Writing something

                                                                  

I must confess I rarely fail to write something to post to each prompt. Mind you I am old and a lot had happened over the last eighty five years. However I find it important to think of something to write down which may be true or otherwise but my brain needs to say something just to be satisfied that I was here and telling the world all about it. The best part is that I may in fact have done or experienced something worthwhile which needs remembering. Being a writer I can tell the truth or be quite inventive in what I would like to say.

                                                    Each day is a joy

                                                   Full of possibilities

                                                    And of memories

                               

Illustration from www.pixabay.com

                                                           

Sorrow alone

 

Dearest one I am writing to you again

I've a heavy heart as I miss you so much

Your box of ashes long buried in the ground

I'll not forget, for you are part of me

The blooms have died and been removed

As I sit down and remember our love

I hope you are listening as we talk

As we would on our long country walks

We held each others hands just to be one

Now I feel that pang of sorrow alone

If I could share my life with you again

I will one day, we're made for each other

So prepare to move over one day soon

 

Rastus and I stay the night (Chapter 6)

I lied of course when I said we slept well the night we stayed with Penny. Rastus certainly did as he fell asleep and was flicking his paws or growled a woof or two as he guarded us from danger in his dreams or chased rats or cats perhaps.

For us though it was a beautiful time of discovery sharing Penny's bed for the first time. I was not prepared or confident in this. We joked about what nighties of hers I could wear. Then I had a shower and when I returned to the bedroom draped in a towel I saw she had chosen the side nearest the window with her clock radio where she always slept. She had put a chocolate Caramello on my pillow for me; just as though we were in a hotel.

She was looking at me all the time then turned over and put out the light. I reached over and held her hand and she with her other hand and touched my face as I breathed in her scent as she did so. I let go of her hand and lightly touched her naked body with my fingers like an explorer discovering a new tropical island.

"You are so beautiful Penny" I said as my fingers gave her a satisfying feeling with her murmuring approval. She in her turn was not passive as she too checked out this intruder in her bed, running her fingers through my hair and then leaned over placing her head on my chest to listen to my heartbeat.

"Penny, we mustn't make love...I am not prepared" I said. 

"I didn't expect you to be. I would have been a bit peeved if you assumed I was a pushover. The more I know about you, the more I like you."

We both kissed and explored each other and delighted having been so close together.

Strangely she was up next morning looking out the window without a stitch on.

"Come back to bed" I said and she did. 

Word count 341

Nothing works

 

                         

Nothing works, I can endure no longer

My mother looks at me trying to help

I have reached the end of my tether

My girlfriend thinks we ought to split up

I am beyond hurt, it is hard to take

I felt I'd had a brutal stab in the back

"Let go for a walk son to get some fresh air"

Said my father getting upfrom his chair

We walked up to the woods close by to us

By way of the green fields close to our home

"It happened to me son, long ago" he said

We headed into the trees not far away

When we entered them we sat on a log

"Back then my girl did the same and it hurt

We parted and both went separate ways

I started work and then that girl phoned me

"I made a mistake" she said "I am sorry"

"Thats OK" I said, better luck next time

Rastus settles in (Chapter 5)

 

Staying at Penny’s that weekend was a success. It was certainly that way for Rastus; he settled in as though he was home and had a contented look on his face. I hope I looked like that too, but Penny wasn’t quite so sure.

How did we both get on? Very well indeed. She was soft and beautiful and attentive and receptive to my caressing. Rastus was happy laying at our feet. When I let him out last thing at night for his final walk around the garden I said “Behave, no chasing possums.” He returned a few minutes later reporting no sightings.

Penny and I talked too. Discussing work and family and our childhood and were very comfortable in each other’s company. However at one point at a break in conversation she paused then came right out with it. “You have been hurt haven’t you, did she dump you?” 

"I would say I was jettisoned from a ship.”

“I often wondered what the difference was between flotsam and jetsam. So what is flotsam?” Penny asked.

“Goods lost from a ship accidentally," By this time I had returned to stroking her feet gently and counting her toes.

“Five, on each foot” she stated.

“Just checking.”

At bedtime she suggested I share her bed.

“What is the alternative?”

“Floor with Rastus, couch with a blanket; you can choose.”

“I have no PJ’s, toothbrush or night cream.”

“I bought a spare toothbrush, the rest you can share with me.”

We all slept well that night. It must have been the wine. Goodness knows what Rastus drank. We went for another walk in the park early in the morning. It was so different at that hour. There was a morning mist over the water on the lake and a mob of kangaroos were drinking unconcerned. Luckily I had Rastus on the lead so we steered away from them and took a circular route around the park watching the birdlife in their chosen territory.

When we got back to Penny’s place I said to her “We will give it a try then, if that is OK?”

Penny turned to Rastus saying “What do you reckon?”

Rastus looked at us both grinning at him and barked an affirmative.

Let’s hope he keeps us together.

360 words

Find myself alone

I woke up to find myself alone

In my nightmare cradling my pillow

The beast in my brain playing with me

For I felt my wife's thighs by my side

My warm hand touched her just to be sure

But sleeping she still said not one word

Lucky! She hared to be woken up at night

Indignant said "Use the other bed"

Worst still would be for her to walk out

And to use that bed all for herself 

To desert me, leaving me alone

Stoney cold, losing togetherness

And then waking up all by myself

...not a revelation that I need

Rastus and me go up the hill (Chapter 4)

 

After my old neighbor went to hospital I looked after Rastus . Sadly she did not return home so I transferred his ownership and licence with all his chattels to me and her family agreed. 

Rastus tended to love anyone or perhaps it was the smell of food on them. Already he considered my house his and had happily settled in. 

I phoned Penny who now lived up the hill a few kilometres outside the city and told her of the change. 

“Why don’t you both come up to see me this week end as I’m free?. We can have bone stew” she said laughing.

So on Saturday we drove up the hill through leafy suburbs and winding roads with new smells for Rastus to enjoy. His head was out the window and grinning with his tongue out when we went through the hills villages. 

We found Penny’s place and drove in her driveway. She came out straight away and once inside I offered her a present which was a pink silk scarf that had once been my mother's. Penny was stunned, “It’s so beautiful” she said with moist eyes, “I love pink”. Then put it on and looked in a mirror smiling  

Rastus by this time had got bored so laid down at our feet. Penny said “Up you get Rastus we are going for a walk, there’s a park close by. 

Unlike a city park this one had native gum trees, scrubland and winding trails and a freshwater lake. He chased imaginary animals yet missed a koala looking down at him. After we’d worn him out we made our way home with Penny and me holding hands and her holding his lead.

Back at her place, Rastus drank a whole bowl of water and settled down for a nap.”Would you like a drink? she asked “I have a Pinot Grigio in the fridge.”

“Well not if I’m driving, perhaps one glass.” 

Penny then said “You can always stay the night”, looking in my eyes. 

I smiled, then nodded whilst Rastus snored in his sleep.

 

347 words

Those years I regret

Looking back I really hate myself

That adventurous young teen

That explored the woods and fields

Hoping to find butterlies

To take them home, pinning them

In a box to display the all to see

Getting lists of lists of those rare ones

That might be found in the woods

Or skimming over the ponds or streams

Just a short distant walk from home

They were of course beautiful

But not so much when they were dead

And now in my advanced years

I very much enjoy seeing them fly

Flitting over the garden flowers

Tasting the many plants nectar

But lasting little more that summer

Before time is called for them

As cool autumn says time is up

And their offspring breed next year

Clouds scudded overhead

I looked out of the window

I couldn't sleep this night

The clouds scudded overhead

The wind blowing them quietly

Moon chose to not look down on me

I looked at alarm clock

Too early to get up

Frustrated, I stretched myself

The ceiling fan hummed overhead

I heard the sea far away

I hat breaking my sleep

Preferring break of dawn

When the welcome bright gleam greets me

Sun rising over the treetops

A blackbird flew over the common

Illustration by www.pixabay.com

Rastus, Penny and me (Chapter 3)

 

Rastus had his big snip some time ago. So he would encourage me to check out likely girls, well that’s what I thought. In all probability he sniffed for treats. Now you might think that all food for a dog was free. You are so wrong there. Dog were fed as wages so meals at home were his due. He was quite adept at fetching things like the local paper thrown over the front fence or chasing rats in the garden. I don’t think there were many rats but he certainly made you think that. He’d stub his nose against the back door to be let out, then run up the garden just missing catching the sneaky rat. I wasn’t fooled. It was part of his act showing how valuable he was and being paid in Schmackos.                                 

I’ll mention liver treats and warn pet owners to avoid these like the plague as they smell awful. However, buying these for your pet will show that you love them.

“Who did Rastus live with now?” you ask. He belonged to the lady next door but there were many times it was necessary to take him in when she was in hospital. So he treated my home his too.

Then what happened to the girl in the park? Some good and some bad. We did meet her again a few times. The interaction was all between Rastus and her with a condescending nod to me now and then. She told Rastus her name which was Penny, then winked at me. She chatted about work, travel or her flat mates. Nothing, I could use to get any closer to her, but it was a friendship without pressure.

The day came when she came up to us and started the conversation. “Sorry.” she said. “I am leaving…transfer up the hill.”

I saw the disappointment of Rastus’s face. Whether it was the loss of the free food or the knees to place his head, I don’t know which. She turned to me, gave me a kiss and her phone number

With that Rastus gives out a moan of canine sorrow.

“It’s OK, Rastus” she said “You’re still my special boy.”

364 words

 

How unusual

 

How unusual said my mother as the baby she had just given birth to was me and placed in her arms for her to cuddle. I was then whisked away, cleaned up and then placed in a cot close by as everythging was cleaned up so that all looked well when her husband, my father was invited in to say hello.

It is uncommon for the newly born to remember anything of the event as the shock of moving from a warm environment to the glaring light of day can be a shock to babies who may cry at this first separation or decide it was too bright to look at anything so keep their eyes closed and wait to be put back where the belong.

That must have been me as a I remember nothing of that uncanny period of my life all those years ago apart from being introduced to my elder brother who was aghast that someone else was going to take his mother's milk that she soon was offering me confirming that she would feed me now I was one of the family.

My brother was devastated and I recall as I grew up that at no time did he want to play with me but instead play with the other boys in the street.  That really didn't worry me as I preferred to play with the younger kids especially a pretty girl up the road.

261 words