Met at Jack & Joan's for the first time, down in numbers but not in enthusiasm. Again very difficult to chose the best as each had its own merits and each widely different from one to the other. Joan E wrote of a widow finding her brother. Brian's described a bare footed walk amongst the richly set background of a verdant wood. Joan R's story was of a failed marriage due to the husband being less then straight. Ann related a family story and a lost child. Sue's was very good, a family history that wasn't.
My story was chosen the best so I modestly submit it.
Beneath that is Sue's masterpiece
Next month's at Pat & Brian's on the 21st September subject: Name and Title.
"I want to be an astronaut", I smiled at the recollection of one of my earliest memories when I was still in the infant class at the beginning of the new millennium. Miss? What was her name? Miss Snowball, that was it. Miss Snowball, what a funny name, I had never met anybody else with that name.
"I expect lots want to be an astronaut Wayne". she said. "Anybody else want to be one", she asked the class. Several hands shot up, "Me Miss" "Me Miss", they called out.
It was ten years later and another classroom and another teacher and again talk of future plans was the topic of the day. Again I had said I intended to train to be the first man to land on Mars. I could remember the teacher but not the name who looked doubtfully at me. "That is an ambitious dream." Nobody else still shared the same dream their careers were more prosaic with the exception of Roger Jones who wanted to be a tightrope walker.
I pulled down the outer vizor on my helmet as the sun broke across the horizon of the beautiful red planet.
I remembered the first time I passed the sound barrier in a training jet the almost imperceptible shudder through the body of the plane as the speed crept past mach one then mach two until I was cruising at 2300 miles per hour. The hours when my body was subjected to gravitational forces until I could take no more. But I had passed all the tests and was to be one of the crew of the new inter solar ship, Mars Destiny. Despite my ambition to be the first astronaut to land it was not meant to be I would be the one left on the mother ship while the remaining four would leave me to go down on their own.
But like all plans fate could intervene and change everything. I would be the first man to land and the only one. It was the previous day when disaster struck a small rock no bigger than a fist had struck the outer cone shaped protective dome and a part of that had broken off and pierced the hull. At that moment it was my job to go out to fix the aerial so already in a space suit I watched in horror as the hull decompressed and the four who over the last six months had become close friends died almost instantly.
There was no chance of landing as the control panel was smashed beyond repair the ship would be flung by Mars's gravity out into the cold reaches of space.
I made the decision an hour ago climbing into the escape pod with its small jets I had left the mother ship and using the onboard computer headed into the thin atmosphere that enclosed the small planet. There would be no triumphant return to earth but mankind will try again and I will be found and known as the first man of Mars - Wayne's world.
I WANT TO …
I want to tell you a story – the story of my life.
I was born into the home of an artisan, a cabinet maker with magic in his hands, who could create great beauty from humble pieces of wood. I grew and matured, nurtured in my warm, loving family.
I remember especially the cold winter evenings spent happily in our cosy cottage, with the lamps lit, the curtains drawn against the dark and a merry fire burning in the hearth. Sundays, too, were special days in our house, with no work done, a happy family dinner at mid-day and sometimes the whole family would then go for a walk, in the weak afternoon sun, children scuffing through the dry, brown leaves growing crisp at the onset of frost as the sun set. Everyone jostled to be first to the fire after divesting themselves of coats, hats, scarves, gloves and boots. Then the toasting fork would come out, and the crumpets, and soon everyone would be tucking into steaming mouthfuls, butter dripping down chins and from fingers, only to be greedily licked off, amid much laughter, before the next onslaught.
I served my apprenticeship in these happy surroundings and would have been content to remain there, but I was destined for greater things.
One early spring day we had visitors. A carriage drew up outside and a well-dressed gentleman got out, accompanied by a beautiful young lady. They were welcomed and offered tea and cakes, while they admired the elegant pieces of furniture displayed in the workroom. The young lady, Emily was her name, spent a great deal of her time returning to my company, much to my delight, and at the end of the visit promised to return.
What exciting times they were and my happiness knew no bounds when the impossible happened and we were installed in our own home, a much grander establishment than my humble origins, the large entrance doors opening to a spacious reception hall leading to a library, dining room, drawing room and small sitting room. The elegant staircase led upwards to six bedrooms, with the nursery suite above and the kitchen area in a separate wing.
I passed many happy years here, enjoying lavish dinner parties and later family celebrations as the children arrived and the family grew.
Our lives became quieter as the years passed and the family grew up and moved away. I didn’t have much call on my time, but was happy still in the company of my beloved Emily.
Sadly, Emily has now passed away and that is the story of my life so far. I don’t know what will become of me now, as I sit in the dining room alone and think about my life.
I wish you could know my history, for tomorrow the auctioneers come, the public will view the contents of my home and all will be sold. I can hear the auctioneer now, “Lot No 35: A handsome Victorian dining table, beautifully carved, etc, etc.” I dreamily ponder how much people will bid for me and where I will go next, to continue my eventful life. I hope they’re kind and don’t let their children scratch me or put hot plates down on me without a mat!
