northie

Perhaps a pair of good memories, once the shock of being kissed has worn off ... Thanks for reading.

He doesn't know that his friend has died, he just hopes so, and his other thoughts flow from that. Many older people feel trapped in their homes, for a variety of reasons, but, as you said, at least he's recognised the power of the internet. Halcyon? Yes, I love it as well - it captures so many things in one short word.

Very clever use of the word list, and very touching. Well done.

Geoff has improved somewhat - he enjoys the kissing and does reciprocate. He's still got a lot to learn in that department, though. The stress of his job situation doesn't help his general self-confidence, I think.

Yes, will Tony succeed? I hope so ... As for Stuart ... hmm.

But do his pep talks have any lasting effects? Your support, dear editor, is an invaluable part of this story.

Quite ... what will transpire, I wonder ... Geoff lacks self-confidence, and his self-image isn't good either. Tony still has hopes of making lasting changes, but it's whether Geoff can, or will change. Thanks for commenting.

Geoff opened his eyes. He looked around. His phone alarm had woken him up as usual, but he wasn't sure where he was. Eh? … Then it all came rushing back – work, the effing news about his job, and Tony's unstinting kindness. Geoff took a moment to bask in the pleasure. Having someone who cared, really cared, for him was priceless. He stretched his whole body. Ahh ... feeling the welcome lack of stress-induced knots and pains. Tony was so good to him, and good for him, as well. He acknowledge

Apples ... the fruit of original sin. And used so often to describe parts of the human anatomy, male and female. So, it is entirely appropriate that you spin your delicious web of words using that fruit as your starting point.

Indeed - we are both lucky in where we live. Unlike many poor souls who are imprisoned for reasons that have nothing to do with protecting society at large. Thanks for reading, drought.

The feeling of being detached from one's family is quite common, I imagine. Particularly as an older person. The fears of old age are more or less universal, though the specifics may vary. Doesn't necessarily make them any easier to contemplate, though. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Thank you for your comment - I'm pleased you took the time to read the story. It is complete as it stands. It is one of a projected series of monologues loosely centred around the theme of Night Thoughts. The intensity comes from the immediacy of the monologue, I think. Which is one of the reasons why each one will be short.

Indeed. Gains made here in the west seem to be offset by what goes on elsewhere in the world. Thanks for reading.

Thanks, Tim. Yes, there are plenty of people without such good memories, but I think it's also sad that nothing more recent had happened in his life to rival that day.

Why does everything ache? Even in bed. Nothing works like it used to – if it works at all. Any part of me that's not swollen, my skin hangs off it in dull, crinkly folds. Hills and valleys where there used to be broad, flat plains. Once upon a time when running and swimming were part of my life. Oh well, the realities of growing old … Growing? You're bloody ancient, you daft fucker. Have been for ages. Indeed. Old, alone, marooned. A piece of driftwood on life's furthest beaches. … Th

Why is it, in our memories, some days seem bathed in golden sunlight? One man considers his.

I can't agree more with your cries de coeur. Why indeed?

Read and very much enjoyed despite the subject matter.

Too many young people still end up on the streets, for a variety of reasons. In the years since this has been written nothing much has changed, which is depressing. An excellent, realistic story.

As a writer from what often feels like the wrong side of the pond, I write using British English. This may well put some people off, but I'm not going to stifle my creativity by trying to write in a version of English which is not my own. When I read American / Canadian English stories, I accept that they're going to look and read a little differently. While I don't want to baffle people with obscure or dialect words, when my characters are speaking, they may well occasionally employ words that aren't in regular use elsewhere. My stories are normally firmly located in England, so I don't apologise for making them speak like English people. To answer @Carlos Hazday 's question of what have I been guilty of? This ... I came back a couple of months ago to a multi-part story I'd started about this time last year, ie when I first started writing. Reading the middle chapters in particular, I was horrified by how many sentences started with 'He'. Needless to say, it's having a thorough going-over (revision, re-writing, adding to) before I even consider starting to post it. Looking at it the other way, I was amazed at how much I'd improved ... Phew!

Thanks, Lux. Glad the standard's being maintained ...

Dialogue with 'said ...' following every time ('stated' is a particular bug bear) is something I find irritating. Repetitive description of characters' characteristics - hair colour noticed every time, for example, is another thing I don't like. The level of general description I'd like varies. For short stories it can be really sparse, just enough to place it in time and space. For anything longer, more detail is necessary, otherwise I find I can't connect with it on the right level. But, as has already been said, excessive detail is a killer. I don't want to feel as though I'm wading through verbiage to get to the actual story. As Wildone has already mentioned, description of sex is another problematical area for me. I enjoy it up to a certain level, but once it starts to get excessively anatomical, I start to squirm. Imagination is a powerful tool ... Oh, and don't describe it using flowery or excessive metaphors. Basic grammar, syntax and spelling do matter. Why should our readers be expected to filter a story out of a mess of misspellings, and incoherence? I'm not perfect, but I do try, and where possible, I learn. In my book, less is more. I'm much more likely to employ my imagination than I am to waste my meagre reading time wading through page after page of description.

Reporters are difficult to keep quiet ... What's behind the door? Watch this space. Thanks for reading, Tim.

I'm not sure I see very much belief in any of the stanzas ... They are all stark - not to the same degree, perhaps, but all imbued with a dark, uncertain hue.

Disturbing, sad, bleak ... Verses which worm themselves inside my head - the words are so clear, so unequivocal. There's nothing hidden or obscured in the text, and the images are dark, self-disparaging. Excellently done, distinctly chewy. (And it must've taken you ages to set up on the page ... )