Home Sweet Home

by Greg Duncan

water  

"Stay at Home. Save the NHS. Save Lives."

Great!

But who's there to save me, now he's also home, fuelled with beer, no job, no gym?

Shopping is my escape.

Is my journey necessary?

The doctor's closed; the shelter's closed; and when I get home, his fist will be closed.

 

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About the author

 

Greg Duncan is a member of the Wimborne Writers Group and lives in Poole, Dorset on the south coast of England. The books he has written (many with his wife Valerie) can be seen on his website https://www.kenebec.com/books

 

Notes in Her Diary

 

by Greg Duncan

Ersatzkaffee

 

As Andrea sat on the couch she watched Mother look out the window through a small gap between the two curtains. Small enough for her to see through but not so much as someone outside might notice. She called out to her husband.

"Hans, come here quickly."

"I'm in the kitchen, what d'you want?"

"Quickly, Hans, before they get inside."

Hans came rushing over and Mother let him look through the gap in the curtains. "See - across the road."

"Yes. So what. I see people."

"Look again. Look at all those people going inside that house. Look at the number of people. We've never seen them before. Take a close look at their faces. See how they're looking around as if they're scared and shouldn't be there."

"Oh I see what you mean. You don't think they are? ... Really? Oh my god. Not here. How frightening. Will people think we're involved? That we are hiding them? We must report them to the police."

Andrea wanted to know what the problem was. "Is something wrong with my friend Rachel? I know she's not allowed to go to school, but we like to meet up together when I get home."

Mother turned to Andrea with fear written all over her face. "Did you say you meet with Rachel? Rachel, from across the road?"

"Yes - she's a nice girl."

"No. No. You must not talk to her. You must not go there. It's far too dangerous. You cannot see her, Andrea."

"Why not?"

Andrea's mother and father tried to explain to her that the country was fighting a critical war and it was very important to stay away from certain people. They told her these people were bad for their great country and they needed to be locked away. They also told her that everyone must do what the government says and that we all must trust the government is doing the right thing to win this war.

At this point Hans indicated that it was his duty to report Rachel's parents to the authorities even if they were neighbours. In fact, because they were neighbours.

They tried to explain all this to Andrea but she responded as any normal young person would. "I'm 13 not 5. I read the papers. But why Rachel? This makes no sense."

Hans knew that very little of it did make sense but he was not going to risk his family's safety and future. He had to report these people to the police to protect his own family.

Andrea almost burst into tears as she ran upstairs and slammed shut the door to her room. It was time to talk to her diary so she opened it up to make today's entry. The date showed Friday 2 October 1942.

Her parents didn't know she had a diary. Andrea had been able to buy it cheaply half way through the year at the beginning of July at a second hand book shop and she kept it hidden under her bed. It was a lovely book with pictures on the left and space to write on the other side. Today's picture was of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. When Andrea had talked to Father about how beautiful Berlin looked, he had said they would all go there when the war was over but they could not go right now because of all the travel regulations and restrictions.

Andrea's diary was seldom a list of what she did - more often she wrote about how she felt and today Andrea was very upset as she began to write:

Dear Diary

Is this really what life is? Spying on our neighbours? Listening to 'official' propaganda? Being afraid someone might report us to the police? Being fed manipulated data in the papers? Locking up foreigners? Not seeing my friends? Not able to travel freely? No fun?

And what rules do we need to obey today? Father says they change almost every day. He says the government does not care about people and does not need or even listen to elected representatives. He says officials now govern by dickey something - I think he said dictat.

Andrea stopped writing for a moment to look up her dictionary - dictat - a unilateral, often harsh, decree or rule imposed without consultation or public approval.

She went back to writing.

Father says we are fighting a war. A war for the survival of our great nation. I can see that myself every day but when will it end? What are we fighting and what will it mean to win? How can we trust the government when we know that what they tell us is not true. And what will the police do with Rachel and her family?

It's so sad to see Mother and Father frightened every day. Is this what the government wants? Is this the way we are supposed to live?

Perhaps I, too, need to learn to be frightened. But what are Mother and Father frightened of? The war or what the government will do next? Good night diary.

After re-reading what she had written, Andrea did what she did every night when she finished writing in her diary. With her pen she scrubbed out 1942 and wrote in the correct year - 2020 - and then went downstairs to watch the BBC news.

 

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About the author

 

Greg Duncan is a member of the Wimborne Writers Group and lives in Poole, Dorset on the south coast of England. The books he has written (many with his wife Valerie) can be seen on his website https://www.kenebec.com/books

 

 

Ping

by Greg Duncan 

Assam tea

 

 

At the supermarket self-check out facility, Geoff always made sure he scanned each item carefully as he hated getting that dreaded message: "Unexpected item in check out area." Doing it slowly also gave him time to listen to the reassuring sound of the ping as the machine acknowledged each one of his purchases.

Scones - ping; clotted cream - ping; strawberry jam - ping. He was so absorbed in his own little world he almost failed to notice the lady at the next check-out speaking to him.

"That looks like the makings of a cream tea. I can fully understand if you regard that as an essential purchase."

Geoff looked up and was startled to see that the lady looked very familiar. It was hard to be sure, though, given the large COVID mask she was wearing over her nose and mouth and right up under her glasses. But her eyes were the give away - eyes he was sure he knew from the past.

"Essential? Absolutely."

He smiled but then she could not see that through his surgical type blue COVID defences covering most of his face. But the slight lift and sparkle in his eyes that she had known so well in the past confirmed her thoughts. She knew that some say coincidences never happen but here she was in a supermarket standing beside a dear college friend she should never have lost contact with.

With an equally hidden smile she replied. "Its been a long time since we last met up." After all these years she knew his name but not so well as to be able to remember it at that moment.

Her comment confirmed his feelings - it was her - if only he could recall - was she Kelly or Lil? Not a good idea to get it wrong. So in between the pinging of his purchases he settled for a neutral reply.

"Yes - far too long." He noticed her shopping items seemed rather sparse so added "That doesn't seem much for the two of you."

"Two of us? You haven't heard? I was finally able to divorce that cheating bastard just before the COVID lockdown. Apparently one of the last cases through the courts before they shut."

"So you've been on your own as well throughout this isolation? I can empathise - not pleasant being alone is it?"

Her brow furrowed slightly - it was all he could really see of her face as she mumbled through her mask. "But I thought ... didn't you ... weren't you getting married?"

"Almost. We lived together for a few years until last Christmas when Graham came by."

"Graham? Do I know Graham?"

Geoff scrunched up his face which made his mask twitch like a set of whiskers. "No you wouldn't and frankly I don't want to recall either of them now. But he's more than welcome to her. After a while it became obvious we weren't compatible. I've been on my own since then."

At that point they both finished their pinging and made their payments using contactless cards in accordance with government guidance. But being contactless towards each other was not a priority in their minds. They continued their conversation as they walked out of the supermarket and stood close together at the road side. They were not really displaying any concern about adhering to some two metre anti-social distance guidance promulgated by a former government economist.

She enquired. "Shopping in the morning? Does that mean you're not working?"

With a slight shrug Geoff replied. "Working? No. The company I was working for had to shut down due to lockdown regulations and guess what - it went bankrupt. So now no job and loads of time. And you?"

"During my disastrous marriage I worked for my ex, but that ended with the break-up. I'd planned to move back to Dorchester after the divorce and look for a job there but then along came - 'Stagnate at home; only go out for essential items' which meant I couldn't go out looking for a job even if there was one, what with all the businesses shut. So - no, I don't have a job either."

Dorchester? That sparked a memory for Geoff and he knew now that this was Kelly. He'd always had a fondness for her and had often wondered what had happened to her. Now he knew.

As they stood talking their upbeat mood was threatened by the drizzle that began to fall. Geoff took the initiative. "Hey this is stupid standing here in the rain. I don't know what you're schedule is but I've got time for a coffee? Do you?"

She nodded her head so they both hurried over to the cafe across the road. It was one of those places for which the incomprehensible government rules stipulated that you had to wear a mask when you ordered your food but you could take it off when you sat down. They ordered a latte and a cappuccino and sat down at a table in the corner fenced off from the rest of the world by a flimsy plexi-glass barrier. Not the most inviting environment but government regulations did not include any sense of decorum, assuming they actually contained any sense at all.

They both removed their masks at the same time and stared at each other.

Geoff was the first to speak. "Unless you've changed dramatically, now you've taken off your facial armour I'm thinking you're not the person I thought you were. You're not Kelly are you?"

This unknown but very attractive woman smiled back. "No. And without your medieval visor, I can see you're not James, are you?"

"No - never been James - always been Geoff."

They both began to chuckled at this turn of events and were still giggling and joking about the mix-up when the waitress came by resplendent in black apron, black mask, a plastic visor and blue Nitrile gloves. She uttered an incomprehensible "La..an..cap..no?". The girl's mumbles through her mask turned their mirth into outright laughter. Geoff stopped long enough to confirm. "Yes that's ours."

So the waitress placed the order on the table and backed away quickly perhaps for fear of catching their contagious merriment. Government guidance said nothing about being allowed to laugh but did include the dictat that talking or singing loudly in restaurants was against the rules. And these two were certainly laughing dangerously loudly.

As they settled down, Geoff resumed the conversation. "I can't really say I'm sorry to hear about a divorce between two people I didn't know. But the divorce is perhaps to my advantage as I guess it means you're probably free to sit and chat?"

"I sure am. And having just learned that Graham took who ever she was away from someone I've just met, leaving them all alone, I can see I'm not intruding. So - shall we start again? You said you're Geoff? Well, handsome Mr Geoff - I'm Tamsin, and by the way, I adore cream teas."

"Afternoon cream tea? Could do, but unless you've got other plans, might I suggest first a government sponsored lunch?"

Tamsin's face lit up. "Hey. If the chancellor wants to pay us to eat, it would be churlish of me to turn down such a thoughtful, deeply personal and considerate invitation. D'you have somewhere in mind? If not, I know a nice place in Swanage."

That lovely seaside town was over ten miles away and since Geoff only had a bicycle, her suggestion could be awkward. "Swanage? D'you have a car?"

Tamsin pouted her lips and fluttered her eyelashes. "A girl's got to get something worthwhile from a divorce. So yes - a small open topped beamer."

Geoff swallowed hard and nodded appropriately. "That'll do just fine, ma'am."

Then after a slight pause he added "I think you'd agree, today seems to be a box of surprises."

Tamsin's face was all a glow as she responded. "Yep, but my gran always said to me - 'Never ignore the unexpected'. But come on - drink up - if we're going to Swanage it's time to go."

"Yes boss. I'm ready." As he gulped down the remains of his latte, Geoff mused to himself that Tamsin certainly qualified as "Unexpected item in check out area."

 

 

About the author

 Greg Duncan is a member of the Wimborne Writers Group and lives in Poole, Dorset on the south coast of England. The books he has written (many with his wife Valerie) can be seen on his website https://www.kenebec.com/books

 

 

 

Fantastic

by Greg Duncan

iced tea with a squoosh of lemon

It had been many years since Matilda and Sophie had spent time together. At junior high school, even though Matilda had always been a flashy fanciful one, they had been virtually inseparable. However, when Matilda's family moved to a different part of Chicago their friendship waned. For a while they telephoned to keep in contact but soon that stopped as each found new friends.

Sophie pursued her interest in painting and after art college one of the important galleries began exhibiting her work. When her first major one person show was advertised in the newspaper, she was surprised to receive a message from the gallery saying that a Matilda Frasenheim had called, left her number and could Sophie call her back. Although the surname was different, Sophie felt it must be her old school friend so she called and Matilda answered.

"Oh Sophie, thanks for calling back. It's so nice to hear from you. It's been so long. And I've really missed you, dear."

"Yeah, it's been a long time."

"I so much want to catch up with you. I've got so much to tell you, dear. Shall we meet for coffee? How about Forty Carrots at Bloomingdales?"

Sophie knew this was not the cheapest place to have coffee but if that was where Matilda wanted to go, then so be it.

"Fine; sounds good. Tomorrow? 10 o'clock?"

"Oh sorry, dear, can't do then, I've my yoga meditation class at that time."

"You're doing yoga? Hey, that's fantastic."

Sophie remembered Matilda's distaste for anything requiring effort - she must have really changed and this was worth seeing.

"Oh yes. It's so refreshing and helps calm my inner persona. Thursday would be fine. I won't be chairing the meeting of the Help for Homeless till the afternoon so 10 would be perfect. I'm so tied up with committees today can I leave you to reserve a table, dear? See you then. Bye, darling."

Before Sophie could reply, Matilda had hung up.

Reserve a table? Sophie knew that probably meant she would be expected to pick up the bill but she could not back out now.

On Thursday, it was almost a quarter past ten before Matilda swept into the restaurant all smiles and glitter.

"Oh so good to see you again Sophie, dear. You're looking so well. How do you do it? No don't tell me - it would make me jealous. But then I don't really need to be jealous do I? Not with the way life's been treating me, dear."

Sophie leant back in her chair to reduce the chance of asphyxiation from Matilda's over powering cheap perfume - it certainly was not one Sophie would buy.

With hardly a pause for breath, Matilda took command of the conversation. "I see you've got an art show coming up. That's so clever of you, dear. I'm so looking forward to seeing it. As you know, I love art."

Based on her memory of Matilda, Sophie was slightly lost for words at this unexpected revelation about art and so just replied with a single word. "Fantastic."

"Herbert taught me all about art."

"Herbert? Is he your husband?"

"Oh yes, dear. Herbert's my darling husband. He's a doctor, you know."

Matilda's words came out so fast, Sophie had little time to respond. She remembered it was best not to interrupt Matilda so Sophie spoke the first word that came into her mind and uttered another quick "Fantastic."

"He's a heart specialist. Much in demand."

Sophie was able to slip in another "Fantastic" before Matilda continued her on going gurgle of words.

"It meant we had to move out to Magnificent Mile."

"Really? The expensive suburb? Fantastic."

"Oh yes. We needed more space for the cars and for Carson and Yvonne."

"Carson and Yvonne? Are they your kids?"

"Oh no dear, we haven't time for kids. No Carson is our butler and Yvonne looks after the housekeeping staff."

"What can I say but how great for you. I knew this would happen to you one day - it's just fantastic."

"I know. Carson would have driven me here today in the Bentley but it's in for service so we had to use the Lincoln."

"It must be great to have such helpful people around you."

"Oh yes - you can't imagine how much I rely on them, especially on golf days."

"You play golf as well? That's fantastic."

"Oh I don't just play - I'm also vice-chair of the social committee. You know what it's like."

"I don't, actually, but in your case I can imagine. Vice-chair? Fantastic. I can see you being chair one day."

"Oh thanks, dear - I will make a great chairperson, won't I? But oh Sophie, dear. I've been spending all our time here talking about my little hum-drum life and there you are doing such great things with, er ... art. Tell me how did it all begin? Tell me everything. Make me jealous."

"Well - after high school my parents sent me to a finishing school in Switzerland."

"A finishing school? In Switzerland? Did they speak English? What kind of things do they teach at a finishing school? Did you learn anything there?"

"They taught us how to be polite in company."

"Oh tell me more dear. What was the most important thing you learned?"

"Well ... one of the things they taught us was - in polite company, don't use the word bullshit - instead, just say - fantastic."

For some reason, at that point Matilda stood up and walked out.

A Horticultural Conundrum

by Greg Duncan  

dandelion and burdock

Rabbit sat back in his chair and took a puff at his pipe. "You say you're growing weeds?"

"Yes," chirped back Mouse. "I was growing flowers but the weeds were doing better and had some lovely blooms so I decided to take out all the flowers and now I'm making a great garden just of weeds."

"Mmmm." Rabbit took another puff at his pipe. "You know you can't do that," he said.

Mouse responded indignantly. "Why not? I am and it looks beautiful."

"You may think you are, but since a weed by definition is an unwanted plant it is logically impossible to cultivate weeds. Your weeds are now flowers and your flowers have become weeds."

Mouse furrowed his eyebrows, crinkled his whiskers and tried hard to think, but summer was not a good time for logic or thinking. So with barely a goodbye, he scurried off back to his garden to water his weeds - or as Rabbit had put it - his flowers which had been weeds until he liked them.

And then he looked at the lovely white blossom on the bindwe... bind . . . bind . . . bindflower?

It was all far too confusing for a little mouse.

 

Two of Them

by Greg Duncan 

 

Marmoney  (hot water, marmite and honey)

 

 

They sat patiently on the wall, eyeing the people passing by. The two of them often sat there in the sun as if they owned the place. Theirs had been a very rough and traumatic upbringing. They had not known their father and then just as they were beginning to understand the world, their mother disappeared. She just left one day and never came back.

For this pair, there was no social safety net; no relations to shoulder the burden of helping them. They had to learn to fend for themselves and learn fast. Being two of them, they helped each other and soon found how to survive in this challenging world.

Their life revolved around begging for food but often people would either turn away or try to frighten them. Nobody really seemed to care. Some sanctimonious parents thought it was quaint or educational to let their children feed them but the pair did not adopt any form of false pride; survival dictated they accept whatever they were given.

It appeared as if over time they developed a keen sense of opportunity. Although it was not possible to make out what they were saying to each other, you could see the pair would look at each passing person and assess if they could be a target and a possible source of food. One could almost hear them say: "Look at that couple, the one with the small child. Let's wait to see if they have anything of interest." And if the people had food then off the pair would go. With no warning they would swoop down, grab the fish and chips in their beaks, flick their wings with force and fly out to sea to consume their ill gotten gains leaving their victims cursing at the local gulls.

About the author  

Greg Duncan lives in Dorset, England