(Just before today’s story! – a quick note to say that my childhood “autobiography” – Bits of a Boyhood – has been wonderfully reviewed by Iseult Murphy – HERE! She is the most prolific reader online and she posts many reviews that are well worth it. Thank you, Iseult! And so to today’s story:)
Francine didn’t know what exactly she had in mind when she said “I would very much like to have some time alone.” She had said that to her husband. She needed space. It’s not that he did anything untoward; it’s just that she needed the occasional break from his sporadic odd behaviour. He wouldn’t go to the doctor; possibly he didn’t need to go to the doctor, but Francine was not capable of diagnosing “what was going on”. For example, he would open and close a door four or five times before going through it. He didn’t always do that. Things like that went in “bouts”.
And that is why Francine needed to take the occasional break. This time however, things were different. He had taken his pet canary out of its cage and thrown it to freedom out the window. He had set the dishwasher going three times when there weren’t any dishes to wash. And now he was standing at the door between the sitting room and the dining room and opening and closing it and saying over and over “Come in! Come in!”
Francine consoled herself by joking that perhaps he was trying to welcome back his escaped canary.
Eventually she said, as she had said before, that he needed to go and see a doctor. But he answered (and he seemed quite normal and lovely in his answer) that he didn’t need to do that. There was nothing wrong with him. The stress was all in Francine’s head.
And that is when Francine said, “I would very much like to have some time alone”. Arnold said, “Alright then, why don’t you go for a walk?” So Francine put on her walking shoes and went for a long walk, and thought about things without coming to any conclusion.
When she got home Arnold was in the kitchen cooking some bananas in the oven. She asked him what he was doing and he said the television had said not to feed the dog raw meat.
“But bananas are not meat,” said Francine, “and we don’t have a dog.”
Anyway, by evening Arnold was back to normal. They watched a TV program together and had a normal conversation, and then Arnold went to bed.
Francine sat in the armchair wondering what to do. She honestly didn’t know what she should do next. If Arnold had dropped dead it would be sad of course but definite. Instead, everything was so “up in the air”.
I was sure Arnold was going to be a ghost. I hope Francine doesn’t do anything murderous.
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It’s only you novelists who turn everything into ghosts and murderers.
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😂 I can’t help it!
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I’m having an extremely busy morning – I’ve read your review 95 times and have still got a lot more times to go.
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😁 Glad to hear it. You need to read it at least a couple of hundred times and then start on the sequel – a bit of manhood? Mmm, doesn’t sound right.
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Ha ha! You’ve tickled my fancy… I just might start once I get to daily story number 2020.
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I’m dreading story 2020!
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You do get a mention- but it’s nice!
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😁
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Because of the auspicious number, not because you might start Volume two. I’m VERY happy about that news.
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The review was a wonderful, accurate tribute to our favourite blogmeister.
Enjoy your well deserved gloat all day long, BA.
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Thank you Yvonne. I spent yesterday cleaning out the pantry. Today is spent cleaning out the bathroom. It’s amazing what one finds (in the pantry).
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Today is your day to be the gloat goat! Well-deserved accolades. Now, that Francine. Did she really not know that Arnold was trying to drive her mad so he could put her away and have the money for himself and the twenty-something floozy he’s been hanging around with?
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You are vying to become a ghost-writer for our Bruce, aren’t you?
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Lol! Nobody could ever replace the ineffable Bruce.
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That is very kind. I like the thought of being thought of as ineffable. Or even F-able.
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Don’t worry Yvonne, no one will ever replace you as my ghost writer.
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Ahhhh! I tried to disguise it by changing the names. I never gave a second thought that people might see that Arnold’s real name was Herb.
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Hahahahaha! Thanks. I think.
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I hate it when people imagine I do crazy things.
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I would imagine you would.
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That is a very real story. There is an oppressing sense of no-nonsense about it. Both characters have turn out well complete with their dilemmas.
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Yes – the story is about fears I sometimes have in the middle of the night.
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I found your bio Bruce…I’m going to read it…I read a little and love it so far.
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Thanks Max!
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I read full sections of your book some time ago and enjoyed them very much. Now I shall have to re-locate it. I enjoyed the different style of this story. I have the same suspicions as some of your other readers that things are not going to turn out well for Arnold; who I both sympathise and empathise with. Now what are my shoes doing in the fridge?
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Some enemy hath perchance put your shoes in the fridge.
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Some villain hath done me wrong.
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I knew there was a quotation lurking somewhere.
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Now I know you want me to think she murdered him, but I think Arnold is gaslighting her – she’ll be in an asylum by the end of the month!
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Such suspicion Andrea!
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