Met at Jack and Joan's for a convivial get together. Widely different stories that gathered mainly single votes but Ann was voted the best. Rosemary told of a couple who after 11 years had a baby who ended up being killed in Afghanistan. John of a handicapped child taken to the USA for treatment. Sally hinted once again about a dalliance from the past told over the phone. Pat found a pheasant in her garden with a liking for peanuts. Brian told a story from a birds point of view. Joan told of a boy's liking for Lego. Sheila's story was about weather forecasters of old being replaced by youngsters. Sue the cat that sneaked upstairs into her daughters bedroom. Joan Read the footballers' clubhouse and the deaf girl.
I'm Watching Him
As I left the building for the last time, I realised I had become another casualty of the recession. My job had ceased to exist after the merger. I had joined the firm after leaving university and taken every opportunity to better myself and gain promotion before reaching the position of head of the legal team in the business. This proved no guarantee of further employment within the new group though. I could console myself with the knowledge that I had met David through my job. I had never had time for long -term relationships, but when I attended a conference a few years ago I was introduced to one of the speakers and there was an instant attraction between us. Within a few months we had moved in together and I felt more contented that I had imagined possible. I decided to take a short break before getting down to the serious job of finding new employment and accompanied David to Switzerland where he had a meeting. We had planned to enjoy some skiing after, but cut this short as David was suffering with severe headaches. On our return these got worse and after a visit from the Doctor, he was rushed into hospital, where he lapsed into a coma. Scans revealed a brain tumour and several days later he died never having regained consciousness. I was distraught. My whole world had come tumbling around me. I did what I always did as a small child. I turned to my parents. They had always made things better, but on this occasion I knew the job would be much harder.
After about six months I was beginning to rethink my life and decided I wanted something completely different. I didn't want another job in the city. I wanted to get away somewhere quiet and think my future through gradually. I decided to rent a cottage on the edge of Exmoor. My parents thought I was out of my mind, but having failed to persuade me to rethink my plans, gave their blessing anyway. I had been given an extremely generous golden handshake from my job and David had left me very well provided for, so I had no immediate money worries. The cottage was in a little village and had a beautiful view across open countryside to the moors in the distant. There was a stone paved area outside the back door that stretched the width of the building and beyond that lawn. It was very peaceful and I spent many hours there. One evening I sensed someone watching me and slowly looked towards the hedge. I could see a pair of eyes staring at me. For the next few evenings I played "I'm watching him watching me." Then one evening my watcher pushed through the hedge and I saw the creature clearly for the first time. As he gazed at me I quietly spoke to him and told him not to be afraid and that Iwouldn't hurt him. I said what a gorgeous creature he was and I would call him Flame as he reminded me of the colours in a fire. So began my love affair with this fox.
My days fell into a regular routine. I walked to the village shop to get a paper and any odds and ends I had run out of and when my jobs were done I would sit in the garden and sketch and paint. This was something I had always enjoyed, but never had time for in later years. I became quite friendly with the shopkeeper. One day I overheard a conversation between her and the local vet. He was worried how he would manage now his regular childminder had fallen and broken her leg. Grace, his daughter had just started school and he had late surgery three nights a week. After he had gone I mentioned that I had overheard his problem and said I was quite prepared to collect Grace and give her tea on these nights, but I didn't want to appear pushy. Later that evening I had a phone call from Tom, saying he had heard of my offer and would be pleased to accept.
Grace and I enjoyed each other's company. When Flame came to visit one evening she asked him if he had a mummy as her mummy had died when she was two. She said her daddy was a vet and made sick animals better and if he got sick her daddy would make him well again. A couple of nights later Flame arrived followed by a smaller fox. Grace said she was going to call her Goldie. They became regular visitors and I would make up stories about them to tell Grace.
I am now about to embark on a new chapter in my life. I have just had my first book published of short stories about Flame, Goldie and their family, illustrated with my own drawings. I have dedicated it to my new stepdaughter, Grace.
