Saturday, March 30, 2019

Your Sister


For the sake of your son, do not divorce. The courts would favor Catherine and your good influence would be lost.  Catherine is devoted to him and it would devastate a boy his age to be shuffled between parents. You aren’t the first person to regret their choice of spouse. I understand. Many times, I have wished for my big brother’s ear, but we are both grown now and can muddle through if we have to.  Remember that I am only a couple of hours away and I would meet you at any time if you needed me.  

Love

Your sister.

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Moderator


“Would you say that to your mother?” Jolene asks the computer screen and the answer obviously is no. As moderator for her town’s Buy and Sell social media page, she conscientiously checks the site often. The personal message waiting today is particularly nasty; a vicious venting that makes Jolene cringe. 

She bites her tongue as diplomatic phrases come to her fingers. Two or three exchanges might be necessary, but in the end, she has the power to ban posts, so she believes this squabble will be short-lived. She encourages co-operation in this online world, calming, negotiating, being the sounding board. Moderating.

 

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Life is Interesting


Life is interesting. Catherine’s philosophy is gained after years of wishing for something different, of bemoaning her lack of money, of her work load and the difficulties of her marriage. She has considered either murder, or divorce and for a few dark moments suicide but she’s in new territory now. Her end is near but she could still have an interesting life.  It includes the widowhood factor. Loveless or not, she had been a wife. Now she is not. 

“This is an interesting thing,” she says out loud but the words fall on an enormous emptiness that echoes alone, alone, alone. 

Thursday, March 14, 2019

A Story is Published

It's not April yet, but Spadina Literary Review has their April edition online. A short story of mine is featured, I hope you enjoy this tongue in cheek slice of reality- Hyde & Sons - how to sell a bull. For those of you who like a peek into process, the voice of this character came first - inspired by a few different stockman that we dealt with in our cattle raising years.

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Our Time


The work of retirement is to fill those 9-5 non-working hours. One day I initiated a conversation with my husband regarding the time I spend with my writing. I’m in the room with him but also in a world of my own.
“It’s not a problem dear.”
“Okay”, I say, “You realize that I would be bored out of my mind if I didn’t write.”
“Just like hunting is for me.”
By now he’s walking out of the room, but he turns back at the doorway and asked me if there was anything else.
We’re apart and we’re together. Time passes.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Troll Fable


Littlebit scowls, her teeth are covered with the sticky gumdrop she’s eating. The package of candies is almost empty.
She was going to eat one piece each day; at 3:00 in the afternoon; when she needs a little pick-me-up. How easily she agreed with the idea but now she knows it is the troll’s plan. He’s a pipe-dream whisperer, the tempter that won’t let her control her weight.
The troll knows his stuff. 
But she has the gumdrops anyway, so why doesn’t she just finish them?
No.
Well…okay.
Who said that? Why would she say that?
The troll lives in her.