FOUR SEASONS

First love gave me springtime

And invigorated my life

It was summer in my heart

When you became my wife

Then in our autumn years

You were taken from my side

Now with my bitter loneliness

It’s in the winter that I reside

Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (76) A Poor Little Rich Girl’s Christmas

Sarah Atkinson was 21 years old and an only child who lived with her parents in a huge 10 bedroom house in the village of Shallowfield on the edge of the Dancingdean Forest, and she had led a very privileged life and she was spoilt and conceited and had grown accustomed to always getting what she wanted.

 

So when the Quinn’s and the Dowd’s came to stay for the family Christmas gathering in the 1990’s and she set her cap for the formers son Mike, and she fully expected to get her wish and he would fall for her. 

He was two years older than her with black wavy hair and wild gypsy eyes and a muscular well-toned physique that made her swoon.

 

She was certain sure that with little or no effort on her part her Cousin would soon be in her bed because she always got what she wanted.

Sarah wasted no time in making her move, so on his first night beneath the Atkinson’s roof she waited for the house to fall silent and then tiptoed across the landing wearing only a cotton shirt unbuttoned from top to bottom.

She opened the door and stepped inside to find Mike sitting up in bed reading.

“I thought you might want some company”

She said

“Yes, but not you” he replied coolly

Sarah ignored his retort and climbed on to the bed and sat down facing him, perching on his knees, with legs astride him.

“So are you pleased to see me?”

“Ecstatic”

“Kiss me then” she said but he did nothing   

“Kiss me Mike” she demanded

“I don’t think so” he retorted

“Come on you know you want to” she said

“Yes” he agreed “but not you”

“What?”

“I don’t want to kiss you” he repeated and pushed her off him and slipped out of bed

“You’re rejecting me?” she said in disbelief as he pulled her to her feet and dragged her towards the door.

“Yes I am” he said

“That doesn’t happen, I’m young and gorgeous, and I don’t get rejected” she explained “I am the one that does the rejecting”

“On the contrary” he said and shoved her out the door just as Deirdre Dowd was coming the other way.

Deidre was smaller, plainer and less showy than Sarah so her jaw dropped when she saw the mousy little thing walk into Mike’s arms.

“You’re passing on me, for that?” she said angrily

“Always” he replied

“I am superior to her in every conceivable way” Sarah said

“What does she have that I don’t?”  

“My love” he replied and closed the door in her face.

“Bastard” she said under her breath and stood in the darkness trying to figure out what went wrong, until light spilled onto the landing and highlighted Sarah’s depressing moment.

Also illuminated in the light was Deirdres 20 year old brother Tom

“Come here” she panted

“Why?” Tom asked

“Because Christmas has come early for you” she replied.

JUNE

On that beautiful day in June

The bells pealed out their tune

And at that joyful sound he knew

He would soon hear her say “I do”

 

Then before him a beautiful sight

As she appeared in bridal white

The hue of the pure white dove

Dressed to symbolise her love

 

When they stood before the altar

He spoke clear without a falter

With a heart so strong and true

He said aloud to the world “I do”

SLEEP ON IT

Last night I was sad

Last night I was mad

Last night I hated you

Last night I berated you

Last night I was crying

Last night I was dying

Last night I was unforgiving

Last night I was tired of living

 

This morning I’m glad

Glad for what we once had

This morning I have regret for you

This morning I want to forget you

This morning the tears I cried

Have long since dried

This morning I am forgiving

This morning I am for living

SWEET TOOTH

I have a picture of you

Which speaks to me,

Speaks in sugary tones

And syrupy words

Of things I liked to hear

When we were both young

But my tastes have changed

A sweet tooth no longer

My palate more mature

More sophisticated

A little less exciting maybe

But you can’t be sixteen forever

But I will always keep

That picture of you

Which speaks to me

In sugary tones

And syrupy words

Just to remind me of the time

When I had a sweet tooth

Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (75) The Solicitor’s Receptionist at Lunch

Pangbourne, Parker and Knowles were the firm of Shallowfield Solicitors handling the disposition of Phil Marlow’s late father’s estate which turned out to be quite protracted.

It was on the occasion of Phil Marlow’s first meeting with his Solicitor Linda Baxter that he first saw the object of his affections.

And on that first visit he gazed lustily down her top at the quite pleasing vista restrained in a pink satin bra.

Which he thought was a delightful surprise because her outer garments were very unremarkable, and when she realized he was staring down her top she quickly covered herself up and let out a rather disgusted exclamation, but then she smiled at him and blushed.

He may have thought her a straight laced prude, but he liked that, it had always turned him on, partly because of the challenge but more often than not because they turned out to be less straight laced beneath the façade.

So he returned her smile and asked

“Do you have anything with the address and phone number on?”

“Oh yes” she replied eagerly “I could give you one of my cards”

“Thank you….”

“Catherine” she said “Catherine Kimber”

“Thank you Catherine”

He wasn’t sure if he would ever call her but he had learned to keep his options open.

Phil thought that with regular visits to the offices he would get numerous opportunities to speak with her, but alas no.

And that was why he was grumpy because he had concluded his business with Pangbourne, Parker and Knowles, and he hadn’t asked her and nor had he phoned her.

But eventually he plucked up the courage and he phoned the Solicitors

“Pangbourne, Parker and Knowles”

“Hello Catherine” he said “it’s Phil Marlow”

 

The long awaited first date was a great success and several more followed and never disappointed but after each successive date he was left wanting more.

So when the want of seeing her became too much to bear he decided to go and surprise her at the office on Friday lunchtime even though he was seeing her that night anyway.

 

Once he reached the building he went upstairs to the front office but as he reached reception Catherine’s desk was unmanned and he thought he wouldn’t be going to see her after all.

Which was a shame because he’d really looked forward to surprising her.

“Oh well another time” he said to himself and headed back towards the door which was when he saw her at the other end of the corridor, she hadn’t seen him as she was reading a document as she walked.

He had to think quickly so he opened the disabled toilet door and stepped in and waited until she was passing

“Where are you going?” he asked as he pulled her into the toilet and quickly closed the door and in response she threw herself into his arms.

“Are you here to rob me or ravish me?”

“I think you already know the answer to that” he replied and kissed her

“Have you got long?” he asked between kisses

“I’m on my lunch break” she replied

“Good what would you like for lunch then?”

“You” she replied and began kissing him

 

After a prolonged kiss she said

“That was the best lunch ever”

“Back to work now then” he suggested

“And look forward to dinner” Catherine added

So they reluctantly said goodbye but he was waiting for her when she finished work and they went for an early dinner after which she took him home and kept him there until Monday morning.

I HIDE ME

 

I hide me

From the world

Protect myself

Within an amniotic sac

Like a babe in the womb

My heart in a cocoon

Free from harm

Wrapped in cotton wool

Safe, secure,

Out of sight, out of mind

 

I hide me

The best of me

Protected from

Deceitful hearts

And transient desires

The Schemers, dreamers,

And false redeemers

The superficial and the shallow

The morally hollow

Those that would hurt me

Use me and abuse me

All these and more

 

I hide me

The essential me

Keep me hidden

From the bitterness and bile

Of the vindictive and the vile

Free from recrimination

And spiteful retribution

Heart locked safely away

Never to see the light of day