Betty got a Valentine’s card in the mail. It was the sweetest card. It read “Will you be my Valentine?” Betty had never received a Valentine’s card before.
Betty was forty-six years old. She had always regarded herself as a bit of wallflower. Spinsterhood, she had determined, was going to be her lot in life. And now this…
She sat in her corner armchair (next to the canary cage) and glowed as she read, and re-read, the card. Who was it from? The canary sang its heart out. There was a knock on the door.
There at the door were twelve red roses. There was no delivery person. Clearly the anonymous admirer had left the roses there himself. How wonderful is that? He must live nearby if he is able to deliver and disappear. But who was it?
There were only two “eligible” bachelors she knew of who lived nearby. There was Hermon Vociferich and Julian McDougall. Both rather handsome. Both rather rich. They lived together. She had always thought they were gay, but she had no reason to think that really. And now, clearly, one of them thought she was worth looking at twice.
Valentine’s Day passed. The next day came and went, and the next day, and the next. Nothing happened. Betty felt sad. The years passed. Betty’s canary was long dead.
Tomorrow the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is springing a surprise afternoon tea for Betty’s sixtieth birthday. It’s a charity she has volunteered a lot for over the years. Betty has always been wonderful! No one knows that she volunteers to help fill a big gap in her heart.
Does St. Jude’s treat Pneumoconiosis?
LikeLiked by 2 people
The reason why St. Jude’s doesn’t treat Pneumoconiosis is because doctors’ handwriting is hard enough to decipher without their having to use big words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a sweet, sad story. You throw those in every once in a while just to throw us off, I suppose.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I wonder who sent that card and flowers all those years ago?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Someone who thought they were doing something nice or someone who knew they were doing something snarky and mean?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some of us (males) are very nervous of course in this PC world of putting the females of the species into a stereotypical box by giving them flowers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that’s a shame!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect the roses I sent you never made the covid test at customs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet, sad stories are there to give greater emphasis to the days of murders and mayhem that follow.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ahh…That makes sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That makes sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLike
Well, I wasn’t ready for a sad one. I guess they have to break up the monotony of black…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Red orange yellow green blue indigo and violet are there only to emphasize the black.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have the whole spectrum! Malice to Happiness
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a sad tale of waiting for nobody. I enjoyed its sad March through the lonely paths of spinsterhood down to the continued heartache. As Carson McCullers would say, the heart is a lonely hunter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Carson McCullers quotation is brilliant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She clearly needs to get out more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By “out” you mean?
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 Out of the house!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Even if she doesn’t find someone, at least her life won’t be as drab as staying in the house, or as monotonous as volunteering for excitement.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s true!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did the Valentine come with a heartbreaking photo of an adorable child with cancer and two dozen address labels? Because if so, I bet I know who sent it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! I hope you got my valentine’s card – I sent one each to the two people who follow my blog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no! I probably chucked it along with the address labels.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Betty, a sweet and moving story. I hope she finds a beau at her 60th birthday party!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Andrea. Yes – it would be nice if she found someone at the 60th party. I’d create such as event myself, but people these days usually expect murderous intent in these stories.
LikeLike
People have such nefarious minds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know – welcome to the club! And I don’t think I have ever used the word nefarious in my life. I shall try to remedy it in a story.
LikeLiked by 2 people