THE HUSBAND
All promises should be kept, but one
made to your mother is sacred.
When Tony started school, Mum told me
I should always look after him, so I raised my hand in the Scout salute and
promised.
I knew he had a crush on Maggie, but
when we married I assumed he’d find his own wife. Instead he hung around like a
bad smell, even after the children were born.
Last week I finally told him to sling
his hook, but today he came pleading to make up, with a bottle in each pocket.
I should never have drunk it.
......................................................................................
THIRD SIDE OF THE TRIANGLE
Maggie was mine ever since school,
where I sharpened her pencils and protected her from bullies.
After we grew up I taught her to
dance and she fitted my arms perfectly – until my brother seduced her with his
money and flash cars. I still took her flowers, though, when I went round to
share my home-brew with Richard. Then he got jealous of how close Maggie and I
were getting and threw me out, but he couldn’t resist my beer.
After the funeral I tried to comfort Maggie,
but she’s turned against me.
I wonder if she’d like parsnip wine?
Dear Liz,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you rounded out the triangle. They fit together so well. Brilliant.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle - this is the first time I've double-posted for Friday Fictioneers :)
DeleteI'd say Tony was beyond having a crush. More like an obsession. Maybe Maggie needed a twin sister.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely obsessive - I hope Maggie refuses the wine.
DeleteReads like a Greek tragedy. Thank you for the photo prompt.
ReplyDeleteTracey
Thank you, Tracey x
Deletehe should have taken it slowly and allow maggie to mourn.
ReplyDeleteThat might have worked - until she realised he killed her husband!
DeleteLove the new secrets revealed... Tony was even more of a scumbag than I thought at first.
ReplyDeleteI did wonder if I'd left too much unsaid in the first story! I knew what he'd done, but didn't make it clear enough, I fear.
DeleteOh, crumbs. Not just a poor, love-struck man then, that Tony. More of a petulant sulky psychopath.
ReplyDeleteYou've summed him up nicely, Alistair.
DeleteGood stories all, Liz. Interesting to see the tale from several sides too. Nicely done
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynn - it was fun writing the triangle.
DeleteGreat photo, Liz.
ReplyDeleteAnd loved seeing two sides of the story!
Thanks Dale.
DeleteI like the two such disparate viewpoints there. Maggie really needs to watch her back, with that Tony around. I think she'll be needing a restraining order against him, if she wants to stay in the land of the living for long D:
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Sarah!
DeleteThis does complete the triangle. I loved this mini series!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting twice, Yuhu.
Delete