Literature
Jethro
Fiction
The Parrot Lady II
Her breakfast was spoiled by the knowledge that, at some point, she would have to tell the waif about the ‘team’s’ visit: not only how to break the news, but when. She decided that it [more…]
Fiction
The Parrot Lady
‘You the parrot lady?’ She smiled: ‘Yes, I suppose I am. Is that what people call me?’ ‘No – just me. How many parrots have you got?’ ‘At the moment, just a pair. But I [more…]
19th Century
In Defence of Kipling
‘When the Rudyards cease their Kipling, and the Haggards ride no more…’ was a favoured line in the era of post Imperial breast-beating, when this voluminous and best-selling writer, both in verse and prose was [more…]
Literature
Cupid’s Dart (ii)
‘Was Blake right? What do you think, dear?’ I was a bit nonplussed by this, since we’d been talking about how ever more pricey things had been becoming lately. ‘Blake?…’ ‘Yes, dear: “Milton was of [more…]
Fiction
Pale Hands 5
After a while, as it was getting lighter and lighter, I said, ‘I must ask your father’s permission.’ She nodded. ‘And there’s a couple of other phone-calls I must make.’ Then I slid my left [more…]
Fiction
Pale Hands 4
‘Daddy!’ It was almost simultaneous. I dashed down for the phone, uncoiled what I had once thought were absurdly long lengths of cable, carried the phone up to the turn in the stairs, flipped the [more…]
Fiction
Pale Hands 3
9. The continued ringing of the telephone brought us both abruptly out of the past and Cambridge. ‘Your Father!’ I exclaimed. ‘My Mother.’ She whispered. ‘Richard Conyngham here: we’re at Waterloo and due to arrive [more…]
Fiction
Pale Hands 2
5. I was up pretty early, used the outdoor privy and the scullery sink so as not to disturb the sleeper, went off to Church, collected the paper on the way back, spoke as jauntily [more…]