SUBBUTEO

No idea why this came into my head today-- a memory of growing up.

A game of two halves

And lots of laughs

When you flick the kick

Too high

Wonder why

Your opponent

Makes it look so easy.

It’s only a game…but?

It’s good to flick the kick high

Into the corner of the net

And yell ‘YES.’

It’s only a game

Of two halves

And plenty of laughs!

MUM

A short story.

Mum,

I never write letters.  But I’ve tried to talk to you.  To say what you don’t want to hear.

Part of me, a big part of me, doesn’t want to say it at all.  I want the pretence to go on. It was a good pretence. A comforting pretense when I was growing up.  Not anymore mum.  I’m all grown up and I can’t pretend anymore.

 I don’t want to but I’m just going to say it.

Dad is not coming back. 

He’s gone mum.  He isn’t working down South. He doesn’t write you weekly letters.  I know you write them yourself.  I know you post them to yourself.  To us.  I saw you write one.  I followed you to the post box.  You never saw me.  Don’t think badly of me mum. I was seventeen.   Two years I’ve taken to write this letter.

He’s been gone for ten years.  Ten years of letters. Of pretence that any minute he was going to walk through that door.  He isn’t.  He never is.  And it’s not your fault.  And I’m fine with it. Honest I’m okay. You did a brilliant job.  I loved you reading me those letters. 

I don’t want my dad to walk through the door.  I don’t want to know where he is, or what he has been doing.

You told me all about him in the letters.  I saw him through your eyes.  I saw the man he should have been.  That was my dad.  That was the husband you deserved.

I don’t need the letters any more mum.  You don’t.  No more. Please.

I’m coming home this weekend.   If you’ll have me.

We should go walking in the park by the bandstand. Like when I was a wee girl.  When you used to read the letters to me.    I’d like to sit on our bench.  I’d like to talk about us.

Love  

Jenny.

BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND 2018

This is happening as part of Book Week Scotland 2018 in Kelso.

STORY FOR HALLOWEEN.

ROOM 537.   

The ones before you.  A nice couple. As far as I could tell.  They were warned and paid no heed.  Don’t open the door I told them.  No matter what.  Don’t believe the voices on the other side.  No matter how friendly…familiar…what they offer.

They were warned and…they paid no heed.

Now I’m warning you.  That’s what I do.  I warn people.  I say to them…Look at me.  I booked into Room 537 without a care in the world.  Tired? Yes. Unhappy? No.  In fact I had never been happier.  At last I had found what I wanted to do in life.  I had worked that first day in my new life without a glance at the clock.  Only the darkness and the hunger telling me…Go home.  Home was not where I was and like I said I was hungry so I went for something to eat and by the time…Two hours to the next bus.  Home a two hour journey away. 

So I decided…I booked into Room 537.

Funny how those decisions come back to haunt you!!

And here I am and back then I lay down on that bed you sit on now.  The tiredness came and…I woke to the gloom and…the pipes rattling?

No.  The door.

Knock Knock Knock.  Then one two three and…Knock Knock Knock.

I was brought up to be polite. To not ignore things. Even in the middle of the night I open doors if someone knocks.

I was happy.  They had no need to take me.

I know you’re afraid.  Of me.  But it is far worse beyond that door.  I promise you.

What?  What happened to the others?   The others that answered the door?   Why am I the only one here?

They always leave someone.   And I am that someone.  You see they think you will be so frightened of me that…You will rush to the door when….No I don’t play games.  Yes I am lonely now.  Yes I am no longer happy.  But I don’t want to keep you here.  If you stay till beyond the time you will be safe.  They will leave.

Please.

No.

I am not lying.

Knock Knock Knock  One Two Three.  Knock Knock Knock.

Look at the clock.

5.37 am.

You must wait.

Knock Knock Knock  One Two Three.  Knock Knock Knock.

No!!

 Don't open the door.

They were warned and…they paid no heed.

Now I’m warning you.  That’s what I do.  I warn people.  I say to them…look at me.  I booked into room 537 without a care in the world.