Bernie stood at the
very edge of the water, where the waves barely brushed the tips of
her Oxfords before drawing back, staring at the white horses at the
edge of the bay.
Mel crossed the wrack
line and approached, her sensible flat shoes making little impression
in the damp sand. Reaching Bernie, she stood in silence for a moment,
hoping she didn't have to speak first. She was afraid the tears would
start and never stop. After another minute she realised her hope was
doomed to be dashed. “I'm sorry,” she said, finally.
Bernie looked at her
then, her gray-green eyes turning the emerald hue of the channel.
“You've nothing to be sorry for.”
“What will you do
now?”
“Anything I like.
Travel, maybe. Nothing to keep me here now, is there?”
“I'm still here.”
“Only until July,
then you're gone as well.”
“You could come to
Manchester.”
“What is there for me
there? I'm a country girl, remember?”
“You never know what
you'll find. It's a new age. The dawn of Aquarius.”
“Whatever happened to
free love?”
“It was never free.
Someone always had to pay for it, in the end.”
“Too right.”
“Come to Manchester,
just for a few weeks. You can stay at my mom and dad's.”
“And do what?”
“It's 1973. Who knows
what the future holds?” Mel smiled. “Besides, there's this blues
singer I want to introduce you to, in Canal Street.”
5 comments:
What a poignant scene, Rachel. Well done. (I so miss reading you.)
I love that photo, it reminds me of one I have of my mother and her sister. Intersting writing accompaniment too.
Thank you both. The photo was Thelma Wood and Djuna Barnes on the beach in Provincetown, 1925. I found the photo to match the writing (current WIP).
I'm with Stephanie - I miss reading you too Rachel!
Lovely writing as usual. Reminds me of what I just watched on 'Call the Midwife'. How hard it was for everyone way back when...That being said - it's still hard.
You go girl. You know I'm always cheering you on.
Thanks, Aims :)
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