February

Bitterly cold all the way from Russia. Meeting here as Pat suffered a boiler problem
Joan Read got most votes 5 out of the eight of us.

As she pushed the wheelchair which her mother was in Alice Grey let her mind wander back to her childhood. She was now 40 and had never had a lover she had been looking after her mother for twenty years. She remembered what it was like before her father left taking her brother Luke with him. She and Luke used to have great times running through the orchard at the back of the bungalow that they lived in bringing in the cows and looking after the sheep at lambing time from the farm next to them. Then one morning her father told Luke who was ten at the time to pack up his clothes as they were leaving Alice never knew why as they left her father hugged her and said he was sorry but he had to leave. Her mother just said good riddance but for weeks Alice hoped they would come back but she had never heard from them again. Life went on she went to college but before she could go to university her mother had a stroke which left her paralized so Alice became her carer. 

Many times she brought young men home but her mother was always critical vindictive and rude the doctor said it was symptoms of the stroke. But as time went by it became worse and now Alice could do nothing right everything she did her mother complained about Alice was so tired of the twenty four hour care. Social workers said that she should apply for help but her mother screamed that she did not want strangers looking after her. And so it went on day after day. All of a sudden she realised they were back home. After she had settled her mother in her chair she started the meal with her mother wanting something every two minutes her pillow had slipped she needed the paper she had lost her pen then just as Alice was about to serve the meal she decided she needed the bathroom it took a lot of patience not to scream. 

The only time Alice had to her self was when her mother was in bed and she had taken a sleeping pill then she could watch what she wanted on the TV or read her book undisturbed she looked forward to these evenings but they were few and just lately her mother refused to take a pill. After they had finished their food Alice got her mother into bed and then went into the lounge to the computer for weeks now she had been trying to find Luke but so far she had drawn a blank. The next morning she decided to ask her mother if she knew why her father had left she said “ he left to be with another woman who only wanted Luke not you and if I could have had it my way I would have gotten rid of you to” Alice was shocked she could not believe her mother had said that after she had given up her life to look after her. 

The rest of the morning passed in a daze then her mother was insisting they go out for fresh air even though it was raining hard and the wheelchair would be really hard to push. She wanted to go to Crabbs Hill over looking the lake. Alice reached the bottom of the hill and started to push half way up she had to stop her mother said “what’s up are you a weakling like your father” she pushed herself to reach the top and when they were overlooking the lake her mother started to rant about Luke and his father how they were a waste of space and went on to say it was all Alice’s fault. As she was talking Alice felt her hands on the wheelchair and before she knew it she had pushed her hard down the track and into the lake. Later sitting in the hospital being interviewed by the police she cried and said she could not have put the brake on when she went to sit on the seat and when she realised what was happening she could not catch it. There was an investigation and a inquest but everyone said Alice was a devoted daughter and it was ruled a tragic accident. Alice could not believe her luck was she sorry no because now perhaps she could find happiness and start to live.

January Meeting

Nice morning mainly blue skies our meeting was at Sue's nine of us today. A real mix of stories and Jenny was voted with three votes the best story.

Finding Her by Jenny Day

How I hate this cold, wet weather.  It chills me to the bone.  It's amazing how a blue sky and a bit of sun can lift the spirits, even if it's cold.  Trouble is, we're not getting enough of those days.

I really don't understand why people go skiing.  The scenery is wonderful and the thrill of speeding down the mountain slopes must be good, but snow is wet and for me, that would be a huge "No"!

I'm in the doldrums at the moment - hence no story!  My brain has temporarily hibernated.  If anything can go wrong, it will.  I feel like going to bed until Spring comes.  It's a good job I have a cat so I have to get up in the mornings. Mind you, he's not happy about the weather either!

I normally have the Daily Echo delivered and after years of satisfaction I'm not receiving it; how irritating!  I look forward to doing the puzzles and how will I know if I've passed away if I can't check the obituaries every day, and even more irritating is the fact that, on two occasions, I have been in a shop and could have bought a copy but didn't because I expected to find one when I got home.

The other thing, of course, is, if the deliveries don't get back on track, I shall run out of newspaper to line the cat's tray!

I'm the only person in the country who doesn't have a shower, only a bath, so I use a rubber hose when I wash my hair over the bath.  This week the rubber hose broke - yet another irritation.  It's so messy using jugs and it's time-consuming.  I bought another hose but that didn't fit my taps - well, of course it wouldn't, not this week.

There's nothing to inspire me on the TV - mostly repeat programmes, although the new series of Vera is on tonight.  Vera Stanhope will be finding her latest murderer!  It's never a happy scenario.  Heigh-Ho!

But tomorrow morning all is going to change.  I'm going to be cheered up by the stories written by my friends at Creative Writing.

I'm sure they won't disappoint me!

I hope we didn't Jenny

Unusual voting result this month four stories were given two votes each Sheila, Jenny and  Pat.
This is Sheila's story

   State of Shock

Mavis was in a STATE OF SHOCK.  It had just been on the radio that her child-hood heart throb had died.  She had loved David Cassidy all these years and now – bang – gone.  She made a cup of coffee and sat down in her favourite chair and started to think back.  She could see her old bedroom with all the posters of him on the walls.  Her school books had his name everywhere with hearts and an arrow through them and M loves D tucked into every space.  She wasn’t  alone, most girls in her class had this crush as well.  They thought that he was gorgeous looking and wished that they were his girlfriend but they had to be content with yearning from afar. 

When they were a bit older and were at work, Mavis and her best friend Jill actually went to one of his shows.  Afterwards, making their way home, they admitted to still having a crush on him, but actually hadn’t heard him singing much because they were screaming as much as all the others in the audience,  and they hardly had any voice left to prove it!  

As time  went by boys – or should I say young men – came along and eventually Mavis married James.  Jill was bridesmaid of course.  The day was perfect, even the weather behaved and the sun shone all day.  They had been saving hard and managed to buy a little 2 bedroomed house.  A very proud James carried his bride over the threshold.  They didn’t have much furniture, only the essentials, but they were very happy and looking forward to their married life.  A couple of years later, on the very day that Mavis found out she was pregnant, Jill asked her to be Matron-of-Honour at her wedding to Alan.  Mavis was delighted to accept, and after talking to James, decided not to tell Jill about her pregnancy because she didn’t want to take any shine away from Jill on the run-up to her wedding – which was only a couple of months away, and she could easily keep her secret for that long. 

A few days after Jill and Alan came back from their honeymoon they called in to see Mavis and James.  After talking about how the wedding went and showing photos of their honeymoon Jill suddenly said that she couldn’t wait any longer to tell them that she was pregnant, and they had been in a STATE OF SHOCK at first but now they were very happy about it and they wanted Mavis and Jim to be the first to know.  Mavis looked at Jill in amazement.  “That was my news for you” she told Jill.  They both stared at each other, started laughing and both started talking at once and hugged each other.  James looked at Alan, “Congratulations” he said shaking his hand,”I have some beer in the kitchen, lets leave the ladies to it shall we?”

                                                                  Sheila Benfield

State of Shock

In September 2001,1 was having my annual holiday in America. Each year my cousin Rosemary would use her time share to show me different places in America and this year started out being no different. We had already been upstate New York to a hotel in the Catskill Mountains. We had spent an excellent weekend celebrating my birthday in a country hotel featuring a very funny comedian. It was fun!

Now back in New Jersey with a few days to go shopping and do laundry etc. before setting off agaimthis time to Virginia Beach. We were having breakfast before going into New York City to do some shopping, we were watching the breakfast news when one viewer phoned in to say an airoplane had crashed into one of the twin towers. He thought it was one of the little planes carrying tourists, but when the TV cameras swung around we could see it was a much larger plane, and within minutes a second plane hit the other tower. We were watching this horrific event live! We sat in a state of shock. It really was horrendous and unbelievable. September 11^th. A day America will never forget.

Had it happened a couple of hours later we would have been in the city.Of course the news was shown all over the world. I was unable to contact my family to let them know I was OK.Fortunately my daughter worked out that we wouldn't have been in the city as early as 9am. We were glued to the TV watching all the terrible events of 9/11 unfold. I can't believe its 16 years ago as the memories are so fresh.

We carried on with our trip to Virginia and enjoyed ourselves but the images wern't far from our minds. The people we met were extra kind and more tolerant than those I had met on other tripsy America had had a real shake up,

When I had to fly home the plane was half empty so I got a good upgrade. It would be a while before confidence in flying was back to normal.

It was strange when I arrived back in England and switched on my mobile I had several messages asking if I was alright. It was sort of eerie.

Jenny

State of Shock

It was a beautiful sunny morning and as Jane a finished her weekly shopping she decided to go for a walk around Gotee in Eling. It seemed as if all the dog walkers and families had the same idea. Coming down through the dark side of the old church graveyard, the bright sun hit her. How wonderful she thought shading her eyes. Strolling along she spotted a couple on a seat oblivious to the world. He had his arm around her back and tenderly kissed her temple. Then Jane's heart froze. It was Jim, her husband of 10 years.

That morning they had had a bit of a tif, nothing major, they had both wanted to do different things on their day off. Watching from behind a bush she noticed how tender he was being with her. Not recognising the red haired women she quickly replaced her steps and drove home.

Robert, their youngest would be waiting for her. In a state of total shock she tried to gather her thoughts. Carefully, driving along she picked up young Robert who was full of chatter. "Mum, did you hear what I said?". He asked. "Sorry dear, I was thinking about something else". "But this is important" he said " I won a prize for my story and I can't wait to tell Dad". With a great effort she flashed him a lovely smile.

Jim came home looking somber. Robert jumped on him spilling over with his news. Jane began to gather food from the fridge for dinner. A glass of wine was put into her hand and as they clinked glasses Jim said "Heres to the future". She forced a smile.

Later that evening, Jim said "Jane I have something to tell you". Here it comes she thought. " I saw my sister today and she has split from her husband". Jim looked sad as he quite liked his brother-in-law. "Oh Jim, I am so sorry she said bursting into tears." Guess what, she has dyed her hair red, I hardly recognised her". Jane silently said to herself "I will never jump to conclusions again". She couldn't tell him why she was so upset, and he concluded that his sister's problems had come as a shock to her as they had always seemed so happy.

Pat

October meeting

Met in John and Sheila's newly decorated front room today. Votes were well spread as there were some good stories but Ann and Myself got three votes each and here they are.

Ann's story

Always A Relief

As she crouched behind the tree, Alice listened intently to see if she could hear any sounds from her pursuers.

She had been on her way home from her evening class when a car stopped and the driver asked her for directions. As she leaned over towards the window, the passenger in the back had got out and she felt herself being bundled into the back of the vehicle. After struggling and screaming, she was pushed down and a blanket was thrown over her and she was told to be quiet or she would be sorry. She decided that maybe she would learn more about who they were and where they were heading if she just lay quietly. It appeared to only be the two men and they seemed to be heading out of the town and into the country, but in which direction she had no idea. She managed to look at her watch and found they had been travelling for just over an hour. Suddenly the car began to slow down and they stopped. They were arguing about where they were and had stopped to look at a map. The man in the back had got into the front and the angry dialogue continued. Being as quiet as she could she opened the door, slid out and made a frantic dash for the trees she could see behind them. Once in the shelter of the trees she ran as fast as she could hoping to get as much distance between her and the men before they realised she had gone. Not knowing where she was, she had no idea if she was heading towards any habitation or going deeper into the forest, but the sense of urgency spurred her on. After a while she stopped, listening for any sound. Her heart sounded like a drum beating and her lungs felt as if they would explode. In the distance she could hear shouting and the snapping of twigs. This gave her added impetus to keep going and she again set off through much denser undergrowth. Branches and brambles slapped across her face and she stumbled over tree roots, but she kept going. In the distance she could see some moving lights and with an extra surge of energy forced herself forward. She emerged onto a road and in the lay-by was a car. Both doors were open and with horror she realised it was the car she had been bundled into. She must have been going round in circles. Terror gripped her. What was she to do? If she waited for a vehicle to come along the road, her pursuers could come back first. However not knowing which way there would be any houses was a risk she would go in the wrong direction and end up being in more trouble if they came back to the car and drove in the direction she had taken. If she went back into the forest would she be able to avoid them again? Desperately trying to make a decision she heard a persistent ringing and suddenly realised it was her alarm going off. Clutching the clock, she turned it off and lay in bed hardly daring to breathe. Trying to calm herself and remove the terror of the intense nightmare from her mind, she eventually felt more relaxed and more in control. It was always a relief to realise after such a frightening dream it was just that – a bad dream. Now it had been dismissed from her mind, she got up and dressed, then going over to the window she pulled back the curtains to greet another day and stared out in disbelief. This was a living nightmare. She was on the edge of a forest and there in a lay-by opposite was a car with both front doors open.

My story

It's always a relief

The phone rang, its strident sound breaking the peace of a late summer's evening. John's wife Mary smiled as she saw John rise reluctantly to go inside to answer it. Julia is late ringing she said. Julia John's sister always rang once a week normally before eight. Mary looked at her watch Oh it's only eight-thirty I thought it was later.

John never looked forward to the conversation that would follow. He had nothing in common with his sister. There was only so much to talk about. Julia was a widow with no children and lived in a retirement home. Restricted by poor health her interests were not John's but he always listened to her when she told him about the other residents and very little else apart from the weather.

He did try to keep his tone of voice lively and interesting but it was getting harder and harder especially now as she seemed no longer interested in hearing what they were up to. It was always a relief when she finished the conversation.

Picking up the phone he said Hello Julia. There was silence then a voice said Is that John Julia's brother?

Suddenly feeling alarmed he replied Yes is Julia alright?

We aren't sure. As you know all residents have their own separate flats and I was told today that Julia hadn't been seen since yesterday so – I'm the resident care manager - I went into the flat to see if she was OK as she hasn't told anybody she was going away. But she seems to have gone.

It's very strange that she didn't tell anyone and as you are the named person to contact I thought you ought to know. She hasn't mentioned anything to you about travelling has she.

No, No she hasn't she used to travel a lot when she was younger but not for some years.

Please ring me if you hear from her.

Yes I will John said replacing the phone. That is weird John called out to his wife Julia's missing.

No she isn't she is coming up the path Mary exclaimed.

There she was as bright as a button full of smiles at seeing them. She greeted them with a hug.

Don't worry I'm not coming to stay I'm on my way to Southampton Docks to catch a cruise liner for a trip around the Caribbean.

But you were feeling so ill a few weeks ago what happened? John asked.

Yes I was until I stopped taking the damn pills the doctors kept giving me after I went to check my blood pressure. I've stopped all of them and feel much better. It's made me realize life is too short to waste sitting at home watching TV

She looked knowingly at her brother I'll have a lot more to talk about the next time we have a phone conversation.

September

Only eight of us two members preferred to go on holiday.
Pat got most votes for a story that is rather surprising for Pat who gives the impression of not having a malicious thought.


Next month 30 th of October  Always a relief

Enjoying it so far

Edna spotted a tiny yellow speck over the garden fence. Ah...sunflowers she thought. Just wait until mine have finished growing, I'll show them.

Edna had lived in her cottage since she was born, and over the years had used the empty lot next door for her veggie patch.

On one never-to-be=forgotten day a SALE sign went up. Cars began slowing down to look, then one day a big red SOLD sign appeared.

It was Spring when the building began. No vegetables this year she thought to herself. Oh, the noise, Builders coming and going, the cement mixer and the deliveries. Their radio blaring all day. It didn't stop. Edna quietly went about her gardening half heartedly. She wondered who her new neighbours would be.

The two story house went up making her little cottage seem old and shabby in contrast A young couple had moved in and they nodded over the front gate...The fence in the back was too high for Edna to see what was going on, although she could hear him digging, knowing that the soil was very fertile from all the years of composting and she grumbled to herself. "How is it going" she asked one day!Enjoying it so far" he replied. A bit cocky she thought.

Edna began to go downhill. Her garden was her life and she had always exhibited her vegetables at the local garden society Autumn show. Why don't you plant some of your giant sunflowers her friend Mary had suggested, and so she had.

When Edna noticed next door's flowers popping up above the high fence, she felt a little of her old spark returning, just you wait she mumbled, "wow" said the young man, looking up, " where did you buy your seeds for those giants?". The huge yellow faces were swaying in the breeze almost laughing. Edna was getting back to her old cheerful self. "If you like, I will give you some seeds when they have dried off. " oo, yes please" he said rubbing his hands.

Later in the year when the seeds had dried, and before the great tits ate them, she harvested some from the shortest, tiniest flower head and passed them to her new neighbour with a big smile.

August stories

Nice morning sitting outside in Pat's garden. Wide variety of stories Joan Read's and myself tied so have both stories.
 Joan's story is unusual with children trained as assassins.

All The Rest

Lyn Chan was eight years old when her world changed one day she was at school with her friends the next she was living in a big old house in the middle of no where. Her parents had no say in the matter she was just taken. She knew then that all the rest of her friends and family would have a normal life but not her. There were nineteen other children there 14 boys and 5 girls and they soon found out that this was no ordinary school. From day one they were taught martial arts and how to assemble guns of every description. Then came the lessons of using them how to take a long distance shot how to use a knife to the best affect and then unarmed combat. Two of the boys failed and were never seen again. They were instructed in languages and as she had a knack for this she was given extra privileges she could speak English, Hebrew Russian, Chinese and Pashto. By the time she turned eighteen Lyn had been turned into a killing machine. On the rare occasion when she was allowed out she used to go to the small village that was about six miles away it would take her about three hours to walk but once there she would meet ordinary people who laughed talked drank and were happy it was here she met Ian a carpenter and slightly older than her. She loved talking to him of course she never spoke of what she did just that she was still at school. Soon however this was reported to her masters and she was made to tell what they talked about and it was decided that she would not see him again in fact she was being sent to Los Angeles, as she was now eighteen, to eliminate a rival of a union representative for which her master was getting a big payment this was to be one of many assassinations she was to make before her twenty fifth birthday. Her last assignment had been in China and when she returned to the air port there was no one there to meet her which was unusual so she hired a car and drove to the house. When she opened the door she had a shock it was empty everyone and everything had gone just empty boxes and cupboards she was alone at first she was scared she had never been alone before always there had been someone to tell her what to do where to go but then she realised she was free yes but free to do what she was only good at one thing. Then she remembered her masters secret cupboard she rushed through to what used to be the scullery found the hidden button which was behind a water pipe and pressed it and the wall opened revealing a cupboard she walked in and there on the shelfs was money lots of it she grabbed some empty boxes and packed it all in. There were also some passports five belonging to her one she had never used this she put in her handbag she then loaded everything into the car. She thought to herself just one more thing to do then I can go. As she passed through the gates of the drive she pressed the button on the remote control she had and there was a muffled explosion in the house. She drove on and at the top of the hill she looked in the rear view mirror and saw flames engulf the house and at that moment the house like Lyn Chan ceased to exist and Mary Wright could start her new life as a teacher of martial arts.


My story in a form of a play-let.

Imagine bombastic James Robertson purchasing a bed with Kenneth Williams the creepy salesman.

Can I help you sir?

You may - I want a bed

You've come to the right place Super beds have every bed you can imagine. What bed would you be interested in sir. We have 6' Super King, a 5' King, a 4'6” double, a 4' small double, a 3' single, and a 2'6” small single.

I would like a super king size as I'm a restless sleeper at least Maud keeps telling me I am.

Very good sir we have a wide selection of Super Kings. How about the mattress?

Yes I want one of those to go with the bed.

Certainly sir a traditional mattress, a pocket spring mattress, a combination mattress, an advanced mattress or a Tempur memory foam?

I've no idea what were those again?

A traditional mattress, a pocket spring mattress, a combination mattress, an advanced mattress or a Tempur memory foam?

Well I'm not one for new newfangled modern ideas I'll have a traditional mattress. Maud is always saying I'm a traditionalist.

An orthopaedic mattress for a good support or a soft mattress sir.

An orthopaedic one might be a good idea. Maud says a soft bed makes me snore.

We have a Lambert Pocket Sprung Mattress, a Insignia Bedgebury Pocket Sprung Mattress, an Orthopaedic Buckingham Pocket Sprung Mattress – or an Orthopaedic Addington Pocket Sprung Mattress.

Make it an Addington I knew an Addington in my club quite a good chap died some years ago.

Might be connected sir but Addington's have made mattresses for 150 years.

Have they by Jove.

Pillows sir?

Pillows yes we want pillows.

We have Medium Firm TEMPUR Comfort Pillow , a Medium Soft TEMPUR Cloud Pillow, a firm Queen Original Neck Pillow, and a Sealy Posturepedic Latex Pillow.

What was that again?

We have Medium Firm TEMPUR Comfort Pillow , a Medium Soft TEMPUR Cloud Pillow, a firm Queen Original Neck Pillow, and a Sealy Posturepedic Latex Pillow.

We'll have a latex pillow - something about latex

Yes sir - is that your phone sir?

God yes you are right Maud says I'm going deaf. One moment – good Lord, Maud is divorcing me. Better make that a 3' single.

Pat's story voted best.

HER SUGGESTION

Marrie had left work early that Friday and, forgetting the chicken at home in the fridge, had stopped to purchase three pieces of fresh salmon. Irfelt good not to be in her usual Friday night rush to cook. " I will do the weekly shop tomorrow" she thought.

Unpacking the salmon the phone rang. " is it Ok to bring a couple of mates home to eat", her husband asked. "Ok love?" OK LOVE she thought. There goes my quiet evening, "whats up Mum?" asked son Charlie. Now, it wasn't that she disliked his friends, it was the meal...what to serve. Its always last minute with Ben It was partly her fault as she always managed to come up with something.

Surveying the pitiful contents of the fridge with Charlie, she took out the chicken, "but Mum this is two days passed its use by date" he said, and you always told me to throw away anything passed its date. Having recently taking an interest in cooking he looked at the date on the sausages too... which were on their last day. Marrie unwrapped the chicken, it looked alright and smelled alright. Charlie gave her a doleful look, and at her suggestion that she cook it and don't you say anything Charlie

They peeled and chopped the only veg she had left in silence. They found some out of date rolls, some mixed frozen veg and old fruit pie. Charlie was eying her but did help with the preparation.

Ben and his mates arrived after a quick stop at the local pub. "smells wonderful" he exclaimed, "sorry to drop this on you at short notice but you always come through. Kiss Kiss. The meal looked lovely, but for some reason Charlie wasn't very hungry. Afterwards, Marrie went out in the garden with her glass of wine while the three men had a good chat. Young Charlie was cleaning up. He's such a good boy, he was becoming quite domesticated lately, and she wondered if she should be worried about it, as he didn't seem to like sports at all,

It seemed as if the men were going to make a night of, so making her excuses, off she went to bed. Just as she was dropping off she heard a strange coughing noise, but then the car started up so she went to sleep.

The next morning, Charlie came in with tea and a flower on a tray. Then the phone shattered peace. Ben answered and she saw his face turn grey. His friend Dave had passed away in his sleep. Ben told hear that he had been sick last night before he left. Oh no. thought Marrie, the out of date chicken. But we all felt alright didn't we? Charlie hadn't eaten much.

As Dave was only 55 and healthy, there had to be an inquest. They lived on tenderhooks until the verdict. Pour Dave's wife called to say that his heart had given

out . Apparently his father had also passed away in his 50's, but Dave had always been so healthy he had never bothered to get his checked.

Marrie slumped in the chair. "Family meeting now", she said, Ben, no more last minute dinners, you must give me at least a day's notice. "Charlie, always throw away food past its use by date", "me, I will be a better housekeeper". Later that evening glancing at the paper, she read "In future there will be no use by dates as too much perfectly good food is being binned". "I think I have aged 10 years" she said.