It's Definitely Stephanie!

As mentioned in my previous blog entry, here is a post with my two shortlisted pieces of writing from 2023.

The first is a poem on the theme of friendship titled ‘Dearest Margot’. I don’t often write poems on a pre-selected topic so this was a good opportunity to stretch my writing skills to see if I could write to theme. It was a rather enjoyable exercise and was certainly worthwhile to do as not only was I shortlisted for the Upper Hutt Library poetry competition but was given a special mention too!

Dearest Margot…

Dearest Margot, we need to have a word…

No, it’s not about how you shrunk my t-shirt; my favourite one with the bird.

And no; it’s not about how you made us four hours late to Joe’s birthday party,

one cocktail sausage was left, not a great situation

when both of us are vegetarian.

It is definitely not about that time you spilt tomato soup down my grandma,

even though she can no longer eat tomatoes without experiencing some trauma.

It’s about all the times you have made me smile 

and made me laugh so hard I nearly wet myself in the supermarket aisle.

When the going gets tough you have always been there

with comfort, warmth and cheer when life seems so unfair.

You provide so much kindness whatever the time

and know just when I need that glass of wine.

My dear Margot we have had so many adventures…

So, the thing I want to say is; let’s keep enjoying our friendship forever 

or at least until we get dementia! 

The second piece of work that was shortlisted was a short story, again on a pre-selected topic. This one was on the theme of ‘Coronation’ due to 2023 being the year King Charles III was coronated. The competition was run by the Bury St Edmunds Literary festival. I did not think I had a very good chance of being selected but thought it would at least be a good writing exercise to do even if it did not result in any recognition but to my amazement it did receive some recognition, and this is the story I submitted below;

Coronation

After the third attempt Claire successfully pops a fondant fancy in her mouth as she juggles the TV control in one hand and uses her feet to move her most precious. 

‘This is a once in a lifetime event, Claire Bear’, says Rich, her husband as he settles himself on the couch. He attempts to hand her a glass of prosecco, whilst she simultaneously tries to remove the left over icing from her hand and find the correct channel for the King’s coronation with the other, all whilst trying to keep a steady pace with her feet. 

Claire thinks she will see another coronation in her lifetime as she is both younger than King Charles and Prince William but she decides to let the comment go, and finally succeeds in taking the glass from Rich in her still sticky hand. She can’t believe how much Rich has changed recently, her admiration for him grew and grew. 

The ceremony on the TV has begun and the Royal family process into Westminster Abbey. Claire begins to giggle. 

‘What’s so funny?’ asks Rich perplexed. 

‘Sorry Rich, it’s just the way they are all walking in behind one another, it reminds me of when I had to ask you to walk behind me when we headed into the operating theatre to prevent anyone seeing my bottom in that backless gown.’

Rich lets out a loud hearty belly laugh; ‘There are many things King Charles may need to worry about today but I don’t think mooning a few million people on TV will be top of his list.’

‘True,’ says Claire as she begins to lose focus on the ceremony in front of her and look at her precious again, reminding her of the nerves and the excitement she faced in her and Rich’s own ceremony leading to this moment. Despite the circumstances, it was the most beautiful and intimate moment Rich and Claire had experienced between the two of them. 

As King Charles is made ready for the anointing stage of the ceremony with the raising of a canopy, Claire’s mind flashes back to the surgical sheets quickly hoisted up below her waist and how quickly she became anointed in her new role, a role that changed her life forever.  

There were no cameras, no TV crews, no press waiting outside to mark the special occasion but that didn’t matter to them. The blood and skin of her baby boy on her bare chest, their hearts beating together, his lungs bursting with life, ready to begin their new journey together as parent and child was better than any shot of fame.

The titles of Mummy and Daddy now bestowed on Claire and Rich for life were all they ever wanted or needed.

Claire looks again at her baby boy, he slowly opens his eyes and gurgles a smile. She pops another fondant fancy in her mouth and thinks how royally lucky she is… well until she will have to change his nappy that is.