Creative Writing Series 7

7.     An annoying boss, a bikini, and a fake illness.

 

Today was a bright sunny day. Rare for mid April in Scotland. Even rarer was the heat that came with the sunshine. Unfortunately I was supposed to be going into work today.

However what with the sun being out and the scorching heat I didn’t want to be stuck in a stuffy dingy office with the blinds drawn, staring at a computer screen. So the inevitable phone call was made.

“Hi…yeah, John? It’s Marie… I won’t be coming into work today…No it’s probably just food poisoning…shouldn’t last for more than a day or so…I can barely get out of bed…Thanks John! You’re a star! ...Bye.” Complete with coughs and splutters to make it authentic.

Phone call made I set to work. Sun tan lotion, bikini, towels, picnic. All ready for the sun. I packed up my car and drove to the beach. I drove to Salcoats which is about an hours drive from my home and found a sandy beach.

The beach was packed with children, dogs and other sunbathers. I found myself a spot and lay out on my towel with my sunglasses.

I was halfway dosing when a shadow came over me. I slowly opened my eyes to reveal my boss, John looming over me with a not so amused expression on his face.

“Food poisoning?...Can barely leave your bed? You look alright to me!”

Creative Writing Series 6

6.     An ex-boyfriend, a pair of binoculars, and a good-luck charm.

Silver with dangling charms. Not the modern beaded charms but the old ones with each charm on its own link and each charm representing something new.

A musical note – How we met. He played on an old school upright piano with the keys broken. Stark white against the painted black of the wood. His long fingers caressing each key as the sound filtered out of the old instrument. The odd note out of tune but the sound still beautiful none the less. His back perfectly straight, his glasses drawing me into his eyes as his fingers moved almost with a life of their own.

A pair of binoculars – Our first date was a bird sanctuary by a lake. We picnicked and I laughed at him playing with his food. We went cycling and he laughed at me for being terribly unfit. The nature trail was tranquil and relaxing. However it turned cold and windy which made us snuggle together under the picnic blanket to stay warm.

A butterfly – Our second date was a butterfly sanctuary. It was an unbelievably hot humid room covered in trees. One side of the room was taken up by a small pond. Butterfly’s fluttered across the room occasionally landing on the heads of those with brightly dyed hair. Children chased them around the room as they flew just out of reach. In the corners of the room cocoons were hanging in rows from the trees. He spent the day taking pictures as I attempted to draw them before they flew away.

A heart – Broken. It’s not you, it’s me. We’re better off just friends.