Regan: a Love Story

By Henry Tobias

'Regan - a Love Story.' A touching novella about overcoming adversity, young love, the quest for spiritual fulfilment and never-ending love. The narrator remembers the 1970s and his one and only love. Longing is tinged with humour and pathos. The story will make you laugh and cry. Taking place across two countries, the characters and situations are real. A story which could be played out again today across the globe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Henry Tobias
• Release date: Feb 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370772933

Henry Tobias

Henry Tobias was born in London, England, was raised in Johannesburg, South Africa where he trained as a pharmacist. As a young boy he was a member of Zionist Youth Movements in South Africa - one of the factors which influenced his decision to live in Israel. The other influence was The Holocaust - the murder of some SIX million Jews by the Nazis and their accomplices, which included citizens of many of the nations across Europe. He has a deep love of reading, especially history, particularly of World War II, The Holocaust including The Kindertransport and Jewish history throughout the ages. Some of his favourite authors are Richard Overy, Bernard Lewis and John Toland. Now retired he writes and edits. He lives in Israel with his wife of 44 years. He has three adult children and so far one beautiful granddaughter. He has so far published one anthology of eclectic short stories, 'Just for Fun' and is currently working on his second book, an historical novel of World War II.

Book preview

To Jill – the Love of my Life

Regan – a Love Story

Henry Tobias

Copyright 2018 Henry Tobias

Published by Henry Tobias at Smashwords

All foreign words, unless in italics, are in the Oxford English Dictionary Online Edition

Other titles by Henry Tobias:

Just for Fun – an anthology of short stories

Henry Tobias Smashwords author page

Visit my website at: Henry Tobias Short Stories

'Just for Fun' an eclectic anthology of short stories

If you enjoyed my books please leave a review at your favourite retailer and tell your friends.

To Shirley Israel, my dear friend of more than fifty years and well-known South African artist, thank you very much for designing the cover.

I would like to thank the friends from my writing group, David Brauner – a constant inspiration, Esther Rafaeli – a reminder that you’re only as old as you feel, Marallyn ben Moshe – who keeps me alert and laughing, Helen Kreeger – for her British sense of humour and guidance in dialogue. Last but not least Miriam Drori – for her accuracy in editing.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading and reading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite authorised retailer. Thank you for your support.

Regan – a Love Story

Regan and I first met many years ago when nearly every song on the new BBC 'Top of the Pops' was a Beatles composition. We were young and still trying to make sense of the world while navigating from teens to twenties, from youth to hopeful maturity.

The Jewish Society at our university was holding its first do of the year where old members renewed acquaintances and new students were welcomed. I was macher-in-chief, responsible for organizing the introductory bash of the year. We had hired a band, a poor-man's imitation, today called 'Tribute Bands', of one of the in-groups of the day, I've forgotten who, but maybe The Who.

The outside door was about ten yards away from where I was greeting party-goers. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a stylishly dressed young woman; most of us wore denims. I turned to watch her enter the hallway through the main door, hesitate for a moment, turn her back as if to leave, waver momentarily, turn towards me again, pull herself erect, throw her shoulders back defiantly, pivot towards the strategically placed decorative mirror, smooth her skirt, coif her hair, check her make-up, swivel in my direction head held high and propel herself purposefully forwards.

She came closer. I took in her greyish-black wrap-around top with a rounded neck, the two unequal sides held together with a large onyx brooch. The matching skirt was straight with a slight flare, finishing about two inches above the knee – casual elegance. Her sea-azure eyes, tinted with green, whirl-pooled and mesmerized me. I stood open-mouthed, face flushed in awe, butterflies fluttering in my stomach, staring at this seraphic vision with a cherubic but feisty countenance. I wanted to reach out, touch her, make sure she was real. I was in love.

Is this the Jewish Society get-together? she asked in a low quivering voice.

Yes, let me get you a name tag, makes introductions easier. Come with me. I took her by the hand – soft and warm. By the way, I'm Jonny. If you need anything, I'm the one to ask. I'm chief cook and bottle-washer. I gave my friend and vice-chairman of the group a wink. I'll be back in a tick. Hold the fort will you please, Bernie. He nodded. I left him to carry on. I really didn’t care. Only this wonderful girl, this divine being, mattered.

I steered her towards the table where Becky, our secretary, was adding new names to our mailing list and writing names on stickers. I didn't need the address of this gorgeous girl, I was going to deliver any mail, messages, notice of meetings, get-togethers, whatever, in person – by hand – for the rest of my life.

I'm sorry, I'm being really rude. I didn't even ask you your name.

Regan, r-e-g-a-n. she replied. I was completely discombobulated by her presence.

I grabbed the pen out of Becky's hand, wrote R-e-g-a-n with the care and reverence of a scribe writing the name of God in a verse of Torah scroll, trying with difficulty to control my shaking hand. Becky and I were friends but she frowned and looked at me as if to say, 'don't get carried away, think with your grey matter, not with your testosterone'.

"Just making sure we sign