Perfect Family Tales And Other Trivia

The art of the short-story writer is that of the cartoonist. It is the magical craft of creating entire worlds with a few simple strokes of a pen. Tales told by an idiot? Maybe! But my tales are also a mix of reality and fantasy; truth and lies; some based on my own family; others, not. Readers must guess which characters are real; who are inventions - and who are an amalgam of both. Please draw the boundaries for yourself.

Sunday 14 December 2014

‘Just a Snippet’

‘Outcry over department store bras for two-year-olds’ (U.K. newspaper report)

“Hey, sweetheart! Wake up!” Mel urged Angie.

“I don’t want to be mean. But today you must be quick. Remember? We’ve got a bus to catch so we can be in London for our special appointment at 12 o’clock”.

“But, Daddy …”

“Don’t argue, darling. Not today, please. Just go into the bathroom and wash while I get our breakfast ready. Then when you’ve eaten, all you have to do is to brush your teeth”.

Infant.Underwear“But Dadd-eee”, said six-year-old Angie,  using her best wheedle. “I don’t need a wash. I had a bath at bedtime last night. Remember”?

“Yes, I remember. But you’ve had a sleep since then. Please, just go and …”

“But Daddy. It’s not fair. I can’t be dirty. I didn’t have any dreams. Anyway, Daddy”, added Angie, as she crawled out of bed and began to take off her pyjamas. I’ve got to tell you about something I need. Real bad”.

“What’s that?” called back Mel, beginning to canter downstairs.

“All the girls in my class are wearing bras. I want one too”.

Natalie Wood

(© Natalie Irene Wood – 14 December 2014)