(FICTION) FRIDAY followed by SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS

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POOR JANE

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Jane’s friends teased her. Sixteen and she’d never had a Valentine's card. As soon as Christmas was over the dread of Valentine’s Day grew within her. When January turned to February, and shop windows filled with pink cards, balloons and cuddly bears, she turned within herself. She hated Valentine’s Day.

Last year a group of the kids in her class made a spoof card and wrote in it ‘Plain Jane, go play with your toys,‘cos you will never play with the boys’.
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Every morning as the big day approached, she saw boys dropping cards into the pink post box at school.

Every Valentine’s Day, the cards were handed out in class.

Every year Jane was the only one to leave empty handed and broken hearted.

There was one boy, Charlie, who she was drawn to. He was one of the most popular lads in the school. She knew it was stupid, but she posted a Valentine card to him this year. She knew she couldn’t be teased about it because the rules say that you don’t put your name in the card. You just drop a hint. But Jane didn’t even risk that. No, she simply drew a heart in red pen with a blue arrow through it. She didn’t expect to get a card, any cards this year. Not from Charlie. Not from anyone.

And so, on the morning of Valentine's Day, the cards were duly handed out in class. Sally, her skirt hitched even higher than usual, was the most popular girl if the sheer number of cards where anything to go by. And Charlie was weighed down by heaps of cards, not just from his class, but from all over the school.

Jane predictably got none.

The taunts started and the teacher called for order. Jane, as she had previous years, rushed out of the room in floods of tears. She spent what seemed like hours in a cubicle in the girl’s bathroom. Eventually she emerged, with blotchy pink cheeks and puffy red eyes. She gazed at the floor in the hope that no one would notice the look of despair on her face.

She was suddenly aware of someone in front of her. A boy judging by the shoes and trousers. He wasn’t going to move aside, so she darted to the left. An arm shot out and held her back. She sniffed, and then slowly looked up. It was Charlie. In his hand was a pink envelope, and he was offering it to Jane.

Her initial reaction was to pinch herself. She filled with emotions, lots of emotions. But her delight turned to suspicion when she wondered if he was giving to her out of pity. Why didn’t he post it in the pink box? Was he scared of ruining his image by choosing Jane as his Valentine? But then no one would have known it was from him. So why was he doing it this way?

‘Take it Jane’. I wanted to give this to you myself. You’re not like the rest. You are special. Just remember that’. With that she allowed herself a coy half smile. Jane took the card, Charlie squeezed her hand.

At that moment, Valentine’s Day was the most wonderful day of her life.

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comments under sunday scribblings!

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Sunday Scribblings - Fridge Space!

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The doctor asked me for a sample of 'you know what'. He gave me a little glass pot with a white label on it. Very small it was. This was clearly going to be a challenge. He told that once I had filled it I was to keep it my fridge until my appointment later in the day. A notion I didn’t relish!

Anyhow, I managed it. It wasn’t easy, but I’m not going to go into the ins-and-outs of how I did it here!

So, here I stand, vessel in hand, fridge door gaping, and not a space to be found. I can’t believe it. When I shared this fridge with a woman, there were always gaps, and everything was lined up like soldiers on parade awaiting inspection. She knew where everything was, how long it had been there and when it had to exit! This is a shambles.

What’s in the top? Ah, this is yoghurt. Strawberry. And another. Also strawberry. I don’t even like strawberry yoghurt, but according to the yellow sticker it was reduced in price. I can never resist a bargain. Where’s the ‘eat-by date? Strewth! Bin!

What’s this? A half of a family sized cream cake. Are they normally that colour? Let’s have a sniff. Woo! Goodbye!

This shelf is sticky. Not nice. Can’t really put the pot there.

Now, the middle. Three boxes of sausage rolls. I got them for when my friends came round the other night and forgot all about them. But why I bought three I really can’t imagine. Ah, buy two get one free it says here. Another bargain. Let’s see. Oh, rock hard. They’ll have to go.

This looks interesting. Sort of a pie. Oh – I remember. When my friend Rosey came round a couple of weeks ago she proudly presented it to me. Her own recipe she said. It was filled with sweet and sour quorn (that pretend meat stuff) and topped off with a wheat free pastry lid. I can honestly say that I did try to eat some, but the pastry was like concrete, so I put it back until I next had my tool kit out! Sorry Rosey, it’s on its way.

Right. Butter, gone a rather odd shade of yellow. A bag with tomatoes in it. At least I think they are tomatoes, or are they peppers? No, they are apples! Well,they were once. Goodbye. An open tin of – what on earth is that under the green fur? Think I’d better dump it. Now this looks interesting – pwah - no it doesn’t!

Here’s another bag in the bottom. I think that used to be lettuce, and this one has some - er – something inside. Think I can live without that!

Now to the door compartments. Beer! Good! Lager, 7 tins – perfect! Half a bottle of chardonnay. Let’s see if its ok – it is! Well, it’s not quite the taste I remember when I opened it, but waste not want not.

So let’s stand back and admire the improvement! I’ve never had so much fridge space. All that work has made me hungry, but there doesn’t seem to be anything left to eat. Never mind, I usually eat take-outs anyway.

The sample can go right there in the middle. Woops! Shoot! It’s slipped out of my hand and smashed on the floor! Oh well, I’ll clear it up in the morning.

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