Find current affairs & prompts below.
When Rose Fidelity returned home she felt guilty, but, in a
way, ecstatic. She had never done anything like that before,
and being nearly midnight, she couldn’t even remember a night
when she had been home so late. Approaching forty eight
years of age, Rose suddenly realised a new woman was
emerging from over twenty five years of marriage.
As she entered her living room, Roger, her husband, said: ‘You’re late,’ a hint of worry in his voice. And his alarm was heightened when Rose took off her coat, revealing her, and Roger’s, favourite plunging neckline.
Roger was taken aback by this. Rose had kept her youth well, and was still a desirable woman. ‘What on earth have you been doing, dear?’ he asked, puzzled.
Rose thought of an easy way to say it, but was suddenly lost for ideas. Holding her head up, she said: ‘I’ve been with Bradley. ‘
‘Oh, I see,’ said Roger. ‘And what do you mean by with?’
‘Having sex, husband, dear,’ said Rose. ‘I’ve been having the most exciting lay of my life.’
It took several seconds for the news to sink in; and perhaps a couple more for Roger’s first-tear to flow.
In a way, he’d been expecting it. Things hadn’t gone right for some time now. It was the next morning and Roger Fidelity tried to think it all out as he walked to work. He even knew what the final straw was …
‘I’m moving out,’ Jonny, their youngest, had said a fortnight ago.
Roger had been rather pleased by this declaration. Their daughter, Amanda, had already gone, and was happily married and heavily pregnant. Now that Jonny had felt the need to fly the nest, he and Rose could finally get on with their lives.
Rose had felt different, of course. ‘But all the bills, the responsibility. You’re so young.’
When Jonny had finally left, he’d kissed his mother on the cheek. ‘Don’t worry mum. You’ll still see me a lot; and I love you. ‘
But no matter how much Roger tried to instill a feeling of new life, Rose simply looked around an empty house and thought: ‘What now … ‘
Well, thought Roger, we know what, now, don’t we? Bradley, that so called family friend ….
‘How could you?’ he had asked the previous night, as the news sank in.
Rose stroked her husband’s face. ‘I never wanted to hurt you,’ she said, ‘but I have needs.’ She walked to the cupboard; took out the family photo album. ‘Look through it, Roger. Tell me what you see.’
Roger flicked through the album. ‘I see a loving family; a family happy with itself, and with life.’
‘And that’s true,’ said Rose. ‘But the family’s gone now. And take that away and what’s left?’
‘I don’t understand,’ Roger objected.
‘There is not one single picture in that album that says we are a couple. That went when we had kids. And I’m not sure, after all these years, we can recreate it.’
© Anthony North, June 2009
GREEN NEWS: There are plans for
laser-guided cars, allowing you to sleep
and eat in 70mph convoys. Already done. They
call them trains.
HEALTH NEWS: Research shows men 40% more likely to die
of cancer due to fear of doctors. It’s not fear, but the
macho culture.
WORLD NEWS: World Bank needs trillion dollars to
help developing countries in Recession. Or do
they mean to prop up failing Big Biz there?
ABC Wednesday – Acrostic Only
American Sandwich – Naisaiku Challenge
W is for … WEIRD
Once upon a time things were strange,
Unusual forces were arranged,
To colour and frighten a person’s life,
Superstition could cause such strife;
Now we’ve condemned such things as wrong,
We sing a more rational, reasoned song,
Yet have we lost a part of our soul?
Those stories and traditions made us whole
TONY’S MUSE DIARY
A few words on how Him Outside got cfs, I think. After all, it’s a big
part of his life. Now, there are many suggested ‘reasons’ for the
condition, but Him Outside tops the lot. How about stress? Well, he
always played hard in those days and he also had a stressful job for
the two years leading up to it, so we can tick that box. Then there’s
the aftermath of viral infection. Well, he’d caught three viruses in the
6 months beforehand. How about chemical concoctions? In the RAF,
he was jabbed up with everything, ready for any overseas
emergency. Injury? A couple of weeks before he’d cracked two ribs.
And in this state, he’d just finished a 3 day military exercise with
minimal sleep, arrived home and packed the family into the car to
drive 200 miles for a holiday. He never made it, passing out at the
wheel. He doesn’t remember stopping, but somehow he managed it;
and he hasn’t felt well since. So I suppose we can add stupidity
to it, too.
ELVIS PRESLEY
(Acrostic American Club Sandwich)
Elvis still lives on
Life is more than flesh and bone
VIRTUE IN CULTURE
Icon’s more than flesh and bone
Singing still lives on
Preened in blue swede shoes, audience all shook up, Jailhouse rocked to his great songs.
Return to sender, his burning love, we remain moody blue still.
End suspicious minds, love me tender, ‘cos I just can’t help believin …
Serene is Gracelands
Living still on noble throne
ELVIS WAS THE KING
Yes he’s still on noble throne
… Elvis IS Gracelands
© Anthony North, June 2009
Of course, it is argued this is statistics and survey, but does it have any greater validity than superstition? I don’t think so – not when a specific reason can be placed on the info above the medical ‘facts’.
ULRIKA AND THE WORK OF ART – Fiction
But I think the first indication of the problem is with that word, ‘profession’. Over recent years professionalism has seemed to increase in all areas of life, thus confirming authority and a career path.
MESSAGE ON A BOTTLE – Fiction
Well, we’re told to wash our hands more often. Nursing is even thinking about bringing back matron to instil higher standards. Oh yes, I can really see that working, with the modern employee being treated in the old way.
INVASION OF THE THREE – Fiction
PROF ISAAC GALISTEIN – On faddy stuff and us
That is to eat a little of everything. A fully balanced diet has to be the commonsense way. So why do so many ignore this good advice? I think it is to do with fads.
A TRADITIONAL WAY – Fiction
And it will no doubt make many people wary of the rush hour – which is total insanity. Of course, it is quite true, but how serious is it in the scheme of things?
