HARRIET

ROMANTIC FRIDAY WRITERS

CHALLENGE NO 41

It's not always easy to say how you feel, so sometimes it's a good- or really very bad idea- to write it down. What has happened in the past to lead you to this point - pen poised, hovering over notepaper? Maybe you communicate better on paper than face to face...maybe you should have acted differently...but should you be sitting here writing it all down...should you be jumping in the car, heading off to see him/her face to face, sort things out? Your call, your story - just make sure there are Three Things You Could Have Done Better.

HARRIET

Harriet slowly opened her brown rheumy eyes

As they came into focus she soon realised

The beautiful young girl with the shining brown hair

Was still sitting beside her in the pretty Lloyd loom chair

Sylvia smiled at her gran with love and moved to plump up her pillows

She smoothed the bedclothes and straightened the trenches and furrows

Harriet started to speak and Sylvia was hooked from her first sentence

I could have done better in my life but some things weigh heavily on my conscience

I should have told my best friend her beau was cheating on her

Then I would have had to admit he was a cad and a bounder

I broke it off as soon as I could and kept the secret until today

I couldn’t risk losing her affection when he tried to lead me astray

I picked up the pieces and kept in contact but I think she knew

The way she looked at me I thought she could see what was true

I’m glad I didn't spill the beans though as we stayed in touch all these years

We’ve had our share of happiness, joy and of course many, many tears.

She paused for breath as Sylvia poured her a refreshing cup of tea

From her favourite oriental china tea set kept on the table in the dinette

Aunt Gracie had a secret, you know, she lived in sin until her own kids were married

We never knew about his first wife until she died

For twenty five years religious doctrine had them living against the law

Then the surprise wedding invite dropped through everybody’s front door

If I’d been more persuasive more people would have come and celebrated

They had no problem until the truth came out and then they turned and hated

Sylvia’s eyes filled with tears as she thought of the prejudice and bigotry

That kept people apart or living in fear throughout the course of history

She took Harriet’s cup, saw she was getting weary; it didn't take much at 90

Don't fuss now.  I need to tell you one more thing Harriet said simply.

I married my darling Fred and couldn’t have done any better

Together we faced some tough times and braved stormy weather

Thirty years with him and thirty missing him in heaven

Now I’m ready to meet my handsome fireman again.

Word count: 400