29th July Meeting

Nine of us today met up at cheznous, Joan R started with a story a link we all thought of when we think about the curtain swished a funeral story and murder most foul. Sheila, school lessons and drama dress rehearsals. John told of a start to a happy union with a mysterious brother in MI5. Ann, about two boys finding a subject that they were both interested in. Sally, theatre and its destruction in 1943. Rosemary Captain Cooke suffering from a fever sees future. Joan a day at the seaside. My story Hazel's last day at home. Sue, dress rehearsal and successful play but no affection for producer.
 Next month P&B "her reputation"

 Rosemary voted the winner

24th June 2013

Very small group today seven only but with 8 stories including Rosemary's who was not able to be there. John read out that one first about the friendship that wasn't what it seemed but all revealed when a vet was mentioned.
Ann, Grandfather tells a story about when he was a boy.
Sheila told us about all the stories that could have written but didn't.
I wrote a playlet about a transplant heart. Joan story of a family surviving a crisis and coming out OK. Pat was about a predator who was shamed  in the stables. John, a story of a bricklayer who became a boxer.

Joan Read read out a shocking scary story which was voted the best one.

Lost heart

She tried opening her eyes oh why did her head hurt so much where was she. Finally her eyes opened it was dark but she could feel the chain that was on her wrist. What had happened she remembered going to the cinema what was the film yes The Lost Heart her and Jean, yes she had gone with Jean they left to walk home and this van pulled up along side of them and they were bundled in that's all she could remember until waking up. As her eyes became accustomed to the dark she could see that the room was very small with a toilet and a sink and another bed where was Jean? It was then she heard the scream she covered her ears but she could not shut out the sound. The screams went on and on until she thought she would die from the sound. Then there was a noise just outside the door she rushed back and laid on the bed and pretended to be asleep. She heard the door unlock, footsteps, and a thump then she was poked in the side and a voice said "We know you are awake the drug does not last that long you best look to your friend after all it will soon be your turn" she waited until she heard the door close. She rushed over to Jean she was naked and covered in blood from the knife cuts over her body there was a towel Mary wet it and tried to wash away the blood fortunately Jean was unconscious so she did not feel it. She covered her with a blanket and then went to the toilet to be sick after this she was exhausted she lay down on the bed and thought perhaps this is a dream when I wake up I will be home in my bed. When she came to Jean was looking at her she went over and they both began to cry Jean said "You know they will kill us when they have finished" Mary nodded her head when she looked Jean was unconscious again. Well Mary thought they will not find it so easy to take me they would have to take of the chain and that will be my opportunity. She waited until finally they came two of them one big and the other average size this one took of the chain and Mary lashed out with her foot she made it to the door before her hair was grabbed, pulled then she was punched. When she awoke she was tied to a bench she looked round and saw there were four men she also saw the bench with the knives and other instruments on it. She screamed as loud as she could but they just laughed "Scream as much as you like no one will hear you" He came towards her the knife in his hand and as the knife touched her skin the director shouted CUT that's a wrap let's call it a day.

Next month 29th July cheznous Cadnam

"The curtains swished"

27th May

At Jack and Joan's today on a sunny morning. I started off with Reg looking forward to getting out from gaol. Joan debated how to start the story. Pat all about cats and dogs as pets. Brian half the year gone and them hedgehog reminders. Sheila school and exams. John "wasted" education to become an actor. Joan giving up the allotment and going on a cruise.Sally won't marry the smell club footed fishmonger. Is this story PC?
Rosemary Coming back from a holiday with its chores.

 Ann a rather precocious baby which won another clear 5 votes.

 Next Few Weeks For the first few weeks of my life it was very quiet. I was very tiny and slept a lot. My mother wasn't very well so my Grandma came in most days to help when my father was at work. As I got bigger and mum got stronger we started going out more. Occasionally we visited some of mum's friends who had children, but I always sensed an atmosphere or kind of awkwardness among them and mum seemed relieved to leave. It wasn't until I was about six months old that I realised something was worrying my parents. What ever it could be was something that seemed to make them so sad. Now once again I was woken up to hear my parents talking about "it." "It" seemed to have been the main topic of conversation recently. My mother was getting upset and my father was trying to pacify her and telling her that he was sure this time everything was going to be all right. He told her that in the next few weeks they would know for sure and it was no good getting upset as there was nothing they could do and they just had to keep faith and look on the bright side. Just because I couldn't see them, they seemed to think I couldn't hear them either. I was still small and unable to communicate with them, but I knew everything they said and understood more than they would ever realise.
 The time passed slowly with me often being woken to hear my mother sobbing quietly. In the end Grandma came to stay again while my father was at work. I wanted so much to be able to let her know I understood her worries, but I knew in my heart of hearts that this time her worries would be unfounded. Eventually the day arrived when we all went to the hospital. The mood was quite sombre and no one spoke their inner most thoughts. I wanted to get things over and settled so that we could get back to normal. After all the formalities were over we were shown to a room and prepared for the procedure. Suddenly I heard a strange voice telling my mother she was doing really well and to push one more time. With an effort I was propelled from my soft, warm, dark bed into a light, cool environment with different voices around me. I closed my eyes tightly and took a sharp intake of breath that made me make a strange wailing sound. I was picked up as the strange voice said, "Congratulations. You've got a lovely little girl and it sounds as if she's got a good pair of lungs on her." I was then placed in a pair of arms that wrapped around me so gently. I knew they belonged to my mother. I opened my eyes to see her and my father peering down at me, their faces wreathed in smiles, but with tears coursing down their cheeks. I gazed at them for the first time. I knew my little brother had been born asleep last year, but I had tried so hard these last few months to let them know that everything was going to be fine this time. My mother looked at me in wonder and declared I was perfect as my father placed his hand around mine. I curled my tiny fingers around one of his as I gazed intently, happy to now be part of this family.

J&S's June 24th "Lost heart"

29th April 2013

Nine of us today John being last month's winner started off, a tale all about football and high wages. Joan E wrote about baby sitting. Pat attending a talent contest to support a family member who was singing. Sheila busy going to football matches and the U3A. Sally travelling by train and all its "pleasures" to a wedding. Ann God moves in mysterious ways. Sue continuation of the Indian saga and a racist preacher.
My contribution received most votes 5 in total a record says I modestly.

Joan and Jack's next month May 27th.
"the next few weeks"

Haven't got the time.

I haven't got the time now. John Noble mused over those words his son had said a few moments ago after a short message over the phone. His son had more pressing things to do than visit his terminally ill father lying in a lonely bed in the private room of the Priory Hospital. John reached out to the bedside cabinet and picked up his Rollex watch, it was eight oclock. With nothing on the television he had tried reading but soon gave that up. He felt lonely but accepted that he too had not comforted his mother when she died so he could not complain. His father had died early from a heart attack and now John wondered perhaps that was better to go that way than ending up here. Maureen his wife died several years ago and his daughter rarely visited him since then and he never saw the grandchildren from then on.

He studied his arms lying on the white sheets with multitudes of blue veins running down the length of them so little flesh, the hands of an old man he thought in disgust.

The words I haven't got the time echoed in his mind. He recalled when his son was eight excited by the tent they had bought him for his birthday, pleaded for his dad to join him inside. I haven't the time he had said. When Sarah his daughter asked him to help read a book that they bought for her Christmas he had again said he hadn't got the time. He had always been busy earning the money to keep his family in the comfort and luxury he believed was proof that he achieved all as expected as head of family.

He reached out again for the bedside cabinet to find the letter. His daughter had written a very short note to him the first one since entering the hospital for cancer treatment. He began to read it again. She wrote that she could not come down to see him as they could not take the children away from school as exams were coming up but hoped all was well. All is well he thought bitterly with half of his colon removed how could any one say that. The typed half page ended with the words I must go now to get a meal ready and prepare for the children who would soon be back from school.

God dammit surely she could find ten minutes to write. Does the imminent death of a father mean nothing in this world today. He screwed the letter up and threw it towards the waste bin.

The room seemed to have darkened the shadows deeper or was it his mind as blackness descended. He came to again hours later. A shadowy figure tall and gaunt sat watching him from the corner of the room a spectre that although not uttering any sound its lips framed one word. The word entered John's mind as clear as if it had been spoken . TIME.

25th March 2013

Only seven of us but eight stories to tell. Rosemary told of a story that at the end revealed it was the life of a butterfly. Sheila whistled or clapped for those pesky missing keys. Joan, a couple losing their dog on a walk. Ann continued with previous story. Pat Missing rosette, Brian blew up Wall Street. I raced around looking for things lost.

A wide variety of votes and John was the winner.
Next month at Sue's if OK with Sue and the chosen words Haven't got the time.


 DESPERATE SEARCH AUNT AGNES WAS A DEAR OLD SOUL WHO WAS LOVED BY ALL HER RELATIVES, AND SHE LOVED TO HAVE VISITORS. WELL OF COURSE THERE WERE LOTS OF NEPHEWS AND NIECES, WHO BY AND LARGE MADE AN EFFORT TO VISIT AGNES IN HER OLD AGE. SHE WAS ALWAYS WELCOMING, AND HER CAKES WERE LEGENDARY. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS A BIT OF AN EFFORT AT TIMES TO GO TO SEE HER, BUT EVERYONE KNEW HOW MUCH SHE APPRECIATED THE VISITS. AGNES HAD NEVER MARRIED, BUT SHE HAD BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WOMAN WHO LIVED IN CONSIDERABLE COMFORT. IT WAS THOUGHT THAT WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY, THERE WOULD BE A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL ESTATE LEFT. THE HOUSE ITSELF MUST HAVE BEEN WORTH A MILLION OR MORE. THE FAMILY WERE VERY DISCREET WHENEVER AUNTIES ASSETS WERE DISCUSSED, BUT EVERYONE FELT THAT AGNES HAD YEARS LEFT IN HER, AND THEY JUST HOPED THAT SHE WAS ENJOYING HER RETIREMENT. UNBEKNOWN TO THEM AGNES WAS WELL AWARE OF HER WEALTH, AND HAD GIVEN IT MUCH THOUGHT AS SHE GOT OLDER, BUT SHE WAS DETERMINED THAT WHATEVER DECISION SHE MADE ABOUT HER ASSETS THEY WOULD ONLY BE REVEALED AFTER SHE HAD GONE.SHE HAD GIVEN HINTS THAT THERE WOULD POSSIBLY BE SOME SORT OF SURPRISE, WHEN HER WILL WAS ANNOUNCED, BUT THE FAMILY DIDN'T GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT SHE HAD A LOT MORE YEARS LEFT IN HER. YES, SHE SEEMED TO BE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, AND THE VISITS CONTINUED. IN THE SUMMER SHE LOVED TO HAVE A HUGE GARDEN PARTY. HOW SHE LOVED HER HUGE GARDEN, WITH ITS WOODS AND LOVELY BORDERS. SHE DID MOST OF THE WORK HERSELF, BUT HAD A GARDENER IN WHEN SHE GOT OLDER, TO DO THE HEAVY WORK. THE GARDEN WAS A GREAT PART OF AGNES'S LIFE AND SHE WAS SO PROUD OF THE WAY IT LOOKED. THE PARTIES WERE LEGENDARY. THE FOOD AND DRINK FLOWED WITH NO EXPENSE SPARED. THE CHILDREN LOVED THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE AND HAD A GREAT TIME IN THE WOODS. AGNES HAD A WICKED SENSE OF HUMOUR AND WAS DELIGHTFUL COMPANY, AND WHEN THE TIME CAME FOR HER TO NEED ASSISTANCE, SHE INSISTED ON STAYING IN HER OWN HOUSE, WITH PLENTY OF HELP. THE FAMILY MADE SURE THAT SHE HAD PLENTY OF VISITS, AND WERE SURPRISED TO GET A REQUEST FROM HER TO HAVE A MEETING . WELL, WHEN THEY ALL GATHERED ROUND HER BED THEY WERE GRATEFUL! THAT SHE WAS STILL IN VERY GOOD HEALTH, BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY, FOR HER AGE. SHE HAD BEEN WELL LOOKED AFTER BY THE NURSES. SHE SAID THAT THE REASON SHE HAD GOT THEM TOGETHER WAS TO INFORM THEM THAT AS HER CLOSEST RELATIVES, THEY WERE ALL GOING TO GET AN EQUAL SHARE, OF HER NOT INCONSIDERATE FORTUNE, FOR WHICH THEY WERE ALL VERY GRATEFUL. BUT SHE SAID,"THERE WILL BE A LITTLE SURPRISE WHEN I DO GO WHICH MY SOLICITOR WILL DIVULGE TO YOU ALL AT THE READING OF MY WILL" SHE REFUSED TO BE DRAWN ON WHAT IT WAS, SO THE NEICES AND NEPHEWS HAD TO WAIT. THE WAIT WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE POOR AGNES PASSED AWAY. WELL, COME THE DAY OF THE READING OF THE WILL, THERE WAS A TENSE FEELING AS THEY SAT IN THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE. THE SOLICITOR WENT THROUGH THE VARIOUS LEGACIES WHICH WERE THE SAME FOR EACH OF THE 10 NIECES AND NEPHEWS. AND THEN CAME THE SURPRISE. SHE HAD PUT £5000 IN WEATHERPROOF BOXES AND HAD BURIED THEM IN AN AREA OF THE GARDEN NOT TENDED BY THE GARDENER, WHICH SHE SAID WERE PART OF THEIR LEGACIES. ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS FIND IT. SHE ALSO STIPULATED THAT EACH NEPHEW AND NIECE COULD ONLY HAVE ONE BOX EACH, AND THAT THE TREASURE HUNT SHOULD TAKE PLACE AT A GARDEN PARTY FOR ALL OF THEM. WELL COME THE DAY, THEY ALL MET IN HIGH EXCITEMENT. A WONDERFUL DAY WAS SPENT IN THE DESPERATE SEARCH FOR THE BOXES, AND EVENTUALLY THEY WERE ALL RECOVERED, LEAVING EVERYONE WITH SUCH WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF A VERY DEAR AUNTIE, THEY ALL MISSED VERY MUCH .

Report from Second Creative Writing Group

JUST A BRIEF OUT LINE OF OUR RECENT GROUP MEETING. AS YOU KNOW THERE IS ONLY THE TWO OF US. ON TUESDAY THE 26TH OF FEB, WE MET AT CAROLS HOUSE AT 10.15. AFTER A GREAT COFFEE AND CATCH UP WE READ ALOUD OUR STORIES. THE TITLE THIS TIME WAS, (SOMETIMES I FORGET WHAT ITS LIKE TO RELAX LIKE THIS) THE TITLES ARE PICKED AT RANDOM FROM A SELECTION OF TWO BOOKS AND AN AD HOCK PAGE AND LINE. MYSELF AND CAROL STORIES ARE ALWAYS POLES APART IN CONTENT, AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT SO INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE. I THINK CAROL HAS A WONDERFUL CARING VIEW OF LIFE'S STRUGGLES, WHERE AS I SEE ONLY INTRIGUE AND THE DARKNESS LIFE HAS TO OFFER. "I FRIGHTEN CAROL AND SHE WARMS MY SOUL". WE LAUGH TOGETHER AND ARE NEVER CRITICAL OF OUR ATTEMPTS AT BEING AMATEUR AUTHORS. "SO WATCH OUT CATHERINE CROOKS AND MARTINA COLE!!" WE ARE AFTER YOUR READERS. I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL TO THE U.3.A. FOR THE OPPERTUNITY TO EXPAND AND GIVE A VOICE TO MY WRITING AMBITIONS. BUT BEST OF ALL, MY FRIENDSHIP WITH CAROL LEGGETT. YOURS SINCERELY, ANN STRUTT.

25 Feb 20013

Only nine of us today Ann continued her story of the down and out being pursued by an older woman. Sally a very confused lady.  Pat day dreamed and forgot her dentist appointment. Isaac and his ghost with an interest in shoes. Rosemary on the downside of getting better sight. I told about a fortune teller seeing a demon. Joan coming of Spring. Sue told of her and her sister's painting a shed. John story read by Brian all about the war and the air-force.
Next month's "Desperate search".

Ann won most votes.

Uncomfortable Clarity

As she hurried up the road, Marian smiled to herself. What would people think seeing an elderly lady running after a young man and calling out for him to "Stop, please"? She could see him in the distance now limping along. He must have heard her, as he turned and recognising who it was, stopped and waited. She caught up with him and suddenly felt a little foolish. "I didn't thank you properly in the shop for returning my purse. The shopkeeper said you live at the hostel up the road, so you must have left the bus before your stop. Let me give you something for your honesty." She opened her purse to take out a note, but he put his hand over hers and said he didn't need rewarding. He was only doing what any self-respecting person would do. She realised with uncomfortable clarity that she had been guilty of a crime we all commit from time to time. She had prejudged him because of his appearance and the thought disturbed her. Marian suddenly found herself asking him if she could meet him in town sometime and buy him a coffee. He looked a little taken aback, but said he would like that and introduced himself as Daniel. They arranged a day, time and place, said goodnight, and went their separate ways.

When she closed the front door behind her, Marian suddenly wondered what on earth had come over her. She had propositioned a young stranger and he had accepted. She must be mad, but she was curious to find out more about him. She wondered what her friends would think of her when she told them what she had done. It was probably a good job she wouldn't be seeing them for another month. They would probably tell her to forget the whole thing. She had no intention of doing that though and on the day in question, made her way into town on the earlier bus to make sure she was there on time. She had suggested the restaurant in one of the large stores, thinking it would be a safer place than some back street cafe and also giving her a place to browse while waiting. It wasn't long before she saw him coming through the door. He saw her and smiling made his way over to her. "I wondered if you'd come", said Marian.
"I had no intention of missing out on an offer from a lady", he cheekily replied. They made their way to the restaurant and while he went to select a table, Marian got them some coffee and cakes. Once settled down in a quiet corner, she asked him to tell her about himself.

"Well you know my name is Daniel and I live at the hostel", he replied.
"What else do you want to know?"
"How did you come to end up there", asked Marian.
"It's rather a long story" was the reply.
"Well I'm in no hurry. Are you?" she said. So he began to tell her his tale. His mother had died when he was five and after a few years his father had remarried. Unfortunately his stepmother resented his bond with his father and in true wicked stepmother style, hatched a plot to get him out of her hair and the family home so she could have her new husband to herself. He was sent off to boarding school at the tender age of nine. At first he hated it, but after a while realising this was his lot for the next few years, he decided to make the most of the opportunities he had. He did well academically and got good grades, however when he left, the job situation was beginning to take a down turn and the only job he could get was at McDonalds. He was working his way up the ladder and although he hoped one day to better himself, he was prepared to learn as much as he could there. "So what happened to your leg then?"
"Well that's another story. I was knocked down one evening on my way home from work by a hit and run merchant. I had very serious leg injuries and was in hospital in traction for months. I lost my job because of it and consequently my flat, as I couldn't pay the rent. Friends helped out for a while, but I eventually ended up at the hostel and now I can't get another job. I think it's partly because of where I live and partly because of the way I am. I'm sure I will get something one day and then I can prove I'm a good worker". They spent the remaining time chatting about things in general and Marian found him to be a very well informed, intelligent young man for just twenty-two. She enjoyed his company and asked him if he would consider having coffee with her again. He said he would love that as he had enjoyed talking to her. They arranged to meet the following week and the week after. By this time Marian was already bursting to tell her friends about her new drinking partner.

At their next meal she waited for everyone else to tell their news and then came out with hers. As she had expected they told her she had taken a chance doing what she had done, but when she came out with her proposal, they were dumbstruck. She told them she had thought long and hard and was going to offer Daniel her spare bedroom. He would have a proper address and hopefully, a better chance of getting a job. She liked him and felt comfortable with him.
"Some things you just feel are right and this is one of them. My mind is made up".