with it by Friday, and irritable
through lack of sleep.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">As Adele made her way home after
work on Friday, she noticed the old shop had a new sign, <i>Nelson’s Champagne
Bar. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made a point of chatting to
the workmen who were re-fitting the premises. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Are
you looking for staff?’ she asked hopefully.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I
couldn’t say,’ one of the men told her. ‘But if you want to leave your details,
I’ll give them to the boss. He calls in most evenings.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I’ll
drop the information in on Monday. Have a good weekend.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Adele spent her weekend updating her
CV while Peter moped around feeling sorry for himself. He’d offered to sleep on
the sofa and seemed a bit put out when Adele agreed it was a good idea.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I’m not feeling brilliant myself,’
she told him. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘You
can’t blame me. Toothache’s not catching.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I
think I’m just tired. Hopefully I’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Shall
we curl up together and open the bottle?’ Peter asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I
thought the dentist gave you antibiotics. You’re not meant to drink while
you’re taking them. Let’s wait until you’re better, just to be on the safe
side.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘You’re
probably right,’ Peter conceded, ‘I’d forgotten about my tablets, but they are
helping.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Adele still wasn’t feeling great on
Monday morning, but made sure she handed in her CV first thing, on her way to
work. She watched the foreman put it on a pile of crates. She doubted whether
the boss would ever get to read her carefully worded letter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">However, just as she was packing up
for the day, her mobile buzzed and she was delighted to get a phone call
inviting her for an interview the following afternoon. Perhaps things were
beginning to look up after all? She was certainly feeling brighter as the day
had worn on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">She decided not to mention her
interview to Peter, just in case. Over the last six months since she’d been
made redundant, she’d gone for numerous interviews but always, it seemed, came
in second place. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">The good news was, Peter’s toothache
had gone, and he returned to their bedroom. Adele was pleased. She’d missed him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I think we do have several things
to celebrate,’ she told him that evening. ‘Your toothache’s better, thank goodness,
and…’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘And?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Well,
you have to laugh,’ she said as she faced Peter. ‘I’ve got a new job! A
permanent, full time one.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Excellent
news!’ Peter pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently on the forehead. ‘Why
are you laughing?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘My
new job’s in a Champagne Bar that’s opening next month! I’ve got to learn all
about champagne and cocktails, which includes tasting them.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Well,
we can start by opening this one,’ Peter said heading for the fridge.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Actually,’ Adele said, putting her
hand firmly on the fridge door. ‘I’d rather if we kept it a little longer,
maybe seven or eight months at least?’ Peter looked puzzled. ‘You remember I
told you I wasn’t feeling too good?’ Peter nodded. ‘I felt dreadful again this
morning so I went to the doctor. It turns out… I’m pregnant.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Peter’s face changed from his look
of concern into a huge grin.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Now
that’s the best news ever,’ he said. ‘Come and sit down and let me fuss over
you.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘I thought I ought to mention it to
my new boss because it’s no use expecting me to drink champagne and cocktails,
because obviously I’ll need to be sensible and look after the baby, our baby.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘And
they still want you?’ Peter sounded as surprised as she was.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Century Gothic","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">‘He wasn’t happy at first, but then
thanked me for being honest,’ Adele told him. ‘Then suddenly, I had a
light-bulb moment and I offered to specialise in Mocktails. No one ever
volunteers to do that, so he was really pleased I actually wanted to sip
Mocktails instead of Cocktails. He said I can start on Monday. Now I’ve got so
much to look forward to – my new job and the baby. And I can’t wait to phone my
Mum, I just wanted to tell you first… but the champagne will have to wait.’</span></p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">About the author</h4><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"></h4><p>Sarah Swatridge writes short stories for women’s magazines worldwide. She also writes novellas, usually with an historical theme, often Victorian, and has a growing number of large print books available in libraries and online.</p><p><a href="http://www.sarahswatridge.co.uk">www.sarahswatridge.co.uk</a> <br /></p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
<script src="https://storage.ko-fi.com/cdn/widget/Widget_2.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">kofiwidget2.init('Support Me on Ko-fi', '#29abe0', 'F2F6C3CXJ');kofiwidget2.draw();</script> </p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-87172059914691876202024-03-06T16:00:00.063+00:002024-03-06T16:00:00.141+00:00Iyasu’s Other Ride by Giovanni Ruffini, Scotch neat <p></p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I wake in Iyasu’s bed confused. Sun comes
streaming through old, wood-paned windows. I try to remember where I am, why I’m
not in my hotel. I blink, rub the gunk from my eyes. I open one of the windows,
get a wave of wood-fueled fires and rain, the one smell from Addis I never
forget. Tin roofs outside, greens and reds, rusting their way down the hill
outside of his compound, shards of glass glued to the tops of the walls around
his house, cheaper than barbed wire. His driveway, slick with rain, his car
gone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I check my watch. Just after 8:30 in
the morning. <i>Where’d he go?</i> I ask myself.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I can smell the injera stew from the
kitchen, realize how hungry I am, remember last night’s dinner.<i> That damn
car of his</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I walk down the hall, look into the
living room, see the old TV, the blankets on the couch where Iyasu had slept
last night. His mom is in the kitchen and catches my eye. ‘Hello,’ she smiles. ‘You
eat?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I nod and thank her, sitting down in
front of a plate. Last night’s injera, soaked in a mix of sauces from the lamb
tibs and the shiro, warmed up just enough to make it work. Coffee on the side.
I get to it, smiling at mom, mom smiling back. She offers more, I keep eating.
Finally, I ask, ‘Iyasu?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She shakes her head. ‘Driving.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘Job?’ She nods back at me. <i>Great</i>, I think. <i>Stuck
here with mom. Should’ve made him drive all the way back last night.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">We had left Addis early enough that morning. ‘One
hour and one half,’ he had said, smiling, confident. But the rain had kept
coming, and we’d gotten stuck behind a truck broken down on the road to
Bishoftu. Took us nearly three hours to get to Ziway, and I should have known.
Took us long enough to get to Zuqualla last time I hired him to drive those
roads. Ziway was twice as far.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">We stopped in Ziway for lunch, fish and pasta,
another Orthodox fast day, then headed down to the pier. Ashenafi, Iyasu, and I
spent a good twenty minutes arguing over price and itinerary. ‘Gelila Island is
better,’ Ashenafi had said. ‘And bird island.’ I wanted Tulu Gudo. The whole
point of the trip was Tulu Gudo. ‘Too far,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘Four
hours, more.’ After enough of this, we had a price. ‘Four hundred birr. You,’ he
insisted, ‘only customer. No one goes Tulu Gudo.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Half an hour later, Ashenafi, Iyasu, and seven other
people hopped on his boat with me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Tulu Gudo was the closest thing to paradise I’d ever
seen. Layers of green sprinkled with darker clumps of green. Fishermen floated
by on reed canoes, looked at me, nodded and smiled. It had rained a little on
the ride, just enough for a slim rainbow of color to cut its way over the
island when we pulled into the dock. Children bathed naked in the hot springs just
off the path around the hill.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">I asked Ashenafi for the way to the church, to Debre
Tsion. He spoke to the locals, and one of them, a teenage boy, ran off, waving
for us to follow. The church was locked when we got to the top of the hill, and
we lost some time looking for a priest with the key. He gave me a tour, pointed
to the church bell. ‘Queen Zewditu,’ he said. Pointed at an old leather-bound
manuscript resting on a podium. ‘The Glory of the Kings,’ he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">I looked at the building, its tin roof, its
cinderblock and concrete walls, and shrugged. ‘This is a new church,’ I said to
them. ‘Where is the old one?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">The priest looked at Ashenafi and Iyasu, puzzled.
The three men chatted back and forth in Amharic, pointing at me, and somewhere
further up the hill. The priest shook his head and turned to leave.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘The Tabot from Saint Mary of Tsion in Aksum was
there once,’ Ashenafi said to me. ‘The Ark of the Covenant. But it is not there
anymore.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘Is it far?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘Another hour further inland.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">I looked at Iyasu, who was staring down at his
shoes. ‘Fine, let’s go,’ I said, and walked out of the church. I gave the
priest a few birr before taking a long look at the path leading into the trees.
An hour later, I was back on the boat, eleven other people this time along for
the ride to town.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘You’re just like the other one,’ Iyasu said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘Other one?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘In the hotel,’ he smiled. ‘The other American.
Always looking for something you can never find.’ I kept my mouth shut for the
rest of the boat ride, took photos of the fishermen, thought about the kids in
the hot springs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">We'd gotten as far back as Bishoftu when the car
rolled to a stop. Iyasu was out of gas. We got out and started to walk. Took
two minutes before I’d picked up some kids along the way, following me,
grabbing my sleeves. ‘You you, money money,’ they said, calling after me for
half a mile. We made it to the first gas station in town, found it closed.
Iyasu took it up with guys standing around outside, agreed on the price for a
liter of gas, argued for three or four minutes over which bottle was a liter
and which was too small. Put a hose in some guy’s tank, sucked on it like a
straw until the gas came pouring into the bottle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">It was past dinner time by the time we hit the
outskirts of Addis. We wouldn’t even make it to Bole before my hotel restaurant
would close for the night. He asked me over for dinner, and I’d said yes, angry
with hunger. When his mother suggested I stay the night, I was too tired to say
no. Watching her feed me more stew the next morning, I wondered what she
thought of her son, his life, his rides. Wondered where her husband was, her
five other kids.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘Thank you. I go now,’ I said finally. ‘My hotel.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">She shook her head. ‘Too far,’ she whispered. ‘You
wait.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">I looked out the window, watched the rain fall, said
nothing. Later that day, when Iyasu came back home, I asked him where he’d
been. He looked upset at something, annoyed. He shook his head, told me about the
other man at my hotel, the American. Had wanted an early pickup from the hotel
and a roundtrip to Entoto.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘The park?’ I asked. ‘Why?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘Mushrooms,’ he whispered, staring at his shoes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">We tossed my stuff back in the car and drove off. I
figured it was better to skip the hotel and head right to the next stop, keep
it local this time. Washa Mikael, an old rock-cut church up in Yekka, close
enough to downtown Addis that I’d be back in my hotel in time for dinner.
Ethiopian Orthodox say it was built in the fourth century, just after Abuna
Selama had converted the kings. Most of us didn’t think that date worked. Must
have been later, maybe thirteenth or fourteenth century, before Ahmed Gragn had
taken the southern parts of the country. I wanted to look for inscriptions on
the walls, graffiti, anything that would help date the place.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Iyasu had never heard of it. When we got into the
hills, we must have missed a sign, taken a turn too soon, something. We came to
a dead end in the road, tires sunk in rain-filled craters in the mud. The sun
had come up, the grass and trees glowing on the hilltop. Iyasu and I looked at
the map, at the hill, shrugged at each other, and started climbing up on foot.
We clambered over some kind of thorny weeds covering slippery gaps in the hill.
He missed a step, slipped, twisted his ankle and ripped a gash in his jeans.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘I’m sorry, man,’ I said to him. ‘I should’ve had a
better idea where I was going.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">He waved me off, shook his head, kept walking up the
hill. ‘No, no. My fault. I am the driver, I am the guide.’ He was quiet for a
minute, a strange look on his face. ‘I pass exams, you know, for university. Four
years ago. The fees, too much money. My family, they do not have any, so I
drive.’ He shrugged.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">The closer we got to the top, the harder the summer sun
hit us, and I was drenched with sweat by the time we cleared the ridge. Some
kids were playing nearby. Iyasu got directions to the church and asked for
water. They point to a pump pulling water out of the ground. Iyasu filled his
bottle, drank nearly half of it, filled it again, and handed it to me. I poured
some on my hand, rinsed my face with it, and poured some over my head. I looked
up and saw him laughing at me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘You think it’s dirty,’ he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">I shrugged, handed the bottle back, and kept
walking. We found the church cut into the hillside, overgrown with vines and
creepers, trees blocking the path. The outer walls had collapsed years ago. The
Italian bombs in the 1930s? Ahmed Gragn in the 1530s? I thought of the old
quote. <i>Ethiopia slept near a thousand years, forgetful of the world by whom it
was forgotten</i>.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> We got back to my hotel early this time, little to show but a few more photos. The TV in the lobby had Ethiopian news on mute, a split screen showing the broadcaster on the left and George Bush, the second one, on the right. ‘How do you like him?’ Iyasu asked me, pointing at the TV. ‘The new one?’ I noticed a man in a dark suit sitting in a chair next to the TV, lowering his newspaper, looking at me. I felt a little dizzy, had to lean against the counter by the receptionist. I thought about my malaria meds and tried to remember the side-effects.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> ‘There he is!’ A booming voice called across the lobby, and an old bear of a man headed for Iyasu and gave him a hug. He smiled, looking at me. ‘You must be the other one,’ he said, grabbing my hand. ‘I’ve heard about you. Lou Cramer.’ Tall, fat, blue jeans and a white undershirt, sparkling blue eyes, a grin barely hidden under a mustache and pure white beard draped down to his belly button, a scraggly ponytail dangling off the back of his head.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> I noticed the man in the chair check his watch, get up, walk out of the hotel. I wondered who he was reporting to. Dammit, I thought. The lariam is getting to me.<br /> The three of us had dinner and drinks at the hotel restaurant. Lou picked up the tab. Halfway through dinner, another man with a dark suit and this morning’s paper came in and sat down, drank some coffee, stared at us. Lou asked about my work. I gave something vague about trying to interpret the prophecies of the holy women at Zuqualla, the ones they called the Oromo Sibyls. He nodded, said something about the divine goddess hidden in all of us. I smiled and ordered another beer.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><br /> After dinner, he invited us back to his room. ‘There’s something I’d like to share with you.’</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><br /> Iyasu looked annoyed, but was too polite to leave. When we got upstairs, he ducked into Lou’s bathroom. I sat in a lounge chair, some green cushions from the early 80s still hanging on. Lou had some scotch in his luggage, poured us a couple of fingers. He took a strong sip and sat on another lounge chair, facing me, pulled his legs up crisscross under his belly. He stared at me smiling, smoothing out his beard, and suddenly, just as Iyasu came out of the bathroom behind him, he launched into a deep, guttural ‘Om,’ his chest heaving and his palms open to the ceiling.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> Iyasu put a long, thin hand to his mouth, stifling a laugh. The om kept coming from deeper and deeper in that belly, and between the lariam and the beer and the scotch, Lou’s beard started to shimmer and quake in my mind, a bolt of white lightning shot out of his face. He paused for a breath. I saw Iyasu cock his head, check to see what Lou was doing. I was about to cut in, say something, when he started again, another bottomless om I could almost feel in my bones. This time, he started patting himself, drumming, like a grade-school playground game: left hand, right knee; right hand, left knee; left hand, right shoulder; right hand, left shoulder; back again, faster and faster, his head rocking, new breaths sending new waves out from his belly.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> Iyasu leaned back against the wall, shaking his head, staring at his shoes.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> A minute of this and I had started to sweat. When he stopped, Lou looked at me and smiled. ‘Your holy women are listening, even now,’ he said. ‘Last week, with Iyasu, I went to Gish Abbay, in Gojjam.’<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> I nodded, trying to remember what I’d read. ‘The source of the Blue Nile, right? At least, that’s what some people thought.’<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> Lou smiled, his eyes wide, unblinking. ‘A home of the goddess Isis.’<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">I froze, like if I didn’t move, he wouldn’t see me. Then reached for the scotch, took a pull, breathed in the fumes, coughed. ‘She lives there?’ I was trying not to smirk.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> ‘She lives there,’ he nodded. ‘And in the streams of the Garden of Eden in eastern Turkey. And in the forests of Kashmir.’ <br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> ‘You’ve been to Kashmir?’ I asked. Iyasu came around, sat in a third chair, stared at Lou.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘I have.’ And again, he opened his hands to the ceiling. ‘Then Abbottabad, Islamabad, Jalalabad. Looking for Soma.’<br /> ‘Soma?’<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> His eyes lost focus, his head started to roll back and forth. I thought I heard him humming. ‘Soma in the Rig Veda. Fly’s milk in Germany. Fool’s cap in France. The devil’s hat in Italy. Amanita muscaria, the magic mushroom of immortality,’ the last words coming with a belly full of boom, his hands all the way in the air.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘I’m sorry. What?’ I could have tried all night and not come up with anything better.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘Revelation 12:3,’ he said. ‘You know it?’ I shook my head. He turned to Iyasu, got nothing from him either. ‘Another sign appeared in the heavens: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads, ten horns, and on each head seven diadems. That mushroom, the dragon. Its red cap, the crown.’<br /> ‘And you found it in Kashmir? Tried it there?’<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> Lou shook his head, his whole body sagging, deflated. ‘Couldn’t find it in Kashmir. Kept going. Pakistan. Afghanistan. One night last year, in the hills outside of Jalalabad, I found it at the base of the trees it spoke to. I sat and ate. I closed my eyes. My mind left my body and entered the heart of the universe. I could hear it speak to me, feel the universal om.’ And his body perked up again, lifted with the memory of it, filling the room with another wave of vibrations.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">I sipped the last of my scotch, watered from what was left of the ice. I looked at Iyasu, whose head was in his hand.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> ‘When I woke up, I was a prisoner. The militia found me in the forest, tied me up, marched me into the mountains. It was that night, as the mushroom moved through me, that I learned the truth.’<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">‘The truth?’<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Suddenly, he uncrossed his legs, leaned forward in his chair, waved his hand at me. ‘You live in New York, right?’ I nodded, trying to remember when I’d told him that. ‘I escaped that night. Broke three ribs falling off the hill. I made it. But I heard what they said.’ He was stabbing the air with his finger now, pointing right at me. ‘The United States government will not see the light until we lose New York City.’<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> I put my drink down and stared at him.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> ‘Manhattan will explode, this fall. This is what Jesus told John, what the Revelator saw in the demon with the red crown. Manhattan, giving birth to a new world in the light of its own explosion. Don’t you see? It is written in the very name of the place, Manhattan. It’s from native Lenape, manahahtaan.’ And here, Lou inched to the edge of his chair and put his hands out to mime his words: ‘Man,’ he said, pointing to his head, ‘the true word for the mind. Ahah! The lights go on!’ And here, popping his fingers out in a flash. ‘Taan,’ both hands now pulling apart. ‘Stretched through thunder, with the force of a ten-megaton bomb.’<br /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Before I left, I told Iyasu I would see him in the morning. I staggered to my room, thinking I was going to be sick, nearly choked trying to get the lariam pill down my throat. I got out my journal, scribbled some notes, shook my head and laughed. Om. I giggled and tried to hum the sound, holding my hands to the heavens.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The next morning, the dark suit from
yesterday was back in the lobby, sitting next to the TV, still reading the
day’s paper. I got out the envelope I’d stashed in my luggage full of
traveler’s checks from my bank back home, settled the rest of the bill, sat
down to wait. When Iyasu came, twenty minutes later, the suit got up, looked at
me, took a slow walk out the door. I looked at Iyasu and smiled. ‘Can you get
me to the airport?’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He nodded and grabbed my bags.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"> </span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">About the author<br /></h4>Giovanni Ruffini is a college history professor specializing in Greco-Roman and Nubian history. This is his first published piece of fiction.
<p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.) </p><p><script src="https://storage.ko-fi.com/cdn/widget/Widget_2.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">kofiwidget2.init('Support Me on Ko-fi', '#29abe0', 'F2F6C3CXJ');kofiwidget2.draw();</script>
</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-84193159694431937492024-03-05T16:00:00.006+00:002024-03-05T16:00:00.138+00:00Hank in Hospice by Steve Gerson, rye whiskey<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><span style="color: #242424; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bedridden, infected by COPD, coughing spores like weed blossoms spewing seedlings,<br />an orchestra of atonal allergens, I'm lighting my Pall Mall Reds, unfiltered, watching the smoke tendrils weave graveside garlands as ashes sift downward in gyres of despair.<br /><br /><br />"How ya doin', Hank?" my caregiver asked. "Can I bum one of them cigarettes from ya?" He lit his off mine, the two burning butts meeting in conflagration near the third circle of hell.<br /><br />I coughed again, my phlegm orchestrating new disharmonies as wheezes crackled through my lattice-worked lungs, my face sallow, the color of parchment soaked in nicotine, the color of cheap rye whiskey, my eyes red-rimmed, looking like a miner’s pit glowing ravaged fire.<br /><br />"How am I doing you ask?" taking a deep drag of tar and terror. "I'm bedridden. My cheeks are sunken like a truck hood, hailstorm-dented, rusting in a used car lot and some fool has put<br />a sign on me saying, ‘Barely Runs, Good for Scrap.’ I’m dust. I’m sifting toward perdition, and I wish the chariot would hurry up and get here. That answer your question?”<br /><br /> <br /><b>About the author</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Steve Gerson writes poetry and flash about life's dissonance. He has published in <i>CafeLit, Panoplyzine, Crack the Spine, Vermilion, In Parentheses</i>, and more, plus his chapbooks <i>Once Planed Straight, Viral</i> and the soon to be published The 13th Floor: Step into Anxiety from Spartan Press.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)<script type='text/javascript' src='https://storage.ko-fi.com/cdn/widget/Widget_2.js'></script><script type='text/javascript'>kofiwidget2.init('Support Me on Ko-fi', '#29abe0', 'F2F6C3CXJ');kofiwidget2.draw();</script>
</div>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-77986488598639156012024-03-04T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-04T16:00:00.251+00:00Reminiscences An old man’s Christmas Eve recollections by Olof Laamanen, mulled wine<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s Christmas Eve, 2022.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">The whole family is gathered in our house just outside Helsinki. Outside,
it’s bitterly cold, pitch black and a howling snowstorm rattles the windows.
Inside, it’s calm, warm from the logs crackling in the open fireplace, and the flickering
home-cast candles on the Christmas tree’s branches have turned the room into an
enchanted realm.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The air is filled with the
fragrance of the freshly cut fir’s resin mixed with the softer scent of sugar
melted over burning brandy—my father’s teachings of how to make the perfect <i>glögg</i>
put into practice a while ago.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Stephanie relaxes in her easy chair, sending me glances of love; our
daughters and their spouses are seated around the sofa table, steaming cups of freshly
brewed glögg in their hands.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">The grandchildren, busy unpacking their presents, sprawl on the floor, sweets
within easy reach, and each surrounded by a heap of torn Christmas paper and
empty cartons.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Magic no other evening can come even close to.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-no-proof: no;">Luxuriating in the cozy family scene, my heart fills with that
warm feeling of satisfaction associated with plans fulfilled and the knowledge I
had made other people happy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">My old man’s eyes mist over, but within the haze, a long-forgotten image
from my youth appears for a fleeting moment; the present dissolves<a name="_Hlk159599153">, </a><a name="_Hlk157155872"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk159599153;">and I’m transported to another room and another era.</span></a></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk159599153;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s 1962; I’m
seventeen, and it’s my first Christmas Eve with Anne at my side. It is also the
last one. <a name="_Hlk159599581">That, however, is still hidden in the
swirling mists of the future</a>.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">She’s my first teenage love. We met at a
party the previous spring, and instant attraction blossomed. Our relationship
grew in strength over the summer, and during the autumn, it became
all-consuming. I could think of nothing but her. My grades slipped, and my parents,
who hadn’t yet met her, became worried and wanted me to see a doctor.</span></span></p>
<p class="ItalicFirstindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-no-proof: no;">Had they never experienced love as teenagers?</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Anne’s Christmas visit to my home was her
coming out; I hoped she’d be accepted as a future family member.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">She was marvelous. Sitting sedately still,
clothed in a blue silken dress, with a modishly short bob haircut and cheeks displaying
the unique luster of a teenage girl in love. With wings and a halo, she would
have been indistinguishable from an angel in a Raphael painting. My love was
limitless, and that picture of her became forever imprinted on my heart.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">All my hopes for the evening were fulfilled.
My parents were enchanted by her and expressed gratitude for gaining such a
delightful new acquaintance. I saw an engagement the coming midsummer as a distinct
possibility.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Throughout the following winter and spring,
Anne and I were busy wrapping up our twelve school years. Passing the
matriculation exams with good marks was all-important; those marks were our
keys to the future. She wanted to become a nurse, while I aimed to be an
engineer.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">We could spare little time and energy for
our relationship, but our love thrived. During our sparse hours together, we
spun grand plans for the future, building all those castles among the clouds <a name="_Hlk159601773">inherent to teenagers.</a> Villas, summer cottages, cars, and
voyages dominated, but all the children we would have was a recurring subject.
I told Anne I wanted three, and she countered with a teasing, ‘Why not half a
dozen?’</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">How we should finance our dreams didn’t
worry us. Such earthly problems we would solve when we faced them.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155872;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">The future was ours, and life was great.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time passed quickly, and with<a name="_Hlk157155875"> the exams behind us and school soon ending, we were
getting ready for a summer with a particular shimmer, the last one with
childhood freedom. In September, the Nurse Institute awaited Anne; a month
later, I’d join the army for my eleven-month stint. In the autumn of next year,
we’d be grown-ups. Free to take control of our lives, but without ever again
having the luxury of three months of freely disposable time.</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Determined to make the most of this unique summer,
we busily jotted lists of everything we would do. First on my list was a
midsummer engagement.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-no-proof: no;">The day after
school ended, I knocked on Anne’s door. Our magic summer was about to begin.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Her mother opened. ‘You’re too late; Anne
left for the airport two hours ago.’ <a name="_Hlk159603820">Looking ill at
ease, she quickly added, </a>‘Let’s hope three weeks of Spanish sun will do her
some good. She, for sure, needs to regain her strength after all the exams.’</span></span></p>
<p class="ItalicFirstindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-no-proof: no;">Three weeks abroad?</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="display: none; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-hide: all special; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-no-proof: no;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Without giving me a single word of warning.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="ItalicFirstindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-no-proof: no;">And in Spain!</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="display: none; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-hide: all special; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where
girls bathe topless and consort freely with eager local men, capable of
seducing any Nordic girl within an hour, if you can rely on the papers.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><a name="_Hlk159604077"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">A searing feeling of betrayal devoured my heart. The mother’s </span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk159604077;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">shamefaced</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk159604077;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;"> mien had revealed the truth; she knew I had</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk159604077;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk159604077;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">been left in the dark.</span></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk159604077;"></span>
<p class="ItalicFirstindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-no-proof: no;">But why?</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="display: none; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-hide: all special; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Devils
of jealousy attacked me. Did Anne want to end our relationship but didn’t dare
to say so?</span></span></p>
<p class="ItalicFirstindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-no-proof: no;">Is this how girls behave when they no longer love you?</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">All the outrageous theories a hurt and
jealous young man could dream up whirled through my brain. Wild speculations of
her escaping to join a secret lover alternated with more plausible ones.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Maybe it was a surprise end-of-school gift
by her parents, giving her no time to warn me? ‘Here are your tickets. The
plane leaves in three hours; start packing.’</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Did they fear I would make their precious
daughter pregnant and thought it best to separate us?<i><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="ItalicFirstindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-no-proof: no;">Would serve them right if she came home from Spain
knocked up by some dago!</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My summer was thoroughly
spoiled. Anne and her betrayal tormented my mind continuously. Images of her
kept popping up in the middle of my studies, sometimes in her angel-like
Christmas outfit, but more often, in only the bottom half of a bikini. I had
never seen her that lightly clothed, but my imagination knew no limits.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">The entry exams to the Technical University proved
to be a push-over, but I felt only satisfaction, no joy. <a name="_Hlk159605592">It
was a milestone I had planned to celebrate with Anne.</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">The midsummer festivities loomed only a week
later. All spring, I had looked forward to that as the right time for Anne and
me to announce our engagement. Now, the event threatened to become utterly
dismal. Having to watch all the happy couples dancing in the midnight half-dusk
would only worsen the pain of Anne’s treachery. In desperation, I accepted a
friend’s invitation to join his ‘Solstice Party’. There, I at least wouldn’t be
alone.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">However, when the magic midnight of the
year’s shortest night approached, <a name="_Hlk159604892">I was lonelier than
ever, sitting alone in the empty dining hall. Everyone else danced on the
terrace outside</a>.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Suddenly, the door flew open, and two people
entered. My host all smiles. ‘Cheer up! Your great love is back from Spain! Just
in time for a midnight kiss.’</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Behind him, Anne smiled shyly.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">She was as angel-like as before but now also
deliciously tanned and more alluring than ever.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">The sight of her tore open all my wounds.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Angel-like had overtones of betrayal, and
her enticing color made me think of wanton exposure of breasts to ogling
latinos.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Weeks of suppressed bitterness burst forth, ‘She’s
not my great love. No great love disappears to Spain without telling me first.’</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Anne looked like I had slapped her, spun
around, and ran from the room.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155875;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-no-proof: no;">We never met
again. Too hurt and too proud to admit I had been overly hasty, I avoided her
during the summer, and while I was in the army, she and her parents emigrated
to America.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;"> <a name="_Hlk157155877">Still, I couldn’t forget her; she remained an
open wound in my soul and a constant ache in my conscience.</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Why had she disappeared without warning me?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">What if I had given her a chance to explain
herself?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Had I hurt an innocent person by letting my
wounded ego have the best of me that midsummer night? </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Questions begging for answers I’d never get.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two years
passed. My studies proceeded</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> well</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, but</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> not my personal
life.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I met
fascinating and attractive girls and even dated some of them. But none measured
up to the idealized Anne in my mind.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Then I met Steph. A young woman who shared
my interests in literature and long walks. After a year of shared outdoor days,
discussion evenings, or moments of togetherness over a coffee, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she became a permanent part of my life.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Done with our studies, we married. During
the busy years when we built our life together and raised our kids, Anne finally
faded from my memory.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">But tonight, six decennials after that one
and only Christmas Eve, she once again sat before me in the candles’s
flickering light for a fleeting second. Eternally innocent, dressed in silky blue,
eyes sparkling, and a halo stylishly askew over her head.</span></span></p>
<p class="ItalicFirstindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-no-proof: no;">Was she thinking of me at that moment?</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: no;">Nostalgia overwhelms me. What if I hadn’t
rejected her? Would I now be a contented grandfather with her at my side and
our children and grandchildren around us?—Children never born.</span></span></p>
<p class="ItalicFirstindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-no-proof: no;">Dear Anne, do you, wherever you might be, ever think of
me? Do you reflect on what could have been hadn’t I given in to my anger that
night more than half a century ago?</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-no-proof: no;"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I turn my eyes back to my family. Life had become great even without
Anne.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></span></p><h4 class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157155877;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">About the author </span></span></h4><p>Olof Laamanen is a retired computer engineer. He’s a newcomer to fiction writing and specializes in romance novellas. None of them have so far been published. ’Reminiscences’ is his first short story.
Swedish is his native language, and English is his third.</p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-30727258570954367922024-03-03T16:00:00.002+00:002024-03-03T16:00:00.133+00:00Sunday Serial: 240 x 70, by Gill James,6. Whistleblowing 18 April 2018, cold tea, <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">So, I've done it. There's no
going back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people who need to know
have been informed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's up to them
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I'm afraid. But I'm brave as
well. Actually you can't be brave unless you're afraid. That's what my mother
always said and she's right. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">I'm
standing here with my back to the wall. It's cold and grey. At least I can see
everything, though. I can see if they're coming to get me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law's on my side, isn't it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will protect me, won't it? </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm out of a job, of course. They sacked me
as soon as I made it clear that they'd been acting illegally, that they'd been
telling lies, that they'd been cheating and that they'd tried to deceive people
to meet their own greedy ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I might end up on the streets. Employers
don't like people who've been disloyal to their previous employers. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For the moment, though, I have money in the
bank. My parents will help for a short time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They've said so. It won't be forever, naturally. They're not rich. But
they've been careful and saved. I don't want to deprive them or my siblings. It
wouldn't be fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I slip my hands into my jacket pocket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It enfolds me in its luxury. It has a fake
fur lining. It's a limited edition designer number. Deep brown and shiny. I
wore if for that meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gave me
confidence. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have to tell Amanda now. How will she
react? I'd like to think she'll be with me 100%. Or she’ll <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just bundle the children into the car and
drive to her mum’s. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ll be left to live on the streets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">About the author </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gill James is published by The Red Telephone, Butterfly and
Chapeltown. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She edits <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CafeLit </i>and
writes for the online community news magazine: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talking About My Generation. </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing and has an MA in
Writing for Children and PhD in Creative and Critical Writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.gilljameswriter.com">http://www.gilljameswriter.com</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE">https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE</a>
</p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://twitter.com/GillJames">https://twitter.com/GillJames</a>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-19039926094888120112024-03-02T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-02T16:00:00.139+00:00Binning It by Linda Morse, fizzy water <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAUTHztEzGtwI2XCQYgFjh6JpE-9s67cqzWPz8odY7Pw_yiMv02wWuMJm_egLmJOStPIq2waQhH9XQaOJcP5qpgu0dQ28BcACMr9UsN5oIcmbhyFQGbn5eDi15y8q6r1OB0L8K8rT4SdpC1alqYWEBpGfolVXhArz1Oso9UUWclcM-iBQyRVD1CZs07o/s600/Transformations%20Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAUTHztEzGtwI2XCQYgFjh6JpE-9s67cqzWPz8odY7Pw_yiMv02wWuMJm_egLmJOStPIq2waQhH9XQaOJcP5qpgu0dQ28BcACMr9UsN5oIcmbhyFQGbn5eDi15y8q6r1OB0L8K8rT4SdpC1alqYWEBpGfolVXhArz1Oso9UUWclcM-iBQyRVD1CZs07o/s320/Transformations%20Medium.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>My first act is to paint my toenails blue. </p><p>I bought the nail polish at the motorway service station.
The cheapest, sparkliest, most offensive electric-blue I could find. </p><p> </p><p>I walk in and close the door of my new flat .</p><p>Sit on the floor
And apply it. </p><p>It drips on the carpet. </p><p>I swear, crudely.
And I rub it in. </p><p> </p><p>I rub in the fact of electric-blue nail polish and swear
because I know he would HATE it. </p><p>That was me… yesterday. </p><p>A whole, noisy day ago. </p><p>I’m not exactly sure who I am today or why I’m living here.
I’m one step behind. Still catching up. Still packing. </p><p>Here, Life insists on being heard. </p><p>People noise, road noise, bin noise </p><p>Pantechnicons, police cars and pizza vans.
Life refuses to be ignored. </p><p> Live it or lose it. </p><p> </p><p>OK </p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * </p><p>I knew who I was, last week. </p><p> Last week I was safe. </p><p>Surrounded by fields and a garden </p><p>With a compost heap. </p><p>Worms turned my rubbish to sweet-smelling soil. </p><p>Here there are no bugs, birds or beetles to deal with any of it. </p><p>Just bins. </p><p>Bins with brown lids. </p><p>Bins with green lids. </p><p>Bins with grey lids. </p><p>And small mysterious bins that I have yet to understand. </p><p> </p><p>Bin Men. </p><p>Mum called them ‘Bin Men’. </p><p>Bin Men come on Bin Day. </p><p>Bin Day there was Monday. </p><p>Everything was binned last Monday. </p><p>You went off with the litter of your life </p><p>And left me to dispose of the debris of mine. </p><p>Even the worms would be defeated by that. </p><p> </p><p>Still… That was last week. </p><p> </p><p>The Bin Men and the removal van were both last Monday. </p><p> </p><p>I can’t quite remember how it all happened. </p><p>Perhaps I was simply dropped into the bin. </p><p>I like to think it had an electric-blue lid. </p><p>A recycling bin for discarded partners. </p><p>The Bin Men arrive and I was tossed in with lots of others,
mashed up a bit. </p><p>Then we were all squashed together to talk about it. </p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * </p><p>Now we’ve been disgorged, we paint our toenails blue </p><p> Get a tattoo
A</p><p>And get on with it. </p><p> </p><p>Here I’m surrounded by boxes. </p><p>The same boxes here as yesterday. </p><p>The same boxes as last Monday – there.</p><p> </p><p> Last Monday there, was Bin Day. </p><p> </p><p>You said you only needed the weekend to sort out your things. </p><p>You were done by Monday. </p><p> </p><p>Rubbish sorted from the essentials. </p><p>Shoes: eight pairs – polished and packed, </p><p>Shirts – ironed. Jumpers – folded. </p><p> Files – filed. And Pants – piled. </p><p>New Pants in packs. </p><p> </p><p>Nothing much to throw away. </p><p> </p><p>Just your wife. </p><p> </p><p>Off you drove </p><p>In your decent, un-showy car. </p><p>Occasionally driven faster than one would expect.</p><p>Faster than I expected. </p><p> </p><p>It all happened faster than I expected. </p><p>But, if I’m really honest </p><p> Really, really honest </p><p>It was expected.</p><p> I started to expect it
Suspect it </p><p> Reject it (several times) </p><p>Months ago. </p><p>When my friend became very keen to become my ‘best’ friend. </p><p> </p><p>Robinia – my ‘best’ friend, started to visit us </p><p>Often </p><p>Then very often </p><p>Then all the time </p><p> </p><p> Even when I wasn’t there. </p><p>Especially when I wasn’t there. </p><p> </p><p>Robinia’s nickname was ‘Binny’. </p><p> </p><p>It wasn’t until a week ago that I accepted, for all those
months, my husband had been </p><p> </p><p> ‘Binning it’. </p><p>He didn’t much like that expression
(laughs) ‘Binning it’. </p><p> </p><p>So… </p><p>He disappears in a cloud of aftershave and new pants. </p><p>I assess the damage. </p><p>Weirdly it resembles the aftermath of a wild party. </p><p> </p><p>I commit my pathetic prettyings to a plastic sack. </p><p> I thought they made a home </p><p> Actually… </p><p>They make a mess. </p><p> </p><p>That was sooo last week. </p><p>Sooo who I was. </p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * </p><p>In my suitcase, ten pairs of jeans, mainly blue. Some
smart, some grubby for gardening. </p><p>But <i>I</i> don’t have a garden. </p><p> </p><p>Bin them.
T</p><p>wo dresses, one for winter, one for summer. </p><p>What’s the point of more, if you live in the country? </p><p> I don’t live in the country. </p><p> </p><p>Buy another dress, buy two. </p><p> </p><p>Books – mainly read. </p><p>They can go. </p><p> </p><p>Underwear depleted </p><p>Arguments defeated </p><p>Phone friends deleted. </p><p> </p><p>OK </p><p> </p><p>’m living here. </p><p>Here, where we’re all piled up in boxes, overlooking the road. </p><p>Our lives separated by a fingers-width of wall. </p><p>Listen! </p><p>You can hear every snore </p><p>Every cough, </p><p>Every moment of ecstasy. </p><p>And you can hear all the basic stuff too
The washing machine draining, the toilet flush </p><p>All our rubbish </p><p>Going down the pan. </p><p>OK </p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * </p><p>I’ll bin the gardening clothes. </p><p>Buy a dress or two </p><p>Buy some new pants. </p><p>Definitely get some new friends. </p><p> </p><p>I’ll visit my neighbours </p><p>I have the perfect opener: </p><p> </p><p>“Hello. Sorry to bother you. I’m new to the flats. </p><p>Could you tell me </p><p>Which day is Bin Day.” </p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.thebridgetowncafebooksshop.co.uk/search/label/Transformations">Find you copy here </a></span></b><br /></p><p><b>About the author </b></p><p>Linda is a Dorset playwright who has had short plays and
monologues performed at Southwark Playhouse, Leicester
Square Theatre, The Bunker and Drayton Theatre, and in the
West Country: Salisbury Playhouse, Arts Centre and Fringe
Festival, Exeter and Plymouth Fringe and Bristol Bierkeller. She
has written four full-length plays which have reached short or
long lists of Bristol Old Vic Open Session and/or Salisbury
Playhouse New Writers Award.</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-26066882050621714862024-03-01T16:00:00.001+00:002024-03-01T16:00:00.139+00:00Neighbours by Rob Molan, dry sherry <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">David will sort it out when he drives up
tomorrow to visit. I’ve given up trying to reason with June but she’ll have to
listen to him. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Yesterday’s
exchange was typical.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I need to have
a snooze in the afternoon, otherwise I’m not myself.’ Even she must know a
woman of my age needs her rest. ‘But I can’t get a wink if your kids are
playing outside my bedroom window shouting and screaming.’ I’d been up from six
in the morning and was dropping on my feet. I’ve woken up early every day since
I lost my hubby.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The brassy mare
glared at me. I’m sure she’s had botox injected into those bright red lips.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘They have to
get out of the flat and burn off energy, Kathy. I suppose you kept your son
cooped up in the school holidays?’ The cheek of her. We usually sent David to a
summer school to help develop his mind.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘How will I hear
my mobile if my son calls?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She shrugged her
shoulders.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I’m sure he’d
call again.’ Did she think David had a lot of free time on his hands?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He’s a man of
authority and she’ll not find it hard dismiss him when he speaks to her. It’s a
pity he lives so far away.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I hate getting bad news in the morning.
David has texted to say he won’t be travelling up now until next weekend. I
know he has a strong sense of public duty and it’s hard for him to get away but
I need him here. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I make myself a
strong cup of coffee and settle down to watch a movie to try and take my mind
off things. But the opening titles are just ending when I hear her shouting at the
kids through the wall. As usual, her language is appalling. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Shut your faces
you little sods and do what you’re bleeding told or else you’ll get a slap.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I shouldn’t have
to listen to this. We never spoke to David like that when he was their age.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I bang on the
wall as hard I can with a shoe.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Shortly
afterwards, there’s a knock on my front door. My arthritis is killing me and it
takes me a minute to get there. I open up to find her on my doorstep.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘What’s your
problem?’ Her dark roots outnumber the blonde strands of her hair.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I can hear you
in my bedroom. It’s not nice to listen to.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘You’re a mum
and should remember what it’s like. My fella is working all the hours he can
driving the cab so I’m left on my own with them most of the time.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I raise my voice.
‘Nevertheless, I’d be grateful if you could give me some peace.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Relax, they’re
going out to their pals soon.’ She curls her bloated lip.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I slam the door
on the impertinent bitch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll be the
same tomorrow morning.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My life’s not
been the same since that lot moved in. It’s a shame the nice family who lived
there before had to relocate. They knew how to behave and dressed impeccably. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I used to hate it when David played his
records in his bedroom. Whatever he listened to though the sound was not as bad
as the racket next door. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My head is
bumping and I’ve had enough. I drag myself up from the sofa, hobble across the
hallway, and ring her doorbell. She doesn’t hear it above the booming sound
reverberating inside and I press for a second time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The music is
turned down and I hear shouting.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Where’s the
fire?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The door opens. She’s
wearing a ridiculously short, denim skirt and skimpy pink T shirt.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘What is it now?’
She stinks of cigarettes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘The music’s too
loud. You need to turn it down.’ I’m trying to be polite.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I like to have
it on while I’m cleaning.’ She doesn’t look dressed for the task. ‘And it’s on
number seven, not maximum volume.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She’s
impossible. I decide to call David that evening.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Darling, can’t
you come up a bit earlier than you said? I urgently need your assistance.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Sorry, Mum, but
I’m taking on a new area tomorrow and need a few days to get my head round it.
My boss is expecting early results.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">That’s the consequence
of us encouraging him to aim high when he entered the world of work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There isn’t a cloud in the sky and a
nice breeze is blowing, and I decide to put my washing out. I fill the basket with
items from the washing machine and limp into the garden only to find she’s hung
her stuff on both of the lines reserved for the ground floor flats. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m not having
this. I unpeg the items on one side: her smalls, kids’ things and two towels. I
put them all in a neat pile on the bench and start to hang up my clothes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Oi, what are
you doing?’ she screeches, charging out from the block in her bare feet,
wearing a revealing white bath robe. ‘How dare you touch my washing.’ She
stops, puts her hands on her hips and eyeballs me. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I’m merely
making room for my clothes on <i>my</i> washing line. You’ll catch your death
standing there.’ I hope the neighbours are watching this.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘If you’d waited
until after lunch you’d have had both lines to yourself. I’ll not forget this
in a hurry.’ She gathers up her things and flounces off.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s nice to get
one over her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Back inside, I
find I have a text from David.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Looking forward
to seeing you tomorrow. Should arrive around noon. x’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I can’t wait to
see the look on that slapper’s face when he knocks on her door. He won’t take
any nonsense. I think I’ll have a glass of dry sherry this evening to put me in
the mood.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘We should be there in about half an
hour provided the traffic is clear.’ I’ve been nodding on and off during the
journey.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s ever so
kind of Neil to drive me there. I couldn’t take the train with the state of my
legs and you never know who you’ll end up sitting beside. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I broke down
crying after the phone call. The window was open, June was in the garden, heard
me and stuck her head in.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Are you
alright, Kathy? Is there anything I can do.’ I’d never heard her speak so nicely.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘It’s my David;
he’s in hospital. He’s hurt and I’m ever so worried. But I don’t think I’ll be
able to visit him.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘That’s awful
news for any mum to get. Which hospital is he in?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘It’s in London.’
It might as well have been the moon as far as I was concerned.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Look, I’ll see
if my Neil can drive you down. It’s his day off.’ She disappeared before I
could say anything.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Bless him, he
agreed to do it and only asked for the cost of the petrol. It’s so ever good to
have kind neighbours.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I hope you
don’t mind me asking but how did David get his injuries.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I hesitate at
first but decide I owe him a reply.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘A witness told
the police he was putting a parking ticket on a car windscreen and an
altercation broke out with the owner who punched him in the face. David fell
back, banged his head and was left unconscious. I pray there’s no permanent
damage.’ I wish David were more diplomatic. It would stand him in good stead
climbing the managerial ladder in the transport industry.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I’m no fan of
traffic wardens for obvious reasons but there’s no cause for such violence. I
hope the police catch the thug.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My mobile rings
and I fish it out of my handbag.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Mrs Wallace?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Yes.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I’m calling
from North Middlesex hospital to tell you that your son, David, is doing well.
There’s no long lasting damage and he’s sitting up in bed.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Thank God. I’m
on my way and should be there soon.’ Tears well up in my eyes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘See you soon then.’
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I put the phone
way.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Good news?’
asks Neil.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Yes! David’s
going to be fine.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Fantastic.
He’ll be pleased to see you.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When we pull up at
the hospital entrance, Neil turns round. Despite the tattoos on his arms and
the nose ring, he’s a handsome young man with deep blue eyes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I’ll be parked
over there,’ he says, pointing to his right. ‘Stay as long as you need to.’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘I can’t thank
you enough.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘And another
thing. You’ll need some peace and quiet when you get back. I’ll have a quiet
word with June. She’s a good girl but can be a bit boisterous at times.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I suppose that
might be a better solution. On reflection, David’s lack of tact might have made
things worse.</span></p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">About the author </span></h4><p>Rob started writing short stories during lockdown. To date, he's had a few published in anthologies produced by small publishers. He likes to experiment with different genres and styles of writing. </p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-42629123515180076062024-02-29T16:00:00.001+00:002024-02-29T16:00:00.266+00:00Alice and Relationships by Judith Skilleter, white wine from the Hunter Valley<p class="MsoNormal">Alice is worrying about relationships, at least she is worrying
about her relationships with men. Why do they peter out? Why is she glad that
they peter out? In her twenty years of having boyfriends and then men friends she
cannot recall a time when the end of a relationship with either a man or a boy
left her bereft, left her wondering what is wrong with her, left her wondering
why she couldn’t keep a relationship going after a certain length of time and
left her especially wondering why she wasn’t bothered by these endings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was an exception. Her first love, Adam Gibson, he
moved away. But he had no choice, he was eight years old and his mum and dad could
not, would not, move away without him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alice is now thirty-six years old and she is conscious that her
biological clock is ticking faster than she would like. And that adds to her
worries. She cannot decide whether she wants a man in her life because she wants
marriage and children or whether she just wants a man for love and
companionship. What should come first? Is it a desire for a man or a desire to
reproduce? And does this desire to reproduce lead to unsuitable and unhappy
marriages?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And does she really deep down want marriage and children? Alice
is not sure. Thankfully the pressure from her mother to settle down has stopped
since Alice’s sister, Anna, produced four grandchildren in ten years. But Anna
has always known what she wanted – marriage and babies and not necessarily in
that order. Anna is a qualified midwife and is with babies all day every day.
Alice has never seen anyone as happy as her sister even if she does constantly
smell of baby posset and is more than a few pounds overweight because of
finishing off small pizzas, chicken nuggets and fish fingers. And Anna adores
her equally overweight husband who is also a nurse.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How could she have been so certain that that was for her
wonders Alice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alice’s relationships are usually the result of dating
sites. How on earth can she decide her future life on the basis of pictures
that might have been improved (is the word photo-shopped?) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- every time in Alice’s case. And those totally
unbelievable and outrageous personal statements? Most of her friends have found
permanent partners this way and it is pot luck. Some have been successful but
some have ended up in messy, bitter and expensive divorces. Alice does not want
her future decided by the swish to the left or right.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore when a relationship gets to that stage when you
may or may not be living with your partner but has been
established for perhaps two or three years there comes pressure from others,
expectations from others – especially close friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When are you going to have a diamond on that
certain finger? When are you going to name the day? When will you settle down?
When will we hear the patter of tiny feet? You are nearer forty than thirty you
know – time is getting on!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And that is when Alice decides enough is enough and ends the
relationship. She makes her decision in anticipation of the unwanted
expectations of others. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And that was what she decided with Angus. His time was up.
He had been one of the better ones, he too had a busy career and was away often
with work. They had had lots of fun together, lots of extravagant and expensive
holidays and he was a romantic bringing her delightful and thoughtful
surprises. Her friends had often said that she was lucky to have found him, he
had no baggage and he was a keeper. A keeper for heaven’s sake! Does he keep
goal for Arsenal?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But Alice did not pine for his touch or miss his dulcet tones
during these times he was away. Rather she enjoyed the time to herself. She
enjoyed pleasing herself. She enjoyed not having to compromise. She enjoyed
having time to read. She especially enjoyed not having to refresh her make up
before they met. Her own career was very demanding and the thought-space and
rest after a break up was so beneficial and necessary. She enjoyed just being
herself, doing what she wanted without having to consider anyone else. Was Alice
being selfish? Perhaps. But she was not ready to change her life – yet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alice reached for her mobile. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">About the author </h4><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><p>Judith Skilleter is new to writing fiction after a long career in social work and teaching. Her first children's novel The April Rebellion, has recently been published. Judith is a Geordie, who settled in East Yorkshire 45 years ago and is married with four grandchildren. </p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-50202296838372895732024-02-28T16:00:00.002+00:002024-02-28T16:00:00.253+00:00Granda’s Pipe by Eamon O'Leary, strong tea <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As I walked
through our village the other morning, the smell of freshly baked scones,
cinnamon swirls, and dark roast coffee wafter from the deli. How lovely to
savour such aromas on one of the rare crisp sunny days we’ve had this year. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It sent me thinking of fragrances from
bygone days. Not a pleasant one, but for some unknown reason, mothballs came to
mind. That camphor odour which made my eyes water and clothes stink is thankfully
no longer with us. I’m not sure what’s replaced them, but I’ve seen a few rogue
moths hovering about of late.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What I really miss is Granda’s pipe.
Granda or Jack as we called him was a martyr for his pipe. When we went to
visit, the ritual was the same. Every morning, he’d plonk his diminutive frame
in front of the open turf fire and while keeping an eye on the cast iron
kettle, start proceedings.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Using a penknife as old and worn as himself
but sharpened weekly to razor like keenness on a wet stone, he’d separate stem
and bowl and scrape out the previous day’s remnants of ash and tobacco. They’d
not be discarded but piled onto a piece of newspaper. Then he’d start on the
stem. This involved quite a bit of blowing and sucking, and only occasionally,
for reasons best known to himself, did he resort to using a pipe cleaner.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Time to refill. Taking a plug of Mick
McQuaid tobacco, he’d cut tiny flakes from the block into his palm and gently
massage them with the blackened pad of his thumb. With great care, the pipe
would be filled and topped off with the grey ashes. After brushing any stray
bits from his trousers into the hearth, and before putting on the silver cover
which looked like the top of a pepper box, he’d sit back, strike a match, take
a few decent pulls, and disappear into a woody, spicy, sweet-smelling cloud. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Definitely not healthy, but I miss that
smell. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">About the author</span></span></h4><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></h4><p>Eamon regularly reads his short reflections on RTE Radio ( Ireland's National Broadcaster). A number of stories published by <i>Cafelit</i> have been featured. He hopes to finally finish his collection of humorous childhood memories before the year's end. He is a winner of the Southport International Short Competition.</p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-1022125584606622732024-02-27T16:00:00.001+00:002024-02-27T16:00:00.143+00:00All Change by Jane Mooney, milky instant coffee.<p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I struggled to
wake from the fog of a deep sleep. My limbs felt heavy. My mouth was dry and
sticky, like peanut butter. The beginnings of a headache were tickling around
my temples and the bright lights in the train carriage hurt my eyes. As I reached
for my bag to look for the paracetamol there was an announcement over the tannoy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We will shortly be
arriving in Plymouth. This train terminates here. All change.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Panic
clenched my chest. How was I in Plymouth? I was supposed to be in Doncaster! I
racked my brains. We’d been out in York celebrating Joan’s retirement. We’d
done <i>Bottomless Brunch,</i> which had seemed like a good idea at the time.
For an all-inclusive price of £35 we got something to eat and as much as we
could drink in two hours. I’m a lightweight when it comes to drinking, so I
liked the idea that it was time limited. I figured I couldn’t do too much
damage in two hours. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Well,
it hadn’t quite worked like that. After the limited time, we’d gone on to
another bar, then another. I had a vague memory of drunken, giggly hugs at York
station before we’d all gone our separate ways.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And
here I was in Plymouth. The train slowed to a screeching halt, and I took my
purse out of my pocket to see how much cash I’d got. £3.75. And I’d left my bank
cards at home so I didn’t overspend. Oh Gosh, how on Earth was I going to get back
to Doncaster?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
train pulled out of the station, leaving me on a windy, deserted platform. I
thought there’d be someone to ask, but it was the middle of the night and there
was no-one around so I made my way through a subway and into the ticket hall. The
doors were locked. I couldn’t get out. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
sat down heavily on a bench with a lump in my throat. How could I have been so
careless? The first time I’d been out since I’d lost Geoff and I’d managed to get
on the wrong train AND to fall asleep as well! I pulled my cardi tight around
my shoulders and cursed my friend Moira who’d persuaded me to wear this stupid
flimsy dress. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Despite
the cold I must have fallen asleep because I woke suddenly when a group of shouting
lads emerged from the subway. They were about 16 or 17, just a little younger
than my girls. I shrank into the seat hoping they wouldn’t notice me. At first,
they were too busy showing off to each other, but then they spotted me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Hey!
What we got here?’ said one.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Looks
like she’s ‘ad a rough night!’ said another.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Let’s
see if she’s got anything worth ‘aving,’ said the biggest of the boys as he reached
for my handbag. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He
grabbed one handle. I had hold of the other, and as he tugged the bag towards him,
he pulled me out of my seat.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Give
it here!’ I yelled, yanking it back in a ridiculous tug of war.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Why
should I?’ he whispered quietly. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He
moved closer, so close I could smell the alcohol and cannabis on his breath. I
tasted fear, sharp and metallic in the back of my mouth, but I wasn’t going to let
him have my bag. The rest of them were closing in, like a pack of hyenas in a
TV documentary. I looked around for an escape route and noticed that the doors
at the front of the station were now open. With a well-aimed kick to his shins,
I was able to grab the bag and run for the open doors. I ran out of the station
and kept on running.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When I
eventually stopped, I was out of breath and shaking, but it didn’t look as if
the boys had followed me. The air was chilly and the sky was all shades of pink
and purple. There was a café on the corner, lights on, windows steamed up. It
looked very welcoming.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As
I pushed the door open the hot aroma of frying bacon hit me, and my mouth
started to water. It was crowded. Mostly workmen in overalls. The odd
businessman in a smart suit. No women other than a harassed looking waitress
behind the counter. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
was still shaking, and my head was throbbing. I took a few deep breaths to
steady myself before stepping forward. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘What
can I do for you love?’ the waitress asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Just
a coffee please.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">She
steamed the milk and poured it onto instant coffee granules.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Nothing
else love?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Studying
the menu which hung above the counter, I checked my pockets for further stashes
of cash, hoping I had enough for a bacon sandwich. Nothing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Maybe
a glass of water.’ I said. At least that should help the hangover.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
carried my drinks to a table by the window and leaned my head against the damp
glass. The coolness felt good against my pounding head. I heaped two spoonful’s
of sugar into the mug and stirred it slowly. After the first scalding hot,
milky sip I began to think straight, and to wonder how on Earth I was going to
get home?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Always
one for a good list, I pulled a notebook and pen out of my bag and started to jot
down ideas:</span></p>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hitchhike.
</span></i></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But
it’s a long way from Plymouth to Yorkshire, and I might get murdered<i>.</i></span></p>
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Beg,
steal, or borrow the money for the train ticket. </span></i></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But
I’m too shy to beg, too honest to steal and I didn’t know anyone in Plymouth to
borrow from.</span></p>
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Get
a job and earn the money for the ticket. </span></i></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But
doing what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Phone
Moira and see if she can come and pick me up. </span></i></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I’d
never live that down.</span></p>
<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">…</span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I’d
run out of ideas. I reckoned phoning Moira might be the best bet, and in any
case, I should let her know I wouldn’t be coming into work. I pulled my phone
out of my pocket, but the screen was black. Completely dead. Of course! I’d
been using Google maps to find my way around York and that always eats up the
battery. I delved into my bag to see if I had my charger with me. Nope. Well so
much for that idea.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Behind
the counter the waitress was yelling into her phone. She threw it down, tore off
her apron, and stormed angrily out of the door. Through the window I could see
her shaking a cigarette carton. It was empty. She leaned back against the
window. Then I remembered I had Moira’s fags in my bag from yesterday so I went
outside and offered them to the her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Thanks
love, you’ve no idea how much I need this!’ She put the cigarette between her
lips and lit it. She took a deep pull and breathed out slowly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘That’s
better,’ she said. ‘The girl who helps with lunches has blobbed again. It’s the
third time in a fortnight, and I could really do without it today. I need to
get everything cleaned up quickly ‘cos it’s my little boy’s school assembly.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Can
I help?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Are
you a waitress?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘No,
I’m a lab assistant,’ I said. ‘But I know how to wash up and I’ve nothing else
to do today?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘You
sure?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Sure
I’m sure,’ I said. ‘And if you’ve got an iPhone charger so I can charge my
phone I’m even more sure!’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Well,
you’re on Missus,’ said the waitress. ‘I’m Tash.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Liz.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Well
Liz, you might just be a life saver today.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We
went inside and Tash pointed to a phone charger in the corner of the kitchen,
then gave me an apron to wear and showed me where I could lock my bag and coat
in the storeroom. The first job was to clear the tables, which were stacked
high with greasy plates from the breakfast rush. I dumped them in the sink and
spent the next twenty minutes up to my elbows in hot, soapy bubbliness. This
was very different to washing test tubes and flasks. Then there were salads to
wash and vegetables to prepare. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We
chatted as we worked. Tash told me about her little boy, eight years old and
thought he was the next David Beckham. I told her about my two girls, off at
university and almost grown up. At lunchtime Tash took the orders and did the
cooking and I delivered the plates of food and cleared the tables. I couldn’t
believe how many people came through the door of this small café in a couple of
hours. There were takeaway orders too, office workers coming in for sandwiches
or burgers to take back to their desks. Around two it quietened off and Tash
handed me a cup of coffee.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Something
to eat?’ she asked. ‘There’s some meat and potato pie left.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
attacked the pie with gusto.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘You
look like you haven’t eaten in days,’ Tash joked. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My face burned when
I told her my last meal had been ‘Brunch’ in York yesterday, and there’d been a
lot more drinking than eating involved. I told her about falling asleep on the
train, and ending up in Plymouth, and the lads who tried to nick my bag at the
train station.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Oh
blimey,’ said Tash, ‘and I thought I was having a bad day.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Well,
it got better after I came in here.’ I said. ‘I’ve really enjoyed helping you,
especially the banter with the customers. You don’t get that in the hospital
lab.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Why
didn’t you just get a train straight back?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘No
money,’ I said with a shrug.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tash
went to the till and pulled out six £20 notes which she put down on the table in
front of me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Oh,
Tash, I wasn’t asking for money. I wanted to help you out.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘You’ve
earned it. I’d never have got through today if you hadn’t been here to help.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
looked at the notes on the table. It was probably enough to get me home. Problem
solved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘How
about staying on?’ asked Tash. ‘I was going to kick my assistant into touch. She
keeps letting me down. So I can offer you regular work, five days a week. What
do you say?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
was about to say, <i>No. I can’t. I live in Doncaster. </i>Then I thought, <i>Why
not?</i> What was keeping me in Doncaster now the girls were at university? My
job had felt like a dead end for the last ten years. Perhaps it was time for a
complete change.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Pass
me my phone,’ I said. I dialed Moira’s number.</span></p>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">About the author</span></h4><p>Jane Mooney writes in West Yorkshire where she enjoys walking in the Pennine hills and watching the sunset. She was a finalist in the 'Women on Writing Summer ’23 Flash Fiction Contest', and her short stories have been published by <i>Funny Pearls’ , Café Lit </i>and <i>The People’s Friend</i>. </p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-6955266191685425612024-02-26T16:00:00.010+00:002024-02-26T16:00:00.136+00:00Ytterbium by Jim Bates, black coffee <p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The story so
far:</span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In Chapter One, <i>Gadolinium</i>,
we were introduced to Sherry a sixteen-year-old girl who has withdrawn due to
the loss of her father in a tragic car accident. Chapter Two, <i>Terbium</i>,
we were introduced to Zeke who has been in the child welfare system for six
years and is having mental health issues. They both like science a lot. In
Chapter Three, <i>Dysprosium,</i> we are introduced to Mary who is one of the
mental health professionals caring for Zeke. We are also introduced to her
boyfriend Len. In Chapter Four<i>, Holmium</i>, Len, and Mary meet Leroy a
homeless person, and befriend him. In Chapter Five, <i>Erbium</i>, Leroy, and
his pal Riley attempt to rob a store, and the result is better than they could
have ever expected. In Chapter Six,<i>Thulium</i>, they end up going home to
Leroy’s parents farm and are welcomed with open arms.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Ytterbium</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Fall, 2021</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Hi.
Welcome to Café Enya, Riley said, consulting a chart. “Reservation for noon?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Yes,
indeed,” said the elderly lady, smiling at him. “I believe I’m right on time.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You are! I’ve got your table all set. Follow
me.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Gladly.”
A minute later, she removed her Covid mask and sat down at the table for two at
the far end of the outdoor eating section. She took a deep breath and let it
out. “O, boy. What a wonderful day.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“It
sure is,” Riley remarked. He set down a glass and poured some ice-cold water
from a pitcher.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">While
he was doing that, Hazel turned to the seat next to her and smiled. Abe smiled
back and nodded, agreeing with her. It really was a nice day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
was wearing a yellow floral dress and sandals. She set her oversized shoulder
bag on the ground next to her chair but left her straw hat on. She took off her
sunglasses, though, revealing bright blue eyes. She appeared to be in her early
seventies. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“My
name is Hazel, by the way,” she said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Riley,”
he said, giving her a bump on her extended right elbow.<i></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Nice
to meet you, Riley.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“You,
too.” He set a menu down on the table. “Here you go. “The special today is
baked walleye on Minnesota wild rice, garnished with fresh parsley.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Oh,
my. That sounds yummy.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Riley
grinned. “It is.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
smiled back at him, favoring her left elbow somewhat. “I’ll tell you what. It’s
such a nice day, I think I’ll just take my time and check out what else you’ve
got. If that’s okay.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Perfect.
Sounds good.” He pointed to the severs station. “I’ll be right over there.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Great.”
Riley picked up the water pitcher and was turning away when her voice stopped
him. “So, how long have you worked here?” He turned to see her looking past him
and waving at the other server. “That’s Ronald,” she said. “I remember him from
the last time I was here.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">So,
she wanted to chat? That was fine with Riley. She was the only customer. He
stepped a little closer and set the pitcher down. “I’ve just started and only
been here a little less than a month. When were you here last?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Oh,
it was about three months ago. Toward the beginning of summer. My husband Abe
and I came as sort of a celebration.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Anniversary?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“No,”
she chuckled. “It was to celebrate going on a trip to Sweden. My husband’s
family is from there. I just got back.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Really?
I have relatives from Norway.” He paused. “I think.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Well,
it’s a really pretty out there. Lots of forests and trees. I was on an island.”
She smiled at the memory. “I was beautiful” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Sounds
wonderful.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“It
was.” Then she patted the empty place setting and smiled, seemingly for no
reason. “I was wondering, could I please have another water? That would be
nice.”<i></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Sure.
Anything else? Wine, perhaps?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“No.
Water is fine.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Coming
right up.” He poured her extra water glass, mildly curious as to why she was so
thirsty. She’d barely touched her own glass. Oh, well. The customer was always
right, as the saying went.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">He
smiled at her. “Okay. If you’re all set, I’ll leave you to your menu. Happy
deciding!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Thank
you,” Hazel said, perusing her menu. “It all looks so delicious.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Back
at the server’s station Ronald was watching the interaction with interest. “I
remember that old lady,” he said, as Riley walked up to him. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Yeah,
she said she’d been here before.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“She
was. Earlier this summer, I think.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Four
more customers wandered in filling a table that Ronald took. A little while
later, the two servers met up back at the station after Riley had taken Hazel’s
order: broiled salmon on a bed of curry with a side salad and vinaigrette
dressing. She’d also ordered the special. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Which
he mentioned the double order, Roland remarked, “Two meals, huh? Yeah, I think
she did something like that with me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Riley shrugged. “Kind of strange,
but no big deal. Maybe she’s hungry.” He looked at Hazel. She had taken off her
hat and was sipping on her ice water. “She seems nice.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“She
is,” Ronald said. “Left a hell-of-a tip. I remember that. Like a hundred bucks."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Wow!”
Riley grinned. “I’ll be extra nice, then.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Which
wouldn’t be hard. If anyone was born to be a server, it was Riley. He was
twenty-nine years old, with an open, friendly face and a quick smile. He was
about five-feet six inches tall, had a thin build, and liked to make people
happy. He wore his hair long on top and shaved on the sides because he liked
the look. When he wasn’t working at Café Enya, he was writing songs, his
fervent hope being to one day get a recording contract. Until then, he played
lead guitar in alternative rock band <i>The Class of Never</i>. And worked at
Café Enya.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was just after noon on the
second to last Sunday in October, the last Sunday they’d be open for outdoor
seating. The two servers were expecting a nice crowd. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Ronald
looked up as more people started arriving. “Okay. Gotta go.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">A
bell rang signifying both Hazel’s orders were up. Riley hurried to fetch them
and then brought them to her. “Here you go. Enjoy."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Thank
you, young man.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Give
me a yell if you need anything else.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
will.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
smiled and watched Riley move with ease through the rapidly filling outdoor
dining area. She moved the plate with the special in front of where Abe was
sitting. She smiled at him. Boy, he sure looked good. Even after all these
years. He was wearing a favorite pair of tan cargo pants and a black tee-shirt
that said <i>Born to Run</i> on the front. It was the title of his favorite
Bruce Springsteen album and a little joke between them because Abe had once
been an avid jogger. Until his knees gave out. Now, with his trimmed, grey
beard and straw hat, be looked like an artist from 1870’s France, like Paul
Cezanne or someone. As far as Hazel was concerned, he was the most handsome man
in the world. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Here
you go, dear. I hope you enjoy your meal.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">He
smiled at her and patted her hand. <i>Oh, I’m sure I will</i>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She was so happy. It was
wonderful to be back at the Café, and dining outside like this with her dear
husband was sending a thrill through her<i>.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
watched as Abe dug in. Oh, she still loved him so. The trip to Ytterby on the
island of Resaro had been so much fun. The home where Abe had grown up had been
purchased twenty years earlier by a couple who had turned the quaint one and a
half story stone cottage with a view of the water into a nice bed and breakfast
called <i>Island’s Rest. </i>Which is where they’d stayed. The island was
thirty miles from Stockholm. The owners, Bengt and Rose, welcomed her with open
arms. She’d toured the Ytterby Mine, famous for its significant deposits of the
rare earth metals yttrium, erbium, terbium and ytterbium, along with traces of
scandium, holmium, thulium and gadolinium. For someone who could have cared
less about chemistry, even Hazel had found it remarkable that so many
hard-to-find elements were found in one place. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Rose
had taken to Hazel immediately and enjoyed showing her about the island
archipelago via an old wooden but sea worthy motorboat she and Bengt kept. All
in all, Hazel had had a wonderful time. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Except
for the accident.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">On
the day she was scheduled to leave, the weather was bright and sunny and both
women were in good moods. Rose had suggested a short boat ride and Hazel
readily agreed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Rose
was in the stern, running the noisy twenty-five horse power motor. She pointed
to the north and yelled, “See that island? That’s called Urm. It’s were Bengt
proposed to me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Urm,
like so many of the islands in the archipelago was a granite slab of stone
covered in dark green pines trees. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“My
husband proposed to me at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum,” Hazel said. “In a
grove of maple trees. It was Fall.” She got a faraway look in her eyes. “They
were bright orange and red. I’ll never forget it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Rose
was a stout woman and handled the old wooden boat with ease. She cut the motor
and they drifted, bobbing gently in the wake. “He sounded like a nice man.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Not
was.” Hazel corrected her new friend. “Is.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Rose
looked at her questioningly. It was something she’d noticed about Hazel; she
was a little odd. For instance, she sometimes talked to herself, saying things
like, ‘Isn’t that right?’ or ‘What do you think?’ It seemed harmless, even kind
of charming, and Rose just let it pass. Or like this, referring to her departed
husband in the present tense, even though the first night she’d been with them,
she had asked Rose to accompany her when she scattered Abe’s ashes off a nearby
point of land. Odd, maybe, but ultimately harmless, and to Rose, not that big
of a deal</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Okay.”
Rose responded to Hazel’s admonishment. “Is, it is.” Over the last few days,
she had been enjoying the companionship with Hazel. What were a few quirks?
It’d been a long time since she’d had a woman friend. So what if Hazel made
stuff up? She was still a nice person. “Tell me more.” She was looking forward
to hearing more about her friend’s husband when a humpbacked whale surfaced
about fifty feet away. Rose was transfixed. “Hazel! Look at that!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“What?”
Hazel, asked, turning.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“A
whale,” Rose pointed. “Over there! A humpback. They come through here sometimes.
Hunting for fingerlings.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Oh,
wow!” Hazel remarked after she’d made the sighting. She was enthralled. “That’s
incredible.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The
whale dove under the water and both women followed its shadowy shape. It was
headed away from them. “See him?” Rose pointed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Yeah.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The
humpback then turned sharply away from them. “It must be hunting for food,”
Rose said, looking around. “They’re usually in groups called pods.” She scanned
the surface of the water for indication of more whales. “We could be in for a
real treat.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
pulled down the brim of her straw hat to shade her eyes from the sun and
twisted back and forth looking from side to side. “How cool!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“No
kidding.” Then Rose noticed other boats were being to show up. She pointed.
“More observers.” She grinned. “This is very exciting!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Then
both women turned their attention to the shadowy form of the humpback as it
appeared off the starboard bow just under the surface of the water. They were
enjoying watching it, when, suddenly, the whale cut toward them, as if chasing
something. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Oh,
oh.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an instant, before Rose could
make a correction in the direction of the boat, the whale swam right under
them. “Watch out!” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">But
there was nothing she could do. The top if its hump hit underneath the hull and
the boat flipped over like a it was a tiny twig. The two women were flipped
into the air and thrown into the water. They both came up sputtering while
boats in the vicinity hurried to help. The whale dove out of sight. The two
women would have been all right if Hazel hadn’t cracked her elbow on the side
of the boat when she landed. They were rescued by no less than three nearby
boats. Both women were taken to a hospital in Stockholm where surgery was
performed on Hazel’s elbow. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“I’m
afraid it’s broken,” the surgeon had told her, looking at the x-rays and
shaking his head in symphathy. “It’ll take two weeks to heal, but maybe six
months to fully recover.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Geez,”
Hazel said, saddened by the length of time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Don’t
worry,” Rose had told her. “You can stay with us.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
enjoyed Rose’s company as much as Rose enjoyed hers. Gratefully, Hazel
accepted. “You’re so kind. Are you sure?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“No
problem at all.” Rose felt bad about the accident. “I should have been more
careful.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“There
was nothing you could have done,” Hazel said. “Nothing at all. I don’t want to
hear about word on the subject. Just forget about it.” Then, she grinned,
“Plus, we got to see the humpback up close. That was amazing.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Rose
grinned back at her. “You’re right about that!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Plus, Abe will love having more time here.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Rose
played along. “And we will love having him.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
ended up staying for most of the summer. With Abe of course. Rose didn’t mind
at all. </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">***</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel had only
been back in Minnesota for about a week when she made the decision to celebrate
being back by going out to lunch at Café Enya.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“My,
that Riley seems like such a nice young man,” she said to Abe. She pushed aside
her meal and was sipping on her water. The restaurant was filling up fast and
both servers were busy. But, as busy as he was, Riley made it a point of
stopping by to check on her. Something she appreciated. All in all, she was
having a wonderful day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">At
one point she smiled as a pair of cardinals landed in a nearby lilac bush. The
male fed the female a seed, a sign of his commitment to her. It was touchingly
intimate and made Hazel happy she’d seen them. After they flew off, she reached
out her hand and her heart fluttered with joy when Abe took it. <i>My dear,</i>
he said, <i>I was wondering if you’d like a little desert. Remember last time
we had crème Brulé? I’d love some of that.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Sound
good to me,” Hazel said and raised her hand to get Riley’s attention. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">He
hurried over. “I get these dishes cleared away.” He noticed the second meal was
untouched. “Should I put that one in a takeout container?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Thank
you. That would be very nice.” Hazel grinned. “But there’s still room for
dessert. I think I’ll have crème Brulé’ and two spoons.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Coming
right up.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Riley
hurried off after removing the remnants of their meal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
sighed a contented sigh and closed her eyes, turning her face to the sun. Her
elbow had healed pretty well but there was a twinge of pain every now and then.
That was okay. It was nothing she couldn’t handle. A former grade school
teacher, Hazel was happy with her life. Abe had been an engineer for a local
electronics manufacturing company, and they were fortunate to have had two fine
children, one who lived twenty miles east in St. Paul. Marie was her name, and
Hazel smiled at just the thought of her talented daughter, an art teacher
Southwest High School in Minneapolis, located not ten miles from where she was
now seated. Her three grandchildren were adorable and Hazel and Abe had enjoyed
helping to tutor them one day a week during the pandemic lockdown. Hazel took
another sip of water wondering why she was so thirsty these days. Oh, well.
Part of getting older she guessed. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
also worked part time at the Orchard Lake senior living home, which is how
she’d inadvertently brought home the Corona Virus. Abe had been infected and
died only a few weeks after he’d be diagnosed. That had been over a year ago.
She still felt the pain of his loss, not to mention the guilt at how she had
contributed to his death. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">What
are you thinking about, my dear?</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Abe asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
used a napkin to wipe a tear from her eye. “I’m thinking about how much I love
you and how much I miss you. I’m just so sorry…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Abe
reached over and caressed his wife’s cheek<i>. Don’t be, my love. Over
six-hundred thousand people in the United States died for that damn virus. I’m
just glad neither of our children or the grandkids got sick.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Spoken
like the true scientist he was. It was one of the many things she loved about
him; he helped keep her grounded. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Her
thoughts were broken by Riley’s cheerful appearance. “Here we go! A nice desert
for you to enjoy on such a lovely day.” He set the crème Brulé down with a
flourish. “Anything else I can get for you?” He indicated her water glass. It
was almost empty. So was the other one.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“A
little more water would be nice.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“You
got it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Riley
was turning to go, when Hazel added. “Oh, and the bill. I’ll take that, too.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Coming
right up. I’ll also bring your doggy bag.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
waved ‘Thank you,’ as her hurried off, but doubted he saw her. The restaurant
was just about full. Hazel was glad she’d arrived early and had booked her
table. The sun was bright and there wasn’t a cloud clear blue sky. She and Abe
had often come here to have a meal, driving in from their home twenty miles
west in the small town of Orchard Lake. They’d have lunch and go for walk down
the sidewalks around through the quiet nearby neighborhood. They loved looking
at the one-hundred-year-old homes with their nicely kept yards, often planted
with tasteful groupings of shrubs, perennials and colorful annuals. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
savored her desert and tried to get Abe to have some as well, but he demurred
saying <i>I don’t need anything else, my love. I’ve got everything I need right
her with you.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
giggled. Oh, how he could send her heart fluttering. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“I’m
so happy,” she said. “Even though I miss you every day, I love that we can
still be together like this.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Abe
smiled and took her hand. <i>Even though I’m not really here? You’re okay with
that?</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
gripped his hand tightly, wiping away a shadow crossing her face. “I’ll never
be okay with it, but…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">But
you’re starting to accept it.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
was quiet for a moment, and the shadow passed. She cracked a bright smile.
“Yes, my love, I’m starting to accept it.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Abe
looked at her. <i>You need to, you know. You really do.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
know.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">You
scattered my ashes like I’d asked you to. I know how painful that was for you,
but I’m so proud you did it.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
gripped his hand even tighter. “It’s what you wanted me to do. It was hard, you
know that.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
know.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“But
I did it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s
part of letting go, my love. </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
know.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “I know.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I’ll
always love you, you know. Always</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“And
I’ll always love you.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">They
were sitting looking fondly at each other when Riley stopped by the table.
“Here’s the check,” he said. And, with another flourish, “The doggy bag.” Then
he noticed Hazel had been crying. “Oh, my goodness. We were so busy I didn’t
notice.” Concerned, he hurried inside and came back with a fresh napkin.
“Here.” He gave it to her and leaned in close studying her blue eyes that were
now sparkling in the sun. “Are you doing all right?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled up at him. “Yes. Yes, I am.” She
dabbed her eyes dry. “Thank you.” She looked at him, appreciatively. “I just
get a little emotional sometimes.” She smiled a wane smile. “Silly old me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Riley
was concerned. He liked the old lady. There had been an attempted robbery in
the area recently and he didn’t want her to be at risk. “Look, can I do
anything for you? Call someone?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
smiled at him. “No, dear. I’ll be fine.” She straightened up and shook her
shoulders as if to shake off whatever was bothering her. “Look around.” She
pointed to the diners and then to the tree- lined street the café was located
on. “It’s a beautiful day. I’ve had a wonderful meal. I’ve had a great
waitperson.” She smiled at Riley and his ears turned red. “Life is good.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Are
you sure?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">She
patted his hand. “I’m sure, young man.” She picked up her bill. “I’ll pay cash
for this, and then I’ll be on my way.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Riley
grinned. He wasn’t sure she really was all that okay, but, at least for now,
she seemed like she was and that was good enough for him. One thing he was
learning as he grew older, life could get complicated sometimes. That was for
sure. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Okay,”
he said. “If you’re sure.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
am,” she said picking up the bill. “I’ll just be a minute.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Take
your time,” Riley said, turning. “I’ve got some more tables that need looking
after.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“You
do that young man.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“You
take care.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“You,
too. I’ll be back.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Great.”
And Riley hurried off.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Such
a nice young man,” Hazel said to Abe.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">He
sure is.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
laid her money down for the meal plus a generous one-hundred-dollar tip and
stood to leave. She put on her straw hat and her sunglasses and then put the
doggy bag in her shoulder bag. She glanced around and saw that Riley was busy
at the far end of the restaurant. He must have sensed her looking at him
because he looked up, saw her, smiled and waved. She waved back.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Okay,
Abe, let’s go,” she said. No answer. She looked around. “Abe? Now where did
that man go? I thought we could go for a walk.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">She
looked around the restaurant but didn’t see him<i>. My, oh, my. Where’d he
wander off to?</i> Well, she could stand there like a doddering old fool
looking for him. That wouldn’t do at all. “Okay. Be that way. But I’m going.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">She
wasn’t mad, just adjusting to life without having her husband of over fifty
years around her all the time. She knew that he was gone; she’d scattered his
ashes. She also knew that her memories of him would never go away. Like today.
It was important for her to keep them alive. Even if people thought she was a
nutty old lady who talked to herself, she didn’t care. After all, maybe, in the
end, that’s what love was all about. Never having to say a final good bye.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hazel
took her time walking through the outdoor seating area. Then she turned down
the street. The day was too picture perfect to waste. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“I’m
going for a walk, my dear,” she said to Abe. “Want to join me?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Sure</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">,
he said, suddenly appearing next to her. <i>Anytime</i>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">She
smiled and took his outstretched hand. “Great,” she said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">And
off they went, hand in hand. The two of them. Together for all time.</span></p><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">About the author </span></h4><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></div><p>Jim lives in a small town in Minnesota. He loves to write! His stories and poems have appeared in nearly 500 online and print publications. To learn more and to see all of his work, check out his blog at: <a href="http://www.theviewfromlonglake.wordpress.com">www.theviewfromlonglake.wordpress.com</a>.</p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-57790127112150603992024-02-25T16:00:00.005+00:002024-02-25T16:00:00.279+00:00Sunday Serial: 240 x 70, by Gill James,5. Survivor 6 March 2018, spring water, <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">You wouldn</span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">’t have guessed. He is so confident, so self-assured. And he
glows healthily. He's pretty fit, too. In both senses of the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wouldn’t mind a date with him, would you?
Of course you wouldn't. I'm lucky. I get to see him every day </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Courier New";">They
say that what doesn</span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">’t kill you makes you
stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always thought that was a
bit of a cop out or a well-worn cliché. Along with the university of life and
the school of hard knocks. He's had them all. But he more than survives. He
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But look at what happened to him:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: -19.3pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in -19.3pt 0in 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Abused and beaten by his parents.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: -19.3pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in -19.3pt 0in 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No education </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: -19.3pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in -19.3pt 0in 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sold to the slave trade </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: -19.3pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in -19.3pt 0in 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Abused by his employers</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: -19.3pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in -19.3pt 0in 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Survived an explosion but left blind</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
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</span></span></span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No money available for rehabilitation </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: -19.3pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in -19.3pt 0in 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Robbed at gunpoint<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
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</span></span></span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Left homeless and sleeping on the street </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: -19.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-family: times; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yet, he</span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-family: times; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">’s
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">About the author </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gill James is published by The Red Telephone, Butterfly and
Chapeltown. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She edits <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CafeLit </i>and
writes for the online community news magazine: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talking About My Generation. </i></p>
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Writing for Children and PhD in Creative and Critical Writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.gilljameswriter.com">http://www.gilljameswriter.com</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE">https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B001KMQRKE</a>
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Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-55541530180546136082024-02-24T16:00:00.003+00:002024-02-25T14:14:13.633+00:00Saturday Sample: Wishful Thinking by Derk Corbett, Tequila <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPy5kYUcYuBJFQiIUD2UrX1Ipi2_dCn6cR3D-KX5c9EnT9Z_-z45kOpUyEexF0qjNlkYjz2NJHnJ6-K5OzBKPpWumaqDmRkRv4e3oRQpXCU5Iz9_44M7od4RwdauVCcnumVX3YL9dMiCzcZa_RCj1p67PkMhNH1XJmFWWyiet9Rm_ZDBwuAZter3NFbs/s600/Wishful%20Thinking%20Medium.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPy5kYUcYuBJFQiIUD2UrX1Ipi2_dCn6cR3D-KX5c9EnT9Z_-z45kOpUyEexF0qjNlkYjz2NJHnJ6-K5OzBKPpWumaqDmRkRv4e3oRQpXCU5Iz9_44M7od4RwdauVCcnumVX3YL9dMiCzcZa_RCj1p67PkMhNH1XJmFWWyiet9Rm_ZDBwuAZter3NFbs/s320/Wishful%20Thinking%20Medium.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="FirstParagraph">Mathias Mori stirs; his body stiff from the chill night
air. His nose twitches under the old fedora covering his face, as an ant
becomes separated from the detachment marching purposefully across his hat and
finds its way into his moustache. Cautiously he raises his head to look around
himself and winces with discomfort as the pistol tucked into his belt presses
against his lower ribs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Midnight is approaching and the little graveyard is quiet in
the darkness. Here and there Mathias sees the low glow of still-flickering
candles. Their light picks out remnants of food, sugar skulls and elaborate
floral tributes. He sees a few remaining hushed and huddled figures: the
weathered faces of the elderly, the painted faces of the young, craving the
company of revenants.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pale moonlight throws nearer marker crosses and stone
memorials into black relief.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fully awake, Mathias rises to his feet beside the headstone
of his wife, Lavida. His single candle, almost spent, illuminates the small,
oval photograph from which she smiles serenely at him in shades of sepia. Her
image, immortalised and sealed in its mount, sits above the flimsy brown
skeletons of past bouquets. Now, no more than bundles of kindling dried under
the hot sun. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tonight, Mathias brings fresh marigolds. He scatters their
petals to entice lost souls. They are withering on top of the marble slab. The
Day of the Dead is almost at an end.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That morning, while early
light bled upwards from the line of the horizon and shades of blue and gold
outlined the sharp spears of the peyote agaves encircling the village, Mathias
said goodbye to his empty home. He said goodbye to his old bentwood rocking chair,
sitting motionless on the flagstone floor, to his two hens roosting on a faded
candlewick bedspread thrown over a wooden settle, proudly crafted by him in his
younger days. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Outside, through the open door, where a single tap dripped
into a chipped stone sink, he said goodbye to a shabby turkey which sat in the
dust. The turkey, with no name and a broken wing had followed Lavida
everywhere. It was generally regarded as a measure of the family’s prosperity
that the bird continued to live on, fiesta after fiesta<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mathias walked past the family’s little plot of land, past
straggling tomatoes and chilli peppers, past prickly pears and lavender, past
husks of maize and wizened sunflower stalks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He will spend this day of celebration walking and talking
with old friends and neighbours.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the farmer marshals his flock to pasture, Mathias hails
him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Buenos Dias Señor Ferrer! How are your goats today?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Señor Mori! They do well, but… today’s fiesta affects them.
They sense things. They sense the spirits abroad on El Dia De Los Muertes. It
affects the animals. Who knows if they can see and hear things outside our
experience? I tell you Mathias, while we honour our departed and feel their
presence around us, I think the animals see them.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Ask your goats if my wife comes back here. I have kept
faithful vigil each year since her passing, but have seen nothing. She vowed to
return, but I am tired; my bones grow old and my shadow is thin and bent.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Mathias, I am sorry for your loss, as are many here, but do
not joke of such things. People believe the departed are awake and free in the
domain of the dead, while we, the living, remain trapped in the dream of life.
You must be patient in your dream of life. Do you sleep hombre; do you sleep?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Sleep? Those days are gone, my friend. And you?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Farmers? We sleep like those in the churchyard. But I tell
you Mathias, this is a strange day.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I know. And I must be on my way. Adios Enrique, my old
friend. <span lang="ES-TRAD" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD;">Buena suerte.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD;">‘Vaya
con Dios. </span>Stop by later for my wife’s good cooking. She worries about
you.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Si, si; adios.’ </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The dirt roadway leads Mathias between uneven limestone
walls, washed in pastel pinks, blues and ochres. He sees they are flaking and
bleached like bones in the sun, cast with sharp black shadows. Now, daylight
crosses wrought iron balconies with their pots of yuccas. It seeps in slivers
between faded shutters, their paint peeled back like scorched skin. It
stretches to touch the hardwood beds within, some with their still slumbering
occupants.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the village square, where an ancient well trickles clear
water into a roughly hewn trough, Pinot the baker piles grotesquely decorated,
grinning sugar skulls and pink iced pan de muerto onto a stall set out on the
pavement. His wife sets out bistro chairs and little tables with festive cloth
covers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Buenos Dias Mathias, mi amigo, will we see you during
today’s fiesta?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mathias nods. ‘I wait each year for the visit of my wife but
I do not see her. I fancy I hear her calling to me, but…’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Madame Pinot and I would have to travel to the edges of
Marseilles for a reunion with our ancestors. They must celebrate alone, ha, ha!
And here…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not wish to encounter the
dead but I will bake for their descendants. They make me good business.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mathias shakes his head. ‘It’s true; not everyone’s
relatives lie buried here. Did you know, my wife and I had a son? He rode away
to seek work. We understood his decision; we waited for his return. He was
killed they said, in a farming accident on a ranch somewhere out in the Rio
Grande. There were no remains to commemorate. My wife, I believe she died of
grief.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two men share a respectful silence before Mathias speaks
again.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I go now to seek the advice of the priest, Father Murphy. I
wish you a prosperous day.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the outskirts of the village, the little whitewashed
church has a cool limestone interior. Shafts of sunshine slant through the
window grilles onto rustic pews and a roughly hewn baptismal font. Father
Murphy is occupied replacing the pooling stumps of spent candles with fat new
ones.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Ah Mathias Mori! We don’t see you in the congregation; not
since your wife passed away. People worry about you.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I know Father, they’re good people here.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘This morning I prayed to the Almighty for the safe conduct
of the spirits of our loved ones. Soon it will be over for another year. There
will be a surfeit of food and tequila, followed, I hope, by peace in the
village.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Father, do you see the dead return here?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘My son, the church cannot be held responsible for what
people here choose to believe. Certainly, I have witnessed things I can share
with no man, they are between me and my maker. Now I am returning home. I shall
have a mug of tea, and if a drop of good Irish whiskey should find its way into
the mug, then I shall give thanks to the Lord for His bounty. I’ll have none of
this local brew, and that’s a fact… but you look troubled.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I’m sorry, Father.’ </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘What ails you Mathias? I know the fates have not been kind.
Will you return to the church?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘You may find me here tomorrow Father, after the early bell
sounds.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I do not take part in today’s festival but you should join
the procession. Or, go home, give thanks and pray.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mathias continues his walk. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At home, the clock ticks above his workbench where his tools
lie dull and rusting. The tap drips. The hens pick over the old maize husks and
the shabby turkey ruffles its feathers in the dust and gobbles up any remaining
sunflower seeds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Later, Mathias drinks in the square beneath fairy lights
strung amongst the tree branches. He watches as villagers celebrate the fiesta.
He follows the procession to the cemetery where he sits alone with his memories
of happier times: times before Lavida, the love of his life, moved on without
him, left him behind, gone, some said, to join their son.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At last, as darkness closes in from the surrounding desert,
beneath a million stars, weary revellers find their way home. Many remain
around the little limestone church to keep a graveside vigil. Mathias too
remains in the small cemetery.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here he waits each night on the second day of November.
Lavida promised to return.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He looks again at his wife’s grave, seeking signs of
disturbance, evidence of another’s presence. He sees nothing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sound of a single gunshot reverberates; it bounces off
the walls of the tiny church; it ricochets off the gravestones and echoes into
the night air.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The hard-working ants halt in confusion as they carry their
precious cargo of sugar-crumbs from yesterday’s fiesta towards their colonies’
home beneath the church steps. Their leader marshals a wide detour around the
pool of blood spreading slowly about the head of Mathias Mori.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who have stayed on there, the weathered elderly and
the painted young, will be begged to repeat what they witnessed that night,
year after year, over and over again.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The shock of a gun-shot, then a silence so absolute that
they believed themselves to have been deafened. The unmistakable scent of
marigolds; a smell as enticing and fragrant as sun-warmed nectarines, heady and
sweet. It charmed their senses and whispered to their souls. Then a disturbance
in the perfumed air, ethereal colours dancing and blending: a shape-shifting
chimera coalesced, lingered in amethyst, opal and moonstone. Some say they
heard the voice of Lavida, others, that they heard an angel singing. Time and
belief were suspended in wonder.</p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mathias drifts through cold unlit olive groves, reputed to
be home to the monachichi, spirits of children who died unbaptized. They reach
out clammy gossamer fingers and whisper to creatures of the night that raise
their heads and sniff the air. Where is this place?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then Mathias
detects the scent of marigolds. Gradually, familiar sensations permeate the
gloom and he hears Lavida, she is recounting the story of their lives together.
He sees her face, it melds with that of their son, hollow-eyed but smiling. He
smells once more the wood-fire in their hearth in winter and the rich earth of
their garden under the sun. He feels the fabric of the home his
great-grandfather passed down through the generations. They are all here; they
have been here all the time. They welcome Mathias into his afterlife.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Together they
look out from within the adobe, at the sunrise, at the sunset, at the stark
silhouettes of the agaves that have framed their lives. Their community is
complete.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the graveyard where Mathias’ bones lie beside those of
Lavida, some may see the priest pause as if deep in thought. He may raise his
eyes, look around himself; he may walk more swiftly on into the sanctity of his
church, closing the heavy wooden door firmly behind him. Ecumenical duties take
him far away once each year, always around the time of El Día De Los Muertes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The life of Mathias Mori was unremarkable but in Pueblo
Peyote the story of his death is repeated in hushed tones on every second day
of November.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </p>
<p class="Bio"><span lang="EN-US">Published, (and title of anthology) Black Pear
Press, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">On The Day Of The Dead</i>, 2017</span></p>
<p class="Bio"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="Bio"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Published by
Tacchi-Morris Creative Writing Comp, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Page is Printed</i></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">, </span></b><span lang="EN-US">June 2016</span></p>
<br />Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066052372145018455.post-9863467632515766302024-02-23T16:00:00.001+00:002024-02-23T16:00:00.139+00:00Harriet and Horace by Geoff Naumann, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">‘For the love of Horace. You’re too much, and so are your
feathers! Why didn’t you pluck pluck pluck the day you arrived? I’d’ve sent you
straight back with the farm lady.’ Harriet couldn’t tell you if she was
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She went to her
notice board,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wrote: </span><b><span face="BradleyHandITCTT-Bold" style="color: #181817; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: BradleyHandITCTT-Bold;">sweep up duck feathers</span></b><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> and: </span><b><span face="BradleyHandITCTT-Bold" style="color: #181817; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: BradleyHandITCTT-Bold;">clean up crap</span></b><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">. Then stopped. Suddenly. Like going to do something important,
but forgetting what it was. ‘For the love of Horace - next I will embroider a
plush cushion with a farm yard scene. Gotta find a saying that fits. All the
world’s a barn and we’re all merely animals.’ Chuckling, she exclaimed to
Horace, whose wobbling head implied he </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: #181817; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">had</span></i><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> heard her this time: ‘I
just made that up. Me!’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
collecting a full dustpan of his feathers she twisted gently toward the
cluttered kitchen bench and pulled a plastic bag from the over-stuffed bottom
drawer; the feathers tumbled over each other floating up and down until finally
settling at the bag’s base. Harriet swirled and knotted it. ‘Ha ha. You’ll come
in handy after all you plucky plucky duck.’ Returning to the blackboard, she
started a new column: </span><b><span face="BradleyHandITCTT-Bold" style="color: #181817; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: BradleyHandITCTT-Bold;">Pillow with number
347 red barn, 3045 brown for the fence, stock up on the sixty-three DMC greens</span></b><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">. ‘I’m going to need a larger To Do board!’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She stepped
over her sweater and house slippers shedded earlier and sat in her sun-faded,
once-plump wing chair to carry on with her current embroidery project, another
of those sayings. She pulled at her skein of stranded cotton removing three of
the six threads to thicken the 311 blue of the capital letter T. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Harriet looked to
Horace from apologising eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">She really had thought to find him a companion. Didn’t
happen though. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now just two old
ducks alone; that’s what Kathleen from her work days says, anyhow. It was
Kathleen who’d wondered about the duck’s name. Only other Horace Kathleen knew
was Vandergelder, from that </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">Hello Dolly </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">show.
But she knew after William passed Harriet was never going to get around to
finding her own Horace, one who’d install new green window shutters for
Harriet.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>‘So long ago.
Fifteen years. Good that he hadn’t suffered. But suddenly, alone? How can
fifteen years apart still feel so together?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She again
returned to her embroidering and chattering to Horace. ‘I’m doing one about
today,’ she called through the screen door. She couldn’t recall if she’d read
this one, heard it, or just created it from within. Kind of always knew it. She
didn’t know the Latin for it though. </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">Diem</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> is integral, she nearly
convinced herself; or is it? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Harriet liked all
those quotes. Fun ones. Old ones. I like all that </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">olde worlde </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">stuff, she would say. She was drawn
indulgently to that Latin poet’s quotes. And that’s how she’d named the duck -
‘Yes you! A</span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;"> picture is a poem
without words,</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> that’s one of his,’ she
informed Horace. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After the words
came the curlicues, then the flowers, culminating in surrounding the words with
whole kaleidoscopic cotton gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
was at that age where her eyes believed she was appreciating fresh flowers
whenever imitation ones were in a vase. She’d redden every time she smelled
them. Now she worried her embroidery blooms were themselves getting less
realistic, not more. ‘Damn my eyes.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She remembered to
thread her needle, she was up to the D: check, enter, exit, pull, again. Her
daily pattern with a descant of </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">bon mot</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> murmured
creatively. ‘A stitch in time saves mine. Mine? My what? Really?’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Harriet still had
plenty of shelves and tables and cabinets in the house to fill with her
embroidery despite having att</span><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">empted
a garage sale after Bill passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of
his bits and bobs had sold. She thought to sell the sadness with
them. When she realised that didn’t work, she gave up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She’d been
stitching, and making plans, ever since. Supposed to be calming. It was,
sometimes, maybe. To Harriet, the handmade pieces had become like
presents; either birthday or Christmas, didn’t matter which; presents you
eagerly await, open slowly but excitedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She loved revealing them thread by thread. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Into this
contemplation weaved the wonderment of that one day, long ago, when she just
made it happen. She paused her needle, took a long breath. Exhaling slowly she
felt herself walking into the boss’s office, recalled her trembling voice: ‘I
need to talk to you.’ She distinctly heard the actorly quality of her boss’s
response, sincere but rehearsed: ‘We heard about William, so sorry. Anything
you need; take as long as you like.’ ‘Well that’s just it,’ she replied, just
as rehearsed. ‘All the time, Today Tomorrow The Day After That, I’m taking it
all, for me. I’m going. Now.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Threading her
needle with a double strand of 18 yellow, she questioned waiting until he’d
gone? ‘We could’ve enjoyed the garden, cottage, sitting, doing nothing,
together?’ She was up to the Y. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fifteen
summer’s ago, as an anniversary gift, William had dug a little pond. Harriet
had always wanted a water feature, maybe some day would add one of those quaint
bridges you could buy at the pottery shop. It had been rewarding hard work. He
had loved doing things for her. ‘She keeps dreaming up all these garden ideas,’
he’d tell the neighbours, ‘pergola near her potting shed is next.’ This pond
project meant shifting the area’s notoriously heavy clay soil. Barrows upon
barrows were piled against the fence (</span><b><span face="BradleyHandITCTT-Bold" style="color: #181817; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: BradleyHandITCTT-Bold;">weed the clay mounds</span></b><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> is actually on Harriet’s blackboard). William lined the pond,
bought specially-ordered aquatic plants. ‘The old girl wants to bring the whole
country’s wildlife to our section,’ he mockingly complained to all who
listened. The final inclusion was the solar water spray, to aerate for life
more than art or enjoyment. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The pond
flourished into a picturesque wildlife scene - but only after he’d gone. The
ambulance came quickly, but was too late. Their local country doctor came too.
He said it was one of those things: ‘Could have happened anytime. Hearts tick
like windup clocks.’ William’s heart just chose to seize that day. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That was a
Sunday, her day was the Monday. Life was going to be full she’d decided. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>William’s pond
agreed. The water hawthorn was prolific, the jointed twig rush whistled in the
wind, the golden creeping jenny dotted the water with its summery yellow
flowers. Harriet and Horace knew a little green and golden bell frog had
made its home. Harriet was once inspired to start a Monet-like embroidery, but
the pond became so full of life, it wasn’t visible. Her muse was hidden. She had
not written, </span><b><span face="BradleyHandITCTT-Bold" style="color: #181817; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: BradleyHandITCTT-Bold;">clean up the pond</span></b><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">, on her blackboard.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Harriet glanced
up from her embroidery and out to the verdant labyrinth. That’s what started it
all. That pond, now lurking murky within the muted green threads of rushes and
weeds. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Horace’s
scratching and pulling disrupted her pondering. ‘More? Seriously?’ She yelled
at her retirement companion: ‘Go and pick up your own feathers, you messy
thing.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then it was
finished. Things do tend to just finish. She set down the linen. T</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">urned off the standard lamp. Sat. Those dark
moments seemed to go on, far too long. Shallow breathes threatened to overflow.
Turning to the deck door she saw the thin sideways moon smirking at her. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>‘</span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">Now is the time to
drink!</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> Horace’ - never a question
with Harriet, always a statement. She turned on the lounge room pendant light.
She draped this newest unframed embroidery over her grandest Ibsen stitchery of
a thousand words that commandeered the fireplace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She collected a
bottle of sauvignon blanc from the fridge and a glass from the cabinet. A small
rustic pine frame, hung with heavy twine on the knob, swung as she opened and
closed the door - </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">In vino veritas</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">, that was one of the earliest ones she’d
stitched. Her first brimful glass always ran effortlessly and swiftly,
submerging the past.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Harriet circled
back into the lounge room, placed the glass and bottle on her side table and
stood with hands-on-hips, facing her latest wordy garden piece: </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: #181817; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">If it’s worth
doing today it’ll still be worth doing tomorrow.</span></i><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>‘For the love
of Horace, I misspelled today!’ </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Harriet bent to the side table to seize the
glass. Posed like Lady Liberty she exclaimed another of her favourites, ‘</span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: #181817; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">Carpe vinum,’</span></i><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> as she raised a toast to </span><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">TOADY</span><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With
bemusement, crossed with a little frustration, she plonked into her chair. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Harriet gazed beyond the deck to the small
garden. She imagined the moon’s soft light illuminating the wind-strewn mottled
green swirls of duck weed on William’s pond. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Horace was
pacing; waddling sentinel-like across the deck; surprised at the late night
attention. Who there?; he raspingly called in his low base notes; Who you? ‘We </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT","serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">are</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> two funny old ducks,’ Harriet replied,
confirming the obvious, ‘M’lady and mallard.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harriet, consoled, smiled. Horace, reassured,
plucked. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As she allowed
her droopy eyelids to close, Harriet looked back to that decisive
fifteen-year-old Monday: ‘Every duck has its day…..that was mine.’</span></p>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">About the author </span></h4><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> <br /></span></h4><p><br />Geoff retired, early, from careers in the theatre, hospitality management, and marketing since "there wasn't time to read". Now in phase two of retirement Geoff is attempting to gather his own words into stories. Geoff is an Australian who migrated in the atypical direction and now resides in New Zealand. </p><p>Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
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</p>Gill Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.com0