A Small Piece of Bliss

She looked out miserably at the storm gathering force. It had come out of nowhere, a day too soon. Positioning herself at the upstairs window, she stared out, willing them to appear on the horizon which was closing in fast. She could see other people scurrying past, rushing to get home. But not her lot.

‘Yet,’ she whispered to herself superstitiously.

Today was to have been the last nice day before the Beast from the East arrived. Again. He was getting to be quite a regular uninvited guest, this wretched beast. They had both groaned last night when the late-night weather had forecast more snow for Monday.

Allan swore aloud thinking of all the plans they had made.

‘Don’t worry,’ she said to him, ‘it’s still to be lovely sunshine tomorrow. And with Evie coming, let us make the most of it.’

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Wind Beneath My Wings

He changed his mind as soon as he stepped out. What appeared to be a beautiful autumn day from indoors was indeed a beautiful autumn day outdoor as well. Oh, but it was cold!

‘You should have worn your blue jacket,’ he could hear her say. ‘This old thing needs to be retired now, for goodness’ sake’.

‘You’re always right,’ he muttered as he went in again, careful to remove his shoes before walking the short distance to the cupboard. He put away his beloved parka before donning the smart fleece lined jacket she had bought from M&S a few years ago. Lacing his brogues at the door, again, it occurred to him how he had started doing all the things she had nagged him to do for 34 years.

‘You trained me well, Dee,’ he grumbled as he double checked the doors before walking away.

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NOT JUST YET

She stirs in her sleep. Something disturbs her deep slumber, which is usually aided by the low dose of sleeping pills her GP insists she takes.

‘It’s time to go,’ whispers this breezy unknown voice. ‘Come on, wake up, it’s time to go’.

‘Who’s there?’ she calls out, scrambling to switch her bedside lamp on. ‘Who is it?’

Fearing the worst, she sits up in bed. Only last month, Mrs Linn in flat 2G, had had a break-in and still talks about the horror of it. Her sleepy eyes soon adjust to the light in the room, and for a moment she thinks she is still asleep, dreaming. For there, sitting in her rocking chair, is the strangest man she has ever seen. No one she knows, and she knows most of the people in the Asian community in Glasgow. Why, she is a regular every Sunday at the Hindu temple at Charing Cross, and never misses any of the local Indian functions.

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Ma & Me

Ma & Me

I got a fright, I must confess,
As I brushed my teeth this morning.
There you were, in the mirror,
Ma, you popped up without warning.
My greys have merged with yours I see,
My eyes flash the same way too.
The years have smudged my sharp jawline,
And turned me into you.
Folk said how much I looked like you,
I never saw it till just now.

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Smile – Unleash the Power

I was ambling down the street today when a man came up to me and said,
‘Looking good, lovely lassie, but what’s that upon your head?’
I reached up then, to touch said head and felt around a while,
The man stood waiting next to me with a chuckle and a smile.
I saw my reflection in a shop window and sure, my head was fine,
And I watched this gent watching me, his smile as big as mine.
‘April Fool’ he yelled out then, ‘fooled ya, didn’t I hen?’
‘It’s June now,’ I stammer back, ‘you’ll have to try again.’
‘You smiled,’ he replied, ‘didn’t you now? That’s all I care about.’
That’s right I thought, I had been so sad, till I heard him come and shout.
His job he said, his only job, was to spread much needed cheer,
And he roamed the streets, up and down, to frighten away all fear.

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